The Garden Bungalow

The rooms and grounds are excellent, but the food was extremely bad, and it’s gone downhill since my 2019 stay. We ordered chicken, paneer, and onion pakodas, but waited nearly an hour. They arrived lukewarm, bland, underseasoned, and coated heavily in besan. The paneer was dry like cardboard. Vegetarian choices were limited to dal and potatoes. Room service stops after 2 PM, which is the check-in time, and dinner has to be ordered by 6:30-7 PM.

The calm greenery around Garden Bungalow, Shantiniketan made for a peaceful, charming stay that fit the spirit of Shantiniketan. I was there on 3-4 March 2026. The rooms were comfortable and clean, and the staff courteous and helpful. A lovely spot to unwind and enjoy the area’s cultural charm. Highly recommended.

The garden is spacious and pleasant, but the rest of the stay didn’t feel worth the price. We were there for two nights in July, paying 5000 per night, and it felt like a typical Indian homestay with plenty of potential but poor follow-through. There seemed to be gaps in staff training and attention to detail in both rooms and service. I also felt the food wasn’t freshly cooked every time. It made me think that spending a bit more to go to Southeast Asia could be worthwhile, given the big difference in professionalism compared with India.

The quiet setting, friendly service, birdsong in the morning, and even the good tea were lovely. But the rooms, while spacious, weren't in great condition, and the price is very high for what you get. Charging 8000/- for a night calls for a lot more work on the rooms. I won't be back.