February 15, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.8: Hotel Shreyas Orchid, Mahabaleshwar

“Hotel Shreyas Orchid - A Retreat in the Forests”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 March 2013
You will see the name board of 'Shreyas Orchid' about half a km after passing Metgutad village on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar road, but you will not be able to see the resort because it is hidden behind a canopy of large trees. In fact, the resort is surrounded by a forest of trees on three sides and a wooded cliff behind. The resort is run by the same group that owns Hotel Shreyas in Mahabaleshwar town.

We were shown the rooms on the second floor and immediately decided to take one of the bigger rooms, which had an exquisite view of the Venna valley from behind the tree tops. The room was well furnished and there was even a digital safe in the cupboard.

There was a beautiful little swimming pool with two trees growing in the middle. The water was pretty clear, though the attendant had to remove the falling leaves quite often. There were about half a dozen deck chairs and a hammock to relax in. A water slide came down from the top of the cliff and kids would surely enjoy using this to plunge into the pool.

They have an open verandah type of restaurant. They have a limited menu of home cooked Indian recipes, and we had to order our food at least two hours in advance because it was the off-season. However there are quite a number of restaurants nearby in the village and within walking distance. They even had the menu of 'Hirkani Garden Restaurant' from where the meal could be outsourced. We did order our breakfast and dinner at the hotel and the food was quite tasty and much to our liking. For breakfast we ordered poha and omelet bread.

Shreyas Orchid is about 6 km from Mahabaleshwar so it is more suited for people who would prefer to stay away from the noise and bustle of the main town. One can go for early morning and evening walks nearby, and enjoy the swimming pool, which is shaded by a canopy of trees, during the day. Makharia Point, from where one can view the Lingmala waterfalls, is within walking distance.

Needless to say, this hotel is easily accessible only if you have your own vehicle.
Room Tip: Rooms on the second floor have better views of the Venna valley.
See more room tips
Stayed March 2013, travelled as a couple

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