Padmini Nivas Hotel Reviews

The drive from Dehradun to Mussoorie can enchant any global traveller, with the magnificent lush thick green shivaliks hills giving tough competition to south-France hills. But Mussoorie itself with narrow roads and crowded, less maintained 'popular' destinations dilutes the overall experience. In such a mixed destination, Padmini Niwas just adds some more of the same. As a heritage hotel, it is truly set in old-style, high-ceiling, ornate structure and thus charms a lot of loyal visitors and first timers alike. The view from some of the valley-facing rooms is breath-taking and the view from swing at the entrance, makes the small trek to the mall road from the hotel worth its while. Food and service is not great but the superlative view, the proximity to the mall road and reasonable prices (at Rs. 1800 per room), truly makes it a worthwhile experience.

Best Experience: The lazy morning read on the garden chairs at the quiet entrance was beautiful and the swing ride at the entrance overlooking the sun setting in the valley was a very sacred moment.

Worst Experience: The laid back service is still basking under the old-world charm of the hotel. Arguably what one of the oldest hotel in the 'Queen of Hills' Mussoorie service is not what you'd expect in any contemporary hotels. Delays in getting the handwash/soaps and postponement to give towels in the night, just being an example. Nevertheless, a place worth visiting again for its sheer quaint heritage beauty. But avoid taking elders with asthama, heart, arthritis problems as even the short trek to mall road sans private vehicle can be tiring for them.