Sai Chhatra Review: A Budget-Friendly Family Hotel In Shirdi With A 30-Year-Old Legacy

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For several years now, I’ve been visiting the holy town of Shirdi every January and have stayed at multiple hotels. This year, I decided to try Hotel Sai Chhatra, a modest and budget-friendly hotel, located just a 6-minute walk away from the sacred Sai Baba temple.

Besides being at a prime location (opposite government bus stand), the hotel offers several interesting features, making it a convenient family-friendly stay option in Shirdi. 

In this article, I will take you on a virtual tour of Hotel Sai Chhatra and share all the details about our stay experience here. Let’s begin with the highlights. 

Best Parts Of Our Stay At Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

# Unique & Warm Welcome

As soon as we stepped into the hotel, the staff welcomed us by showering fresh flower petals on our heads. They followed it up by applying sandalwood tilak on our foreheads. 

This created a special first impression of the hotel, which I haven’t experienced in any other property in Shirdi. We could see that the welcoming ceremony instantly lit up every guest’s face. 

# Close Proximity To Sai Baba Temple

As a majority of people visit Shirdi to offer prayers at the Sai Baba temple, staying at hotels near the temple makes the darshan experience smooth and convenient. Thus, the location of Hotel Sai Chhatra turned out to be a boon for us. 

We walked to the temple and nearby prasad stores most of the time. Even in the evenings, when we were tired and hired autos, it cost us just between INR 30-50 for each one-way trip from the temple to the hotel. 

# In-House Restaurant Serving Delicious Food

Though Shirdi’s main areas around the temple are lined by tons of well-lit eateries that look quite inviting, most of their food tastes below-average unfortunately. That is why the availability of a good restaurant at the hotel turned out to be a blessing. 

Plus, their restaurant’s menu offers a huge variety of multi-cuisine vegetarian delicacies and every meal we had was quite delicious. I will share more details about the dishes we tried in the food section. 

TWT Tip: In case you’re celebrating any special occasion during your visit, the hotel arranges a special table decorated with flowers and balloons in the restaurant. So, remember to let them know if it’s your birthday or anniversary. 

The Rooms At Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

Hotel Sai Chhatra offers a variety of spacious and large air-conditioned rooms for families of different sizes. For instance, they have rooms with 2 beds, 3 beds, interconnecting rooms and even rooms with 2 washrooms, making them perfect for large families traveling together. 

Some of the rooms also come with attached balconies featuring cushioned swings, from where you can get a view of the main road. 

We got a room that had 2 double beds and 1 washroom, apart from all the necessary amenities such as water kettle, geyser, smart TV, dental kit, shampoo and a box of tissues. 

Interestingly, the room stocked jaggery tea mix powders instead of the usual green & black tea sachets. The room also had a freshener machine attached to the wall. It was spraying a fragrant mist every hour. 

In terms of cleanliness, most rooms and common areas itself were maintained well with no hint of dust or dirt. However, the balcony was slightly dusty, and the room we had received looked a tad bit worn out, with dents in some parts of the woodwork. We felt that the room needed freshly painted walls, newer bed sheets and some renovation. 

Nevertheless, the facilities and comfort the hotel offers for the kind of pricing they charge seemed worth it. Also, when we saw some of the other rooms, we realized that they have many better and newly-designed rooms as well. 

Note: The hotel is not open to hosting unmarried couples.

Reserve your stay on Booking.com!

Food & Drinks At Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

Hotel Sai Chhatra’s menu includes Indian breakfasts, sandwiches, Lassi, icecreams, thalis and a variety of Chinese and North Indian main course options. We tried the following dishes and here’s what we thought: 

Lunch:

# Tandoori Roti with Chana Curry – The chickpeas were soft and cooked in a rich and creamy tomato-based curry that paired perfectly with the smoky & crisp tandoori rotis. 

# Naan with Vegetable Angaara – This dish was actually up in flames when it was served on our table! The sizzling hot mixed-veg koftas in a smoky gravy offered a distinct flavor that teamed well with the naans. They were topped with smoked sesame seeds and coriander leaves, which added an extra layer to the dish. 

# Roti with Sev Curry – Sev Curry is a local Maharashtian dish that we haven’t found in any other city we traveled to so far. Thus, it was a delight to try it and the taste was similar to Misal, but with a thicker gravy. The rotis were quite soft. 

Breakfast: 

# Alu Parathas – One of my favorite dishes at this hotel, the parathas were packed with flavor. They were not just filled with mashed potatoes, but also had a generous dose of onions and coriander leaves, making the dish very refreshing. 

# Idlis with Coconut & Tomato Chutney – While the idlis & coconut chutney were nice, the tomato chutney was an absolute winner. 

# Upma – Although I am not a huge fan of this dish, I loved how it was loaded with fresh coriander leaves, offering a strong herby flavor. 

# Sooji Halwa – Generously sprinkled with fried cashews, the halwa melted in the mouth and was prepared sans any ghee as per our request. 

TWT Tip: The restaurant at Hotel Sai Chhatra offers complimentary ice cream with every meal. So make sure to avail the offer when you are dining here. 

Other Amenities & Services At Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

Hotel Sai Chhatra offers the following facilities for the convenience of guests:

• Local travel guide
• Taxi services
• Assistance for temple darshan
• Lift
• Smart TVs
• Complimentary WiFi
• Air-condition
• Free car wash
• Geyser
• Doctor on call
• 24*7 security, reception desk & room service
• Car parking
• Driver’s accommodation 
• Restaurant & room service
• Safety deposit & luggage room
• Laundry (chargeable)
• Sightseeing tours (chargeable) 
• Puja area

Location Of Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

The location is one of the biggest strengths of Hotel Sai Chhatra as it is situated on the main road, right opposite the government bus stand. By walk, it takes just around 6 minutes to reach Sai Baba’s Samadhi Mandir and by auto, it takes merely 2-3 minutes. Several other sightseeing spots of Shirdi, such as Sai Teerth Devotional Theme Park and Sai Heritage Village are also in close proximity to the hotel. 

Pros & Cons Of Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

Some of the main pros of Hotel Sai Chhatra are its location, affordable pricing, and a variety of family-friendly rooms with capacities of 2, 3, 4, 5 and even 6 guests. They also offer a warm welcome to guests with petal-shower and tilak, a multi-cuisine restaurant, 24*7 room service, WiFi, smart TV, and personalized travel packages. 

In the room, there were also no signs of rodents, despite the fact that the hotel is over 30 years old. I also learnt during our stay that the hotel is pet-friendly, which makes it inclusive and convenient for pet parents. 

In terms of cons, some of the rooms need better maintenance and renovation. While the newly-constructed rooms are more polished with cushioned headboards and cleaner balconies, some of the older rooms look slightly tattered, which is going to get fixed soon as per the staff.  

TWT Experience Summary Of Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

If you’re looking for an affordable-yet-comfortable stay in Shirdi that is also close to the Sai Baba temple, then Hotel Sai Chhatra can be a convenient option for you. Besides being budget-friendly and mainly for families, guests are also made to feel special with a warm petal-shower welcome and personalized attention to their needs, ranging from Shirdi sightseeing tours to darshan-assistance. 

We were also happy to find a smart TV in our room, good-speed WiFi, and delicious food at their restaurant. If the hotel improves the infrastructure of the older rooms, it can further enhance the guest experience. Overall, it makes for a great value-for-money stay with all the necessary facilities and services. 

Inclusivity checklist: 

✅ Kid-friendly

✅ Family-friendly

✅ Jain-friendly

✅ Budget-friendly

✅ Pet-friendly

✅ Sightseeing, airport & railway station transfers (paid)

❌ Bachelors & unmarried couples are not allowed 

Check In Time: 12 pm

Check Out Time: 10:30 am 

Price Per Night: INR 2300 to INR 3500 

Location: Google Maps 

Contact: +91-9370255101

Room booking link: Booking.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi

1. What is the price of rooms at Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi? 

The cost of rooms at Hotel Sai Chhatra start from INR 2300 for a double bed. It can go up to INR 3500 for larger rooms with 6-capacity beds. The prices could be higher in the peak season and on major holidays. The hotel also offers complimentary WiFi and free ice cream with every meal. 

2. How far is Hotel Sai Chhatra from the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple?

Hotel Sai Chhatra is at a walkable distance of around 6 minutes from the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple. In case you take an auto, it takes 2-3 minutes to reach the temple from the hotel. 

3. Are unmarried couples and bachelors allowed to stay at Hotel Sai Chhatra? 

No, Hotel Sai Chhatra in Shirdi only provides rooms to families and children visiting on school/college trips. They don’t allow bachelors and unmarried couples into the hotel. 

4. Does Hotel Sai Chhatra, Shirdi allow pets?

Yes, Hotel Sai Chhatra allows pets to stay along the guests inside their rooms. 

5. Is Hotel Sai Chhatra in Shirdi a budget hotel?

Yes, Hotel Sai Chhatra is an affordable hotel where even a family of 6 can stay for just INR 3500. The rooms for 2 people are also quite budget-friendly and priced at only INR 2300. The hotel’s food is also priced nominally. They also offer complimentary ice cream with your meal. 

 

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