Esha Heritage Inn

Esha Heritage was probably the worst hotel experience I’ve had in my 64 years. The room had broken, worn-out furniture, lots of mold, broken lights, and no control for the A/C. We could even see a connection glowing on the main electrical pole outside. The advertised kitchen was just a teapot, with no coffee or tea. I didn’t trust the water bottle and never checked whether the pot worked. The linens were stained; after I asked for more, they brought only a duvet, with no bottom sheet or pillowcases. The bathroom was extremely dirty and clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly in a long time. The shower seals and grout between the tiles were brown and moldy, and the caulking around the doors was dry and crumbling. The toilet was dirty under the seat rim and on the underside when lifted, and behind the closed lid where it attaches. The listing was plainly misleading. There was no full-service restaurant or spa or wellness center, despite the sign at the hotel entrance advertising one. “Sea views” applied to only two rooms. From those, the view was of two empty, trashed lots, electrical wires, and just a slice of the sea wall and ocean beyond.

Mr. Renjith, the manager, treated us very well, and the sea-view rooms were the one positive part of our stay at Esha Heritage Inn. We’d arrived with high expectations, but the room furniture and amenities were worn out and poorly maintained. The water wasn’t available when we arrived, and we waited 4 ½ hours to use the wash. It kept getting interrupted after that, too. Since the hot water ran on solar, it was available only in the afternoon. The corridor was pitch-dark in the morning because they hadn’t switched on the lights. We had to keep asking a technician for help because the TV, centralized AC, and even the kettle kept malfunctioning. The walls were covered in fungus, and the small teapoy had sharp edges that seemed dangerous if you weren’t careful. They said breakfast was a buffet, but the menu didn’t meet the standard I’d expect from one. The tariff was the only thing that matched a 3-star facility. What they actually provided was below a normal lodge.

Only two rooms face the sea, and there’s no lift. It’s a small place, but it’s kept in good condition. The beach is very close, both kattadi and cherai, and the area is quiet. Breakfast was good, and the restaurant was clean and well organized. The staff were cooperative and efficient. A clean, pleasant place to stay, and I’d recommend it in cherai.

The setting was memorable, with the sea out front and the lake behind. I had a great stay, and the rooms were looked after by dedicated staff. Thanks so much to you all for making our time there unforgettable, especially rocky and the other helpful staff.