Gurukulam Hostel

The rooms weren't clean, and this isn't a good choice. It's very close to rock beach, but I'd keep it as a very last option, especially for girls. It might work for guys on a tight budget who are okay with unclean rooms. If you can spend another 300-400, get a better room.

The owner was nice, and when I asked about the condition, he said they were making changes to the property. Still, the rooms and washrooms were unkempt and stinky, and the place felt like an under-construction building. Boys might manage for one night, but I wouldn't recommend it at all to female travelers or for longer. It wasn't worth the around Rs. 540 I paid through Goibibio.

The one thing going for HOSTEL 111 by Gurukulam is that it's near the beach. The owner seemed amiable, but after I cut short my planned 4-night stay, the promised refund never came. That left me with a bitter impression of an unreliable place that badly needs improvement. My stay was disappointing from the outset and became untenable because of the lack of privacy, poor hygiene, and safety concerns. I stayed in a four-person dormitory, with eight people across two rooms. One bed was bamboo and the other iron. In the hot weather there was no AC, and the fan and cooler did little to help. Mosquitoes made it worse. The staircase was hazardous, squeezed between two walls with nothing to hold onto. The bathrooms were the biggest letdown. They had little privacy: people on the neighboring building's rooftop could easily look in, and there was a large hole in the toilet wall. The toilet was dirty and smelly, amenities malfunctioned, the lighting was abysmal, and basics like handwash were missing. Tin doors added to the insecure feeling. Rainwater stood in the neglected kitchen. There were stools and a table with colored bulb covers, but the atmosphere was bleak. The balcony and the bamboo-built rooftop area meant for activities like carrom were also unkempt and seemed unstable.

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. This place really is an experience. The hosts and the feeling around the place were like home, in a humbling setting at a prime location. The healthy, delicious breakfast is a treat for the senses. Everyone will take away a different story. I can't recommend it enough for the warmth you'll find here.