Hotel Reviews - India, Kashmir - Pahalgam, Hotel Heevan

KASHMIR - HOTEL HEEVAN, PAHALGAM (April 2015)

When it comes to Pahalgam, location is everything!

Heevan features a beautifully manicured front lawn with cane chairs where we enjoyed our cup of kahwa while soaking in the sun and the views around. Located on the banks of the Lidder, this property has the most picturesque location in Pahalgam.

The hotel has it’s own unique charm. The lobby’s décor is done in good taste, with a spacious sitting area and extremely warm courteous and hospitable staff at the front desk. A special mention goes out to Mohammad Junaid at the front desk, who always had a smile on his face and took excellent care of all our needs;  Mr. Hilal Ahmad and the team at housekeeping were always  ready to help, and the very attentive staff at the restaurant who made our dining a pleasant experience.

We were given the Presidential suite. And yes, it was awesome! A Room with a beautifully carved ceiling. The view from that room was spectacular …will leave you in awe. You can view the mountains and river from your bed itself. The room was equipped with electric blankets and was centrally heated. Free wi fi was a bonus.

Just one negative to the room, the washroom needed a little sprucing up, but I’m told it’s a heritage property and so not much can be done in terms of renovation.

Since Pahalgam has its own local transport union, we had to hire a taxi for local sightseeing. So, we hired our taxi from the hotel itself. They have a fixed rate chart which we realized was more reasonable compared to the rates the taxis demanded at the market place.

 It also houses an in house studio – Heevan studio, if you want to be photographed professionally.

At Heevan you get the opportunity to climbing down to the river. You can sit for hours on the rocks and enjoy the serenity of the Lidder. I loved the peace, the sound of the gushing Lidder, the sights and sounds of chirping birds.

A small bridge connects you to the hotel. A walk across, and you can view the mountains surrounding you and the Lidder flowing beneath.

My parents were with me on this trip, and repeatedly claimed that this place should be called Heaven, instead of Heevan.

I look forward to my next visit to Heevan and would love to spend a week here, doing absolutely nothing and just enjoying the beauty of Pahalgam.