Odisha Tourism inaugurated its much-talked-about glamping event Eco Retreat, this time at seven places, on December 15. I must thank the Odisha government, especially the Tourism Department for the initiative to attract solitude seekers to these leisure-luring locations. However, being one of the first-day guests, my experience at one of the Eco Retreats was pretty disappointing and led me to write this piece.
Like the past two years, I visited Konark Eco Retreat on the serene Ramachandi beach by the marine drive on the inaugural day. As mentioned on the tourism website, there are four categories of tents available at the Konark Eco Retreat: Presidential (Rs 25,000), Royal (Rs 18,000), Premium (Rs 13,000) and Deluxe (Rs 10,000). I booked a premium tent for Rs 15,000 including GST per night.
Though the agency offered to pick and drop service by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), I opted to go on my own. I was taken to the reception in a battery-operated vehicle.
THE FOOD
As soon as my daughter and I reached the venue, we were offered lunch. Both of us are vegetarian. I wanted to order food after checking in. But, my request was politely turned down saying that room service was not available. I left my luggage at the reception lounge and went for lunch. There was no menu to order food of your choice. One has to eat whatever the Eco Retreat offers. Only rice, dal, fried vegetables, mushroom masala, paneer curry and sweet curd were available for lunch, besides two-three non-vegetarian dishes.
The food was not bad but was not money’s worth. For dinner, it was again rice, naan, chow mien, paneer, soybean curry and sweet curd. I went in for rice and naan, while my daughter chose chow mien. The next morning’s breakfast was not as disappointing. My daughter opted for milk and cornflakes, a cupcake and fruits while I went in for Sambar Upma and fruits.
THE TENT
We checked into premium tent number 1, the first one in the row (all sea-facing). The tent had not been cleaned properly and there was sand on the carpet. The trash in the waste bin had not been cleared. As I went to the washroom, I found that someone had used it a few minutes back. There was no intercom in the tent nor anyone outside for help. The receptionist admitted that the room was used by someone before I arrived.
When I entered the tent, the tower AC was on and it was chilled. I tried to control the temperature but the panel was not working and there was no remote control in sight. After repeated complaints about the chilling temperature, the AC was switched off altogether. There was no room heater available as well. It was very uncomfortable to sleep as the temperature went down that night.
While booking, I was promised by the government website that coffee/tea can be prepared inside the tent. But neither tea/coffee sachets nor coffee-maker was available in the tent.
There was no wardrobe also. Only a wooden hanger for wet clothes to dry. The tents are not suitable for the elderly. The WC toilet is just placed on a wooden panel, not bolted or fixed on the ground. There is no handrail either. If the user is not careful, the toilet pan can easily plunge into the ground.
In the evening, as the temperature came down and the cold breeze from the ocean started coming in, it was not easy to drink normal water. Two bottles of water were provided, but there were no glasses. I requested the receptionist to provide me with a heater. She did it late in the evening.
Though the website claims to provide 24-hour running hot water in the washroom, in reality, it was a daydream. The next morning, I switched on the geyser but there was no sign of hot water even after half an hour. I called the reception again and requested to send someone to check the geyser, but no help arrived. Finally, I wanted to check out at 8.30 am. I requested the reception to send someone to help me with my luggage.
I packed my bags, came out of the tent and waited. A few minutes later, an executive came and after checking the geyser, left the tent and told me that he would send the plumber soon. No one came. I proceeded to the reception with my daughter, took breakfast and left the Eco Retreat dejected by the whole experience.
ENTERTAINMENT AND LIVE CULTURAL PROGRAMME
In the evening of our first day, two local cultural troupes performed Gotipua and Odissi dance. During the dinner, the receptionist handed me a ticket (I still have it) and said we could avail two free rides. The next morning, when we went to the beach, there were no rides. We saw two sand scooters but there was no one to operate them.
For those who fancy a drink, the bar inside the eco-retreat is not yet ready.
PREPAREDNESS
From arrival to check out, I noticed that everything was under construction. The tents were yet to be installed. The General Manager, a gentleman called Dey, admitted that the Eco Retreat is not functional yet. “Why didn’t you ask me to cancel my booking or to reschedule it?’’ I asked him. Of course, he had no answer. Later, I learnt that bookings are taken by Odisha Tourism while a private party takes care of the hospitality. But the private party has not completed the job and the government has inaugurated the Eco Retreat and started taking bookings.
THE SECURITY
My tent was not even electrified properly while I checked in. Late in the evening, they installed lights inside. The area outside and the pathway were completely dark. I had to use my cell phone torch to reach the tent. At around 10 pm, as we were about to sleep, two persons entered our tent but ran away soon. My daughter was frightened. I followed the intruders. I found a group of people, perhaps members of the eco-retreat team or workers, disappeared in dark.
I informed the GM about this and requested him to deploy security personnel outside, which he did. Later, the sound of continuous hammering and people gossiping, started coming from the rear of our tent. I first asked them to stop hammering away, when they didn’t, I requested the GM to intervene. After a few minutes, the hammering stopped. However, people gossiping, laughing, shouting, switching the lights on and off continued till morning.
We came back to Bhubaneswar totally disappointed. At home, I tried to gather information about the bidding for eco-retreat. Out of seven Eco Retreats this time, E-Factor has taken two, (Konark and Bhitarkanika) for the next five years (3 months each year). Another company has got Satakosia, Hirakud and Daringbadi. Sonepur and Koraput Eco Retreats have been given to different companies. I also came to know that the Odisha government will pay E-Factor Rs 103 crore for tents and hospitality at Konark for 15 months in five years. If the tents are extended for more than 3 months a year, the Government will provide E-factor with more, up to 60 per cent of the price on a pro-rata basis.
When I spoke to a senior official of the Department of Tourism, he said seven companies had participated with 25 bids. For Konark, the one who won the bid will receive Rs 103 crore or more from the government. The government will take bookings and get back its revenue. But as per the calculations, it will not exceed Rs 10-12 crore, if the property runs with more than 80 per cent occupancy rate.
From my experience at Konark, I can assure you that no one will spend Rs 15,000-25,000 per night for such poor service. Even by spending just one-third of this amount, one can avail better services in nearby private properties. Even OTDC Yatri Nivas in Konark provides better service for Rs 3000- Rs 4000 per night.
My money was totally wasted. If you plan to spend Rs 15,000-25,000 per night at Eco Retreat to experience something exotic and extraordinary, you are sure to be disappointed. It is better to go to other government facilities or private camps nearby.
The plans and initiatives by the government are really amazing. Odisha Tourism is doing a great job to attract travellers and guests. But I think the Eco Retreat at Konark is in the wrong hands. Even after spending so much money, the government will be blamed for the misdeed of a private firm. I fear, it would bring a bad name to my state. I wish the government would monitor and ensure the bookings only after the site is hundred per cent ready. They should review the facilities properly before reopening bookings.
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