French Haveli

It’s right in the middle of the old city, which made it easy to wander through the lanes, markets, and temples. The narrow streets made getting there a little challenging, but once inside French Haveli, I thought it was worth it. The restored wooden carvings and colorful stained-glass windows give the place a lovely heritage feel, and the staff were helpful and warm, making the stay feel personal and homely. A unique, memorable experience for me, 9/10.

I’ve stayed at this Haveli several times, and each visit seems worse. Dust is everywhere, even on the stairs. My room was cleaned only once a week despite my requests for daily cleaning, and the sheets are often torn or stained. The towels are pale and coarse, and I really question the standards. Once, they even made my dinner lentils with tap water. The water bottles in the room are dusty too. There are random villagers staying here who play loud music and cricket commentary on speakers late at night. The rooms connect to each other, and twice my door was opened in the middle of the night because there’s no proper lock. It feels extremely unsafe. Bansi bhaiya, the caretaker, is rude and dismissive. When I asked politely for cleaning, he rolled his eyes and said no other guests complain, only me. My sister’s bracelet was stolen once and later returned. I was also absurdly accused of using five bedsheets. I was judged for calling a masseuse, which felt intrusive and disrespectful, especially as a woman. The hygiene is so poor that I no longer eat breakfast there and get it from Green House instead. Deepali, you’re the worst host I’ve come across. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

I liked it enough to make a detour back a month later while traveling to a neighbouring state. The Haveli itself is peaceful, beautifully kept, and decorated with quaint touches and vintage Haveli doors. My bedroom was spacious, with a very comfortable bed, and the bathroom had plenty of room to wash and change, with the shower and toilet separate. The approach is part of what makes this a hidden gem. The narrow lanes from the main road don’t let vehicles through, apart from local residents’ bikes, so the walk from Dhal Ni Pol feels peaceful even though Manek Chowk is only a short walk away. From Dhal Ni Pol it’s easy to get a tuk tuk, Uber, or train to anywhere in the city. Bansi and Dipak manage the place. They’re both friendly, helpful, and flexible, and they offered to make breakfast before my morning departure. It was filling and set me up for the day, with omelette, toast, paratha, fruit, juice, and tea or coffee. If I’m in the area again, I’d stay here without hesitation. Highly recommend.

We loved staying in a pol in the UNESCO listed old part of Ahmedabad, and support anyone who owns and maintains accommodation there. Getting a rickshaw to drop us at the entrance of "Darni Pol" was easy. It was then a