Hotel Bhairon Vilas

Hotel Bhairon Vila was an absolute delight. This amazing hotel is full of the past and the incredible decor and collection of artefacts / antiques from years gone by is incredible. I was totally in ore of all the quirkiness! Everywhere you look there is another amazing piece of art or an antique or incredible room with its amazing colours and decor. There are many different seating areas within the well kept grounds of this beautiful establishment as well as a stunning swimming pool area. My accommodation was great and very clean and comfortable with a fantastic bathroom. All staff were very helpful and polite. There is a beautiful coffee shop and bar area within the property which must be seen! Also the proprietor’s cousin has just recently opened a restaurant within the grounds, which is extremely good, with the most delicious food A big thank you to Harsh, the owner, and all his staff for such a memorable stay🙏

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Overall, I can give this hotel an unambivalent recommendation, but with some caveats: Room: best things first. We stayed in 102 (the bright red and yellow deluxe room), and it was amazing; every bit as quirky, spacious, beautiful and characterful as the pictures. I love rooms with a historical feel, and this one delivered in spades. In addition to the quirk factor, there were ample electrical outlets, and the shower had adequate water pressure and plenty of (very) hot water. Grounds: it's a lovely heritage property, beautifully decorated with historical pictures and artefacts. It's a bit dilapidated, but that's part of the appeal.  Staff/service: here is where things went downhill. My standards are not all that exacting, but this place is not, to put it mildly, a well-oiled machine. Communication about our reservation was unclear and often required multiple emails. During our stay, there were lots of staff around, some more earnest and helpful than others, but communication was very difficult, in part due to the language barrier and in part due to a lack of basic knowledge. When is breakfast? Anyone's guess. Is the restaurant open for dinner? Again, this is unclear. Can we have more water, toilet paper, etc.? Both were eventually provided, but the request seemed to unduly flummox the staff. In addition, the front desk is manned  inconsistently, necessitating a lot of hunting around for people who may or may not be equipped to answer your question. On the upside, most staff were gracious, and when we arrived very early they let us eat breakfast for free and made our room available well before check-in. In addition, Harsh, the owner, was very friendly, attentive and easy to communicate with. Location: the surrounding area is gritty and chaotic. I expected that, and actually rather enjoyed it, but be aware that cows, garbage, honking scooters, etc. are everywhere. Very little English is spoken, and I attracted a fair amount of attention as a White *** walking around on my own. For me, this was not at all a negative, but be aware before you book.  Food: breakfast was basic but more than adequate: eggs, toast, jam, butter, fruit, the ubiquitous Nescafe, etc. Dinner was made available one night and was simply atrocious. Nearby restaurants are few and far between: Jeeman's, a five-minute walk away, makes a fine thali and offers takeout. Overall, an interesting and memorable stay in a fantastic property that could be a great overall establishment with a little more attention to customer service.

Bhairon Vilas is more than a hotel, it is a 'must experience' history tale. Staff and owner, Mr Harsh, are top notch and so helpful. Bikaner is an underrated city. It's thé least commercial and thé most pleasant of all Rajasthani towns. Don't skip it.