Traveller Stories

“It was wonderful to stay here.” 

“We had an Indian-style breakfast, including samosas. It was delicious.

We learned a great deal from Avinash about meditation, yoga and many other things.

We were very happy to be able to stay here. If we come to Khajuraho again, we would definitely like to stay here again.”

— Kaori & Sana 

“The people here made this place special.” 

“We were charmed by the magnificent sunsets over the lake from the rooftop, the wonderfully warm welcome and the many useful things we learned from the staff.

The manager fascinated us with his generosity and his meditation lessons.

A very lovely hotel!”

— Chris

“This little hotel is richer than many other places.” 

“Don't let the modest appearance of the hotel mislead you. This little hotel is richer than many other places I have seen.

But above all, it is the charm of the staff and the manager that makes this place unforgettable. Their advice about life in Khajuraho and India is priceless, and their interest is genuine.

Ask the manager about meditation — you will rarely hear someone speak about it with such passion.”

— Karen & Elle, Antwerp

“A peaceful place after the noise of the cities” 

“I had become tired of the noise of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, so the peaceful nature of Khajuraho was a wonderful change for me.

Everyone here was kind and made me feel welcome. I especially enjoyed simply relaxing and taking in nature from the balcony of my room. I was very happy there.

I had a very relaxing massage and was very satisfied with the experience.

My wife has also stayed here, and our child is due to be born next month. I would love to come back to Lakeside Hotel with my family next time.”

— Horii 

“A fantastic weekend in Khajuraho” 

“A trip to Khajuraho is highly recommended! It is wonderfully relaxing, especially compared with Delhi, where we spend our everyday lives.

Hotel Lakeside has nice rooms and very friendly people. We visited the temples and went on a trip to Panna National Park. Beautiful landscapes, wildlife and TIGERS! Yes, we saw two! Very lucky :-)

Thank you for all the help from everyone at Lakeside. It has been a fantastic weekend!”

— Lene

“I’m sure I will miss the charm of this hotel.” 

“Our stay at this hotel was fantastic. It feels very homely.

The manager is genuinely interested in you, and it is a pleasure to talk with him about meditation and other subjects. The staff are very kind, and the breakfasts and lunch were very good.

The yoga class yesterday morning was a new experience for me. But I am convinced that I will take yoga classes in the Netherlands as well.

Today we went to Panna National Park. We were very lucky — we saw a tiger! We looked at the photographs together with the staff, who were so enthusiastic and happy for us. Lovely, isn't it?

Tomorrow we leave for Varanasi. I am sure I will miss the charm of this hotel.”

— Christa Leeuwerink

“The opposite is true — this hotel is absolutely good, even fantastic.” 

“Our stay at Hotel Lakeside was very pleasant, and the sunrises and sunsets from the rooftop terrace were fantastic.

Everything was arranged for us, and the trip to Panna was easily organised. We also enjoyed the fresh fruit from the garden, used in the lassi and jam.

We went to Panna National Park and were lucky enough to see a tiger. We first watched it lying peacefully in the grass, and then followed it on the back of an elephant. A truly fantastic experience.

Of course, we also visited the magnificent temples, which were very impressive.

P.S. At the railway station in Jhansi, a tour operator told us that Lakeside was a bad hotel. The opposite is true — this hotel is absolutely good, and even fantastic.”

— Robert Leeuwerink, Holland

“A lovely and clean hotel”

“I was in Khajuraho for only two days — what a shame, because it is such a pleasant place to stay.

Hotel Lakeside is lovely and clean, and the people working here are kind and helpful.

I recommend the Ayurvedic massage to everyone — you will feel reborn!!!!”

— Luisella

“The massages are the best part!”

“I was asked to write this in Portuguese as well, so here it is in the language of Camões.

The hotel is pleasant and clean, but the best thing is the massages. I recommend them to everyone!!”

— Luisella

“A good address in Khajuraho” 

“As well as being a relatively peaceful town by North Indian standards, this hotel offers a little more peace and quiet away from the harassment of all kinds of sellers.

A friendly welcome, and they are always ready to help. You can ask them for anything, from a taxi to a tour of the park. A good address!”

— Thibault

“We would love to come back to Khajuraho — and to this hotel!” 

“Khajuraho is such a wonderful place. So peaceful and relaxing…

The people at this hotel are very kind, and they speak Japanese very well!

When they heard that we had upset stomachs, they made us okayu for us. It was delicious, with a miso flavour — such a gentle, comforting taste.

We have to leave India tomorrow, which makes us sad… but we would love to come back to Khajuraho!!

And to this hotel too!!”

— Mina

“We were lucky enough to find Lakeside”  

“Out of the many hotels in town, we were lucky enough to find the Lakeside.

The lake was very low while we were here, but the fruit garden and Panna Park were still a gorgeous dose of Indian wildlife.

The hotel arranged everything for us — buses, park tours, laundry… just ask.

Enjoy!”

— Lora D., USA

“A little oasis of peace”

“Hotel Lakeside is exactly the place you need to relax after chaotic Varanasi.

Avinash is an exceptional person and can help you with almost any problem. He gives good advice about places to visit, guides and prices.

Wishing you a pleasant stay in this little oasis of peace.

P.S. Don't believe anyone who tells you that the hotel is unsafe. I travelled alone and felt absolutely wonderful here — just like at home!”

— Chiara, Vercelli, Italy

“An exceptional terrace and a place to feel at home” 

“When we arrived at this charming little hotel, we immediately felt at home.

The terrace is exceptional, and the charming rooms are a wonderful place to rest. At sunset, from the terrace, we could watch thousands of green parrots gathering just opposite for the night.

The manager is generally very good at giving advice, and we also enjoyed the early-morning yoga class and a meditation session.

A hotel that really stands out in many ways.”

— Nathalie, Jessica, Julien & Geoffrey, Rouen, France

“The owner speaks Japanese and has a deep knowledge of meditation”

“When we arrived in Khajuraho, we were surrounded by touts offering very cheap prices, only to find that the rooms were supposedly full when we reached the hotels.

The owner of Lakeside Hotel understands this situation very well and wants to see things improve.

He gave us a lot of trustworthy information and was extremely helpful.

If you are interested in meditation, ask him about it. He can speak very deeply about the subject. He speaks both Japanese and English very well, so it was easy to understand, and I was very happy to hear him talk about meditation.”

— Miaki

“I felt completely relaxed here” 

“I found this hotel through Mixi, and I was able to relax here very much.

The owner is very fond of Japan, and he took great care of us. We shared meals and drinks, and I had the opportunity to experience interesting things such as breathing practices, meditation and yoga.

All the staff were kind, and I felt comfortable and safe during my stay.

If you are wondering where to stay, I recommend this place. You can stay here with peace of mind.”

— Minato Tsunekata

“Peaceful, natural and friendly” 

“The welcome is warm, and many activities are offered, including a jeep excursion to the National Park and a very enjoyable Ayurvedic massage.

Everything is peaceful here. We were not disappointed with our trip!

An interesting, relaxing, natural and friendly place.

We were lucky at Panna Park — we even saw two bears!”

“A surprisingly comfortable stay” 

“I came to Lakeside after meeting Mr. Gorn on the bus from Jhansi. I wasn't expecting much at first, but so far, this has been one of the best experiences of my trip to India.

The hotels in Agra were very noisy and stressful, but here in Khajuraho I have been able to relax.

The hotel has proper hot water, not just lukewarm water, so I highly recommend it!

The owner and staff were incredibly generous and welcoming. I was even treated to chai, and after becoming friendly with the owner, I was invited to share drinks with him. It made me wonder, ‘Is it really okay to be treated this well?’

I am planning to stay in Khajuraho for a while.”

— Santi

“Two wonderful days in a relaxed atmosphere” 

“Thank you for two wonderful days in a relaxed atmosphere.

The room was very clean, the service extremely friendly, and the location absolutely peaceful.

The meditation and breathing exercises are highly recommended.”

— Karin Offen · Rotenburg, Germany

“Unforgettable holidays in India” 

“I am Portuguese and live in Johannesburg. I spent two weeks in India and loved it — it was an unforgettable holiday.

The hotel here is lovely and offers good hospitality.

Our group consists of four women: Marcelle, Virgínia, Nina and Maria.

Thank you.”

— Nina · Portugal / Johannesburg

“Bref, que du bon ! — In short, nothing but good!” 

“A very nice hotel, both for its affordable rooms and for its sunset terrace, where you can admire the many parrots settling down for the night, and for its owner, who understands his guests’ wishes and needs and is always happy to give good advice about sightseeing, as well as meditation and yoga classes — which are well worth experiencing.

In short, nothing but good!

Stay as long as you can — Khajuraho is a very pleasant place!”

— Clémence Boutoute · Alfortville, France

Other members of the group wrote:

“Everything was just as good. Thank you to the ‘super owner’ and to his kind and friendly team.”

— 28 September 2011

“A wonderful welcome, a very friendly, warm and helpful owner. It was an exceptional three-day stay.”

— Fabrice · 28 September 2011

“Thank you for your warm welcome and your advice, as well as for your care and yoga lessons!”

— Nicolas

“Here I found peace, tranquillity and time to think”

“In this place I found peace, tranquillity and time to think and meditate. Thanks to Avinash and his breathing exercises, we felt much better.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to relax through his breathing exercises and meditation techniques.

The spirituality of this gentleman and his good manners pleasantly surprised us.

Good luck and happiness to everyone.”

— Diego · Málaga, Spain

“Thank you for the beginning of a new life” 

“My heartfelt thanks to Pranayama teacher Avinash Tiwari, who shares his knowledge and experience of breathing with others without asking for anything in return.

Learning to breathe correctly is like being born again.

Thank you for the beginning of a new life…”

— Virginija Zubauskienė · Šiauliai, Lithuania

“Lakeside Hotel is a very pleasant place to stay while visiting the temples of Khajuraho. The staff are helpful and always ready to assist.

The hotel owner enriched our stay by teaching us how to maintain our health through yogic breathing exercises.

It is a very well-kept place, with a pleasant, clean room where nothing is lacking.

The rooftop terrace, where at any moment you can breathe in the atmosphere of a small town in Madhya Pradesh, is always a moment of pleasure and tranquillity.

This is a hotel I can recommend and would be happy to return to.”

— Yvette Forgues · France