Aiti Belti New Hope Restaurant — Restaurant in Meghalaya

Our recent Easter stay at The Heritage Club: Tripura Castle in Shillong was more than just a getaway; it felt like stepping into a gentler time. Nestled in Cleve Colony, this former royal residence sits quietly atop a pine-covered hill, its winding approach setting the tone for what unfolds: a seamless blend of heritage, nature, and sincere hospitality.

As you arrive at the friendly reception area, you're greeted by stone-clad walls, sloping red roofs, and regal wooden beams, a quiet nod to Indo-European architecture that immediately anchors you in the castle’s storied past.

We stayed in the first cottage, just off a moss-lined stairway. It felt like it had been waiting for us, surrounded by tall pines, its wooden exterior melting into the forest. Inside, the space exuded quiet charm: polished wood, soft lighting, and vintage decor that reflected its royal past without pretension.

Outside, nature performed its own quiet concert—the steady drone of cicadas, the gentle rustle of pine needles, and a horizon of misty hills that looked more like a watercolour than a view.

After the muggy heat and dust of Guwahati, this felt like a deep, cleansing exhale. My partner, who’s Irish, stood in stillness and whispered, “It feels a little like home,” her eyes tracing the pine silhouettes that echoed her native County Wicklow.

The property itself holds the dignity of history in every corner. The bar, once royal stables, is now a cozy, wood-lined space humming with stories. Antique trunks, carved mirrors, and colonial touches mark the hallways, yet nothing feels static, this is living heritage, not a museum.

As a Shillongite and Edmundian, this part of town was always a curious stretch, Fish Dale, the old Canning Factory, Dylan’s Café (now), Soil Conservation, and Tripura Castle were places we wandered past in blazers during school breaks.

Back then they felt mysterious; now, they are steeped in personal memory. Much of Shillong has evolved, but up here, time seems to move with more grace.

The hospitality? Outstanding. Much credit goes to the Floor Manager and her talented team of hospitality and catering trainees. They run a seamless operation, attentive, warm, and consistently one step ahead.

From early check-ins to a lantern-lit dinner in the garden, everything was handled with understated elegance. It’s the kind of service that makes you feel less like a guest and more like a houseguest in a gracious home.

Breakfasts were simple but heartfelt: flaky parathas, farm-fresh eggs, seasonal fruits, strong filter coffee, and rotating regional favourites like poha and idli. Dinner echoed the same care, with a menu balancing Khasi flavours and continental comfort. It’s food that feels honest, not indulgent but comforting.

The Heritage Club could easily become a model training ground for hospitality students. It’s a place where one learns not just service, but the art of thoughtful, culturally grounded hospitality.

Yes, there are quirks, some rooms feel a bit dated, and the hillside layout may not suit everyone, especially the differently abled wheelchair users , but these are small notes in an otherwise beautiful symphony.

Overall rating: 4.75/5 : A soulful, pine-wrapped sanctuary for those who value quiet charm, thoughtful service, and a brush with the past, without ever feeling out of step with the present.

Shillong calls again, and so does The Heritage Club. This time, we return to celebrate my sister’s school friend’s 60th birthday, with two sisters, shared stories, and no better setting to make...

The smart move is to give a 5 star review and write reality. As most of us look at highest reviews first. Thank you for your attention.

Pro- Tip: Book this property only if you see no other option in Shillong.

Here are the problems with them: The property is under staffed with people saying yes to you - but doing nothing They have zero training - the service staff will spill chutney on you, the room won’t be clean, and the flow of your shower is slower than anything you have seen The property’s GM is a hospitality graduate from Patna, worked in 12 properties - but has given zero training to the staff. Chetan, Manish and Om will be at reception - with unhelpful attitude. Antara will be listening to you and won’t do anything about it. Ms. Lari the GRE (they call it guest relations) will say sorry - that’s it

All in all - the property is a place you’ll feel to run away from and all you’ll listen is sorry with no solutions.

We booked a 3 night stay at The Heritage Club (through our travel planner) - Independent Cottage Room.

I was glad to checkout within 2 nights and was happy to not stay another night at that property.

This place not only lacks hospitality but has great tie ups with planners and people around to fool the hell out of you! They will hard sell this over Marriott and Vivanta.

If you just want to see their castle or palace, better just visit for a day or pay for their cheapest room.

Problem : Cleanliness - despite mailing them and notifying them- we saw cobwebs right above the bed at check in - and we asked them to clean but the next day too I saw so many cobwebs - refer to the video

Needless to say food is pathetic, cleanliness ain’t their forte, accessibility is an issue and what else do you need when your planner is hard selling this property. People here stare at you if you ask them to do basics- get water, help with your luggage.

What if you fall? In the bathroom or anywhere- they have zero first aid- except a medicine which will be delivered after request.

There is a very peculiar thing about this property- they keep talking about charges everywhere - say if you say you need first aid- you certainly are in trouble

Similarly they are ready to upgrade to maharaja suite ( a overhyped 2 BHK flat with a balcony) but they will charge you for mushroom tikka (saying one tea is complimentary and you can have a starter as you are playing Spider-Man at their property.

The property has zero consistency. I not only regret being here but rather my travel planner has definitely not audited anything.

I am attaching a few videos and photos for your reference as well. Haven’t clicked majorly here as it literally wasn’t aesthetic at all - so no point clicking

Hope this...

Disaster Experience 😔😔

I had booked this hotel for one night but, due to uncertain travel plans, kept extending my stay day by day for four more nights. The hotel had placed a card in the room promising a ₹500 discount on every extension. Shockingly, this discount was never reflected in my final bill. When I questioned the billing staff, their response was that I should have asked for it—otherwise they don’t apply it. This is very cheap management. It’s not about the money, but the feeling of being cheated.

Room Experience:

Very old rooms with no cupboards.

Bathroom utilities were not properly refilled.

Large windows on all walls, with no soundproofing—outside noises, late-night parties, and giggles carried directly into the room, making it difficult to sleep.

Room service staff would start knocking from 8 a.m., repeatedly asking if I was checking out.

I tolerated these issues only because I was alone and the hotel was close to my customer’s location. Otherwise, the property is in the outskirts—making it very difficult to even get a taxi. Do not be misled by the attractive photographs on the internet.

Serious Concern – Fake Website: The worst experience was discovering what seems to be a fake website running in this hotel’s name. I had booked a cab from Guwahati Airport to the hotel through that portal, paid via GPay, and after payment, the driver never picked my calls. When I reported this to the hotel, the manager casually said it wasn’t their website and they couldn’t take responsibility. I had no choice but to book another cab, which caused me further loss and inconvenience.

Overall: My entire experience at The Heritage Club – Tripura Castle was a disaster. Poor management, misleading promotions, lack of professionalism, and an unsafe situation with fake websites. Definitely not...