Manas Resort, Igatpuri [Petting Zoo and Organic Farm] — Hotel in Maharashtra

We stayed at Manas Resort (Original) Petting Zoo and Organic Farm for a night. The resort is advertised as a 4-star property and allows pets. The overall experience of the hotel was a mixed bag with some good things while others requiring significant improvements.

The check-in and check-out process was efficient. The front desk staff were professional and helpful.

Location - The resort is situated on the edge of Kasara ghat, providing spectacular views of the valley that are often covered in fog during the monsoon season.

Facilities - The resort offers complimentary parking for guest vehicles. It features both an infinity pool and a standard swimming pool. Guests can enjoy recreational activities such as table tennis and snooker. Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided throughout the resort. While cellular signal (Vodafone) was weak in the rooms, ranging from one to two bars, the signal strength is good in the Woodpecker restaurant and reception areas. Signal strength for Jio and Airtel networks has not been confirmed. The resort also boasts a petting zoo and an organic farm. It is unclear if laundry services are available from the hotel.

Hotel staff – was helpful, attentive and polite. Room service was quick.

Rooms - We booked a deluxe cottage with a porch, two rooms with attached baths, and a sit-out area. Despite being spacious, the rooms felt old and musty, needing renovation. The furniture, LCD TV, bath fittings, and flooring were outdated. The old air conditioners provided minimal cooling, and the lamp shades and electric kettle showed signs of age but worked. There were stains on the walls, there was a tile with many cracks in the Left bathroom, the Right bathroom had a non-working light above the wash basin and low shower pressure. Hot and cold running water was available. Toiletries were average. Insects were found on the porch due to the surrounding vegetation. Although rated as a 4-star hotel, deluxe rooms lacked amenities like a weighing scale, concave mirror, electric iron, ironing board, bathrobe, or laundry bag. There was an electronic safe in the cupboard. In-room dining menus were not provided in the rooms, and the intercoms didn’t have reception and room service nos. written. Overall, the rooms did not meet luxury expectations.

Cleanliness - the rooms were clean but damp. Bed linen and towels were clean. There was water and slush accumulation on the pathway to the deluxe cottages, while other pathways were clean. The resort has many well-pruned trees. Despite the installation of flycatcher devices, there were many flies in the Woodpecker restaurant.

The resort has two restaurants: Woodpecker (multi cuisine) and Swad (vegetarian). We dined at Woodpecker, enjoying good ambience and service. The menu featured limited Indian, continental, and oriental dishes, lacking pan Asian, Mediterranean, or Mexican options. Only three desserts were available, and the bar menu had few choices. Food was hot, fresh, tasty, and sufficient for two but priced high. Food was served on plastic plates instead of ceramic ones. The complimentary breakfast had a good spread but was poorly laid out in a dimly lit area; we found the live omelette counter only after finishing our meal.

Value for money - The outdated rooms, old fittings, gadgets, and average quality toiletries do not justify the tariff charged, resulting in a significant impact on the perceived value for money.

At present, we are uncertain about returning to Manas Resort in the foreseeable future unless there are significant...

Disappointing Stay at Manas Resorts – Great Food, Poor Value

We recently stayed for two nights at Manas Resorts, and while there are a few positives, the overall experience was underwhelming—especially considering the premium pricing and brand expectations.

The Positives

Delicious food with a wide buffet spread—your taste buds and appetite will be happy. Courteous and polite staff who were consistently helpful. The resort ambiance offers a refreshing change from standard hotel setups—more relaxed and nature-oriented. The ultra large bathtub is an absolute delight.

Now, the Negatives

Misleading “Royal Villa” (Room 102): Marketed as a premium category, this room had no view at all. Ironically, rooms from lower categories had beautiful valley views. To make matters worse, our room was right next to a goat barn—the stench in the balcony was overpowering and made it completely unusable during our stay. The room assignment defies logic and raises serious questions about how "premium" is defined here.

Lack of Hygiene in Petting Areas The petting zones are charming, especially for kids and animal lovers. But the overall hygiene was below par —maybe worsened by the rains, but still unacceptable for a resort charging premium rates. Better maintenance is urgently needed. Alternatively they can consider having lesser animals to manage this better. In all fairness the handlers are trying their best to make the experience memorable, but they have different standards of hygiene and can't blame them entirely.

Unprofessional Dining Experience: While we were having lunch one afternoon, the table next to ours—completely empty—was taken over by the resort’s management team who decided to hold their weekly staff meeting right next to us. This showed complete disregard for guest comfort and privacy. It was intrusive and unprofessional, especially in a hospitality setting.

Disappointing Booking Experience – Breach of Trust: I booked directly with the hotel expecting a better deal and service. But just days later, I started getting messages from Cleartrip offering the exact same room, same dates, at 20% lower price Despite my early booking, the hotel refused to either match the lower rate or offer any flexibility even after sharing screen shots. It wasn’t just about the money—it was about broken trust.

Important Advisory for Guests with Allergies This resort is heavily pet-friendly, and animals are part of the experience. If you or your family have allergies to cats, dogs, or farm animals this is definitely not the place for you.

Final Verdict

Manas Resorts delivers on food and friendliness, but falls far short on room value, hygiene, and professionalism. Not worth the premium price and certainly not “royal”...

We recently stayed at Manas Resort, Igatpuri, and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The main highlight is undoubtedly the Petting Zoo, which operates for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. It is a delightful attraction for kids, and even adults will find themselves enjoying it without realizing how quickly time passes. The best part of our visit was the warm and friendly attitude of the staff — from the reception desk to the petting zoo team and the restaurant crew, everyone was welcoming and helpful.

A special mention goes to Ankul Chauhan and Harish from the restaurant staff. They were extremely polite and attentive. Harish, in particular, recommended some excellent chicken dishes that we thoroughly enjoyed. The resort has two separate restaurants for vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. We dined only at the non-veg restaurant, where the food tasted good, although the beer options were limited. One thing to note is that food prices are on the higher side, so I recommend opting for an all-inclusive package (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) when booking online — it offers better value. The breakfast buffet was especially enjoyable, offering a good spread with a live dosa and omelette counter.

The property also features two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children, both well-maintained and enjoyable.

Suggestions for Improvement:

The Flamingo Bar with its outdoor fountain-side seating has a fantastic ambiance, but currently, they only serve starters and drinks. Offering a full dinner service in this space would greatly enhance the guest experience.

Room service was disappointing. Despite repeated requests for basic necessities like tissue paper and for bellboys, no assistance was provided. Eventually, I had to personally go down and fetch a bellboy.

The room we stayed in was on the second floor, and there was no elevator. Unfortunately, my wife suffered a leg injury during the stay and had to manage stairs throughout. Installing an elevator is strongly recommended.

The washbasin tap in the room was difficult to operate, especially for children. A simpler and more user-friendly design would be appreciated.

While the property has much to offer, the lack of basic room service significantly impacted our overall experience. I would deduct one star solely for this reason.

With a few improvements, this resort could offer a truly...