The Grand Mumtaz provides overpriced accommodation in a ski in, walk out location at Gulmarg. Rooms are well proportioned with ensuites, the staff are friendly and the food in the restaurant varies from average to great, but the good news ends there. The quality of the rooms does NOT equate to the relatively high tariff.

Don’t believe the information on their website that states “From regal living amidist exquisite decor royal dinning experience. Every moment spent hare is mingled with truly evocative of romance & royalty”!

A seasoned traveller will always check the sheets on the bed to gauge a place’s level of cleanliness. Upon initial inspection at the Grand Mumtaz, the sheets were found to have what appeared to be mucous and blood on them. Not the best way to start! Some other issues with the rooms included:

• It seemed apparent that if two males were sharing a room, the management expected them to share a double bed, rather than providing two singles. Most blokes just don’t like spooning other blokes!!
• As snow built up on the roof, several rooms suffered from water leakage which soaked through entire rooms’ carpet and bedding.
• The much touted central heating in the building was only turned on for a few hours in the morning and then a few hours at night from around 6pm. Rooms were frigid for the rest of the day.
• The hot water for showers was similarly not always on. It would be turned on in the early afternoon only if a specific request was made. Additionally, depending on where your room was in relation to the hot water service your shower was either freezing or scoldingly hot.
• Some bathrooms smelt like something had died in them. Management didn’t seem to think that these smells were at all offensive, so did nothing about it.
• Walls between rooms are paper thin. Bring ear plugs.

On the plus side, the rooms are a good size and the electric blankets on the beds work well. Each room has a TV, but aside from the odd game of international cricket, you’ll quickly realise that Indian TV is about as good as Indian movies.

A lot of new buildings in India and Kashmir have the uncanny ability to look 30 years old when in fact they are only 3 years old. How can this be? The Grand Mumtaz certainly suffers from this affliction. Drafty, run down and dirty, the first thing that grabs your attention at the Grand Mumtaz is the frigid temperature in the reception, lounge and hallways. Watch out for the balustrade on the stairs leading down to the restaurant. It isn’t actually attached to anything. The toilet near the entry to the restaurant leaks water across the tiles so in the morning, crampons are required to get to breakfast without breaking ones neck.

Free internet is available via the manager’s computer. International phone calls can be made from the telephone at reception for a small fee. An in house laundry service will clean anything you can’t handle in your room for a small fee.

The sauna, gym, rooftop hot tub, day spa, and…………….. oops wrong hotel review.

The restaurant at the Grand Mumtaz runs from about 7.30am (if you’re lucky) until after 8pm. They also do room service. Meals can be incorporated as part of your accommodation package (lunch not included) or purchased as you go. If part of a package, breakfast and dinner are set menus. The breakfast is perfect for ski preparation: porridge, omelettes, toast, tea, coffee & juice. If enough people are in attendance, breakfast is an all you can eat buffet.

You can BYO alcohol, or they will provide some if you ask really nicely. Dinner varies from average to great.

On the plus side, the hotel has friendly staff, well sized rooms, great breakfast, and the ski in/almost ski out location.

An additional building in the Grand Mumtaz complex being built during the winter of 2009/2010 may alleviate some of the issues associated with current building’s inadequate heating, hot water and general cleanliness. The new building might also not change a thing!

See our video here