Unlock By Goldfinch Sakaleshpur

Come expecting a house, not a resort, and it can be good value. The property covers about 25-30 acres and has four AC rooms, but it needs professional maintenance. We noticed mould on the walls and wardrobe. Food is cooked in-house, though the menu and breakfast choices are quite limited. If you’re driving from Bengaluru, avoid Ballupet road, which is in poor condition and under construction. The last stretch to the property is also very rough. A car with good ground clearance should make it through.

The food and service got better as the stay went on. On the second day, piping-hot poha and paranthas were exceptionally well made, with locally grown coffee. It set a lovely tone for the day. By the third day the food was still very good, and the staff had been good too. The coffee plants and greenery are worth exploring, though the plantation walk is short. If you’re in a group, you may enjoy the remote setting in each other’s company. Other properties nearby are remote too, so this may be a reasonable option when there isn’t much else to do. Our first day was disappointing. Calls and emails went unanswered. What the online listing says about facilities is only partly true: there’s no TV, WiFi, or sofa in the rooms. Those are only in the shared sitting area, and the photos mostly show that space, which gives a misleading impression of the rooms. The property was laid out tastefully, but it needs more upkeep, and the walls were damp. It’s secluded, has no activities for kids, and the estate paths had no lights. The listing showed the property as booked, yet we were the only guests. Also, it’s 27 kilometres before Sakleshpur, not in the city. Given all that, at the start I couldn’t recommend the place.

We loved walking around the estate, and the weather was perfect during our pleasant stay at Unlock by Goldfinch. Sudhakar, our homestay Manager, was very helpful and made sure we were comfortable. The food cooked there was delicious, and we enjoyed it a lot. We’d booked the Suite room with a jacuzzi. It was okay, but the room felt old, so next time I’d prefer a better one.

The location works well for visiting places in both directions. One day you can head towards Manjarabad fort, manjehalli/abbhi falls, ettina bhujha, and bettada byreshwara. On another, go towards patla betta, mallali falls, bisle ghat, and hennur green meadows. Shettihalli church/gorur reservoir, windmill temples, belur halebeedu, and shravanabelagola are also options on the way to or back from sakleshpur. Unlock Goldfinch Sakleshpur blends a homestay with a star hotel. Sandesh and the staff were warm, quick, polite, and genuine. Rooms were spacious and clean. The executive room is the largest, with one king bed and two singles. Superior has a king and a single, and looks fancier than the executive. The suite has one regal king bed and a large bathroom with a jacuzzi; the other two room types have standard bathrooms, so choose based on what you need. The food was tasty and made with quality ingredients.