Geeta Mahal

The rooftop at Geeta Mahal was a lovely surprise, with a guitar, a cool breeze, and a clear view across Jodhpur. My room also looked straight out at Mehrangarh Fort, which I hadn't expected. As a backpacker, I found the location ideal, and the friendly staff were always helpful. The rooms are well kept, the beds are comfortable, and the bathrooms are spotless. The facilities are top class. I was delighted with my stay and would recommend it to anyone wanting an affordable, good hotel.

For 1600 Rs. a night, I didn't think this homestay was worth it. It's set up to give western travellers a local feel, but as an Indian I found it overrated and overpriced. The rooms are tiny and have no ventilation, the toilet smells, and although the bed was good, the AC was noisy. Breakfast costs extra and has very few choices aimed at western travellers. Drinking water wasn't filtered, and there was no complimentary bottle. The one clear advantage is being close to Mehrangarh fort. It's also near the clock tower in the old city market, but the lanes are crowded, dirty and loud, and the road to the homestay is too narrow even for two-wheelers.

The rooftop restaurant has tasty, very cheap Indian food, all vegetarian, with plenty to choose from. The fort view is good, though not the best in the city. My room was a lovely traditional one, fairly spacious and supplied with everything, including a toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, soap, shaving blades and a hairdryer. The wooden windows were amazing, looking over the city from more than one side.

The staff were so helpful throughout, and they gave us a map and tips on what to see. We could walk to both the fort and clock tower from this quiet part of Jodhpur. Our room was nicely decorated and clean, with AC and a fan, and the bathroom was nice too. This was the best value for money we'd had so far.