My Luxury Stay for Holifest at the Nidhavan Sarovar Portico Hotel, Vrindivan, India

When I decided I would be in the holy city of Vrindavan for the famous Holifest, I had to sort out somewhere to stay quite sharpish. Hotels and hostels fill up and though I normally wing it, this time I set in stone my dates to ensure I could enjoy some luxury amongst the madness of Holifest. Simply put, I stayed at the best hotel in Vrindavan. I had a sparkling clean room, a Holi greeting on arrival and a truly wild yet quiet time here.

I stayed at the Nidhavan Sarovar Portico Hotel and Resort here in Vrindavan in India’s Uttar Pradesh State. Photos and words could never do justice to the luxury and quality of my stay here. Having announcing I was “done with backpacking” for a while, I dandered into this place, backpack on, shirt completely covered in paint. Life had taken me here to this shiny resort in Vrindavan and I raised a cheeky schoolboy smile.

I loved my stay at the Nidhivan Sarovar Portico Hotel for so many reasons, here are a few.

1.Luxury Rooms
Outside on the streets, everyone in Vrindavan and Mathura throws paint, water and powder at you. Inside, pure luxury. My room was clean, sparkling and a dream place to relax. I also had a great view out the window, a comfortable bed, a TV, a safe, a desk to blog from and a pristine bathroom.

2.Excellent Breakfast
Food in India is typically excellent and here at the Nidhivan Sarovar Portico, it’s a strictly vegetarian menu and I was blown away by how good vegetarian food can be. Normally a meat eater, I tried the many vegetable dishes on offer.

A choice of mango or watermelon juice whets the apetite, and tea and coffee comes as standard. Food wise, a mix of rice, potato and vegetable dishes curb your Indian curiosities.

Bread, cereals allow you to enjoy the continental options too. The breakfast is perfect for everyone and I repeat – no meat or even eggs! It’s a strict vegetarian menu and worth it!

3.Gym and Spa
On the first floor, a full spa and gym complex is a great way to unwind. Massages can be booked and you can also chill out on the balcony in pure relaxation.

4.Happy Staff
The staff are very well spoken and friendly, always willing to help here. This is the Indian Hospitality that you dreamed of and the rest of the country could learn a lot from the staff here at the Nidhivan.

5.Best Hotel in Vrindavan
Holifest is a crazy festival. You get wet, your clothes get stained, your camera might survive if you bring it in a bag and so through all the madness, you step inside the best hotel in Vrindavan here. Not only does the hotel boast the best luxury in town, but they also have their own exclusive Holifest Festival inside the hotel – amazing place to stay and definitely your place to choose for Holifest. I simply won’t recommend anywhere else.

6.Twenty Four Hour Room Service
To escape the madness of Vrindavan’s restaurants, I chose to try room service for the first time ever. Yes, despite having travelled to over 110 countries and reviewed tons of hotels, I have never asked for room service before. I got a huge tray of special Indian food here and loved it. Twenty four hour room service is brilliant!

Before I finish the article, I wanted to share this photo of an incredible green bird that visited my windowsill on my last day here before I headed south to Agra.

There is also a cool shop inside the hotel and an outdoor courtyard which is exquisite and can be booked for events.

I totally recommend heading to Vrindavan for Holifest (and indeed any time of the year to see the city’s sacred temples) and to get that piece of luxury an ardent long term backpacker craves, this place is worth every Rupee!

Here are the details for booking the Nidhavan Sarovar Portico Hotel, Vrindivan, India:

Hotel Nidhivan Sarovar Portico, Mathura

Plot No. 797, Gopalgarh Tehra Road,
Vrindavan, Mathura,
Uttar Pradesh – 281121 | Map

Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Phone: +91 565 303 7000 | +91 89 5863 7000

Here are some videos from my stay at the Nidhavan Sarovar Portico Hotel, Vrindivan, India: