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Lowest prices for your stay
$160
Free cancellation until 08/08/22
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A note from Ri Kynjai
Updated 05/09/20
About
#2 of 91 in Shillong
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Ri Kynjai translates into Khasi as land of serenity. This Spa-Resort presiding over the picturesque Umiam lake 16kms from Shillong is aptly named "Ri Kynjai - Serenity By The Lake". The architecture is inspired and derived from the original Khasi thatch huts. Supported on tall circular stilts on the terrace of the hotel blocks are the hybrid cottages derived from vernacular Khasi architecture. These cottages serve to portray the transition from tradition to modernity and have an interpretation of the traditional upturned boat roof done in metallic thatch fused to modern gables. Each cottage has a fireplace in the living/ bedroom area and the mezzanine floor has an additional bedroom arrangement.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Paid wifi
Hot bath
Free breakfast
Airport transportation
Conference facilities
Meeting rooms
Spa
Internet
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Car hire
Head massage
Massage
24-hour security
Concierge
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi
Hotel links
Location
Full view
674Reviews35Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
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If you want a place to just chill and destress this is the place for you! Friendly staff, great service in housekeeping, super rooms, amazing area of greens... It's a lifetime experience trust me ❤ was there for 3 days with my Family ( including 2 kids)
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
If you want to spend a few days, amidst luxury, in a beautiful hotel, overlooking a scenic lake, then Ri Kynjai is your answer! The location and scenery are really quite spectacular. The architecture is also quite unique as they use all local construction materials and the design is also very indigenous. The lobby and the rooms are decorated with a lot of tribal weaves and bamboo products from the area. They have a wonderful restaurant in the premises that serves a great breakfast. Their lunch and dinner menus are also very interesting. The only drawback maybe the distance from Shillong incase you want to visit it.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Helpful
Gorgeous property with a gorgeous view of the Umiam lake and immaculately done up. And decent , fairly helpful staff, esp housekeeping/security and restaurant. But the food is very average and overpriced and overall there's a feeling of indifference...for example, no one at the reception asked me even once (not even during checkout) on how my stay was! Also, while the view is lovely, it's quite a pain if you want to visit the Shillong city.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
On the banks of the umiam lake as you enter Shillong is Ri Kynjai, an absolute must if you have deep pockets to at least spend a night in their amazing architectural resort with views of the lake. Pay a bit more for the lake facing rooms, its worth it.
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Date of stay: November 2021
Helpful
Stayed a night at this sprawling well landscaped resort overlooking the waters of Umium Lake. The rooms give a heritage wooden feel with opulent bathrooms. The drawback - Understaffed, delayed food service, remaining staff are rude and moody.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
The property has very big rooms with big bathrooms with big balcony. However no activity/recreational room in the whole.proerty. For such a highly priced 5 star property, even lack of swimming pool is also a big minus. Overall a highly overpriced property.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Writing this review sitting in one of the most serene places we have ever stayed in, overlooking a wonderful calm lake, with the sun just rising in front of me. We were originally booked for what is known as one of India’s best location and service hotels in Shimla, we canceled that due to excessive snow. And came here, totally worth the stay in the Lake View Cottage, with a fireplace, Jaccuzi and a really spacious wooden room. If you are a nature lover and don’t mind travelling to reach this place, just book it. Everything is awesome here, from the time of booking the interaction with the staff, the welcome we received, the location, the rooms and overall service. It’s peace personified. If food could be improved a little, it would add to the hotel class, but otherwise it’s just enough to fill your tummy with limited choices for vegetarians. As we stayed for 5 days, we kind of new the menu options by heart, so that tells you about the options! If you are someone who wants to sleep till late with blackout curtains, then the lake view cottage is not for you. It’s as bright as it could be at even 6.10 am in February! The cottage has light coming in from the ceiling which for people like us makes it even more beautiful. The wooden floor does creak when we walk, but that’s the con of having an awesome wooden interior. One disadvantage if I could call it a disadvantage is that it takes a minimum of 1.5 to 2 hours to reach any sightseeing place, except the Umiam lake. This is because there is massive mismanagement of the traffic with no signals from as early as 7am!! So if you are interested to go to Dawki, Jowai, Cherrapunjee, Mawlynnong village, or forest keep 4 hours or more as the total travel time. We opted to enjoy the property for more than 2 days, and it was wise decision. There’s a small walkway to the lake from here, it’s filled with oxygen and pretty little birds if you have an eye to spot them. To sum it up, Ri Kynjai is indeed serenity by the lake, meant for people from busy metro cities like us to come and fill lungs with oxygen!…
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Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
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Room Tip: Luxury view cottage for view of the lake.
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This is a long overdue review. We'd travelled here before the pandemic. We'd been travelling across Meghalaya - hiking extensively. We'd booked Ri Kynjai for the last night to relax and rejuvenate after about 8 days of extensive walking and climbing. We decided to splurge and specifically booked their best lake view room. It was pricey but we'd planned it as our one luxury to end the trip. The day before we were to reach Ri Kynjai our tour planner got a call that the room that we had booked suddenly developed electrical fault and they cannot give us that but will give us another room. Along with apologising, they agreed to waive off our meals as well as stay. This seemed a bit odd and too generous, so we prodded further asking what the actual reason was. They stuck to their response. Our tour planner was confused as well. When we went to Ri Kynjai - we checked the guest list and saw that the room we had booked was now marked for VVVIP and we'd been allotted a different room. That explained the sudden shuffle We went to the reception and asked them why they changed our fully paid booking and they still said it was an electrical fault. We showed them the guest list picture and they refused to accept that it was changed for a VVIP. So let me say here that the place is beautiful, food was great. They did waive off our stay and the meals. It was the thing to do in such a situation. But here is what they did not do. They weren't honest with us - informing us of the issue and requesting for cooperation. They continued to deny it inspite of us seeing the whole VVVIP contingent at the resort, informing that us we could not use the dining room but would be served meals in the room. The issue that bothers me is if I'd booked a room and paid for it fully, a month in advance, shouldn't that have held any value? Shouldn't common honesty be expected? Aren't plans for regular citizens not important enough for common courtesy? SAs a resort facility, they are fantastic. o yes, my issue is with the lack of honesty and courtesy that should be shown to every paying guest of the hotel and hence this review. That is what rankles and hence the 3* review. This was…
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Date of stay: March 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Helpful
+1
Gorgeous gorgeous place. The view from lake view cottage is just breathtaking. Definitely a splurge but worth it. The fog descending in the morning on Umiam lake is a picture meant for your eyes to capture… Food is also pretty decent… breakfast spread was good
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
+1
I visited the property again in 5 months time even though I have to take two flights to reach the place .the stay here is amazing and is nothing like I have ever experienced . The sun rise , the wooden interiors , the trail to the lake , the smell of the pine trees and the great service is all par excellence . Will go again this year with my friends . Kudos to the team who manages the place perfectly n spotlessly clean fulfilling all your requirements .
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$160 - $185 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ri kynjai shillong, ri kynjai hotel shillong
LOCATION
IndiaMeghalayaEast Khasi Hills DistrictShillong
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Ri Kynjai
Which popular attractions are close to Ri Kynjai?
Nearby attractions include Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (7.9 km), Umiam Lake (1.7 km), and Umiam Lake (1.6 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Ri Kynjai?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Ri Kynjai?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Ri Kynjai?
Conveniently located restaurants include Soilyna Huts Restaurant, YOU & I - Arts Cafe, and Pizza Barn.
Does Ri Kynjai have airport transportation?
Yes, Ri Kynjai offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Ri Kynjai?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Ri Kynjai offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and conference facilities during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Ri Kynjai?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Hindi.
Does Ri Kynjai have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.