Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna — Hotel in Bharatpur

In summary, we were disappointed with our stay here, it wasn’t the magical Chitwan stay were sold by the marketing we’d seen (claims of best hotel in Chitwan). It was however saved by one employee. A BIG thank you to Hem (our Naturalist) who went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and enjoyable! He even checked up on us after our stay to make sure we safely got to our next destination!

In detail: on arrival after a long and bumpy bus ride + a further 35 mins in tuktuk we were greeted with a welcome drink + a cold towel, but also an overly long welcome speech by one of the staff. It gave the impression we had arrived at a high quality hotel and there were promises of how we would be looked after during our stay, however the point was made that we were already difficult customers because we were staying 6 nights.

When we were shown to our room we were disappointed. It was basic, the door handle was broken + hanging off, there was a fridge with nothing in it (+ no shops in the area to get provisions to even fill it if you wanted to), there was a sign in the cupboard stating how they had made sure the safe was securely fixed into the unit except there was no safe, maybe someone had stolen it?! We thought we had booked a ‘deluxe’ room but it’s just a standard room. There were two room types here; deluxe (standard) and luxury (tent). Deluxe face a garden and the tents are by the river with a view over the National park. On our first morning we discovered we had no hot water. It took two tries to get it fixed as the first time it still didn’t work. It took speaking to our Naturalist (Hem) to actually get it fixed!

On the 1st evening we were asked if we’d like to join a family on a safari the next day. We gratefully agreed as it was cheaper to do so, $50 each opposed to $250 each for a private safari! It was very well organised and our Naturalist (Hem) did everything possible with his eternal optimism + love for nature to find us all the local species including a Bengal tiger which was the highlight of our whole Chitwan experience! When we arrived back to the hotel they had arranged a cultural show performed by local tribe members which was nice to see. The next day we were again invited to join a group on a boat ride and a visit to the crocodile sanctuary ($65) which was ok but we think over priced for what it was, and then an afternoon safari in Chitwan National park ($50). Both lead by Hem who did an excellent job!

The next two days we heard nothing from anyone at the hotel. It’s like they had forgotten their promises at the welcome speech. I guess there was nothing left for us to do. It didn’t matter to us as we had planned just to relax.

In terms of food, there is a limited menu and it felt like they preferred you to just eat the daily buffet (which is of course more expensive). However the waiting staff were very nice + kind to us.

On the last day we were upgraded to a luxury room due to a large and incredibly noisy group of guests who turned the communal garden into their own private garden where they shouted at each other with no regard for anyone else staying at the hotel. Again the only reason this actually happened was because we mentioned how we’d been kept up late and woken early for two days to our naturalist!! I’d called reception to complain and they just explained that Indian people are noisy, but it was Hem that helped us again! He spoke to the manager and arranged it.

This is an expensive place to stay, and I’d paid in advance. On check out they tried to charge me again. Luckily the payment was declined which allowed me to work out what had happened! Oh and on top of this the hotel wanted $50 to take us to the bus stop- a journey that cost us $10 in a tuktuk, luckily we took the number of the one that delivered us!

This is a detailed and honest review of our experience. We do feel the hotel could do better for the price point. We saw the same disappointment in the faces of others staying here. For an 8 year old, premium priced hotel, it’s already very dated and below...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful resort, and I couldn't be more satisfied with my experience. The staff went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable and memorable. Their warm hospitality and attention to detail were truly outstanding. The location of the hotel is quite nice, offering a serene environment that is perfect for a relaxing getaway. The surrounding nature is breathtaking, providing a picturesque backdrop for all the activities on offer. Speaking of activities, the hotel offers a wide range of exciting options. I had an amazing time on the boat safari, where I was able to enjoy the tranquility of the water and see some incredible wildlife. The jungle safari was equally thrilling, offering a chance to explore the local flora and fauna up close. The nature walk was a peaceful and informative experience, allowing me to appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings.

One of the highlights of my stay was the traditional music and dance performances of the Tharu community. It was captivating, offering a unique glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the local community.

Overall, I highly recommend this resort for anyone looking for a blend of excellent service, beautiful scenery, and engaging activities. I am already looking forward to...

Very much enjoyed our 3-night stay in a luxury tent at Jagatpur. The lodge is located immediately outside of the buffer zone, less than 10-minute drive to the entrance of Chitwan National Park. The tent is spacious with a large deck and wraparound veranda, set on a raised platform, and well equipped with modern hotels' amenity. (Though more lighting is needed for the bathroom.) With all the panels opened outside of the mesh screens, we had 270 degree views of the tranquil jungle and animals grazing right outside in the buffer zone. We were lucky spotting a rhino once from the deck. Service at the bar and restaurant was consistently excellent. We are frequent travelers and always prefer local cuisines; thus were disappointed to be served typical tourists' food (pasta, grilled chicken with gravy) the first night. We asked for only Nepalese dishes for breakfasts and dinners for the rest of our stay, and the food was just great. We took a half-day jeep safari with Suman Tamang, the lodge's naturalist. Suman was knowledgeable and very pleasant to spend the day with. If Chitwan National Park is on your agenda, a luxury tent at Jagatpur Lodge will make the visit...