Shiva Garden.... It makes me sad to see people writing bad reviews because of smoking hippies and spiders about such a great place. You can find this everywhere in India. And spiders are able to get into a 5 star hotel room too. Shiva Garden is a special place with lovely people like Jayan and Sonja running that place together... More

I came to stay at shiva gardens after two people had randomly recommended it to me, independently of one another, and am so happy i did!!! The ten or so days i spent were some of my happiest travelling days ever. The communal area is great, and for once truly communal, and i met an abundance of truly wonderful people... More

We are no Spring Chick's being in our mid 60's.If you live in a manicured artificial world don't come here go next door.If you love life wart's and all and if you have love for your fellow man this is the place for you.Yes it's quirky and has character and is inhabited by characters.It reminds us of the 60's when... More

Very good guesthouse for travellers - not many places we stayed whilst in India were this chilled out and so well set up for meeting other people. The outdoor area was lovely, as was the food, and we spent most of our 5 days in Varkala there - bit knackered after a month trekking in Nepal and this was the... More

Shiva Garden is lovely, though could use a bit of a clean up. The price is good, though not fantastic and does not include breakfast. The building with the rooms & attached bathrooms is set apart from reception so the hangout area is not heard, but the front rooms face the street and there is traffic noise. Your comfort level... More

i think others that have stayed here are looking at this place through rose coloured glasses the rooms are dark and dingy, there is no hot water, the toilet dont flush, there are no bed coverings the whole place looks like it could do with a massive clean up, debris everywhere this is really at the bottom end of the... More

Shiva Gardens is the sort of place you come to for a few days and end up spending a week. Or indeed longer. As is often the case, people make a place, and this is the most sociable and welcoming guest house I have come across in India. I stayed for 8 nights, sleeping in the dormitory on the roof,... More

Great hospitality, amazing staff. Clean and affordable. Food is good, and it seems like only 'good' people stay here.... choice of shared rooms or private rooms, both are comfortable and clean. A real garden of eden :) Highly recommended!

This place, this very special place, was my home more than once over the last few years. Just returning to the US after four-months living at Shiva Garden, with Jayan and his lovely, loving wife, Sonja, I feel homeless in my own home now. There is a rare energy to Shiva Garden. It embodies "community." If you are looking for... More