Chonor House

We were excited to book this beautiful property, but the arrival was a horrible experience. There was no one at the main entrance or any contact person when we got there, and the reception took no responsibility for guests arriving. Guests are also expected to tell the property what time they'll arrive. There was no proper parking, either. I could have written something nice if I had actually stayed there.

The room was large, looked clean and was okay, and the bathroom was surprisingly good. But we'd booked a queen room and were given a twin instead. The staff didn't seem concerned until the travel agent stepped in. It was very noisy, with dogs barking and people shouting late at night, then starting again before 5am. Breakfast was dire, and the terrace, though nice, was unkempt. All in all, a poor experience.

Chonor House is just a 2-minute walk from the Dalai Lama's temple complex, which is its best feature. My spacious room had a balcony facing a courtyard and, beyond it, the Dalai Lama complex. It didn't have a hairdryer or TV, though neither mattered much to me; I mention it for completeness. The climb is the main drawback: there's a short but very steep hill, followed by more stairs up to reception. There's no elevator, so it isn't suitable for anyone with mobility issues. The restaurant was adequate for dinner, but after the first few meals we went elsewhere. Breakfasts were extremely meager. And every night, the large dog population seemed to have barking sessions at 2 and 5 am.

When our flight was cancelled, the staff arranged a taxi to take us back to Delhi, which made a stressful situation much easier. They were kind and accommodating throughout, and I felt very well looked after. The rooms were lovely too. I'd happily stay here again.