Bhakti Kutir Huts

The location is convenient, within walking distance of two beaches and surrounded by nature. There’s also a Shala you can use on your own or join for the daily classes. But the dorm experience was poor, and it seems the private rooms get much more attention. The pictures make the place look fancier than it is, so I was disappointed. The rooms aren’t secluded, most are visible or right beside each other. With the open walls, it was bright and noisy at 6.30 am. I stayed in a dorm with a thin, hard mattress and a weak bunk that shook with normal movement all night. It was dirty when I checked in. The same dead bugs and a previous guest’s underwear were there when I arrived and still there when I left three days later, so the bathroom clearly wasn’t cleaned daily. There was no door lock, no light or toilet paper in the toilet, and they put me in the top bunk even though the bottom one was empty. Not a place for light sleepers. The Wi-Fi also didn’t work every morning. I arrived during check-in hours but had to wait because the reception guy was having dinner. It felt like camping, except you’re paying for a room.

The eco-huts are hand-built and rustic, blending into the forest in a lush two-acre coconut grove. It feels like a peaceful escape from the usual tourist route, just moments from Colomb and Palolem beaches, with tropical birds around in the morning. The staff were warm and treated us like family. The kitchen serves organic vegetarian and vegan food, and the fresh smoothies and house-baked breads are must-tries. There’s an open-air shala for yoga, and you can book traditional Ayurvedic treatments. Bhakti Kutir is a beautiful sanctuary that encourages a more mindful way of living. I can’t wait to return.

I paid 2200 INR for a dorm and expected something premium, but this was the shadiest place I’ve ever stayed. The photos online are nowhere close to how it actually looks. The reception is in a separate building, far inside from the dorms. The dorm is upstairs in another building, reached by steep, narrow wooden stairs that don’t feel safe to climb. The beds look like metal ones from government hospitals, and the washrooms are downstairs. The kitchen feels like a second-hand garage full of used, broken things. I was very disappointed and didn’t feel safe staying there. I just hoped the night would end soon.

We were close to the beach and town, with plenty of cafés and shops nearby. The café here was cozy too, serving delicious freshly cooked food, coffee, tea, and chai. Staff were kind and helpful. There’s yoga every morning, and you can book an Ayurveda massage or other treatments. The lush greenery and lovely jungle sounds made it a special place. Heavy rain lasted for big parts of the day and night, and some water dripped into our room, but the team got right on fixing it.