Boutique ambiance with cozy vibe
Multiple lounge areas for reading and relaxing
Individually styled rooms with regional Indian decor themes
Fitness center with treadmill and weight machine
Private yoga classes available on request
Terrace restaurant with cooking classes
Tailor services with 24-hour turnover
Free Wi-Fi throuhgout
In West Delhi, removed from central attractions
Rooms lack televisions
Fitness center is small, with limited equipment
Located in West Delhi's Janakpuri neighborhood, Shanti Home is a mid-range property that's popular with domestic travelers, but may not be the best choice for those wanting to be near tourist sights. It has only 17 rooms, which allows for more personalized service, and each has a quintessentially Indian feel based on a region or theme. There are plenty of amenities for a hotel of this size, including a terrace restaurant, cooking classes, and a small fitness center. Travelers wanting to be closer to the tourist attractions may want to compare rates and amenities at one of the more centrally located properties, such as Hotel Bright in Connaught Place.
Scene
Casual tourist boutique hotel with apartment-like atmosphere
Shanti Home gets a good number of international and domestic guests, but its West Delhi location might make it inconvenient for those who plan to do a lot of sightseeing. The four-story structure looks more like a large house or small apartment building than a hotel, with white walls and big balconies protected by a gated entrance. Inside is a casual lobby with marble floors and a few seating areas with wooden chairs, benches, and tables, beyond which is a stairway that leads up to guest rooms. The property has plenty of common areas, including a lounge on each level. The Ganesha Lounge features wooden seats with cushions and a large idol of Ganesha, known as the elephant god and associated with new beginnings and the removal of obstacles. The Pattachitra Lounge has a large flat-screen TV and both Hollywood and Bollywood DVDs, useful given that rooms lack televisions. The Krishna Lounge has a laptop for guest use and a collection of books to borrow.
Location
In West Delhi's Janakpuri, removed from tourist sights but relatively convenient to the airport
Shanti Home is located in Janakpuri, in West Delhi, in a part of town without a lot going for it in terms of tourist attractions. It's across the street from a market area with a few shops, restaurants, and temples, and the Uttam Nagar East Metro Station is a five-minute walk away. Old Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi's bustling market area -- Chandni Chowk -- are both 40 minutes or so away by car with no traffic (or considerably longer during busier times of day), while Connaught Place, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and Jantar Mantar, can be reached in about half an hour by car (without traffic) or 45 minutes on the metro.New Delhi Railway Station takes 40 minutes to reach by car or 45 minutes by metro (with one change). Factor in about 35 to 45 minutes by car to India Gate or 45 to 50 minutes for Humayun's Tomb. South Delhi attractions such as the Lotus Temple and the Qutub Minar can take 45 minutes or longer to reach depending on traffic (or an hour and 20 minutes by metro). The Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 15 minutes away by car, without traffic.
Rooms
Individually themed, air-conditioned rooms with walk-in rainfall showers
The hotel has 17 rooms spread across three categories: Luxury, Premium, and Deluxe. There are two entry-level Deluxe Rooms, each designed after a town in the desert state of Rahasthan. The six Luxury Rooms are a bit larger, with desks and four-poster beds plus themes ranging from the Bollywood film industry to the backwaters of South India's Kerala State. Premium Rooms are even larger and primarily themed after different towns and cities, with more ornate furniture and fittings. Rooms lack TVs, but all have air-conditioning, fans, and simple walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, but there's not a huge difference in terms of amenities.
Features
Alfresco restaurant, fitness center, yoga classes, travel desk, and tailoring service
The Shanti Home has a decent number of features for a small property. There's a pleasant on-site restaurant -- The Lantern Terrace Garden -- with a mix of covered and open-air outdoor seating. Other features include a small 24-hour fitness center, private yoga classes in the on-site yoga room, mobile phone and SIM card rentals, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. The hotel also offers a travel desk that can arrange airport transfers and sightseeing tours as well as a tailoring service -- including custom-made clothing -- with 24-hour turnover.