Beware!!!!!!
I am starting the post with this word because you really have to stay away from this place.
I was brainwashed by YouTube influencers so I booked a cottage here for 10 days and paid advance also. I was looking for rejuvenation and reduction of stress.
I started my day of journey at 5 am, boarded Yeshwantpur train at 7 pm on Vistadome coach. Reached Bantwala at 3.30 pm. Then after 45 minutes of waiting finally got into a crowded bus with my luggage and reached Dharmasthala at 5.30 pm. Finding an auto to Shantivana was a challenge and finally reached Shantivana at 6.30 pm only to find that I was not allowed to check in after 5.30 pm. The security blatantly told me to come in next day after 9.30 am. It was getting dark already, I was in the middle of nowhere, and I didn’t have a place to stay. "Rules are rules ". He said me to reach the receptionist and said you can ask her and if she allows you can stay. The receptionist gave me a big lecture on punctuality and discipline and finally gave in to my plead to stay.
I was homesick, tired from the journey and despair. I started crying. One good doctor on the duty consoled me and told me to rest. Whoever you are, God bless you. Other than him everyone in that management are arrogant, rude and fed with false ideology like you are great as you are doing seva.
Most hotels have better facilities for half of the price charged there for a room which is rs 5000 per day for a cottage. My room was not even swept properly. No towels and thin blankets.
I was given food that night and I will not comment on the taste, you can guess.
The problem was water, there was none. I checked with the receptionist again who doesn’t answer the calls in 2 times calling. Third time is the charm, she will pick up only after 3 times repeated calling. She suggested me to search for water fountain. After much searching, I found water fountain with dirty corroded blackened tumbler chained to the fountain. Desperate times, I drank 2-3 times from it.
No cellphone reception also.
Then I made up mind to not stay further, I booked a bus for next day and checked out next morning. Checking out was not easy, the receptionist gave me earfull and called her manager who gave an earfull and told they will not refund my advance. Even the in-house driver took rs 200 to drop me to the Dharmasthala.
I prayed to lord Manjunatheshwara that day that he will bear my tears fallen on his land and the words spoken to me and my hard-earned money paid to these people, I will regard it as a donation. There is no dharma in his land and hence I will not visit the place again.
Another thing, if you are expecting humility, humbleness, care, soft talks and hospitality then you are in for a shock. People here are rude, self-absorbed, ruthless and don’t care for your feelings. They are fed with false ideologies that they do seva and people are beneath them and they are doing a favor by even accepting them into that place. If you are charging exuberant for the meagre service provided is not seva. I have seen people who devote themselves to the cause. So please don’t use the word "seva" when you don’t know the true meaning of the term.
Most hotels charge half of the price they charge per day and give better service. Rs 5000 per day for a room with thin blankets, no towels, no water, and not even swept is not doing seva but looting openly.
Also, their treatment on lines of fasting is not sustainable in long run. You better include more fruits, vegetables in your diet and have light dinner before sunset. This is more sustainable.
My suggestion is to save money and skip this. I have been to many ayurvedic retreats and they treat people much better and charge on same lines. Food they serve in other ayurvedic retreats are both nutritious and tasty.
Atlast if you stumbled on my review then it is destiny. Hit like and make sure this review comes up first so any people thinking of visiting this place is cautioned. Share this with your friends and family who are planning to visit, this is a tiny seva which you will do for the world. Thank you.