Want a quick break from city life but don’t want to go wild? We have just the spot - Amrit Bhawan in Haridwar. The best part is, that while you’re super close to the buzz of the town, you’re far enough to soak up the peace and tranquility of the “other side” of Haridwar. The lead up to the hotel isn’t the finest, but don’t judge it by the journey there. Let the actually drive away impress you.
Started by architect Varun Bajaj (it’s not wonder the place is so wonderfully designed), this one is really a family home that has been converted into a boutique hotel, just on the banks of a tributary of the Ganga. An imposing art deco building with rooms all uniquely designed and appointed, be sure to ask for a room with the river view, though others aren’t bad either. Expect very different looks. Think constellations embossed in metal on the ceiling, rattan furniture and terrazzo tiles to kick it back really old-school and awesome. We also love that they up-cycle a lot of things - from the refurbished tables and sofas to stools that double up as tables. There’s so much story-telling in each corner of the hotel, you’ll be wise to get the super hospitable staff to tell you the details of it all. Better still, if you can, get Varun to.
Garhwali cuisine rules the kitchen, and here too the Chef will make an effort to come to you, and take you through the food you’re eating, and really make it an experience rather than just a meal. The thalis here are top notch, and you can get yourself snacks and even nourishing, organic packaged stuff to take back from Naashta, their in-house brand. Take home panjiri, Pisyu Loom, Pahari Namak, granola and more, if you really want to best of pure mountain ingredients.
While you’ll probably be tempted to pick up a book and ready the weekend away - in the rooftop Jacuzzi no less, make a trip to the nearby markets. It’s well worth it for the treasure trove of metal (especially brass) and stoneware. We highly recommend you book out the whole space for a bigger group and make it your own for maximum enjoyment.
