Kolkata's Hidden Gem: Uncover the Luxury of Hotel Shivangan!
Kolkata's Hidden Gem: Hotel Shivangan - A Review From a Real Person (And a Recovering Perfectionist)
Okay, buckle up, because I'm about to spill the (chai) tea on Hotel Shivangan in Kolkata. Forget those sterile, cookie-cutter hotel reviews. This is the real deal, warts and all, from a travel-loving soul who's finally learned to embrace the beautiful, imperfect mess of the world.
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Accessibility: The Welcome Embrace (and a Slight Hiccup)
Let's be honest, navigating the world as someone with mobility needs can be… well, an adventure. Hotel Shivangan, bless its heart, tries. The website boasts "Facilities for disabled guests," and the elevator is a lifesaver. Public areas generally felt navigable, which is a HUGE win in a city like Kolkata. However, I did notice a couple of minor things. The ramp leading into the main restaurant felt just a smidge steep, and I’m not sure all the staff truly understood the nuances. But overall, the intention was there, and that counts for a lot. Rating: 4/5 stars (for effort and generally good execution, but with room for improvement).
On-site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges: Yes! This is a major perk! Being able to effortlessly move between the room and a meal is a game-changer, especially after a long travel day.
Wheelchair Accessible: Generally, yes! See above.
Internet - The Lifeline (Mostly)
Okay, internet. It’s 2024. We need internet. And thankfully, Hotel Shivangan largely delivered.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Hooray! And it was mostly reliable. (More on that "mostly" in a moment.)
- Internet [LAN]: Didn’t test it – seemed a bit 2005.
- Internet services: Seems broad - like maybe they have things to help you get online.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yep! Stronger signal in the lobby, which was great for that sneaky last-minute email check.
The Big Internet Flaw (and My Personal Breakdown): Look, I need the internet for work, people. And there were a couple of frustrating moments. Trying to upload a massive file while battling the afternoon monsoon? Forget about it! I almost chucked my laptop out the window. (Okay, maybe I thought about it. A lot.) Thankfully, the staff were (mostly) sympathetic and rebooting the router did the trick eventually! Rating: 3.5/5 stars (solid, but needs a bit more oomph for serious users).
Things to Do, Ways to Relax - Heaven on Earth (Almost)
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: WHOAAA! The spa is a serious contender for the best part. I spent a glorious, decadent afternoon getting the works – the body scrub was divine. The pool area… oh, the pool area! It's stunning, a perfect oasis from the Kolkata chaos. I spent hours just floating and gazing at the city skyline. The view from the pool? 5/5 stars, no question. The sauna? The steam room? Pure bliss. I’m definitely going back just for that.
- Couple's room: Didn't check it, but if it’s in the same vein as the spa, then yes, please.
Cleanliness and Safety - Breathing Easy (Mostly)
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Okay, the place felt clean. Like, REALLY clean. Post-COVID, I appreciate that. And the hand sanitizer stations were plentiful.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Love this! Gives me a sense of control.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Excellent.
- Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Felt safe and sound.
Side note on Safety: CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms: The whole place felt secure. I felt safe wandering around at any hour (within reason – Kolkata at 3 AM is still Kolkata!).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - A Culinary Adventure
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: This is where Shivangan truly shines. The buffet breakfast was a beast. Seriously, a glorious, carb-filled beast. Dosa, idli, croissants, eggs… the works. The Asian options in the restaurant were also terrific; I particularly enjoyed the… well, I don't remember the name, but it was a spicy noodle dish, and I devoured it. The pool-side bar? Perfect for sundowners. And the room service? 24-hour, which is a godsend after a long day. My only complaint? They could use a few more dessert choices. Because… dessert.
- The Breakfast was a highlight. Let's talk about the idli. Fluffy, perfect, served with the most amazing sambar. Forget Michelin stars; this was true happiness. I may or may not have gone back for seconds… and thirds.
Services and Conveniences - Making Life Easier
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: The service was top-notch. Everyone was helpful and friendly. The convenience store was a lifesaver for late-night cravings. The concierge was incredibly helpful with recommendations. The doorman? A true Kolkata gentleman! Always a smile and a helpful hand.
For the Kids - Family-Friendly Vibes
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Didn’t travel with kids, but the presence of babysitting and kid-friendly options is appreciated.
Access - Easy Peasy
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms: Everything was smooth.
Available in all rooms - The Nitty-Gritty:
Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Okay, the rooms are a lovely mix of modern and comfortable. The bed was GREAT. The blackout curtains saved my sleep schedule. The complimentary tea helped with the jet lag. The safe gave me peace of mind. I'm a sucker for a good bathrobe, and these were heavenly.
- A moment about the Bed and Blackout Curtains: I live for a great night’s sleep. The bed was cloud-like, and the blackout curtains? They were the champions of sleep. I got the best sleep of my life in that hotel.
**Getting Around
Escape to Paradise: Hill Hotel & Resort, Sibolangit's Untouched Beauty
My Hotel Shivangan Kolkata: A Chaotic Love Affair (And That AC!) - A Travel Diary
Okay, so here it is. My Kolkata adventure. I'm supposed to be meticulously documenting everything, a proper travel diary, right? HA! More like a chaotic, caffeine-fueled scribbling spree. But hey, at least it'll be honest. And hopefully, utterly relatable.
Day 1: Arrival & The Air Conditioning Saga (Oh, Lord)
Afternoon (1:00 PM): Landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Everything, even immigration, felt like a humid, bustling ballet. Then the taxi… Let's just say the Kolkata traffic is a living, breathing organism, and I might have clutched my pearls a few times. (Okay, maybe a lot). Finally, finally, arrived at Hotel Shivangan.
Check-in (2:30 PM): The lobby is… something. A bit dated, slightly faded grandeur. The staff is lovely, though! So incredibly polite and helpful. They offered me a welcome drink (sweet mango juice - delicious, but also slightly questionable for my already over-caffeinated state). Got my room key - 6th floor. A glimmer of hope for views!
Room Revelation (3:00 PM): Okay. The room. It’s… adequate. The bed looks comfy. The TV is ancient. But the AC? The air conditioner is the star of this show. It’s… not working quite right. I mean, it’s on, but more like a slightly chilly breeze than actual, life-saving air conditioning.
(3:15 PM): Called reception. Sweet receptionist, bless her heart, promised someone would come up.
(3:45 PM): Someone did come up! A very earnest gentleman with a toolkit. He fiddled. He tinkered. He declared “Fixed!”…. For about five minutes. Then the lukewarm breeze returned.
(4:30 PM): Repeat of the above. This time, I started to feel a little… heated. Not just from the Kolkata humidity, but also from the AC absurdity.
(5:00 PM): Asked for a different room. They're apparently fully booked. The drama! The sweet receptionist looked genuinely mortified. I decided to embrace the heat. (And the sweat. So much sweat.)
(5:30 PM - 8:00 PM): The AC remained a stubborn foe. I spent the next few hours alternating between frantically fanning myself, reapplying deodorant, and staring longingly at the window, imagining the cool embrace of an ocean breeze. I may have also developed a slight, unhealthy obsession with the blinking red light on the AC unit. My emotional state ping-ponged between mild annoyance and the creeping suspicion that I was trapped in a particularly poorly-thought-out episode of "Survivor."
Dinner (8:30 PM): Finally surrendered to the heat. Went down to the hotel restaurant, because I was too lazy to venture out. Food was… okay. The chicken tikka was a bit dry, but the service was impeccable. And, blessedly, the restaurant had working AC. Felt like a blessed oasis. Ordered far too much water.
Night (9:30 PM onwards): Back in the room. The AC? Still broken. Sleep? Intermittent. My sheets are damp. Kolkata, you are proving to be a challenge. But, you know what? There's something undeniably… interesting about this. Maybe this is just the initiation.
Day 2: City of Joy (And Street Food Delights & Temple Hopping)
Morning (8:00 AM): Woke up… slightly delirious. The AC drama continued. The sweat, oh, the sweat! I decided on a new strategy: acceptance. Armed myself with multiple bottles of water and a resolve to not let the lack of cool air ruin my day. Down to the complimentary breakfast in the hotel. Decent. Dosas are delicious!
Exploring (9:30 AM): Took a walk around Hotel Shivangan. It seems like a good location. I decided to venture out into the madness of Kolkata. Holy moly. The sensory overload! Sound, smells, sights… It’s like the world is a giant, bustling marketplace.
New Market (10:30 AM): Oh. My. Goodness. New Market. A massive, chaotic labyrinth of stalls selling everything imaginable. From cheap trinkets to exquisite silks. The energy is electrifying, and I swear, I lost track of time in there. Ended up buying a sari for my mother (hope she likes it!). Successfully haggled (I think).
Street Food Adventure (12:30 PM): Fueling up! Kolkata’s street food is legendary. I, being the adventurous type (and also desperately hungry), plunged into the delicious depths. Tried golgappas (amazing!), aloo chop (spicy!), and a kathi roll (a pure, greasy, delightful wonder). My stomach is a happy, satisfied, slightly nervous vessel. I’m hoping I don’t regret this later. (But honestly, I probably won’t). My taste buds are doing a happy dance.
Temples & Serenity (3:00 PM): Seeking a bit of respite from the chaos, I visited Dakshineswar Kali Temple. It's beautiful and peaceful. I lit a candle and just stood and watched, the devotional chanting washing over me. Felt… calmer. Grounded. (Needed that after the market!)
Victoria Memorial (5:00 PM): Strolled through the grounds. Majestic. But the humidity was brutal, and I was melting again.
Evening (7:00 PM): Back to the hotel. The AC? Still a valiant, but defeated, soldier. Embracing the heat, really accepting it. I think I might actually be getting toughened.
Dinner (8:00 PM): Found a small, local restaurant near the hotel. My first foray out of hotel-centric food. It's the real deal. The food is incredible, the conversations are easy, and the bill is practically non-existent.
Night (9:30 PM onwards): More water. More sweating. More acceptance. Maybe tomorrow… maybe tomorrow the AC will finally give in. Maybe tomorrow, it'll be blissfully cool… or maybe this has become a twisted game of survival!
Day 3: The AC - My Nemesis!
Morning (8:00 AM): Woke up. Yep. The AC. Still broken. This is a battle of wills now, I swear.
I’m taking a day trip outside of Kolkata today! Wish me luck! This Hotel Shivangan, and the AC situation, is a mixed bag. But I am starting to love Kolkata. Even the AC.
(The diary continues… with more street food, more temples, and the ongoing, ridiculous, and utterly endearing tale of the air conditioning saga. But you get the picture, right? This isn't a perfect trip. It's a messy, delightful adventure, full of unexpected twists, sweaty moments, and a growing affection for this chaotic, captivating city and it's hotel. And as for the AC? Well, let’s just say the struggle continues… with a smile.)
Escape to Udaipur: Bonjour Paradise Awaits!
Hotel Shivangan: Kolkata's Secret, Exposed (Maybe a Little Too Much!) - Your FAQ Guide
Prepare for a whirlwind of luxury, maybe a rogue samosa, and some seriously honest opinions about Kolkata's hidden delight.
So, Shivangan... Is it *really* a hidden gem? Like, actually?
Okay, let's be real. "Hidden gem" is a travel cliché, right? But in Kolkata, amidst the chaos and charm, Shivangan *kind of* lives up to it. I mean, I've lived here for years, and even I stumbled upon it by accident! My friend, bless her heart, booked it for a "fancy spa weekend" – which, let me tell you, I needed after dealing with the monsoon traffic for a week. Turns out, yes, it's tucked away beautifully. Think lush greenery, a quiet you wouldn't believe existed in this city. It's not in the thick of the tourist madness, thank God. So, yeah, hidden-ish. Not secret agent levels of hidden, but you won't find it on the main tourist trail, and THAT'S part of its charm. It's a real escape. Plus, the samosas... we'll get to the samosas.
What's the vibe like? Is it stuffy and formal?
Oh, thank heavens, NO! I'm allergic to stuffiness. Shivangan manages to be luxurious without being pretentious. The staff are genuinely lovely, not the overly-polished, robotic type. They're friendly, helpful, and laugh with you when you inevitably spill your morning chai all over yourself (ahem, speaking from experience). It's got a relaxed, almost colonial feel, but with modern touches. Think breezy cotton kurtas, the scent of jasmine in the air, and the gentle clink of ice in a gin and tonic. Okay, maybe I'm romanticizing a little. But it's a world away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. It feels like a refuge, a place to actually *breathe*. And believe me, in Kolkata, that’s a HUGE plus.
Tell me about the rooms! Are they as luxurious as they claim?
Alright, the rooms. Yes. They *are*. Seriously. I stayed in one with a balcony overlooking the pool, and honestly, I almost didn't leave. The beds are like sinking into a cloud of pure bliss. The bathrooms are… well, let's just say I took more baths there than I have in the last year combined. Lush, huge bathtubs, amazing toiletries… It was borderline obscene, in the best possible way. Now, I will admit, on our last trip, the air conditioning in my friend's room was being… temperamental. It was "Kolkata cool" rather than "Arctic blast". They fixed it quickly (and even offered a complimentary bottle of wine! Score!), but it's a tiny imperfection reflecting the reality of dealing with the humidity. But the whole experience is pretty damn amazing. Did I mention the robes? Thick, fluffy, perfect robes. I may or may not have tried to smuggle one home. Don't judge me.
Okay, let's talk food. Is the restaurant as good as the hype?
THE FOOD! This is where Shivangan truly shines! The restaurant, "The Spice Route," is a dream. They do amazing, authentic Bengali cuisine, but also have a fantastic international menu. I’m talking melt-in-your-mouth fish, the perfect biryani (a Kolkata staple, trust me, I know my biryani), and even a surprisingly good pizza. The breakfast buffet is legendary. You have everything you could possibly want, from fresh fruit and pastries to the most divine *aloo paratha* I've ever tasted. Seriously, I'm drooling just thinking about it. BUT...here's a confession. On one of our visits, I ordered something...it was a chicken dish. And let's just say, it wasn't the best chicken I've ever eaten. A bit dry, a bit...meh. Was I devastated? Perhaps slightly. But the overall experience, the ambience, the other incredible dishes? It was just a blip. Plus, they more than made up for it the next day. And the samosas… oh, the samosas at tea time! Crispy, perfectly spiced, and served with a fiery chutney. I'd go back just for those samosas, honestly. Actually, maybe I'll book a room just for the samosas. Don't tell anyone, though.
What about service? Is it attentive without being intrusive?
This is where Shivangan really excels. The staff is what makes this place special. Remember that chai incident? I had a full-blown mortification of my own clumsiness, and the waiter, instead of making me feel like a total idiot, just calmly brought me a fresh cup and a stack of napkins, and then apologized *to me*. Seriously, that kind of genuine kindness is rare. And you know, they remember your name, your preferences. They're attentive without being in your face constantly. They’re there when you need them, but they also respect your space. They're not just employees; they seem to genuinely care about making your stay wonderful. This matters, especially after chaotic Kolkata adventures!
Is there a spa? And is it worth it? I need pampering!
Yes! There's a spa, and YES. It's totally worth it! My friend and I spent an entire afternoon getting pampered. The treatments are amazing, the masseuses are skilled, and the whole spa is designed for ultimate relaxation. I had a deep tissue massage, and it was pure heaven. Knots I didn't even *know* I had were gently kneaded away. We also tried the facials, which left our skin glowing. Afterwards, we just lounged around by the pool, sipping cool drinks, feeling like we'd been reborn. Seriously, if you need to de-stress, the spa is a must-do. It's an investment in your sanity, trust me.
Any downsides? Be honest!
Okay, okay, honesty time. Every place has its quirks. As mentioned before, sometimes the AC can be a little… unpredictable. The Wi-Fi can be a bit dodgy at times, which is a minor inconvenience when you're trying to upload Instagram stories of your glorious spa day, but hey, it forces you to disconnect -- and, really, maybe that's a good thing! Also, it's not *cheap*. It’s definitely a splurge. But considering the quality, the service, and the overall experience, I'd say it's worth it. Also, while the location is great for tranquility, it does mean you are slightly away from the thick of things. You'll need to use taxis or ride-sharing to get to the major tourist attractions. But honestly, the peace and quiet are worth the short commute. And finally, I repeat: the occasional dry chicken. But I’ve gotten over it, mostly.
Roam And Rests
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