Hoysala Village Resort — Hotel in Karnataka

I recently had the immense pleasure of staying at the Hoysala Village Resort in Hassan, Karnataka, and the experience was nothing short of magical. This resort is a perfect blend of traditional Indian charm and modern luxury, seamlessly built with Indian-ness and sustainability at its core. Every corner of this property echoes the rich cultural heritage of India, and it truly feels like a serene escape into the heart of Karnataka’s traditions.

From the moment we arrived, we were treated to a traditional welcome that made us feel incredibly special. The warm hospitality, coupled with an authentic Indian touch, set the perfect tone for our stay. After a smooth check-in process, we were offered a refreshing organic welcome drink — a thoughtful gesture that emphasized the resort’s commitment to sustainability and healthy living.

One of the most memorable moments was the Tulsi Pooja and Arati at the on-site Sai Baba temple. The ceremony was conducted with deep devotion and was accompanied by soulful bhajans, creating a spiritual and calming atmosphere. It was a beautiful experience that added to the resort’s traditional charm.

The room service was impeccable, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. A special highlight was the cake-cutting ceremony they arranged for us — featuring an Indian traditional cake — which added a personal and heartfelt touch to our stay. To make the evening even more memorable, they decorated our dinner table, creating a romantic and intimate ambiance.

Dinner was an absolute delight, with a variety of traditional Indian dishes that were both flavorful and authentic. We received individual attention and thoughtful suggestions for our meal, thanks to the exceptional service provided by Harish and Ramesh. Their hospitality truly enhanced our dining experience.

The resort’s ambience is steeped in tradition, with sophisticated rooms that strike the perfect balance between rustic charm and modern comfort. The pathways leading to the rooms are beautifully designed, allowing guests to connect with nature as they explore the resort grounds. One of the most fascinating sights was the Rudrakshi tree — a rare find in South India — which captivated our attention and added to the resort’s uniqueness.

Our second day began on an auspicious note with a Gow Pooja, a serene and spiritual start to the day. Breakfast was another delightful experience, offering a variety of dishes that were both delicious and wholesome.

What truly set our stay apart, however, was the genuine warmth and care extended by the staff. Special thanks to Ashwini, Manjula, and Bhagya, whose greetings and guidance made our experience even more memorable. Their kindness and hospitality reflected the resort's deep-rooted Indian values and traditions.

Overall, our stay at Hoysala Village Resort was deeply satisfying. The resort’s commitment to preserving Indian culture and heritage is evident in every detail — from its architecture to its spiritual ceremonies. The experience is further enriched by its proximity to the historic Belur and Halebeedu temples, making it an ideal retreat for those seeking a cultural and spiritual getaway.

I wholeheartedly recommend Hoysala Village Resort to anyone looking for an authentic Indian experience wrapped in luxury and sustainability. It’s more than just a stay — it’s a journey into the soul of Karnataka’s...

We took the suite with the bathtub and stayed for 3 nights which costed us around 16k rupees per night. The experience was disappointing/below average for the price.

This review will be based off of other resorts/hotels that we have stayed at which are cheaper or of the same price as this.

Good things: Incredible room decor. The furniture, the colors and the lighting is very good. It gives off a traditional rusty vibe which I have never seen anywhere before. The greenery and natural elements of the resort are amazing. You can hear only crickets in the night and peacocks in the morning. The staff tries hard to attend to you but falls short due to the limited facilities.

Not so good. NO WIFI!! They have no wifi and the connectivity in the room is poor at best. They just have cable tv and it isnt even a smart TV. The mattress and pillows were a disaster. They smelled of dampness and felt like more than 10 years old. It was uncomfortable to sleep on. The food fell wayyy short of expectations. We opted for half board (breakfast and dinner). First off, during both meals, there was no mention of exactly what is available for us to eat. They provide a traditional breakfast on banana leaves in the morning which is good. But they dont mention anywhere that they also have omelettes. We specifically asked for them and the staff said they are available. Why not just tell the guests what all is available? The dinner is very underwhelming. Again, they didnt mention what kind of indian breads do they have and we randomly asked the tandoor guy if they had garlic naan and he said yes. Why not just tell us or write it somewhere. No one tells you exactly what is on offer and you just have to figure out on your own by asking around. They didnt tell us what activities are on offer. On our last night while strolling in the resort, we saw a board outside the reception with a poster listing down the bird watching and other activities they have everyday. And no one told us that. The woman who checked us in and showed us our room was quite through the entire way to our room while she could have told us all that. Getting your room cleaned was a nightmare. We left the hotel the first day and asked the reception to get our room cleaned. I asked him if he needed the key and he said no. Then when we arrived, the room was not cleaned, called the reception they told us that they do require the keys to clean. We sat for 10 minutes outside waiting for our room to be cleaned. Then we realised the didnt give us hand towels nor did they replace the water bottles!! Throughout the stay, the NEVER refilled the coffee sachets, tea bags, soaps or shampoos. This happened again the second day and we had to remind them to give everything. The pool is good but for some reason there are no showers and changing rooms around the pool. I have not seen this anywhere else. The bathtub in the room was horribly dirty. We filled it up but later saw that it had dead mosquitoes and insects and hair floating around in the water.

Overall, not recommended for the price we paid. I would recommend this if you were paying 6000-7000 rupees per night but not...

Value for Money: 0/5 Been here for the third time in last 4-5 years span of time. Literally everything has degraded but not their prices. Money minded people who lost all focus on "Athithi dewo bhawa". Nothing in this resort has value for money. Rooms gives you a feel like dungeon with dim lighting plus poor air flow until you choose a room with balcony. Right from stay to food nothing is of quality. I would rather waste my money somewhere else where i am welcomed and taken care of at least.

Food quality: 1/5 People who are giving 5/5 have no idea what kind of spreads are offered in buffets by other reputable resorts. Food taste was very mediocre. These folks charged 1000/- per plate with limited items(90% of the items are north indian dishes, no malnad cuisine or south indian cuisine). The only counter of akki roti and sweet chapathi is available that gives you a feeling of tasting south indian food. While we were dining this time, disappointed with their spread and lack of local cuisine, we ordered one king fish fry. They served a saltless-tasteless fish fry to us. When we raised the issue, the staff was rude and said chef thinks its fine. They didnt had the courtesy to process the fish as per our requirement. They charged for that tasteless fish for 700 bucks. i almost fell from chair with their attitude and nerve of saying "you dont like dont eat, but pay in full." When we tried make them understand the issue, one of their staff said dont tell me your stories please pay. We paid for the uneaten fish in full.

Hospitality: 1/5 I am giving 1 star only for an old-aged man who came and apologized for his staff's behavior. I have stayed and dined at better and mediocre places too but this level of customer service was never been the case. They have a long way to go when it comes to serve customers. They lost us for lifetime and i will ensure none of family and friends go there. In fact, after seeing us so dissatisfied and disappointed with their staff's behavior they still went ahead and charged for that fish which we left 80% uneaten.

Cleanliness: 0/5 The tables were not cleaned properly before giving it to new guests. There were no glasses and spoons kept on the table. Table mats were so dirty that you wont even feel like eating in peace. The waiters were not maintaining any hygiene while serving.

Covid precautions: 0/5 When entire world is facing this pandemic, these guys went so easy on handling guests. It was overcrowded when we reached. None of the front office folks wore mask or even checked our temperature. No social distancing norms were followed. There were no sanitizers placed plus 80% of the staffs were not wearing masks too.

Overall experience: 1/5 This is not the place that will give you wow feeling. After driving all the way from Bangalore , this was the least expected experience I imagined to encounter. At least my husband and I are not going here again and our family and friends are warned to visit this place too. Hope the detailed review helps. Do not go by 5/5 ratings, those are...