Banlekhi

**Review for Banlekhi Cottages** Our stay at Banlekhi Cottages was fantastic. The rooms were spotless, with fresh linens and dry washrooms, making us feel right at home. The view of the valley was absolutely stunning. The food, prepared by Chef Naveen, was incredible. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the portions were generous enough to easily feed three people with just two dishes. The smell and presentation were amazing, and our meals became a highlight of our stay. One of the best parts was the peaceful silence, only interrupted by the nostalgic calls of birds. Rahul's courteous and prompt service made everything even better. Both Rahul and Chef Naveen were so welcoming and attentive. The Wi-Fi worked great too, so we could stream Netflix without any issues. Momo, the friendly St. Bernard, added a special touch to our experience. The nearby short hikes and a friendly neighbor gave us a true taste of rural Uttarakhand. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend Banlekhi Cottages!

We were booked for 3 days and as soon as we stepped on to the property there was no trace of a reception, the owner (Praveen), or the manager (Rakesh). A bellboy met us and handed over a key. No check-in process whatsoever. We saw a couple of people around the property but were unsure if these were employees or nearby locals since the property is open from all sides. When we enquired about the occupancy we were told that there were 1 or 2 other cottages occupied. It later turned out that some employees themselves were living in one of the cottages. We later found out there were no other bookings and that we had been lied to. The room door itself could only be locked from the inside with a flimsy bolt which could have given way with one strong push. All the bolts for the windows were also not functional. This issue was raised with the owner but it was disregarded. Unable to get transport out of the property, we had to spend one night there. The nearest town was around ~8km away. Very horrific experience. Extremely rattled. We're grateful that we didn't have a medical emergency in such a secluded place with unresponsive staff and an unsympathetic owner. Our advice: if you're traveling as a couple or alone, think twice before booking this property. You may scroll to all the 1 start reviews and observe that it's the owner's habit to bully folks posting any review he believes does not share his views about his property. He will routinely argue with reviewers and claim that he is unable to find their booking or he does not agree with their review. Highly unprofessional. Please avoid at all costs.