Hotel Sunderban

I stayed in Room 51 from Jan 22 to Jan 26. I gave them a pair of tailor-made silk-linen trousers and a merino wool sweater for dry cleaning. Both came back ruined, shrunk and matted, and are now unwearable. The damage is about 400 EUR (40,000 INR). What shocked me was management’s response. Ms. Farzana Irani emailed that I had personally “confirmed” with their contractor that they should use the damaging cleaning process. That’s an absolute lie. Why would a guest agree to have a bespoke suit ruined? I offered a fair settlement of only about 25% of the value, but she didn’t apologize or accept it. They refused any compensation and said the issue was “closed”. Don’t trust this hotel with your belongings. There’s zero accountability and dishonest management.

I’m coming back to Sunderban, but next time I’ll bring extra water bottles so I can make coffee in the morning. The one bottle per guest rule is the only fault I found. After the complimentary water is gone, guests shouldn’t have to pay extra for a night-time bottle after a long day exploring Pune, or for water the next morning. Please offer a choice of bottled water or RO filter water. I returned for the hotel’s peaceful vibe and beautiful grounds. The old building is amazing, decorated with tasteful furniture, and walking through it feels like stepping back in time. There’s good coffee and food on site. The staff are polite and very good, and the team responsible for everyday cleaning and maintenance do a great job. My favorite reason to stay, though, is having a relaxing coffee on the balcony in a comfortable old chair.

The location is convenient, right next to Osho International Meditation Resort, and the rooms are large. But during my three-week stay at Hotel Sunderban in Pune, the property felt old and in need of serious updating. It’s missing basic standards for the price: there was no hot water at the bathroom sink, and the shower temperature kept fluctuating, making it hard to wash comfortably. The fixtures were outdated, dirty, and several weren’t working properly. There were occasional power outages, and the Wi-Fi went down a couple of times, so I couldn’t rely on staying connected. The location and room size give the place potential, but it needs urgent renovation and better basic facilities to reach a reasonable standard.

The mornings are the best part: the big lawn, wooden furniture, and old flooring in the lobby are all lovely. Sunderban and its surroundings are amazing, and getting around from there is so convenient. Don’t miss nearby Zen cafe, essential elements store, French window, and plenty more.