i'll be arriving in Delhi in sept., any suggestions for a moderate/cheap but CLEAN!!! accomodation. pref. Connaught Place/Paharaganj. for 2-3 days max.
my next stop will be Haridwar (stayed long ago at the Govt. Bungalow dorm. across the river, was very clean but a bit far, any other suggestions?) and/or Rishikesh (pref. close to the bridges, does the Bombay guesthouse still exist? any other suggestions?) staying in an ashram is an option but since the're so many I wouldn't know which one...
Reply to this Hello Kerouac 😊
I am planning to stay in Hotel Navrang in Paharaganj when I am in Delhi. It is very very cheap but should be clean and decent enough because it is listed in the Lonely planet. Google Hotel Navrang, Delhi and you will get information and the exact location of it.
Mel
Reply to this Hi Kerouac,
A friend of mine stayed at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh early this year. She was really delighted with her short experience... she mentioned the people are really helpful.. and it's a basic but very clean Ashram.. they have a website also... again, google Parmarth Ashram Rishikesh and you should find it.. else let me know I'll find it out for you..
However, she said they generally prefer people staying not less than a week... if you don't plan to spend a week or more, may be you can request to make an exception!
- Swar
Reply to this I stayed in the Ajay guest house in Paharganj - it was 400rs a night, was clean enough and had hot water. It's in an alleyway just off Paharganj so not too noisy either, and has a cafe downstairs and a rooftop area, which, when I was there (apr 2007) was being renovated, so should be a rooftop cafe by now.
Reply to this Mel and Deb thanx alot! ..I'll check them both... also thnx to Sila for the link..I trust though more the word of mouth from pple who have been physically in the place ..usually is the best way to know about since the standards in India differ alot from ours.
Swar Shah.. I've heard also good hings about the Parmarth Niketan.. I think the're two Niketans in Rishikesh, two weeks or more is ok with me since yoga is my main reason for going to India
any tips for accomodations in Haridwar?
one more tips since all of u have been recently in India or still are there... planning to bring amex trav checks, do they still accept them at the bank of india? i know atm's are everywhere but so are the frauds/scams I've been hearing about..u know..somehow they copy ur pin etc and then suck ur account empty clean 😞
Reply to this I wouldn't listen too much to the rumours - I used ATMs all the time in India and had no problem - most of the time they're guarded by a security man 24 hours a day, and you can only go into the lobby one at a time - wouldn't think there's any more chance of tampered ATMs than there are anywhere in the western world. Can't advise re the travellers cheques as I didn't use them - maybe check on their website?
Reply to this did ur card had maestro on? .. i was also thinking to open an account with the bank of india since i'm plannig to stay around 6 mos or so..maybe it's easier. well still have a month to figure it all out
Reply to this It may be advisable to find out if foreigners temporarily in India are allowed to open bank accounts there.
Also, there may be unforeseen problems with it. eg How easy will it be to close it when you are leaving India?
I personally would be wary of doing this.
Reply to this maybe in the end I should hope the ATM's will work and the trav checks will be accepted..
anybody knows Ringo's guesthouse in Connaught place?
Reply to this see the Ringo's guesthouse at CP...but its bit expensive I believe
Reply to this personally I dnt like the idea of stayn at Hardwar...or Rishikesh...instead head to Dehradoon 40 kms away
Reply to this What is Dehradoon like? I mean is it a place where a lot of tourists and backpackers go?
Reply to this Dehradoon is a big city - capital of the Uttarakhand state. It has some historical monuments and temples and also is the one of the bigger cities in the area (with an airport and major railway junction). So, yes it does have its fair share of tourists. Another reason for cosmopolitan culture is some of the elite international schools like The Doon School...
Reply to this doon school welhams....Dehradoon...is where if u put up..you will enjoy more...just drive to rishikesh or hardwar when you want to...or go to Kedarnath Badrinath Yamunotri Gangotri...Valley of Flowers....so on..I just came back from Joshimath...though I didnot put in any hotel or hostel...slept in the car...besides u get the best quality of rice of India from Dehradoon
Reply to this you are very much welcome...Mell...just a note beware of touts and fake sadhus at Haridwar and Rishikesh
Reply to this Sadhus are the Hindu Saints who pray/worship there and stay there...distinguishable from the pilgrims who visit there
Reply to this Arnab..about the fake sadhus, in the bank in Rishikesh were more sadhus in the queue than ordinary pple
where are the real ones then? any tips?
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