The Grand Sharan

We were nine friends, and the hotel was clean, welcoming, and great value for money. The restaurant had a good variety of delicious food, and the market was close enough to reach on foot. We appreciated the complimentary pick-up and drop to Banganga, which made our Vaishno Devi trip much easier, as well as the location near the railway station. Rooms were spacious, spotless, and very comfortable. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful, always greeting us with a smile and going out of their way for us. We'd happily stay again and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting Katra.

The premium rooms look out over the trikuta range and adkhuwari temple, which added a lot to the stay. There's also a complimentary drop to Banganga and Tarakote, a thoughtful convenience. Breakfast choices were a bit limited, though the food itself tasted good and was well prepared. Overall, a pleasant experience.

I had the prestige suite at The Grand Sharan, Katra for 3 days and 2 nights. The room had quaint wooden-style interiors, with windows looking onto the Trikuta Hills (Vaishnodevi Devi Mountain). The staff were friendly and kind, and their enthusiasm and willingness to help were fantastic.

The service felt careless, and the property's cleanliness was far below what guests should expect. Bedsheets smelled bad and were dirty, and the towels smelled too. We repeatedly called reception for clean towels, bedsheets, and comforters, but even after several requests, the replacements still weren't hygienic. One staff member appeared to have an infection on his hand and was serving food without gloves, which was concerning and unacceptable for health and safety. This was one of the worst hotel stays of my life, and I'd advise future travelers to think twice before booking.