Highlands Park — Hotel in Jammu and Kashmir

We two families stayed at Hotel Highlands Park on 3rd November 2015. In the entire property there were no guest on 3rd November 2015 except us. The hotel is in fact assemble of group of cottages scattered in a wide spread area. The heating system in room was traditional 'Bukhari'. Generate sufficient heat to combat extreme cold as low as -8 degree. At night on that day Internet showed -8 degree. We found snow covered lawn in the following morning when we woke up. Each room was assisted with an 'Attendant'. They used to wait outside of the room except during sleep. Took care all the needs during our stay. Sometimes we felt it excess though. Dining hall is away from our cottage. We had to go there during dinner time and at the time of breakfast along the lawn. There is no shaded walkway to reach there. It is a negetive point of that hotel. Dining hall is a heritage one and must see for the tourist. Main problem of the hotel is the accessibility to dining hall during snowfall. We also faced the same. During checked out faced the same problem, as there was continuous snowfall and Car was waiting far way from the property at the backside road. Driver did not take the risk to drive the car up to hotel as the road became very slippery. Reception is tiny one. Though all the hotel staffs were so helpful we did not face enough problem to carry our luggage to our car. Staffs even arranged umbrella and took hands of my wife and daughter to trek down snow-capped lawn, which was found little bit slippery too. There is no BAR in the hotel as the Bar licence has been expired as told before us. Therefore, we could not enjoy dinner in that beautifully décor Heritage Dining Hall. During dinner we surprisingly found one piece of the supplied cut-Lemon vanished from our table. In spite of searches we could not locate that. Called Hotel Staffs who were supplying food in our table. But it remained as mystery. We returned in our cottage after dinner with a mixed filling of scary as well as humour. In room too my daughter pointed out that she placed cell phone in front of her but after sometime it was noticed that the said cell phone was away from the place. At that time nobody in the room changed their respective position. This also created a mixed feeling. This property is very old one Reportedly famous Hindi Movie of 70's shoot there. Inside the room was fine and clean but hotel needs urgent renovation, as I felt. During snowfall in the following day we played in the lawn like a child. Snapped some lifetime photographs. Overall I shall remember the property- Hotel Highlands Park for the courteous and helpful behaviour of all the staffs from room attendant, dining staffs as well as those who helped us during checkout even. It was a memorable stay there in Gulmarg on 3rd....

Atop a hillock. |Surrounded by meadows and snow mountains. |Beautiful breathtaking views all around which is a plus point for this place.|Free Car parking available. |You have to walk up a few steps from the car park to reach the reception. |Check in and Check out is quick. Check out time is 12 noon.|Rooms are located at different levels. Some are a few minutes walk from the reception.|'Bobby' suite is at the top.|There is a lawn and sit out chairs with umbrellas in front of each room. |Room size is small with a bukhari ( for heating). There is a heater in the toilet also. There is a small dressing room between the bedromm and bath.. Big screen TV in the room.|Room interiors are wood panelled and toilets are modern with a bath tub. Interconnected rooms also available. No tea/coffee maker in the room. In room safe is available. Toiletries are provided. Free WiFi available.|The floor in our room was sunk in one area which was covered with a carpet.|At times monkeys jump on the roof and can disturb especially if one is having an afternoon siesta.|Restaurant and a lounge bar is situated next to the reception. One has to climb a few steps to reach there. The lounge bar is tastefully decorated and overlooks the meadows and the mountains with comfortable seating. One of the very few hotels in Kashmir with a bar.|Breakfast is ala carte. Apart from fresh fruit one can order eggs/parathas/poori/upma/poha etc. Service is quick|Lunch and dinner food menu includes mughlai, kashmiri,and Chinese vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. Dinner time starts at 7.30 PM and last order for dinner is at 9.30 PM. Food is cooked well and the portions are reasonable. The roti is very big in size so small eaters should order only one.|There is a wait staff sitting all the time near a group of rooms for any service if needed.|The staff is very friendly...

We went for the second time to Highlands park restaurant. The first time was very nice - the food was good and the service was good.

The second time we went there - we ordered mutton Yakhni which is a curd based dish, we poured some rice and some yakhni with meat pieces on our plate. Right when mixing the food, we noticed LITTLE BLUE PIECES OF something in the gravy on our plate. After careful examination we noticed they were small pieces of plastic. We were shocked to see that. We didn’t call the manager , thinking this could be a one time mistake and told the waiter to see what we found. He immediately took it back and we ordered something else. The chef sent us a complementary dish too.

When we were billed , rice bowl was included in that which we didn’t eat and most of it was on our plates which the waiter took back. We didn’t notice the bill.

Later we check that we were charged for rice which is for 300 rs. Next date which is today- we came back and saw the manager, we explained the whole situation but his reaction was very strange. He behaved as if we had put plastic pieces in our own food for no reason and he implied that we had eaten all of the rice. On top of that , before taking our order, the manager says- Sir would that problem reoccur today?? Is that a question he should be asking or we?? We had come a long way to have lunch- but we are very disappointed with the behaviour of...