Straight answers
The Things People Ring Us About
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Getting here and staying
How far is Chola from Ongole, and from Vijayawada?
About 18 km from Ongole — roughly thirty minutes — and about 170 km from Vijayawada, which is three hours by road. Distances are approximate and we are verifying them; ask us before you set out.
Can you collect us from Ongole railway station?
Yes. Ongole is on the Howrah–Chennai main line and is our most common arrival point. Send us your train number and we will have a car at the platform.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 2pm, check-out by 11am. Early check-in and late check-out depend on the night before and after, so ask and we will tell you honestly.
Do all the cottages really have two bathrooms?
All fourteen, whatever the type. It is the single thing guests mention most often, which is why we lead with it.
The property
Is the beach safe for swimming?
This is the open Bay of Bengal, with real currents and no lifeguard. We do not recommend swimming in the sea, and we say so plainly rather than leaving you to find out. The pool is for swimming; the beach is for walking, sitting and eating.
What are the pool timings?
The pool is open 8.30am to 8.30pm and closes after that. Swimwear only — no cotton clothing in the water. Liquor is not permitted in the pool area, and neither is food. It is sanitised daily and checked before opening.
Is there parking?
Yes — secure, on site, with room for cars and buses. Function parking sits immediately alongside the event lawn.
Is there Wi-Fi and drinking water?
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout, bottled drinking water in every cottage, and hot water 24×7 — fresh water, not the saline borewater that is common along this coast.
Events and celebrations
How many guests can you hold?
Up to 300 seated or 400 standing on the event lawn. The poolside holds 80 seated and the beachfront 60. Those are numbers we will actually set, not optimistic maximums.
Can we bring our own caterer?
No. Catering is our own kitchen, for every event. That is partly quality control and partly the reason we can promise one vendor, one contact and one invoice.
Until what time can we play music?
10pm, in line with local norms. We are in a village, and the goodwill of our neighbours is worth more to us than an extra hour of DJ.
Can we take the whole property?
Yes, and for a wedding or a large family gathering we usually recommend it. All fourteen cottages, the pool, the lawn and the beachfront, with no other guests on site. Two-night minimum.
Food, policies and payment
How spicy is the food?
Coastal Andhra food is hot and we cook it that way by default. Tell the kitchen at the time of ordering and they will pitch it wherever you like, including for children.
Is alcohol allowed?
Liquor is not permitted in the pool area. TODO(pre-launch): confirm the policy for the cottages, the lawn and events before this page goes live.
Are children and pets welcome?
Children very much so — the twin bathrooms and the pool are why families come. Pet policy is still to be confirmed; please ask before you book.
How do payment and GST work?
TODO(pre-launch): confirm advance percentage, accepted payment methods and how GST is presented on the invoice.
Still unsure
Ask Us Directly
Send the question on WhatsApp and you will normally have an answer the same day.