Broad Lands

This place was recommended by a close friend of mine, as it is near the city centre ! The hotel is extremely safe for women who travel alone like me and backpackers ! I absolutely loved the rustic and charming side of this hotel ! The place is simple with some big plants... absolutely beautiful ! Budget friendly - it is a 2 star hotel so nothing luxurious, some rooms do need some renovation but the experience is totally worth it ! I had to stay longer in that hotel due to unforeseen circumstances but I have met amazing solo travellers from all around the world and the staff of the hotel are top-notch ! Marina beach is nearby, Express avenue for a quick shopping at the shopping mall and lots of nice restaurants around ! You also have bus stands and the metro station not too far away. There are also many movies that are being filmed in that hotel so you will encounter actors and crew members. It was nice and very interesting to see what was happening behind the curtains ! Lots of work going into those scenes ! (Some of the crew members believed I was an actress on set, 😅). Last but not least, I want to express my gratitude to Krishna, the owner of the hotel who has accommodated me so, so much, and to all the staff members, Mr Mahendran included, thank you all for your help, generosity and good laughs. And a big shout out to the cleaning ladies, who were also adorable and hilarious too ! :) Thank you BROAD LANDS for making my stay so special ! I dearly miss the place but I will definitely come back :))

Broad Lands Lodge is in a very good location. Easy to get to from Chennai Egmore train station by bus and from the airport by metro. Despite the time, the place still has it's charm. The lodge staff is polite and helpful. There are many restaurants in the area. Marina beach is approx. 2 km on foot. Express avenue shopping mall is approx. 1 km on foot.

The place is a heritage building and the ambience is nice, even during day time while inside the building you wouldn't realise your inside the city. It's has nice character and to stay there just for an experience is great. However the guys at the reception are just horrible they won't give you rooms. They treat Indians differerently from whites. They are selective to who they want to give rooms to. Even if you have a booking they will tell you they don't have rooms even If the building is hardly occupied. They receptionist was asking me for cash and refused to take card or gpay. He insisted i paied by cash and did not give me bill nor make an entry. They beds are not at all clean and lots of mosquitoes. There is nothing comfortable about the stay. The surrounding area is predominantly Muslims where the food is heavenly. It's not an ideal place for comfort. A regular hotel at the same price bracket will be a lot more comfortable.

Firstly, I'm only rating this high for the rustic and beautiful feel AND THE NUMBER OF CATS in the place. They're the best bois and girls in the place 5/5 for them. The receptionists however were very annoying. Unnecessary questions and I went to check in at 12pm and they said the room will only be available at 6pm. I'm glad I booked another room and circumstances and the timings aligned well for me and my friends. The rooms are not in the best condition either. Dusty and not maintained well. Not the best hotel for Chennai heat as it gets unbearable. Definitely book if you want to chill with some cats and not stay in the room for a long time. Value for money is decent tho.

This is a perfect place to stay for all kinds of travellers be it with family, friends or solo. The building gives a nostalgic experience of old Madras. The staff is well versed with English and Hindi for those who don't know Tamil. An amazing experience to live. Just don't expect fancy hotel amenities but still it's worth the price to experience the different type of vibe.