Excelsior Sylhet Hotel & Resort

The place has the potential to be one of the best around, but it needs a break for renovation and a fresh start. I first visited years ago just after it opened, when there was plenty to enjoy. Now it feels abandoned: broken animal cages and fences, dirty water, unmaintained gardens, broken rides, and restaurants that aren’t clean enough. The food was just okay. I saw one boat in the water, being used by a cleaner, and the walkways were so slippery my wife nearly fell. Charging visitors for tickets feels like charging for nothing when there’s so little to see. They could charge 50 tk if they’re clear that the attraction is just nature. Wish you luck.

The setting feels like a bungalow on a hill in the middle of jungle, and you may spot deer roaming in the morning. There are also tiny reptiles and frogs around, so be careful. It’s a peaceful, nature-friendly place a little way from the city center, good for a night or two in Sylhet. Rooms are nicely decorated, with cool interiors, and each can fit three or four people easily. There are three parks for children, a pool, and a gym. The restaurant serves good food. A nice place overall.

It’s a quiet place far from the city, where you can enjoy the wildlife in peace. The grounds are large, and there’s a pool, a game room, and a restaurant with quite good food. It works well for official programs or gatherings. One of Sylhet’s oldest hotels, though it needs redecorating to attract tourists.

We arrived in the morning on 20th October, 2023, after booking well in advance, but the rooms were dusty and unclean. The washrooms weren’t working properly, commodes leaked, and the shower water was dirty enough to make some of our group’s skin itch. A tube light in one room didn’t work, and staff didn’t act on our complaints. The gym was out of service, smelled bad, and had broken equipment. The pool was worse: we’d asked before reaching Sylhet for it to be cleaned, but they only started after we got there. We saw a mouse, a frog, and lots of dead flies in the water. When we asked about chlorine, they didn’t even know what it was. We left within two hours. They didn’t return our advance payment. I’ll never go back or recommend the place.