Oct 03, 2009 02:08 PM
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We Booked into a lakeside cottage at MTDC Bhandardhara. The drivve to Bhandardhara is very expensive. I still dont know how much I will spend now that I have come back. The roads from Ghoti to Bhandardhara are so bad that no amount of twisting and turning your car or slowing down is going to prevent your car from rattling and tossing around as if you were in a bullock cart. Actually you might be better off taking a bullock cart - less damaging to the suspension. On top of which a group of louts have been authorized by the government to collect a road tax of Rs 21/ each way for the "upkeep of the road".
Once you reach the MTDC resort your first impression is - The external facade is great - except that it suits 1940 and was probably made also around a few decades back. After that nothing. Forget that today it is 2009 and it could have done with repairs ages ago.
Dont book the deluxe rooms - go only for the villas. The villas are atrocious and badly maintained. For 3000 a night one has expectations of at least a decent experience if not a 2 or 3 star ambience. But no - the villas have not been maintained or repaired for decades. Yet they are fully booked. (Thats why they dont bother)
The paint is peeling off everywhere, half the bulbs dont work, the TV has 10 channels of which 3 have not been programmed, 2 are repeats of the same channel called Manorma, one is star Maza and another is 9x. A great choice!
There are constant power failures and they have a backup generator which they refuse to switch on until you fight or argue with them. Only when you threaten with complaints will they ensure that for the next 24 hours you will get back up supply. In fact I had to threaten complaints just to get them to place candles in the room.
Dont dare to look at the pillows or mattresses. If you dare to ask for an extra pillow or bedsheet you need to pay extra. Then they will pop into your room and drag out an old stinking dirty pillow or mattress, place a cover over it and now you have your demand fulfilled. So if you look under the cover you are never going to sleep.
The canteen is dark and dingy but serves surprisingly good snacks. Though they charge 10% extra for room service, that is still preferable. Their poha, usal pau and upma were good.
So why is the hotel full all the time? Because MTDC as always has grabbed the best location.
The 3000 you pay per day is a sheer waste of money as far as the villa is concerned but is recovered in full if you sit on the bench outside and gaze at the panoramic view of the lake and the mountains.
An alternative is to stay at the Anandvan resort which is bang opposite the MTDC gates. Problem is it is frightly fully expensive at 18-20000 for a 2 night package for a couple. But you can stay at the MTDC and walk across to Anandvan for their food. Anandvan has a great chef who cooks excellent North Indian food and is real value for money and taste.
So ideally go to Bhandardhara for a day picnic. If you have to stay at the MTDC , have your food at Anandvan.
