Hotel Gandhara

We arrived at night and found nobody at reception. A man who was supposedly the owner came over, and we bargained the rate down from 3k to 2.2k per night. We paid upfront for 2 nights, but his attitude changed after that. He wouldn't even give us an extra pillow, although most rooms seemed empty. There were no water bottles, and the swimming pool was unclean.

I booked 2 days through Agoda and paid with my credit card. A few minutes later I got an email saying the hotel couldn't authenticate the card and asking me to update the payment details. Since then, I can't reach any of the hotel's phone numbers, the listed email address is invalid, and nobody is replying to Agoda's message to the property. I don't know what to do. Bad experience.

We were happy with our 3 night stay in April 2023, especially for what we paid at a reasonable rate. CT Road is a good location, with shops and eateries nearby. Autos and Totos run from early morning until late at night, the beach is about a 5 minute walk away, and the station isn't far either. The hotel is decent and well maintained. Its swimming pool isn't very big, but it's nice to sit beside it and chat or have drinks. Service was prompt and good, and the restaurant served tasty food in good portions. It wasn't very spicy. The room was the letdown: quite small, poorly ventilated, and had a few minor cleanliness problems. Staff sorted those out after we mentioned them. A few staff members could have been more courteous, though it wasn't a major issue. One thing to check before booking: breakfast isn't included with every tariff, despite what the hotel details say.

I checked out today, and I regret choosing Hotel Gandhara Puri in Odisha. The place felt neglected, with dim lighting, poor cleanliness, and a constant unpleasant smell in the hallways. My room wasn't comfortable or restful either. The bedding was stained, the furniture looked old and worn, and the bathroom had dirty fixtures and faulty plumbing. Staff were rude, unprofessional, and seemed uninterested in helping. Their attitude was unwelcoming from check-in through check-out, and asking for help felt like a nuisance. For such poor conditions and service, the hotel is overpriced. I wouldn't recommend Hotel Gandhara Puri.