The Pride Hotel

This hotel is out in Pirhat, which is part of the Bhadrak district in Orissa. It is a bit of a drive to get here, but it’s a good spot for people traveling through the state. We are right on the road, so we get a fair amount of dust and noise from the trucks passing by. The building is simple and we try to keep it as tidy as possible for whoever stays the night. In the mornings, the lobby is usually quiet until the guests start coming down for tea and breakfast. We don't have a massive staff, just a few local people who help with the cleaning and the kitchen. The kitchen stays pretty busy making dal and rice, and the smell of spices usually drifts through the hallways around noon. During the monsoon season, the rain hits the roof so loud you can barely hear yourself talk, but it cools everything down which is nice. We have some basic furniture in the rooms and the TVs work most of the time unless there’s a storm or a power cut. It isn't a luxury place, just a decent spot to rest your head if you’re in this part of Orissa. We spend a lot of time just sweeping the front porch and making sure there’s enough water in the tanks. It’s honest work and we’ve been part of the Pirhat community for a while now.