The Grand Shangri-La

What People are saying

This is one of the best hotels i have ever been in my life.

Shrey K on 14/11/2017 10:12

Being a Cityscape and Landscape Photographer, i have traveled quite extensively and stayed in numerous hotels across the world but The Grand Shamba-La is and will be special one for a long long time.
I visited this hotel in the mid of cruel snowy winter in 2017. Everything in the valley was closed or was not accessible because of the heavy snow. I found reference for this hotel somewhere and i called Mr Prithvi, who was not even in the city when i visited.
Mr Prithvi ensured that i am taken utmost care of. Not only he gave me a room to stay (They specially opened the hotel for me), they ensure that every meal (Made by her wife as the kitchen was closed in hotel) is served on time. He specially asked his friend to ensure i reach safely and am accompanied during my visit. And he did not let me pay for anything.

Truth be told, I did not feel for a single minute that i was a guest in his hotel. I felt i was part of his family.

Of course you can find better rooms in some other hotel or may be better food or liquor. But if you want to stay with the best hosts and the most amazing people. Stay in this hotel if you are in kalpa valley. Period.

Thanks Mr Prithvi for being an amazing host. I will always be grateful to you and your friendship :)

Thanks,

Shrey

Great views of Kinner-Kailash and lovely Tibetan ambience

tanuka_dutta on 02/11/2017 10:54

The Grand Shamba-la (earlier called The Grand Shangri-la) is a six-storey building, with wooden interiors. The furniture and decorations have a distinctly Tibetan influence. We were welcomed by the staff and each given a white,Tibetan scarf. The top floor has a cosy, wood-panelled library, with music playing the chant "Om Mani Padme Hum". Our room was on the fourth floor and we had a clear view of Mt. Kinner Kailash and Jorkanden from our balcony. The hotel entrance is quite narrow and if you have a big car, getting it in/out is a bit difficult. It is surrounded by apple orchards.

The Grand Shamba-La hotel

Rahul N on 21/10/2017 07:43

The Grand Shamba-La is a very beautiful property. The supreme elegance to the property is due to its Tibetan style interiors. I enjoyed everything... the food, the cosy dining area with big screen, the meditation room, the restaurant & bar. I loved the ambience... it was delightful experience in this property in the high mountains of Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.

Grand stay but not Oustanding......

Amit R on 19/10/2017 11:45

After waiting for long time of Booking , We reached the hotel at Kalpa in afternoon being exhausted on 10 th October,2017.We were welcomed immediately by the staffs and even the Manager Mr Yashpal who seemed to me a charming fellow with sound understanding of buisness.The room, Super Delux on 3rd floor, was good enough eqipped with basic modern amenities without much luxury.Only problem was to climb up nd down time and again and not suitable for the aged and kids, though my energetic Twins relished the staircases most.The staffs took care a lot of my Kids and allowed them to roam freely and collect one or two apples from the apple trees of the hotel.It's amazingly kids friendly and relaxing experience for them too.The quality of food is quite decent and spicy but not full of Himachali variety or healthy and tasty.But Service quality was up to the mark as they tried their best to provide as much as they could undoubtedly.Kalpa' s Grand Simbala compensated the torture and pangs we and my Kids Went through in SANGLA ' S" Apple Orchard Camp " Which seemed to me' Lacked heart and Feelings of cordial cooperation' , a# pathetic experience # symbolised by Apple Orchard Camp of Sangla.Anyway, though the hotel at Kalpa Roghi road was surrounded by apple orchards; but there was no chance to pick or pluck a single apple from the Orchards adjoining or near the hotel.Even my kids were not allowed to pick an Apple from the near by Orchard which symbolised lacklustre and arrogant Attitude of Kinnauri Apple Orchard owners for commoners or tourists like kids in # Dev Bhumi ..!!!!!!.....The hotel also provides 24 hrs electricity back up which is a boon in a remote place like Kalpa.The panoramic views from the hotel room lying on bed is a romantic experience indeed.It has Car parking small but effective area too as there are a lot of other hotels near Grand Simbala and their parking facilities made a congested parking lot. Negatives of the hotel :
1)) Bathfittings are untidy and need to be improved .
2)) Food quality need to be improved.
3)) Something should be done so that children can play and enjoy too.
4)) There is no accomodation for the driver.Despite they have promised me to privide accomodation and food for the driver in E- mail , they hotel authority failed to provide accomodation for my driver and he was forced to sleep in 8 degree celcius chilly cold in his own car !!...... Something should be done for the drivers too as Travellers deeply dependent on Driver' s cooperation .
5)) They have Yeti restaurant but we could not enjoy it as two days were booked for programmes of outsiders.Yeti Restaurant should not be allowed to be used by outsiders when the hotel is filled with travellers in peak season .
Whatever.....Its an exceptional hotel amidst callous attitude of Kinnauri residents and hope to visit it again to relish its hospitality in best and @ " reasonable price " next time.......looking forward for next visit at Grand Shambala.

Grand shambala

shalini b on 16/10/2017 12:20

The hotel does not have a proper entry. Hotel provides basic amenities. Food is alright.
We had booked our room in advance through our tour agent but we checked into the hotel and entered our room , the trash can was full of garbage. The Tv did not work too. Also the staff was rude when we mentioned about all of this to them.
Had to call four times for the Tv and then finally got someone to start it for us. Apparently the set top box was having some problem. The bathroom door would shut well. Had to slam n still the lock was difficult to latch.
Suppose to be the best in kalpa but they better get courteous staff n get some repairs done too in the rooms.
The view was awesome as our room over looked the Kinner Kailash mountains. The sunset was beautiful.
They have small high steps to climb to the rooms. We had a tough time as our room was in the fourth floor.
Apparently the fifth floor is a Library. Beautiful spacious sit out at the library with a lovely collection to read and overlooking the mountains.
I guess someone sleeps at the library at night as it was quite squeaky with the wooden floors.
Apple orchards are all around the property and in October it was great to see apples all ready to be plucked and grown naturally.