Karan Mahal

The staff and service were beyond amazing, and the food was delicious. After ages away from Srinagar, I stayed at this gorgeous, spectacular property with stunning views. The rooms were outstanding, and our Suite was an absolute delight. Its bathroom was one of the finest I’ve seen in any property. Such a pleasure to stay there.

We were on a short trip, and the entire staff under Aqib were fabulous, including shahid and the others.

The orchard and hillside at Karan Mahal give you walking trails among plenty of flora and fauna, and the small number of rooms, around 7-8, makes the place feel private and personal. It’s a restored 1920s European-style villa that was once a royal residence, with Kashmiri touches like handwoven carpets and carved wooden ceilings. The rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free toiletries, and the staff are attentive and polite. I especially liked the home-cooked food, often drawn from old royal recipes. The setting is striking too, at the foot of Shankaracharya Hill on Gupkar Road. You can look across Dal Lake and the Zabarwan range to the north, or out over the valley toward the Pir Panjal range to the south. It’s a private property of the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir, and a good fit if you want a quiet, historic stay with personal service in Srinagar.

The little details and the attentive, well-trained staff made us feel like we were staying at a distant relative’s home. Meals were homely and thoughtfully put together, and everything we ate was delicious. It’s peaceful here, with Dal Lake in view but noisy tourist areas at a distance, plus a bit of history and culture around the place. We had a lovely stay and would happily come back for a winter holiday. Highly recommend it if you enjoy heritage and quiet.