Banalakshmii

Place for pickles, ghee, rice, handicraft items, knick knacks, savouries, awesome cuisine.

I went there with my four friends one of them has allergy on hilsa fish so we ordered katla jhal, but they use hilsa jhol with katla, we again and again sid that this's hilsa jhol please change this but they denied, within half an hour my friend got allergy on her body I called them but they again behave rudely and disconnect my call

Had a sumptuous authentic Bengali lunch at Banalaxmi.

Located at 10km distance from Sonajhuri Haat, the ancient Banyan tree welcomes in the village setup and the place is beautifully maintained with plants and mud houses.

The unlimited veg meal consists of rice, ghee, alu vaja, daal, shukto, dhoka, chatni and mineral water. Along with this we had ordered mutton, chingri malaikari and bhetki paturi. Service was fast and taste was so wholesome.

Their ghee deserves a special mention, you can buy from the souvenir shop where they sell pickles, sarees and a wide range of local products.

They get rush in the weekend, need to prebook and place the order in the morning itself.

Its approx a 4hr drive from Kolkata. Few stretches on the highway and the route are currently not in good condition. However, the food overpowered every difficulty!

Along with the veg thali (unlimited) took mutton and Ilish (Hilsa fish). Everything was extremely tasty. A proper bengali meal and everything used is homegrown here. Everyone here are really corteous, so happy and willing to serve you.

One last thing: Make sure you call and order for the food before reaching.

The food is good although overhyped. Price is slight at the higher side. But the ambience is really very good. The service is just ok. Overall, it's a good experience and worth one time visit for middle class people.

Banalaxmi is known for its ambience and food. However, you need to book in advance and the wait time is quite high. The quality of is good but was better in the past. Nestled amidst trees, this place is worth visiting. And once you are here, do check on the ghee. It's extremely good. The same ghee is available at Biswa Bangla but at a higher price.

We went there yesterday (27th May) for lunch as it wasy mom's birthday. The lunch was absolutely delicious. We ordered 5 veg meal in addition we took four chicken kosha and one mutton. In veg meal firstly we were served water then we were given hot rice and a lots of ghee was spread by that sweet lady. It also included alu bhaja. Then sukto was given which was made from their own farm fresh products. Then dhokar dalna was served to each one of us. Then our chicken and mutton was served which was deliciously prepared. We also took ilish and mourola as fish option and savoured every bit of it. We finished our lunch with ammer chatni and voila! We also brought some things from their shop and clicked some photos and enjoyed scenic beauty and left for home by sunset. Thank you

Alas! It's not the same as it was! The smell of the hot rice and ghee didn't bring the peace it used to bring

Excellent ambience and arrangements for a wholesome meal you may avail here. The ancient banayan tree will welcome you in the traditional tribal set up. There is a beautiful garden in the premises with Thali decorated with multiple traditional bengali dishes. Cooking is tasty but not much spicy. It is traditional but service is limited. On weekdays it may be difficult to have a seat without advance booking.

Authentic food cooked with age old techniques and organic produce, if you are patient enough to endure the excruciating waiting even after prebooking your meal.

Is it worth the waiit? Maybe. The price? Perhaps.
Overall: Recommended if you have plenty of time to kill.

Perfect place to stay if one wants to experience a rustic environment. The restaurant is also very good. You need to order ahead to have lunch here and also mention the number of heads who will be having lunch.

The customer service is very poor, their behaviour to their guests are awfully rude.
The price of any food items are costly than usual and the quality is not upto the mark. The other items are also good but costly.
But ambience of the garden and the area is very good.

We don't trust our Customers; this is the statement occurs from the respective authority.the incident took place today as one of the senior Visva Bharati Professor willing to purchase tow flower plants worth rupees 200 each. While he went for payment a person from the desk refuse to take the money and behaveed rudely by stating that, the plants prices are 260. The professor told her that another staff from the same desk told him 200 rupees for each plant, then why suddenly they are asking for 260. The lady who is the incharge of that place become furious by listening the argument of the professor, and told the senior citizen/ professor that he is lying. This was quite embarrassing and disrespectful behaviour to a senior professor and as a customer too. The professor continuously told her that 60 rupees is not a issue, but she should talk properly. But the arrogant lady couldn't understood or not willing to understand the situation.
As we are also present during that time, we try to resolve the issue with Banalakshmii authority/she told us that they didn't trust their customers no matter with whom they are dealing with. This statement came as a shock for us, as we from Shantiniketan always try to make value with our words and behaviours. At first we could' t believe what we are encountering at that time.
Honestly speaking the food is very average quality and prices are unnecessary high. There are plenty of restaurants available now in Shantiniketan and Shantiniketan surroundings, those are serving food with value for money and good behaviour. The Banalakshmii place not even allowing online transactions or Bank cards to make the payment. The excuse they are giving that their office room didn't have network. Although outside the office door the network is fully available. All the transactions they are dealing with cash, which is quite problematic in this days, as travellers didn't carry much cash with them. Please think twice before visit the place. As a Shantiniketan resident we feel asmed, that a fantastic old place like Baralakshmii become a regular egoist corporate business hub and nothing else. They didn't care about their customers, they forgot to give respect to a regular customer or a respected person or senior citizen.

Banalakshmii have been the choice for the Bengali thali lunch for most of the tourists that visit Shantiniketan. But I do not get the reason of such a craze. They prepare home cooked style dishes - less spicy, and authentic to the recipe and ingredients. This is perfectly agreed. And, in certain rush situations, you even have to share the tables with the strangers. So, is the same situation in most of the pice hotels in Kolkata while they also churn out good meals. Also, the same style meal, one also eat at home. We had lunch once or twice in Banalaxmi but did not feel the taste that justify this tremendous craze that chokes the entrance with people and car.

However, you can get some simply awesome Ghee (clarified butter) here. They have their own individual farm with dairy, poultry and vegetables. They make some good Bengali style pickles as well with Indian Ber, Indian Olives, Green Mangoes etc. In the winter season, you can get good quality Nalen Gur (Date Syrup) from here. The interior part is beautiful with loads of plants, trees, beehives etc.

Lunch is over hyped. I typically buy achar and ghee, reasonably good. Rest all items are overpriced. They are adamant in accepting only cash. Come with enough cash and changes, because for each type of product, there are different cash counters, for example, you have to pay the price of ghee in counter while pay in another counter for buying achar.

It felt like we are waiting in a refugee camp for our food, that too the quality of the recipe of all the food items were below standard.

Lovely traditional vegetarian Bengali food with rabindra sangeet playing in the background. Please reserve your booking earlier to avoid last minute disappointment. In the interior of village. The sweet dishes are chargeable but yummy- pathishopta, dudh Puli, Gopal pithe, kheerer payesh.
Don't forget to purchase authentic ghee, honey & much more. All authentic products.

Lovely traditional bengali food. For lunch you have to call in advance and make a reservation. The quality of their ghee is awesome.

Homely food and nice environment
You can visit without breaking your diet or pocket. Be sure to book as without prior booking you will not be entertained

Awesome place to stay in peace and dine Bengali cousins. Lovely small & big cottages, natural environment, great hosts and affordable.
Best time winters and monsoons.
Plan and book ahead.

Taste of food is okay but a little over hyped. I didn't like the mutton. Fish items are good. The most appreciable part is their ghee. You can buy different kind of pickles, ghee, handmade accessories, bags, home decor items from there.

Overhyped. A mad crowd in festival time. Long waiting and food poisoning as a return gift. Think many times before rushing for the madness. Have lunch from pice hotel where good quality of warm and fresh food are served. Even it is far better option.

Food quality is not so good with high rate as found in April 2021, also cost wise Banabithee hessel ghar is better option

You have to order a day before.
Veg thali cost 120
Mutton cost 210 around 4 peice.
All cooking is done in wood flame super simple and tasty.
Must buy cow ghee from there store its awesome

A famous Food Joint in Bolpur. Specializes in whatever is ordered is prepared by them In-House. Like they have their own poultry, they have ponds where they farm fish except special one viz. Hilsa {Ilish}, Lobster, etc. They also have their own agricultural land where they produce vegetables. All these items were served in your order. Prepaid booking is required and Card facility is not available. They also have their nursery and one can buy plants? It's also popular among celebrities.

Overhyped. Not that great in the taste but quantity and cleanliness is top notch. All staffs wore masks and gloves. Tables were cleaned after every guests.

HOME OF PEACE.the hut style cottage they have as accommodation is just awesome we stayed there for 2 days without any problem.its very surprising to me that a place like it which has trees all around have no entry for insects in the living area.the cottage we stayed in had two washrooms isn't that awesome many 5 star hotels cant provide such a facility.and such an awesome ambiance I don't think someone will get elsewhere, parking available inside the premises but only for the people who booked for accommodation.but there are cons too mobile network is very weak only BSNL works fine however this is not a con if you want to spend a day or two without the outside world interfering, another con is no room service for food you have to walk in the dinning area for lunch and dinner, no tv in the room (but will soon be installed as per the authority). Coming to the lunch here the mutton meal I felt was a bit expensive like the thali without the mutton was Rs 160 and the mutton containing 3 pieces a plate costs Rs 200 which sums upto Rs 360 per person meal, apart from that the dinner is great specifically chicken item. A SPECIAL TIP IF YOU ARE A SWEET LOVER ASK THE GUY SERVING TO SERVE THE HOMEMADE SWEET THIS IS A DELICOUSY HERE BUT U HAVE TO ASK FOR IT ITS NOT SERVED WITHOUT THAT.better than reading this have a experience yourself I believe you will enjoy the peace it offers.