Hotel Shakuntala

Handy location, clean, comfortable rooms, and staff who were friendly and attentive.

We’ve stayed here twice as a family when coming to Katra for Mata Vaishno Devi ji darshans, and we always prefer it because of the staff and location. It’s on Kashmir road near the old bazar, and close to the busstand too. The owner is polite and helpful with guidance. Staff were helpful, the rooms were clean and well ventilated, and the hotel has its own car parking. Big vehicles like Travellers and buses can use the nearby Government parking. They host groups from many states and let their cooks use the kitchen to make food from their region. The old bazar nearby has a good range of quality food, gifts, souvenirs, and Jammu and Kashmir dry fruits such as almonds and walnuts, plus local treats like Amloke and dried apples for family and friends.

The receptionist demanded 1000 rs for a towel I used, saying it had a temple Tilak mark that could have been washed. The staff were abusive and rude, with no service. The rooms were horribly unclean, the beds smelled inside, and there was no drinking water. The washroom had no water either. Nobody should stay here.

For this price, everything was good and I have no real complaints. The rooms are large and clean, the toilet is decent, and the staff and room service were helpful. Location's good too, not far from the main road and not right in the middle of the chaos. Free Wi-Fi worked well.