I recently visited The Orchard with some close friends and can easily say it was one of the greatest experiences of I’ve ever had. Having traveled a fair amount myself, I've stayed at quite a few internationally famous hotels over the years. After coming to The Orchard its fair to say that it's now at the top of my list. I know with confidence that the talented people behind this hotel have the art of creating a lifetime experience completely down.
I stayed at the Orchard for almost 10 days, and each day was completely different in terms of variety of cuisines prepared for our every meal, to the cultural and outdoor activities planned in and around the property.
Having traveled and eaten original Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Thai, American, and Indian food its safe to say that the food being cooked in the Orchard's kitchen has some of the most authentic flavors you'll ever taste. The attention to detail when it came to making sure we had personalized meal plans according to our likes, dislikes, and cravings was amazing. Unlike other hotels which force you to stick to a basic menu with the same 20 dishes made every day, or will set specific times for the guests to eat throughout their stay; The Orchard came with a LOT more options. Not only do they present you freshly cooked meals whenever you please, but you also get a million personalized dishes to choose from. The menus are created with tremendous effort and cater exactly to your liking. I woke up everyday excited to see what they had in store and was blown away each and every time. The ingredients which are mostly grown on The Orchard itself are so rich and natural that you can taste their freshness. Unlike other places which over-spice or garnish the food, The Orchard chooses to shine through the simplicity of their ingredients and no meal is too heavy or exaggerated. The food here gets a 15/10.
The service and staff is also unmatched. Somehow they are always there to attend to your needs without seeming like they are overstepping any boundaries. Quiet, humble, and absolutely to the point. I remember quietly noting which cookies I enjoyed the most while having my tea, the next time I was served I was surprised to see they had personally changed my plate so that I had exactly what I wanted. This was all without me even personally mentioning it to them- the attention to detail again and again is one of the greatest aspects of The Orchard. Sometimes its the small things that make the biggest differences. I noticed they also place water soaked almonds next to your bed so that you have a nutritious start to your day- this is something my mother used to do for me growing up at home and its such a simple gesture that speaks volumes.
With all the good food and amazing service you’d be surprised what more they have in store for you. You could easily spend a day on the balcony watching the blue skies and beautiful view of the Himalayan peaks. For someone who is from the city and used to constant noise and traffic this is absolute heaven. I started questioning why I wasn’t living in Peora in the first place. The hours just flew by relaxing, taking in the breathtaking views and interesting village activity that you never get to see in the city. The first day I asked for wi-fi connection as I usually do when checking in, but here, by the second day I didn’t even want it. I spent the rest of the week walking around the beautiful property, checking out their garden where they grow all the fruits and vegetables, played with the two most gorgeous and loving dogs you’ll ever meet; Gabbar and Simba, who I grew so attached to that by the time we had to leave I wanted to just take them with me. Besides that we also got the opportunity to go on a jeep drive around the hills as well as trekking down to a thousand year old Shiva temple in the woods. To be completely in nature without any connectivity to the outside world was the greatest gift I could ask for. I was able to set everything aside and just focus on the beauty around me.
In addition to this when the day was finally over I was still looking forward to the greatest thing one can ask for, uninterrupted deep sleep. The.beds. are. insane. They were probably crafted by the Gods because I have never slept like I did that week. It took me less than 10 seconds to fall asleep and when it was time to wake up the only thing that got me going was the excitement of what they had in store for breakfast. I could live in that bed. I don’t even know what to say other than the fact that the furniture not only looks beautiful but also feels like absolute heaven.
I thought this would be a short and to the point review but I cannot brush past all the things that made me fall in love with The Orchard. Hats off to the Bansal family which have put insane amounts of hard work and dedication to give their guests the kind of experience that is unmatched. Places like The Orchard can only be created and run by those that have a true passion for traveling, and have seen the world from many different perspectives, thus creating an experience that is unbeatable. This kind of personalized care and service is what you find at places that have been made with genuine love and care. I would rather opt for The Orchard a million times over than any 5 Star hotel.
Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I can’t wait to go again and again.
