Vivanta Sikkim, Pakyong — Hotel in Sikkim

In brief - I dreamt of a Himalayan escape at Vivanta Pakyong, but the reality was a bumpy road leading to nowhere. Dust-choked views replaced promised panoramas, and the staff's smiles seemed painted on. Our "personalized" Tsomgo Lake trip was a rushed nightmare, courtesy of a cactus-like driver. For the premium price, we received only disappointment. Skip this misplaced oasis and find the soul-stirring Sikkim your heart desires.

Details - My recent stay at Vivanta Sikkim, Pakyong, was unfortunately a far cry from the idyllic Himalayan escape I had envisioned. While the promise of stunning views and serene ambiance initially drew me in, the reality proved significantly less captivating. Here's a breakdown of the key shortcomings that marred my experience:

A Lost Paradise: Location, Location, Location... Not Here.

Vivanta boasts of breathtaking mountain vistas, but its actual location feels more like a forgotten valley than a scenic paradise. Surrounded by under construction roads, the resort lacks the charm and character one expects from a Sikkim getaway. The promised panoramic views never materialized, replaced by dust-laden, obscured landscapes. It felt like the hotel had been dropped haphazardly in the middle of nowhere.

The Bumpy Road to Paradise: A Journey to Nowhere.

Reaching the resort itself was an ordeal in itself. The approach road, riddled with potholes and treacherous corners, felt more like an off-road obstacle course than a welcoming path. Navigating this bumpy nightmare, especially in a rented car, added unnecessary stress and frustration to what should have been a relaxing arrival. Infact our car tyre got punctured while trying to reach the hotel in the darkness, navigating narrow, broken unpaved roads, it was horrifying.

Indifferent Service: Where Hospitality Takes a Holiday.

Adding to the disappointment was the staff's seemingly lackluster attitude. Genuine warmth were scarce. Staff seemed to lack training except for the housekeeping staff which was exceptional. The staff's demeanor created a feeling of being just another number, rather than a valued guest experiencing a unique Sikkim retreat.

A Missed Mark: Potential Lost in Mediocrity.

It's evident that Vivanta Sikkim possesses the potential to be a remarkable experience. The infrastructure is modern, the rooms spacious, and the common areas have glimpses of elegance. However, these positives are overshadowed by the glaring negative aspects. The bad location, poor accessibility, and uninspiring service erode the charm and leave a feeling of unfulfilled expectations.

In Conclusion: A Lesson in Location, Service, and the Importance of Living Up to the Dream.

My stay at Vivanta Sikkim, Pakyong, serves as a harsh reminder that even luxurious brands can falter when it comes to essential aspects like location and service. The promise of a Himalayan sanctuary fell victim to misplaced geography, bumpy roads, and a staff seemingly on permanent vacation. For travelers seeking a truly memorable Sikkim experience, Vivanta would be a location best avoided. Look elsewhere for the breathtaking views, welcoming hospitality, and genuine connection to the region's magic that...

Balinese Beauty of Sikkim

To start with the hotel is not located in ‘Pakyong’ as the Title of the hotel states but in a small mountain village called Shyam Singh. And that is what makes this even more special. Far removed from all chaos of Pakyong or Gangtok and nestled in the lap of luxurious nature, this is a hidden gem of the entire northeast. Don't flock to Gangtok directly from Pakyong like all other tourists, but do halt here for a night or two to soak in the surreal Sikkimese nature. There are so many wonderful cozy spaces in this place to chill with a drink and book ith million-dollar views of the misty mountains or lush green forests

Also, another excellent part was the prices of everything here were quite reasonable (and almost super cheap!), especially for a Luxury TAJ brand that is located in such a secluded location! Be it the food & drink or service in the Salon or spa - the prices made it feel like I was in a 3 or 4-star hotel in an urban location, not in a luxury jungle resort!

LOCATION: Nestled in the jungle and behind Rice terraces, the location makes you feel you are in Bali instead of India!

DINE + DRINK: Food at the MYNT restaurant is just top-notch TAJ quality. Especially the Sikkim delicacies are not to be missed! And do try out the Sikkimese Thali without fail. The WINK bar is a cool place to unwind in the evening and the POolside choices are also not bad

ROOM: I stayed in Room 306, so this review is based on that; VIEW: Magical view of the Valley and Jungle from the Balcony which was the perfect place to chill with a book and a drink all day long! ; SIZE: Very spacious room; AIR-CON: Perfectly functioning cooler that helped in setting the perfect room temperature; BED: Comfortable bed that played the expected part to put me to sleep; BATHROOM: Stand in shower; TOILETRIES: Excellent Spa quality cosmetics by INARA brand

FACILITIES: The Balinese style Swimming pool nestled in the jungle is one of the top highlights of this resort. But I was a bit put off because of the noisy crowd that was creating a circus with loud music without respect for nature! The ‘Gym’ was almost a Joke, with a small room stuffed with bare minimum weights and some machines. Very poor job on this front!

SERVICE: Friendly staff that took care of all our needs with a smile and made us feel pampered and well taken care of. Special Shout out to the JURI at the REstaurant who went above and beyond!

HOW WIRED YOU WILL BE: Free high-speed Wi-Fi that works well all over the property. Big Plasma TV screen dishing out dozens of channels spanning sports, news, music, movies and a wide variety of entertainment in...

Extremely poor service. Most Staff growl at restaurant and housekeeping when requested to serve. Customers are a pain for them. Water served is worse than tap water quality. Food is of stale ingredients, stomach infections is sure. Approach road is terrible, no roads actually. Pool is supposed to be heated but is cold. Had come with lots of expectations as this is expensive 5* property…but my expectations miserably failed. Room toilets smell worse than public toilets all through our stay. When told to housekeeping just after checkin that why ate toilets stinking, they ignored and never reverted. Even Oyo rooms are better. We asked for manager 3 times but he never bothered. He responded only when we posted a online review. That too he kept denying instead insisting we ate out, without checking that we had packed food from hotel only for our trips. At least check with your staff before lying. And check your cctvs that the sick patients were in the room itself the days we went out to nathula and city, their trips were already ruined due to unclean water and stale food, they were on food poisioning medications. No one in the hotel bothered, beyond our belief of five star experiences with other hotel chains. Worst ever,...