Where to Stay
Most of the budget places are around Sudder St, off Chowringhee Rd, by the Indian Museum. Sudder St is the hangout street for the traveler’s crowd. There is a shortage of budget accommodations in Calcutta.
The Paying Guest Program can be arranged through the West Bengal Tourist Office (248-8271), BBD Bagh, and the Government of India Tourist Office (242-1402), 4 Shakespeare Sarani.
Sudder St Area (Lower)
The Salvation Army Red Shield Guest House (2252-0598), 2 Sudder St, is a popular, well-maintained budget place with clean rooms ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 900, and Rs 100for a dorm bed. The more expensive rooms have baths. It is often booked, but if you can get in, it is a good value. They will look after nonresidents’ baggage for Rs 10 a day. They may have bed bugs.
The popular Hotel Maria (2252-0860), Sudder St, has basic rooms with a common bath for Rs 250/350 to Rs 350/400 with bath. Dorm beds, Rs 100.
Hotel Paragon (2252-2445), 2 Stuart Lane, is a popular place on a quiet street. It has rooms for Rs 150/250 with a common bath, Rs 550 with bath, and dorm beds for Rs 85. The upstairs rooms are much better than the gloomy ground floor rooms. There is a pleasant courtyard upstairs.
Modern Lodge (2252-4960), 1 Stuart Lane, is a popular place with rooms with a common bath for Rs 125/200, with a private bath for Rs 250/400.
The best rooms are the ones with bath on the upper floor and roof. The manager here can also help you find cheap flights. Many budget travelers stay at these two places and they are both good places to meet people.
Diplomat Hotel (2246-8434), 10 Sudder St, has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 250 and A/C rooms for Rs 600.
Hilson Hotel, (2217-3896; fax: 2246-3999) 4Sudder St, has clean rooms with common bath for Rs 200/250 and Rs 450 for a double with bath.
Down the street and about the same price is the Shilton Hotel (2252-1512; fax: 2246-0961; Email: shiltoncal@hotmail.com), which has rooms with bath for Rs 300/400 to Rs 400/600..
Times Guest House (245-1796), upstairs near the Blue Sky Cafe, run by a friendly Sikh man, has rooms with common bath for Rs 200 and Rs 250 with a bath. Dorm beds are Rs 100.
Tourist Inn (2245-0134), in the middle of Sudder St, has small, clean rooms with common bath for Rs 180/350 and A/C rooms for Rs 650. It has a nice common area.
Centrepoint Guest House (2252-8184; fax: 2252-2867; EmailL ian_rashid@yahoo.com; 244-8184), 20 Mirza Ghalib St (Free School St), by Sudder St, is a decent place that has rooms with bath for Rs 200 and Rs 400 with A/C. It has a lounge with a TV.
Mansukh Guest House (249-8232) 25 Marquis St, has double rooms for Rs 400 and small A/C rooms for Rs 550.
Neelam Hotel (2229-9198), Dr M Ishaque Rd, south of Sudder St, has big run-down rooms for Rs 250/400 and with A/C for Rs 600.
Across the street is the East End Hotel, (2229-8921), Dr M Ishaque Rd, which is a decent place with rooms (with TV) for Rs 400/500.
Classic Hotel, (222907390), down an alley off Mirza Ghalib St, has singles, some without windows, for Rs 250, doubles with bath and TV for Rs 525, and A/C rooms for Rs 900. The rooms are all right, but they have far-out paint jobs. Bucket hot water available.
Khaja Habib Hotel (293-305), 33 Mirza Ghalib St, has well-maintained, clean rooms.
YMCA (2249-2192; fax 2249-2234; Email: swarajsi@123india.com), 25 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, near the Indian Museum, is an older, gloomy building with large rooms with bath for Rs 550/700 and Rs 800/900 with A/C. Dorm beds are Rs 150. This place is popular with Indian businessmen, so it is often booked. Room rates include breakfast and dinner.
YWCA (2229-7033), 1 Middleton Row, near Park St, is a nice, older place, with clean rooms with common bath for Rs 500/750 and Rs 850/1050 with private bath. Meals are included, and there is a good tennis court.
Where to Stay—Others Lower
There are Retiring Rooms with bath at the Howrah railway station for Rs 150.
Railway Yatri Nivas (660-1742), next to the station, has rooms with attached bath for Rs 400 (Rs 500 for rooms with A/C). Dorm beds are Rs 100. You have to have a train ticket for 200 km or more to stay here.
There are Retiring Rooms at Sealdah railway station.
About a five-minute walk from Howrah Station, on the same road as the Howrah Bridge, are a group of hotels.
Hotel Meghdoot (666-4018), P-3A Dobson Lane, has rooms for Rs 300 and Rs 600 with A/C.
Natraj (666-2536), next door, has rooms for Rs 400 and Rs 500 for a room with TV.
Hotel Saket (666-4839), just off Dobson Lane, is a big place with rooms for Rs 350/450 and Rs 600 for an A/C room.
Hotel Manish (666-6317), P-1 Dobson Lane, is centrally air-conditioned and has rooms for Rs 700/800 up to Rs 1100.
The Calcutta Airport has Rest Rooms for Rs 400/500 with A/C. Dorm beds are Rs 40.
The YMCA (244-3814), 42 Surendra Nath Banerji Rd, has doubles starting at Rs 200 and dorm beds for Rs 80, plus a temporary membership fee of Rs 25. It is often full.
Where to Stay—Middle
Hotel Swagath (475-6150; fax 475-8324), 37 Hazra Road, is good place to stay in south Calcutta. Rooms are Rs 700/750 to Rs 800/850 with A/C. Checkout time is 8 am. They have a decent vegetarian restaurant. It is a good idea to call first, because they are often full, especially in Dec/Jan.
Hotel Trimoorti (475-6878), 24 Ray St, (off Elgin Rd.), is a good place with rooms with TV for Rs 500/650 and Rs 700/800 with A/C.
Hotel Circular (244-1533; fax 245-0263), 177A AJC Bose Rd, is a good centrally located place. Rooms with hot water, A/C, and TV are Rs 650/700 up to Rs 850/950. It is located across the street from Mother Teresa’s Missionaries.
Hotel Carlton, 2 Chowringhee Pl., is a good place with rooms for Rs 750.
Where to Stay—BBD Bagh
The Hotel Embassy (279-040), Princep St, has rooms with bath and TV for Rs 550/600 and Rs 800 with A/C.
The popular Broadway Hotel (2236-3080; fax 2236-4151; Email: broadway@vsnl.com), 27A Ganesh Chandra Ave, a block west of the Indian Airline office on Chittaranjan Ave, has rooms for Rs 250 for a single with common bath and clean large rooms with a bath and TV for Rs 500/600. It is often full.
Central Guest House (2237-4876), Chittaranjan Ave and 18 Prafulla Sarkar St, is a recommended place with rooms for Rs 300/400 and Rs 600 with A/C. It is in a relatively quiet area. The hotel is on Chittaranjan Ave, but the entrance is down a back alley off Prafulla Sarkar St. The rooms in the back are quiet, while the rooms on Chittaranjan Ave can be noisy.
Where to Stay—Chowringhee
Hotel Lindsay (2252-2237; fax 2252-0310; Email: hotellindsay@vsnl.net), 6th floor, 8A Lindsay St, opposite New Market, is a decent place that has clean modern rooms for Rs 800/900 and Rs 1500/1700 with A/C. It has a good view of the city.
The Lodge (440-620), by Sudder St, is a clean place with rooms for Rs 500/600 and Rs 750 with A/C.
Lindsay Guest House (244-8639), on the floor above, has fairly simple clean rooms that are a decent value. Rooms are Rs 600/700 and Rs 800/1000 with A/C. There are good views from rooms 901, 902, and 903.
Hotel Plaza (244-6411), 10 Sudder St, has decent small rooms for Rs 500/600 and Rs 600/700 with A/C. Many rooms do not have windows.
The well-managed CKT Inn (2252-0130; fax: 2252-0665), 12A Lindsay St, is a good place that has rooms with A/C and TV for Rs 1100/1400. This place is often full.
Hotel VIP (2229-6428; fax 2229-3715: Email: hvipcal@mantraonline.com), Mirza Ghalib St, has rooms, some without windows, for Rs 1500 and Rs 2150 with A/C. It is well-managed.
Heera Hotel (2228-0663), 28 Grant St, north of New Market, has carpeted modern rooms with bath for Rs 700/800 and Rs 950/1200 with A/C.
Astoria Hotel (2245-1514; fax 2245-8589: Email: astoria@hotmail.com), 6/2 Sudder St, has good-sized A/C rooms with color TV for Rs 900/1200 and Rs 1200/1400.
Gujral Lodge (2244-0620; fax 2245-5109), 2nd floor, behind the Hotel Lindsay, has well-maintained, clean, large rooms with bath for Rs 700/900 abd /rs 1200 with A/C..
Where to Stay—High
Fairlawn Hotel (2252-1510; fax 2252-1835; email fairlawn@cal.vsnl.net.in), 13A Sudder St, is a classic example of a British Raj hotel and is recommended for its atmosphere. Rooms are $60/70 (includes meals). My friend was able to get a slightly cheaper price by telling them he did not intend to eat there. It is run by Mr and Mrs Smith, who still run the hotel almost fifty years after Independence. People either like this place or not. I guess if you are from England you already seen it before. As many of the rooms are not so good, this can affect your opinion of the place. Most rooms have A/C. There is a 20% discount between April and September.
Tollygunge Club (2473-4539; fax 2473-1903), 120 Deshapran Sasmal Rd, is a country club with a relaxing atmosphere in the southern part of Calcutta. Foreign guests are allowed to stay as long as they are tidy. Visitors must write, fax, or call in advance. Rooms range from Rs 950/1000 to Rs 2500/2800. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, clay tennis courts, billiards, a badminton court, two squash courts, table tennis, and horses. The Club used to be an old indigo plantation, and this is where Tipu Sultan’s family lived after his death. Guests are expected to dress properly, but a coat and tie is not necessary. It is a ten-minute walk from the Tollygunge metro station.
Lytton Hotel (2249-1872; fax 2249-1747; Email: lytton@glascl01.vsnl.net.in), 14 Sudder St, is a good, centrally located place with rooms for Rs 1900/2500. You have to get a room here early, as it fills up. It has two good restaurants, and is recommended.
Old Kenilworth Hotel (242-5325), 7 Little Russel St, has atmosphere and large rooms for Rs 1100/1200 and Rs 1200/1400 with A/C. It is in an old, colonial-style house; the rooms have balconies. All rooms have a bath and sitting area.
Great Eastern Hotel (2248-2311; fax 2248-0289; Email: geh@vsnl.com), 1-3 Old Court House St, is a big, old place with 200 rooms. It dates back to the British Raj and has seen better days. Rooms go for Rs 800/1000 and Rs 1400/1750 with A/C. A suite is Rs 2600. This place is popular and is usually filled by noon. The cheaper rooms are recommended.
Kenilworth Hotel (2282-3939; fax 2282-5136; email: kenilworthkol@kenilworthotels.xom), 1 Little Russel St, has modern A/C rooms with TV and fridge for $120/130. It has an old and a better new wing, so you should ask to see a few rooms. It has a good Chinese restaurant.
Astor Hotel (282-9957; fax 282-7430), 15 Shakespeare Sarani, is well located and has a beautiful garden. Rooms are Rs 1300/1500. It has a well-known restaurant.
The three-star Hotel Rutt Deen (247-5240; fax 247-5210), 21B Loudon St, has good A/C rooms for Rs 1200/1400.
Where to Stay—Luxury
Oberoi Grand Hotel (2249-2323; fax 2249-1217; email: reservations@oberoi-cal.com), 15 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, is an excellent hotel with a great atmosphere. It is one of the best hotels I have ever seen. It looks like nothing from the outside, but it has a beautiful courtyard surrounding a big pool. Rooms are $250/300. It is an old British Raj hotel. It has three restaurants, including a French one. Recommended.
Taj Bengal (2223-3939; fax 2223-1766), south end of the Maidan overlooking the Victoria Memorial, is an excellent place with room for $225/240 to $400. It has a swimming pool and health club.
Park Hotel (2249-3121; fax 2249-7343; Email: resv.cal@theparkhotels.com), 17 Park St, is centrally located and has rooms for $235/260. It has a pool.
The five-star ITDC Airport Ashok (511-9111; fax 511-9137), by the airport, is good if you are taking a flight in the morning or arriving late at night. Rooms are Rs 5000/5800. It has good facilities.
Hotel Hindustan International (2247-2394; fax 2280-0111), 235/1 AJC Bose Rd, has rooms for $180/190. It has a health club, spa and pool, which non-guests can use.
Pop: 11 million
Phone Code: 033
Before the British arrived in India around 300 years ago Calcutta was just a small village. It was the capital of India under the British until they moved the capital to Delhi in 1911. It is the biggest city in India. Calcutta is a fast-moving city, and it is a nice place to walk around.
It is said that Calcutta received its name when Sati killed herself by self-immolation after her father insulted her husband, Lord Siva. Lord Siva arrived after his wife’s body was already burning. He tore the body from the fire and started his dance of cosmic destruction. The other gods wanted him to stop, and they asked Lord Vishnu to convince him. In order to get Siva to stop, Lord Vishnu cut Sati into 51 pieces. Her toe is said to have fallen at Kali Ghat in the south part of Calcutta. Therefore, the city was called Kalikata, and later Calcutta.
The Hoogly River, which flows through Calcutta, is a branch of the Ganges, and is considered very holy.
The best time to visit Calcutta is from the end of October through the middle of March, at which time the weather is pleasant. During the monsoon season (late June through the middle of September) the rains can cause severe flooding.
History
The British established a trading post here in 1690 under the leadership of Job Charnock. Charnock married a Bengali widow after convincing her not to perform sati upon the death of her former husband. At that time, Calcutta consisted of just three small villages—Govindapur, Kalikata, and Sutanati. In 1707, the old Fort William was built, at a place near present day BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square). The Mughal ruler in Delhi granted the East India Company permission to have a trading post here in 1715. A moat was built around the perimeter of the city to defend against attacks. It was known as the Maratha Ditch, and was where the present-day Circular Road is now located. By 1750, Calcutta had expanded its population to over 100,000.
In 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, who ruled from Murshidabad, about 200km north of Calcutta, attacked the city. Most of the British escaped onto boats, although some were captured and imprisoned in an underground cellar where many of them suffocated. This incident became known as the “Black Hole of Calcutta.”
Early in 1757, Clive retook Calcutta and made an agreement with the Nawab. Later in 1757, the Nawab became friendly with the French, which helped lead to the Battle of Plassey, won by the British.
After this, the present Fort William was built. Calcutta became the British capital of India in 1772. Many Bengalis became leaders in the Independence movement, which helped lead to the decision to move India’s capital to Delhi in 1911.
Getting Your Bearings
The main part of the city lies along the eastern bank of the Hoogly River (a branch of the Ganges). Howrah, the main train station, is on the west side of the river. BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square) is where the GPO, West Bengal Tourist Office, American Express, and railway booking offices are located. It is toward the north of downtown, close to the river.
The Maidan is a large park in the center of the city that goes along the river, and the Chowringhee area is to the east of it. The northern part of this area is where Sudder Street and the cheap hotels are located. This is where many budget travelers stay. There are several places where you can get cheap international tickets in the Sudder Street area. Along the Maidan are located many of the middle and higher-class hotels, the airline offices, and the Indian Museum. It is a nice part of Calcutta, and the main area that most tourists see. Kali Ghat is located in south Calcutta.
Change of Street Names
Many street and park names have been changed from the British names to Indian names. Many taxi drivers know only the old name.
Old Name New Name
Ballygunge Store Rd - Gurusday Rd
Chowringhee Rd - Jawaharlal Nehru Rd
Dalhousie Square - BBD Bagh
Harrington St - Ho Chi Minh Sarani
Harrison Rd - Mahatma Gandhi Rd
Kyd St - Dr M Ishaque Rd
Lansdowne Rd - Sarat Bose Rd
Lindsay St - N Sengupta Sarani
Lower Circular Rd - AJ Chandra Bose Rd
Mirzapore St - Surya Sen St
Theatre Rd - Shakespeare Sarani
Wellington St - Nirmal Chunder St
Information
The useful and helpful Government of India Tourist Office (2282-5813; Email: indtour@cal2.vsnl.net) is located at 4 Shakespeare Sarani. vjpetomhjrr. They can give you a computerized printout of many places in India. There is also a Tourist Office counter at the airport, open when flights are arriving and departing. Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat 9am-1pm
The West Bengal Tourist Bureau (2248-8271; Web Site: http://www.westbengaltourism.com) is located at 3/2 BBD Bagh East. They also have counters at the airport and at Howrah Station. They arrange tours of Calcutta and West Bengal, and book tours and accommodation for the Jaldapara and Sunderbans Wildlife Parks and also help with permits. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am to 4 pm, Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 8am-12 noon. West Tourism Centre has a counter at the Howrah train station (2660-2518) Hours; Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sim 8am-12:30 pm
Survey of India, 13 Wood St, has a good selection of maps including trekking maps.
Calcutta This Fortnight, provides a schedule of events in Calcutta, and is available at the West Bengal Tourist Office.
Some of the states with tourist offices in Calcutta are:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
3A Auckland Place (2247-2604)
Arunachal Pradesh
4B Chowringhee Place (248-6500)
Assam
8 Russell St (298-331)
Bihar
26B Camac St (247-0821)
Himachal Pradesh
25 Camac St (2nd Flr)
Jammu & Kashmir
12 JL Nehru Rd
Madhya Pradesh
Chitrakoot Bldg, 6th Flr, Rm 7, 230 AJC Bose Rd (247-8543)
Manipur
26 Roland Rd (747-075)
Mizoram
24 Old Ballygunge Rd (748-279)
Nagaland
11 Shakespeare Sarani (242-5269)
Orissa
55 Lenin Sarani (2244-3653)
Rajasthan
2 Ganesh Ave
UP
12 A Netaji Subhas Rd
Sikkim
4th Floor, Poonam Bldg, 5/2 Russell St (2267-7516)
Tripura
1 Pretoria St (242-3836)
Tours
The Government of India Tourist Office (242-1402), 4 Shakespeare Sarani, organizes a full-day tour to the Indian Museum, Victoria Memorial, Nehru Children’s Museum, Zoo, the Sitalanath Jain Temple, Dakshineswar Temple, and Belur Math for Rs 75. It departs from their office every day except Monday at 8 am.
The West Bengal Tourist Office (2248-8271; Web Site: http://www.westbengaltourism.com), 3/2 BBD Bagh, offers a similar tour (as above) for Rs 75. Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 8am-12 noon.
West Bengal Tourism offers a tour to Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary between October and March and it is a good way to see this place. For more information, see the Sunderbans section.
There are some interesting walking tours of Central Calcutta organized by the Foundation for Conservation and Research of Urban Traditional Architecture (CRUTA), (554-6127), 67B Beadon St, which visits the old buildings and palaces in the area. The tourist offices have information about these tours.
Warren Travels (298-274), 31 Chowringhee Rd, operates tours on specific themes, such as the arts of Calcutta or a river cruise.
Money
American Express (2248-9471; fax 2248-8096), 21 Old Court House St, changes money quickly and efficiently. Hours Mon0Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm.
Thomas Cook (2280-3907; fax 247-5854), Chitrakoot Bldg, 230 AJC Bose Rd, also changes money efficiently. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-6pm
Main banks: Grindlays Bank, 41 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd & 19 Netaji Subhas Rd; State Bank of India, 1 Strand Rd & Jawaharlal Nehru Rd; Bank of America, 8 India Exchange; and Citibank, 43 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd. Most of these banks have ATM machines.
There is a 24-hour branch of the State Bank of India at the Calcutta airport.
RN Dutta (2248-6975), Stephen House, 4-5 BBD Bagh East and 5&7 Kidderpore Dock, Near West Bengal Tourism (Hours Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, as well as Maneek Lal Sen, New Market, are licensed brokers who can change money outside banking hours. Travellers’ Express Club,(2245-7604; fax: 2252-2867) 20 Mirza Ghalib St, near Sudder St (Hours: Daily 10am-6pm
Post, Phone and Internet
The service to find phone numbers that have changed is English-1952; Bengali-1953; Hindi-1951.
The GPO at Subhash Rd, BBD Bagh has an efficient poste restante (Mon to Sat 7 am to 8.30 pm). It also has a philatelic department for stamp collectors. The New Market post office is on Mirza Ghalib St (Free School St), just opposite Sudder St. The Park St Post Office is efficient for mailing parcels. There is also a post office in the domestic terminal of the airport.
The Central Telegraph Office is located at 8 Red Cross Place. The Telephone Bhavan is located at BBD Bagh. There is a fax place on Shakespeare Sarani (others elsewhere).
US citizens can make collect calls to America from the US Consulate.
Courier service: DHL (2281-3131) , 21 Camac St, Chowringhee area. does shipping worldwide.
There are plently of places to surf the Internet, especially in the Sudder St area. Enternet (2217-5268), 9 chowringhee Lane. good for Internet Cyber Empire, at the New Empire Cinema near New Market, Netfreaks (2216-1689), 2/1 Sudder St, near the Salvation Army, is a good place for Internet.
Visa Extensions, Permits & Income Tax Clearance
The Foreigners Registration Office (2247-3300/1), 237 AJC Bose Rd, is where you apply for a visa extension and a permit to visit the Andaman Islands. To get an income tax clearance you go to Room 11, Income Tax Building, Bentinck St
.
Photography and Camera Repair
Narain’s Photo Cine Centre, 20H Park St, and Bombay Photo Stores, 33–34 Park Mansions, Park St, are good places. North East Colour Photo (2249-2098), 14 Sudder St, by New Market, does one-hour processing.
Camera Craft, 1st floor, 24 Park St, and Latif’s, 24 Chowringhee Rd, are good camera repair shops.
Foreign Consulates
Bangladesh
9 Circus Ave (247–5208)
To obtain a visa for Bangladesh, you must go to Delhi, even though there is a
consulate in Calcutta.
Bhutan
48 Tivoli Court (241-301)
Denmark
3 Netaji Subhas Rd (248-7478)
France
26 Park St (290-978)
Germany
1 Hasting Park Rd (479-1141)
Italy
3 Raja Santosh Rd (479-2426)
Japan
12 Pretoria St (242-2241)
Nepal
1 National Library Ave (479-1173)
Netherlands
18A Brabourne Rd (262-160)
Russia
7 Alipore Ave (479-7006)
Thailand
18B Mandeville Gardens (440-7836)
UK
1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani (242-5171)
USA
5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani (242-3611)
Travel Agencies
Blue Sky Travels (2244-0934) at 2/1 Sudder St, was recommended to me as a good discount travel agency. They are efficient and cheap. Travellers’ Express Club, (2245-76040 20 Mirza Ghalib St (Free School St), is efficient and offers good discount airline tickets. Crystal Travel, Paragon Hotel off Sudder St, is supposed to be a good place for cheap tickets.
American Express (248-6181), 21 Old Court House St; Sita World Travels (292-174), 3B Camac St; Mercury Travels (242-3535) and Travel Corporation of India, both at 46C JL Nehru Rd, are established travel agencies.
Places To Shop
New Market, Lindsay Street, is a large market carrying a wide range of items. It has more than 2,000 stalls. As you approach the market, expect someone (or a group of people) to run up to you and drag you (literally) from shop to shop. Avoid them, as they are usually totally useless and will get you moving at the speed of light. Chamba Lama sells Tibetan goods and silver jewelry. Sujata’s is a well-known silk shop.
The Central Cottage Industries Emporium, 7 JL Nehru Rd, has a wide selection of handicrafts.
Good places to obtain musical instruments are Braganza & Co, 2A Marquis St, and J Reynold & Co, 15 Mirza Ghalib St. They also repair instruments.
Hiren Roy & Son, Rashbehari Ave, Gariahat, is a famous sitar maker. They have made sitars for Ravi Shankar.
Naskar & Sons, 14 Ganga Prasad Mukherji Rd, makes good tamburas and sitars.
Hemen Roy & Sons, Rashbehari Ave, Triangular Park, makes excellent sitars and tamburas.
Manoj Kumar Sarder & Brothers, 8A Lal Bazaar St, across from the police station, make first-class sitars and sarods.
Bookshops
The Oxford Book Shop, 17 Park St, and Cambridge Book Company, 20D Park St, are good bookstores.
Newman’s is on the same block as the Great Eastern Hotel.
The Bookmark is upstairs at 56D Mirza Ghalib St.
Booklands, at the eastern end of Sudder St, has a good selection of tourist books.
Many of the bookshops along Mirza Ghalib Street have a good selection of books.
Landmark 92282-2617), 3 Lord Sinha Rd, third fllor of Emami Shopping Center, has one of the best selection of books in town. Also has music and stationary.
Seagull Bookstore (2476-5865; Web Site: http://www.seagullindia.com) 31A Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd, near Indira Cinema and Bhowanipore police station. Hours: Mon-Sat 10am -6pm.
The Survey of India has a Map Sales Office, 13 Wood St, where they sell good maps of India’s major cities.
There is a large Book Fair in the Maiden in December-January. It is like having hundreds of bookshops all in one place.
Medical and Opticians
The Wockhardt Medical Centre (2475-4046), 2/7 Sarat Bose (Lansdowne) Rd, south of Chowringhee, is open Mon-Sat 8am to 7pm. Dr Paes,
Vital Medical Services (2282-5664), 5th Floor, 6 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, is open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Kothari Medical Centre (479-2557), 8/3 Alipore Rd, has good doctors and is recommended.
Woodlands Nursing Home (453-951), 8/6 Alipore Rd; Belle Vue (244-2321), 9 Dr UN Brahmachari St; and Park Nursing Home (244-3586), 4 Victoria Terrace, are suggested private clinics.
There is also the Centre for Tibetan Herbal Medicine, 400 Jodhpur Park.
Opticians: Stephens, 23 JL Nehru Rd; Himalaya, 25 Camac St; and President, 306 Bepin Behari Ganguly St (Lal Bazaar).
Indian Museum
This is both the largest and one of the best museums in India. It is located at the intersection of JL Nehru Rd and Sudder St. The museum contains 36 galleries. On the right side of the main entrance is the Archaeological Section, containing a large collection of old sculptures and deities. There is a polished sandstone Lion Capital which dates from the 3rd century and an interesting collection of sculpted stone railings from the Buddhist site at Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh, dating from the second century BC. In this museum there are fossils, an art collection, a great coin collection, an Egyptian Gallery with a mummy, meteorites, and carvings of the Buddha. Open daily except Monday 10 am to 5 pm and closes a half-hour earlier between Dec and Feb. Admission Foreigners/Indians Rs 150./10; Camera Rs 50.
Maidan and Fort William
The Maidan, located in the middle of Calcutta, is one of the largest city parks in the world. It is 1km wide and 3km from north to south. Running along the west side of the park is the Hoogly River, and on the east side is Jawaharlal Nehru Rd (Chowringhee Rd).
Fort William is situated on the west side of the Maidan, near the river. Construction of this large fort was begun in 1758 and completed in 1781, costing £2 million. The area around the fort was cleared to give the cannons a clear shot, and that area later became the Maidan. The Indian Army presently uses the fort and it can only be visited with special permission, which is hard to get.
Victoria Memorial and the race course are in the south part of the park. Eden Gardens (1836) is a pleasant, well laid-out garden in the northwest corner of the Maiden, with a Burmese pagoda set in a small pond, brought from Myanmar (Burma) in 1856. Nearby is Ranji Stadium, where cricket matches are played.
Ochterlony Monument
This 48m (158 ft) column, built in 1828, is located at the north end of the Maidan. It has an Egyptian base, a Syrian column, and a Turkish cupola. It was named after Sir David Ochterlony, who led the East India Company’s army during the Nepal War (1814–16). It has been renamed the Shahid Martyr’s Minar.
There are good views from on top of the column. To gain access to the top, visitors must first obtain permission from the Assistant Commissioner’s office on the 2nd floor of police headquarters on Lal Bazaar St (northeast corner of BBD Bagh). Permission is not given during the first and last weeks of each month.
Victoria Memorial
This impressive monument was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria between 1906 and 1921. It is located at the south end of the Maidan. It is a mixture of the Italian Renaissance and Saracenic styles, and has Mughal domes. It is an interesting museum that has 25 galleries with over 3,000 exhibits, including sculptures, weapons, paintings, and other art forms. Inside are Queen Victoria’s piano and writing desk. The Calcutta Gallery has an exhibit depicting the history of Calcutta in paintings, dioramas, and maps. When you approach the Memorial you pass a large seated bronze statue of Queen Victoria. Open daily except Mon 10 am to 4.30 pm. From March to October it closes at 3.30 pm. Admission Foreigners/Indians Rs 150/10. Guided tours are free.
There is a Sound and Light Show in English about Indians of Calcutta and the history of the struggle for Independence. It starts daily (except Mon) at 8.15 pm. Admission Foreigners/Indian Rs 20/10. There is a Musical Fountain in the Maidan in front of the Victoria Memorial.
Saint Paul’s Cathedral
This large church (1847) has a gothic tower, a grand altar, three Gothic stained glass windows, and the impressive west window, designed by the well-known Burne Jones. It has Florentine frescoes and a gold communion plate given by Queen Victoria. The church is situated on Cathedral Rd, east of the Victoria Memorial. Open 9 am to noon and 3 to 6 pm. Sunday services: 7.30, 8.30, and 11 am, and 6 pm.
Birla Planetarium
Located across from the Government of India Tourist Office (2223-1516), north of St Paul’s, the planetarium is one of the largest in the world. Every day but Monday there are shows in English between 12.30 and 6.30 pm, but times change daily. Admission Rs 10. Be careful of pickpockets while waiting in the queue for tickets.
Academy of Fine Arts
The Academy of Fine Arts, Cathedral Rd, just south of St Paul’s Cathedral, on Cathedral Rd, has different artist exhibitions of Bengali contemporary artists, such as Rabindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, and other Bengali School painters. In the evening there are regular performances of Indian classical music. Open daily except Mon, noon to 6.30 pm Admission, Rs 7.
Nandan is the film center next door, which has a library, archives, and an auditorium. It was designed by Satyajit Roy, a well-known filmmaker.
Nehru Children’s Museum
This is an interesting doll museum, featuring doll exhibits illustrating the pastimes of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is located at 94/1 JL Nehru Rd. (Chowringhee Rd), near St Paul’s. Open daily except Mon 11.30 am to 8.30 pm. Admission, Rs 7.
Central Calcutta
Asiatic Society
Located at 1 Park St, the Asiatic Society, established in 1784, contains a library of 150,000 books and 60,000 manuscripts, some dating back to the 7th century. It has a museum, which was opened in 1814, that contains a coin collection, one of Ashoka’s rock edicts, and a painting collection, which includes paintings by Rubens, Canaletto, Reynolds, and Guido. Open 10 am to 5 pm; admission is free. There is a reading room open to the public Mon to Fri 10 am to 8 pm, Sat and Sun 10 am to 5 pm.
South Park St Cemetery
Near the southeast end of Park St, at the corner of AJC Bose Rd, 2km from the Maidan, is South Park St Cemetery, where British residents were buried between 1767 and 1830. It has some interesting tombs and inscriptions, which tell an interesting story of the times. Many important British personalities including Colonel Kyd, the founder of the Botanical Gardens, were laid to rest here. There is a good guidebook (Rs 25). Open daily 7 am to 4 pm. Admission free.
ISKCON Temple
The Calcutta ISKCON Temple (247-6025; fax 247-8575) is located at 3C Albert Road, in the center of the city, near the junction of Camac Street and Acharya JC Bose Road. If you get on Camac Street, people will know where the xe "Hare Krishna:Calcutta" Hare Krishna Mandir is located. It is located in an old building with Gaura-Nitai, Jagannath, and Radha Govinda Deities. They have recently opened guest rooms in a new building behind the temple. Guests must follow ashram rules.
Ratha-yatra is held each year in June/ July. It is said that well over a million people attend this colorful event.
There is a bus to Mayapur leaving almost every day from the temple at 6 am, returning to Calcutta at 9 pm. It is a good idea to reserve the bus a day in advance (call 247-3757 or 247-6075 for reservations). The bus costs Rs 100 (one way) and is a convenient way to get to Mayapur.
BBD Bagh Area
BBD Bagh (Dalhousie Square)
This square, located a few blocks north of the Maidan, was previously known as Dalhousie Square. It was renamed after Benoy, Badal, and Dinesh, three freedom fighters who were hung by the British during the protests against the partition of Bengal in 1905. In the area around the square there are many important, old buildings which were used by the British while Calcutta was still the capital of India. The large red-brick Writers’ Building (1880), is on the north side of the square (clerical personnel were known as writers). It is now the West Bengal Government Secretariat.
St Andrew’s Kirk (1818), a Scottish church, is on the northeast corner of BBD Bagh. East of BBD Bagh, on RN Mukherjee Rd (Mission Rd) is the Old Mission Church built in 1770.
On the west side of the square is the white-domed GPO (1868), and on the east side is the West Bengal Tourist Office. There is a Stamp Museum next to the GPO.
The original Fort William was located where the GPO is now located. There are brass markers near the GPO, which mark where the fort’s walls used to be located. The “Black Hole of Calcutta,” actually a guard room, was located at the northeast corner of the post office. Over 100 people were held prisoner there by Siraj-ud-daula on a hot June night in 1756. The room had only very small windows and it is believed that many of the prisoners suffocated overnight.
About three blocks north of BBD Bagh, near the Howrah Bridge, is the Armenian Church of Our Lady of Nazareth. Founded in 1724 by Cavond, an Armenian from Persia, it is the oldest church in Calcutta.
St John’s Church
This little church dating from 1787 is one block southwest of BBD Bagh. It has an interesting cemetery, which contains the octagonal mausoleum of Job Charnock, who died in 1692. Also buried here is Admiral Watson, who helped Clive retake Calcutta. The monument dedicated to the British who died during the “black hole” incident was moved here from its old location near the GPO. Open Mon to Fri 9 am to noon and 5 to 6 pm. Services with a pipe organ, Sun 8 am. Admission Rs 10.
South of BBD Bagh
At the north end of the Maidan, there are some interesting old British buildings. Diagonally opposite St John’s Church is Raj Bhavan (Government House), the one-time home of the British Governor-Generals and Viceroys. The governor of West Bengal now lives here and it is not open to the public. The interior is richly decorated and contains some interesting items, such as Tipu Sultan’s throne.
Next to Raj Bhavan is the Town Hall. A few blocks west of Raj Bhavan is the Gothic-style High Court (1872), which has a 55m tower. Southwest of Raj Bhavan is Vidhan Sabha, the State Legislative Assembly.
North Calcutta
Howrah Bridge, a single span bridge crossing the Hoogly River, is said to be the most used bridge in the world—with over 60,000 vehicles and unlimited pedestrians crossing it daily. Expect delays of at least half an hour if trying to cross the bridge during rush hour. The bridge is located next to the Howrah railway station.
South of the Bridge is Armenian Ghat, which is one of the busiest bathing ghats along the Hoogly.
Nakhoda Mosque
This huge red sandstone mosque was built in 1926 to accommodate 10,000 people. It has two 46m high minarets and was modeled after Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra (near Agra). The mosque is located north of BBD Bagh and is open from 6 am to 8 pm.
Marble Palace
The Marble Palace (1835) is the old home of the rich Bengali zamindar (landowner), Raja Rajendro Mullick Bahadur. It is located north of MG Rd, on Muktaram Babu St, a small road off Chittaranjan Ave, This lavish mansion is impressive. There are some important statues and paintings on display here, which include the works of Rubens, Titian, Gainsborough, and Sir Joshua Reynolds. There are also beautiful chandeliers, European antiques, Venetian glass, old pianos, and blue china vases. There is a small zoo here. To enter you need to get a free pass at the Government of India Tourist Office. Occasionally you can gain admission by offering baksheesh to the caretaker. Open daily except Mon and Thurs 10 am to 4 pm.
Asutosh Museum of Indian History at Calcutta University has a Bengali folk art exhibit, handicrafts, and old Buddhist manuscripts and statues. It has terracotta figures and textiles. Open weekdays 10.30 am to 4.30 pm, and on Sat 10.30 am to 3 pm. Admission free.
Established in 1857, Calcutta University was the first university opened by the British in India.
Paresnath Jain Temple
This temple, built in 1867, is dedicated to Sitalanath, who was the 10th of the twenty-four Jain tirthankaras. The inside is ornately decorated with Venetian glass mosaics, chandeliers from Paris and Brussels, a gilded dome, stained glass windows, and mirror inlaid pillars. There is a group of temples here in a nice garden. Open daily 6 am to noon and 3 to 7 pm. The temple is located northeast of the downtown area, near the Belgachia Metro Station.
Rabindra Bharati University
Tagore House, off Rabindra Sarani, north of BBD Bagh, is a cultural center for Indian music, dance, and the arts. Rabindranath Tagore, India’s most famous modern poet, was born and died here. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913. Also located here is the Rabindra Bharati Museum, which has an exhibit depicting the story of the Tagore Family and the Bengal Renaissance with a collection of memorabilia and art. It is located on Dwarkanath Tagore Lane in North Calcutta. Open weekdays 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sat 11 am to 1.30 pm. Admission Foreigners/Indians Rs 50/5.
Sound-and Light Show Tues-Wd, Fri-Sun starting 7pm from Feb-Une and at 6pm Nov-Jan. Admission Rs 10. First show is in Bengali and the second in English.
Belur Math
The Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, which was founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna. The temple here, built in 1938, is a mixture of Hindu, Islamic, and Christian architectural styles. It is located north of the Howrah Bridge, on the other side of the river. There is also a museum exhibiting Vivekananda’s personal effects, and a riverside park. Open Oct through March 6.30 to 11.30 am and 3.30 to 6 pm; April through Sept 6.30 to 11.30 am and 4 to 7 pm.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
This is the Kali temple where Ramakrishna was a priest, and where he realized the unity of all religions. Rani Rashmoni built it in 1847. No pujari (temple priest) would do the worship in the temple because Rani Rashmoni was from a low caste. Ramakrishna’s brother became the priest, then later, Ramakrishna himself accepted the position. There are twelve temples dedicated to Lord Siva and Radha Krishna along the nearby riverbank. Ramakrishna’s bedroom has been turned into a museum containing his personal effects.
It is located on the east bank of the Hoogly, across the river from the Belur Math, near the Vivekananda Bridge. It is 3km north of Belur Math and about 20km north of Sudder St. This temple can be reached by bus #32 from the Esplanade bus stand. Open 6 am to 9 am.
South Calcutta
Zoo
The Calcutta Zoo has on display white tigers and other animals. Open 6 am to 6 pm; admission Rs 2. It is located south of the Maidan in Alipore.
The peaceful Horticultural Gardens are located half a km south of the zoo on Alipore Rd. There is an interesting flower show here at the end of February. Open 8 am to 5 pm; admission Rs 7.
National Library
The National Library was the home of Bengal’s former Lieutenant Governor. It is built in the Renaissance Italian style and is the largest library in India, with over 2,000,000 books. The old Banquet Hall contains over 10,000 reference books and Gazetteers. The library is situated just south of the Maidan in Alipore, on Belvedere Rd. Web Site: http://wwwindev.nic.in/asiatic
Kali Temple
This interesting temple, 6km south of Sudder St, is dedicated to Kali, the patron goddess of Calcutta. Kali means “black.” The tongue of the deity of Kali drips with blood and she wears a garland of skulls. This temple is said to be where Sati’s toe fell after her body was cut into fifty-one pieces by Lord Vishnu while Lord Siva was carrying her. Kali is the destructive side of Lord Siva’s consort, Parvati.
The present temple was built in 1809 on the site of a much older temple. It is said that humans were once sacrificed here. Now they offer goats daily to the temple deity.
Foreigners are permitted limited access in the temple. Open 3 am to 8 pm. There is a stop on the underground metro for the temple at the Kalighat station.
The area where the temple is located is an interesting busy area. A little south of the temple are the burning ghats.
Mother Teresa’s Homes
Located next to the Kali temple is Mother’s Teresa’s Hospital for the Dying and Destitute. Mother Teresa was born in 1910 of Albanian parents in Skopje, now in Macedonia. She received the Nobel Peace Prize for her selfless work in 1979. She came to teach in Calcutta in 1931 as a Loretta Sister. With the Pope’s permission she began the Order of the Missionaries of Charity to help the dying and destitute. Nuns of this order wear white cotton saris with blue borders
In 1952, she opened her first home, which she called Nirmal Hriday (literally, “pure heart”). There are now nearly 200 such homes. The office in Calcutta is at Mother House, 54A AJC Bose (Lower Circular) Rd. If you would like to give a donation for this worthy project, please give it there. Do not give one to someone on the street, as they do not collect in this way.
Other Places
Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, (2247-7241) 19A Gurusday Rd, at the corner of Gariahat Rd, is open daily except Mon 10 am to 5 pm. Admission Rs 10. It may be of interest to children.
Near this museum is situated the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Ashutosh Chowdhury Rd, suburb of Ballygunge, built by the Birla family in the Orissan style. It has three sikharas (towers) and is open from 5.30 to 11 am and 4.30 to 9 pm.
The Birla Academy of Art and Culture, 109 Southern Ave, has a good exhibit of modern and old paintings and stone sculptures. On display there are Kalighat paintings, terracotta, textiles, and miniatures. Open daily except Mon 4 to 7 pm. Admission Rs 5. They occasionally hold concerts and dramas in the auditorium.
Netaji Bhawan, the home of Subhas Chandra Bose, hero of the Bengali independence movement, is located on Elgin Rd near Chowringhee. Bose started the Indian National Army during the Second World War, who allied themselves with the Japanese to fight the British. There is a small museum here. Open Tues to Sat 1.30 to 4.30 pm. Admission Rs 5.
Maritime Museum at Man-O-War Jetty, Stand Rd, is on a steamer boat.
Botanical Gardens
The extensive and peaceful Botanical Gardens are situated on the west side of the river (the same side as Howrah Station). It is an interesting and peaceful tree garden with many rare species. The gardens cover over 250 acres of land, and stretches for over 1km along the riverfront.
They claim to have the second largest banyan tree in the world (the largest is in Andhra Pradesh), which is over 200 years old. Despite losing its central trunk, the banyan tree covers an area of over 10,000 square metres. It is 420m (1386 ft) in circumference. The original trunk was struck by lightning in 1919. To find the tree, take the right path upon entering the park.
The palm house in the center of the park is interesting. It is crowded on Sundays and public holidays. The gardens are 10km south of Howrah. The white-orange CTC buses (the large buses, not the mini ones) from Esplanade drive over the new bridge and take about half an hour to arrive at the gardens. The buses driving over the Howrah Bridge take longer. From the Chowringhee area take the #55 or #56 bus. The ferries that used to depart from Chandpal and Babu Ghats are no longer running.
Entertainment
Calcutta This Fornight has a list of events for Calcutta. The publication is free at the tourist offices.
Rabindra Sadan (247-2413), Cathedral Rd, at the corner of AJC Bose Rd, has dance, Bengali poetry reading, and drama performances.
At the Drama Theater at the Academy of Fine Arts (248-4302), there are daily shows at 6.30 pm and Sat at 10 am and 3 pm; Admission Rs 10 to Rs 30.
The Dover Lane Music Festival, is held in January-February in South Calcutta. Some of the best musicians in India perform.
The Taj Bengal, Hindustan International, the Park and Oberoi Grand allow non-guests to use their pools (Rs 150–200).
Sphere: Related Content
Budget hotels in Varanasi
There are three main areas to stay. The old part of the city by the ghats, captures the true atmosphere of the city. Many of the budget hotels are in this area. The other two areas are around the railway and bus station, and the spacious Cantonment area, north of the railway station, where most of the higher class hotels are located.
Where to Stay—Lower & Middle
Cantonment Area
This area is north of the Varanasi Junction railway station. Except for in the hotels, there are not many eating places in this area.
Hotel Surya (234-3014,fax: 250-2758: Email: info@hotelsuryavns.com) is a recommended place that has rooms with bath for Rs 350/550 and rooms with A/C for Rs 750/900. It is a peaceful place with a nice garden and a philosophical manager who used to be a tourist guide, so he is very helpful. You can camp on the lawn for Rs 30. It has a good restaurant.
Hotel Shalimar (46227) has rooms with hot water ranging from Rs 200/250 to Rs 350/450. They may give a discount if you ask.
Tourist Dak Bungalow (42182), on The Mall, is a little run-down, but it has a nice garden. The rooms are Rs 200/350 and the dorm beds are Rs 40.
Hotel Temples Town (46582), Patel Nagar, by the station, is a good quiet place with rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 200/275. 24-hour checkout.
Hotel India (250-7593; fax: 250-7598; Web Site: http://www.hotelindiavns.com), 59 Patel Nagar, is a good place with rooms with hot water for Rs 750/850 and Rs 1200/1450 with A/C. Some of the rooms do not have windows. It has a good restaurant.
The nearby well-managed Hotel Vaibav (234-5056; fax: 234-6466) is also good, but slightly cheaper, with clean comfortable rooms for Rs 550/650 and Rs 875/1050 with A/C.
City Centre—Lahurabir Area
The Lahurabir area is fairly convenient for the railway station and bus stand, but is located away from the old city.
GM Guest House (361-292), Chandrika Colony, near the church, has good-sized clean rooms with hot water. Some rooms have a balcony. It is a good place.
The friendly Hotel Buddha (234-3686: Email: hotelbuddha@satyam.net.in) has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 150/175 and rooms with hot water for Rs 250/400. It is in an older building with high ceilings and a verandah. It has a restaurant.
Hotel Barahdari (330-581; fax 330-581), east of Lahurabir, near the GPO, at Maidagin, has comfortable air-cooled rooms for Rs 400/450 and A/C rooms for Rs 600/650. It has a garden and a good vegetarian restaurant.
Hotel Varuna (358-524), between the railway station and the ghats, opposite Sigra Police Station, has rooms for Rs 275/350 and Rs 600/650 with A/C. It is in a quiet area.
Hotel Ajaya (220-7763(, Kabir Chaura Rd, has rooms for Rs 250/350 and Rs 550/600 with air-cooling. It is one of the best hotels in the area and is recommended for budget travelers. 24-hour checkout.
The two-star Pradeep Hotel (344963; fax 344-898), at Jagatganj, has rooms with hot water and a TV for Rs 450/500 and Rs 750/850 with A/C.
Hotel Gautam is a good place with clean rooms for Rs 400/450 and Rs 350/400 with A/C. It is a bit overpriced.
Hotel Avaneesh (235-0730), Station Rd, has small, modern, comfortable A/C rooms for Rs 600/750.
Railway and Bus Station Area
There are many cheaper hotels in this area. The Retiring Rooms at the railway station are Rs 125/200 and with A/C Rs 350. A dorm bed is Rs 50. You can get a discount if you stay less than 12 hours.
SN Lodge has rooms with common bath for Rs 90/100 and Rs 1100/130 with bath.
Tourist Bungalow (343-413), off Parade Kothi, Grand Trunk Rd, is the best place in the area. It has rooms ranging from Rs 125/225 to Rs 300/375 and dorm beds are Rs 50. An A/C room is Rs 500/600. It is a popular place and is often full. It has a nice garden and is within walking distance of the railway and bus stations. Touts may bring you to another place called “Tourist Bungalow” which does not have a garden.
Hotel Relax (343-503), by the Tourist Bungalow, has rooms with bath for Rs 150/200 and with air-cooling for Rs 200/275. 24-hour checkout. It is a good alternative, if the Tourist Bungalow is full.
Raj Kamal Hotel has rooms for Rs 110/160.
Hotel Sandona (346-555) has clean basic rooms for Rs 150/200.
Nar India (343-586), Grand Trunk Rd, near the railway station, has a room with common bath with a TV for Rs 175/200, Rs 250/300 with bath, and Rs 400/450 with A/C. 24-hour checkout.
Old City and Ghats Area
The streets are so narrow here that bike-rickshaws cannot fit down the lanes, so you have to be able to carry all your baggage to get a room here. This is where the real budget places are. Many of the places in this area are very basic. This area has a lot of atmosphere and some hotels have great views of the Ganges and the ghats.
Yogi Lodge (239-2588; Email: yogilodge@yahoo.com) is a very popular place. It has basic rooms with common bath and hot showers for Rs 125/150. A dorm bed is Rs 80. If you are a backpacker, this is a popular place to stay and meet people. It is often full. People often do not like this place because it is too basic. Often rickshaw drivers or touts (commission agent) will bring you to some place with a similar name, where they will get a commission. Three different people wanting to come here told me they were brought to three other places by commission agents.
Sadhu Lodge, near the Yogi Lodge, is good, clean place with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90.
Golden Lodge (323-832), nearby at D8/35 Kalika Lane, is popular and has a rooftop patio. It has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90 and a room with bath and hot water is Rs 125.
Scindhia Guest House (232-0319; fax 327-317), by Manikarnika Ghat, has a good view of the Ganges. Rooms are Rs 150/200 with common bath and Rs 250 to Rs 275 with bath. An air-cooled room with bath and a balcony is Rs 350. Dorm beds Rs 50. To get to this place you have to walk to Manikarnika Ghat and then up a dirt hill by the river.
Shanti Lodge (322-568), down a road that goes to Manikarnika Ghat, is a very popular budget place by the burning ghat, with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 80/100 and Rs 140 to Rs 250 for a room with bath. Some of the rooms do not have windows. It has a 24-hour restaurant on the roof which has a great view of the Ganges. It is well-managed and also has a travel agency.
Sandhya Guest House (313-2920, near the Shivala post office, has clean rooms with common bath for Rs 90/100 and a room with bath is Rs 110/140. It has a restaurant on the roof.
Trimurti Guest House (322-554), near the Visvanath Temple, is a good place with rooms with common bath for Rs 60/100 and Rs 150 with bath. A dorm bed is Rs 40.
Vishnu Rest House (245-0206) is located right next to the Ganges and has a great view of the river from the terraces. A single room with bath is Rs 100. Double rooms go for between Rs 150 and Rs 300 and have hot water. You can get to this hotel by first going to Dasaswamedha Ghat, you then turn right after reaching the Ganges, and walk a few minutes. Other hotels have similar names to fool you to come to those places.
Kumiko House (324-308), next door, has good views of the Ganges. Small rooms with common bath are Rs 100/130 and Rs 200 with bath. A dorm bed is Rs 40. It is managed by an Indian man and his Japanese wife and is popular with Japanese. These two places are often full.
Sita Guest House has some rooms which have good views of the Ganges. A room with a common bath is Rs 125/200 and a double room with bath and hot water is Rs 350.
Sri Venkateshwar Lodge (239-2357; Email: venlodge@satyam.net.in), 5/64 Dasaswamedha Ghat Road, near Dasaswamedha Ghat, is a good place with clean rooms with common bath for Rs 100/150 and a double room with hot water for Rs 300. It is well-managed.
Alaknanda Guest House (327-177), north of Dasaswamedha Ghat, has basic rooms with bath for Rs 110/140 and Rs 200 for a room with a view of the Ganges, hot water and an air-cooler.
Sun Shiv Hotel (52468), 54/16-D Ravi Niketan, Jaddumandi Road, is a few blocks from the Old City area. It is a good place in a quiet area. It has rooms for Rs 175/300. The owner is a very knowledgeable and helpful person, and if this is important to you, this is the place to stay. It is a recommended place, if you don’t mind staying out of the main Old City area.
Hotel Ganges (321-097), Dasaswamedha Road, has rooms for Rs 275/350 and Rs 500/5500 with A/C. It is set back a little from the road.
Seema Hotel (352-686) 37/42 Baradev, has rooms with bath and a TV for Rs 350/400 and Rs 550/600 with A/C.
Alka Hotel (232-8445; Email: hotelalka@hotmail.com), D 3/23, Meerghat, overlooking the Ganges, is a good place with rooms for Rs 750/850. It is one of the best hotels in the area. The area around this hotel did not look so safe for a woman to walk alone at night.
Other Areas
GM Guest House (361-292), 1 Chandrika Colony, Sigra, is a little away from the Old City area. It has large, clean, budget and middle range rooms and is a very good value.
Hotel Faran is a good place.
Hotel Temple on Ganges (312-340), Asi Ghat, is a recommended place which is located in a good peaceful location. Some of the rooms have a great view of the Ganges. It has nice clean rooms for Rs 350/500. There are yoga lessons here and they can arrange a good guide for the city. It is a good distance from the Old City area. It has a rooftop veg restaurant.
Where to Stay—High
Hotel de Paris (346-601; fax 348-520), The Mall, in the Cantonment area, has a spacious garden and good, large comfortable rooms for Rs 900/1100, some with A/C. It is an older building that is starting to show its age.
Hotel Clarks Varanasi (234-8501, fax 234-8186), The Mall, in the Cantonment area, is an old famous building with atmosphere, dating to the British era. It also has a modern extension and a good swimming pool open to non-guest (Rs 200). Rooms costs $80/100. It is the best place in town.
Next to the Hotel Clarks is the new three-star Hotel Best Western Ideal (348-091; fax 348-685), which has good, comfortable, modern, spacious rooms for Rs 1500/1800. It has a good restaurant. It has free airport transfer. It is a well-managed, recommended place at a reasonable price.
Hotel Taj Ganges (234-5100; fax 234-8067), Nadesar Palace Grounds, is the most opulent place in town with rooms ranging from $120/140 up to $250. It has excellent facilities including tennis courts, a pool and yoga classes. The best rooms have a view of the pool.
The four-star Hotel Varanasi Ashok (346-020; fax 348-089), The Mall, Cantonment area next to Hotel Clarks, has a quiet location with air-conditioned rooms for Rs 1700/2700. It has a pool and a nice large garden. The best rooms have a view of the pool. It has a good restaurant.
The four-star Hindustan International (351-484; fax 350-931), C21/3 Maldahiya, in the center of the city, has a pool and modern comfortable rooms for $40/75. It is a business-type hotel.
Star Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Hotel Taj Ganges Nadesar, Ph.-091-542-2503001 130 260
2. Hotel Radisson The Mall ,Cantoment 117 234
3 Hotel Clarks The Mall ,Cantoment 58 116
4 Hotel Sidhartha Sigra Ph-2221961 32 64
5
Hotel Hindustan International
Maldahiya Ph.- 091-542-2393012 85 170
6 Hotel India Nadesar 80 160
7 Hotel De-Paris The mall ,Cantoment, Ph.-091-542-2505133 50 100
8 Hotel Vaibhav Ph.-091-542-2507593 58 116
9 Hotel Meredian Grant Patel Nagar 41 82
10 Hotel Pradeep Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2204594 36 72
11 Hotel Pallavi International - 43 86
Deluxe Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Gautam Grand Pared Kothi, Ph.-091-542-2206886 36 72
2. Rashmi Guest House Maan Mandir, Dasaswmegh 14 28
3 Kaumesh Hut Jagatganj, Ph.-091-542-2202689 20 40
4 Hotal Malti Ph.-091-542-2222895 47 94
5 Hotal M.M. International Bulanala 16 31
6 Hotal Gangej Dasaswmedh 32 70
7 Hotal Gautam Ram Katora, Ph.-091-542-2206450 37 74
8 Hotal Daimond Bhelupur, Ph,-091-542-2276696 - -
9 Hotal New International Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2208507 30 60
10 Parytak Awas Grih Ph.-091-542-2208413 40 46
11 Parytak Awash Grih Sarnath, Ph.-091-542-2595965 10 38
12 Hotal Sarin In Mahmoorganj 16 28
13 Hotal Tample On Gangej Assi 27 54
14 Hotal Rigency Andhrapul 41 66
15 Hotal Padmini International Mahmoorganj, Ph.-091-542-2220079 40 80
16 Hotal J.K. International Luxa 22 42
17 Hotal Lara India Dashaswmegh 25 50
18 Hotal Surya The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2508465/6 45 90
19 Hotal Baradari Maidagin 17 30
20 Hotal Ashok Sigra, Ph.-091-542-2221058 28 56
21 Hotal Salimar The Mall, Ph.-091-543-2501888 17 34
22 Hotal Awnish Maldahiya 21 42
23 Hotal Narendra G.T. Road, Ph.-091-542-2208121/3 54 116
24 Hotal Alka Mirghat, Ph.-091-542-2308445 20 37
25 Hotal Varuna Gulabbag 17 54
26 Hotal Gaurav Phatmaan road 18 34
27 Hotal Kashika West Western The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2301011 40 80
28 Palesh On Gangej Asshi, Ph.-091-542-2204963 22 44
29 Hotal Shiwam Pared Kothi 26 52
Economy Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Preeti Guest House Maldahiya 14 28
2. Sai Kripa Guest House Shivala 16 32
3. Ambika Lodge Englishia Line 12 24
4. Hotel Ridge Lodge Varuna Pul, Cantoment 8 16
5. SriRam International BansFatak 20 40
6. Pawan Guest House Parade Kothi 7 16
7. Rashmi Guest House ManMandir, Dashashwamegh 14 28
8. Hotel Deewan Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 27 71
9. Shiva Visram Bhavan Luxa 7 11
10. Garden Lodge Godowlia 34 70
11. Hotel Prabhat Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 7 13
12. Hotel Moti Mahal Godowlia 7 17
13. Mint House Motel Nadesar 12 24
14. Hotel Samman Dashashwmegh 18 38
15. Satyanarayan Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 30 48
16. Hotel Ganges Dashashwamegh 32 70
17. Hotel Buddha Ramkatora, Lahurabir 22 44
18. Hotel Temple Town Patel Nagar 9 20
19. SriRam Vishram Bhavan Luxa 10 18
20. Hotel Gautam Ramkatora, Lahurabir, Ph-(0542)-2206450 37 74
21. Shankari Tourist Lodge MirGhat 5 13
22. Hotel Awadh Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 21 36
23. Girnar Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 24 46
24. SriRam Lodge Englishia Line 10 16
25. Vishnu Rest House Pandey Ghat 20 46
26. Hotel Friends House Dashashwamegh 6 15
27. National Lodge Kashi Vidyapith Road 11 19
28. Hotel Modern Lahurabir 21 42
29. Murali Guest House Bhogabir, Near BHU 19 23
30. Sundaram Guest House Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 24 48
31. Hotel Yamuna Luxa 23 44
32. Dashaswamegh Lodge Dashashwamegh 19 35
33. Palki Atithi Grih Parade Kothi 16 22
34. Dashaswamegh Boarding House Dashashwamegh 22 57
35. Hotel Vishnu Priya Near Cantt. Rly. Station 12 21
36. Sita Guest House Chausatti Ghat 20 36
37. Ashok Lodge Chetganj 9 17
38. Sun Blue Lodge Kedar Ghat 8 12
39. Hotel Jyoti Luxa 24 50
40. Anand Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 13 22
41. Sri Venkateshwar Lodge Vishwanath Gali, Godowlia 27 35
42. Gokul Lodge Sonarpura 11 20
43. Hotel SunRise Shivala 18 33
44. Hotel Samrat Nai Sarak 13 25
45. Kedar Lodge AgastKunda 23 40
ITDC Varanasi Ashok
The Mall,
Tel :(542)46020-30
Fax : 0542-348089.
Hotel Hindustan International
C21/3 Maldahiya,
Tel : (542)351485-90
Fax : 0542-350931
Hotel Taj Ganges
C21/3 Maldahiya,
Tel :(542)351485-90
Fax : 0542-350931.
Hotel Clarks
The Mall,
Tel :(542)348501-10
Fax : 0542-348186.
Hotel Ideal Tops
The Mall,
Tel :(542)348091-92
Fax : 0542-348685.
Hotel India
59 Patel Nagar,
Tel :(542)43309,
Fax : 0542-342912.
Hotel Malti
Vidyapeeth Road,
Tel :(542)356844, 351395. Hotel Pallavi International
Hathwa Place
Chetganj,
Tel :(542)356939-42,
Fax : 0542-322943.
.
Hotel de-Paris
The Mall,
Tel : (542)46601-8,
Fax : 0542-348520.
Hotel Pradeep
Jagatganj,
Tel : (542)344963, 344594,
Fax : 0542-334898.
Other Accommodation
Railway Retiring Rooms
Varanasi Cantt.
Railway Station
U.P.T.D.C. Tourist Bungalow
Parade Kothi, Cantt.,
Tel : (542)43413.
U.P.T.D.C. Tourist Bungalow
Sarnath. Paying Guest Accommodation
‘The Nest’,
C/o, Mr. S K Roy,
B 21/122 A2,
Kamachha, near Baijnath Mandir
Tel : (542)360137.
BUDGET HOTELS IN VARANASI
Hotel Vaibhav
Hotel Vaibhav, newly built is Certified Three Star Hotel in Varanasi.. It shows the beautiful and clam look the Hotel gives. Reception, Rooms, Restaurant and Bar- all very classic
Hotel Pradeep
This Hotel is what one must see to appreciate the real essence of the Hotel. Its unique traditional design, the atmosphere of ambience that it mantains with excellent service. It has truly good looking rooms at relatively much lower rates.It is one of the most likeable places to stay in the city.
Hotel Temple on Ganges
Located on Assi Ghat this hotel gives an excellent veiw of the long string of Ghats along the Ganges.The dim red,blue lights on roof-top give a majestic image to the hotel in the night.You can see, feel the sunview. All rooms have windows that not only give refreshing, healthy and pollution free air but also a beautiful view of Holy Ganges. And more. All rooms have Balcony where you can take the breath taking view in your own privacy.
Hotel Varuna
Located centrally in the city the hotel is opposite Sigra Police Station. The hotel's main essence is its ever-expanding facilities that includes conference room, swimming pool in the near future. Check out the Hotel to see the dynamic nature that it possess. Credit Cards Master Card, Visa Card, Bob Card, CitiBank and American Express, Phone STD/ISD facility, Travel Tickets, Doctor, Safe Deposit, Laundary Services
Hotel Alka
Next to Golden Temple on the Meer ghat, this hotel is class apart.There is open space to sit and feel the Ganges. The restaurant veiw captures the beauty of the Ganges. Rooms are where you relax ! Value added facilities make your stay more enjoyable. Hotel Alka mantains an excellent atmosphere of ambience with all value added facilities that you could ask besides a comfortable room. We have 15 well furnished rooms, with hot/cold shower facility 24 hrs. a day.
Hotel Barahdari
Although it is stone throw distance from town area and ten minutes walk to the Ganges, the Peace and 'Shanti' can be felt in the Hotel. See the Hotel with its beautiful garden. All rooms are attatched with European Style Bathrooms, having 24 hrs. hot and cold water. Reception has a unique texture on it's walls, with an exclusive Help Desk for any assistance or enquiry. The Pleasing color gives you a more relaxed feeling. The Texture Effects have been created by the traditional artists of Varanasi. This reminds you of how art and culture has flourished in this ancient city.
Hotel Arya
This is clean and very approachable hotel on the Main road, next to Goudalia at Sonarpura. The Hotel's pride is it's beautiful roof top restaurant, serving continental and South Indian Food. Managed by N.R. Naidu, has good staff and very well mantained. Shopping complex is just under the hotel, with a medicine shop also owned by the Hotel itself. Roof Top Restaurant is simply the best in Varanasi. With all its eloquent beauty, excellent atmosphere and soothing music it has a great Menu list. Covers Breakfast, Lunch and Dinnes with all varieties in Indian, Continental and South Indian Dishes
Trimurti Guest House
Yes, here is the guest house in the old city, giving you something unique to see- from every room you can see Golden Temple and the mosque.The roof gives long distance veiw of the city-BHU Temple,DLW Chimney. East West Restaurant is clean one.
Hotel Son Many
The key feature is from this guest house you can see the "Burning Ghat" and all rituals associated from all of your rooms. The Ganges water can be viewed from every part of the Hotel. This hotel proposes to have five floors, with all the modern facilities. Wow! Just for you, Hotel Son Mony is just on top of the HarishChandra Ghat.
Hotel Sunrise
Very clean Hotel at Pandey Haveli. Is centrally located between BHU and Golden Temple. Has electric cold and hot shower supply. The key feature is its roof top from where you can see most of Varanasi including Ganges.
BUDGET HOTELS IN VARANASI
Hotel Buddha
The most spacious rooms (with high ceilings) in the town at an affordable price of 110 to 310 Rs. for single travellers, and 150 to 350 for doubles. Rooms are equiped with telephone facilities and colour TV. Next it has a peaceful garden restaurant. Facilities include 24 hrs. hot & cold water, Air ticketing, Bus/Train reservation
Hotel Ajaya
All rooms attatched with running Hot & cold water, with telephone. Hotel Ajaya rooms cost between Rs. 150 to 450 for single, and Rs. 200 to 500 for double.
Sandya Guest House
Located Shivala Ghat, its on the main road and very central. See Ganga, Assi Ghat, Benares Hindu University, Monkey Temple- all are walking distance from this place. Features it has- Roof top restaurant, library, ticket booking.
Hotel Gautam
Location at Ramkatora. Its away from the main road of the city at a peaceful site. It is delux 5 storeyed centrally air conditioned hotel located 10 minutes from Cantt Rly station, 30 mins. from Airport and 0.75 Km from River Ganges.
Ganpati Guest House
This is for the most spectacular veiw on Ganga away from the hustle and bustle of the city.And there is a seperate staircase built specially for you to go and stand right next to Holy Ganges.Besides, it is next to Golden Temple.
Sahi Riverview Guest House
Newly opened the Guest House has the most fascinating Ganges views(See Name) and the exotic sunrise from its balconies, rooms and terrace. Location is right on Assi Ghat,next to Harmony Book Shop. All rooms have 24 hrs hot water with attatched bathrooms. You will get a very homely touch. Monkey Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, BHU and Red Fort are very approachable.
Musical Guest House
Near Assi crossing as its name suugests there is music in it.Every Tuesday at 7.30p.m. concert is held.Plus if you want to learn local vocal and instrumental music teaching facility can be made available in the guest house.This small guest house has 5 rooms with attatched bathroom.
Om Vishwanath Lodge
The Lodge, beautifully decorated from outside, is located off the Main Road at Sonarpura.The advantage is it is located near River Ganges and has a beautiful roof top restaurant. All 18 rooms have attatched bath running Hot and Cold Shower. Yoga Lesson facilities are available.Further, the Lodge has Pooja Silk Handicrafts- a Specialist of Bed Spreads. The shop has a range of Handwoven Silk Brocades, Printed Sarees, Scarfs etc
Sita Guest House
Its on Ganges at the Main Ghat.The beauty lies in it being so close to Ganges that you feel you can literally touch the river with your hands. Address: Chausatti Ghat, Bengalitola. It has 20 rooms with hot shower.Note that telephone incoming facility is free.Besides Air ticketing is available-'Easy Travel Services'. Also tickets for Nepal etc. possible.
Shiva Ganga Lodge
Hanuman Ghat is very close to the Burning Ghat-"Harish Chandra Ghat". So, Safari Guest House provides an appropriate location to see "Burning Ghat". It has everything- veg and non veg. food served in the restaurant, cold drinks and good tour guides.
Varanasi (Benares, Kashi)
Pop: 1.2 million Area
Phone Code: 0542
Postcode 221002
Varanasi is said to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. There are supposed to be 2,000 temples in Varanasi. It is 125km east of Allahabad, on the bank of the Ganges, between Delhi (710km) and Calcutta (680km). Millions of pilgrims a year come to Varanasi.
The name Varanasi most likely stems from the two rivers, Varuna and Asi, which join the Ganges on the north and south borders of the city. Varanasi is a very fast-moving place and at times can seem unbelievable crowded. In the old part of the city there are numerous mazes of thin, very crowded streets, which makes the place very interesting.
It is said that the first Siva Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light, came through the earth here and flared into the sky. Therefore Varanasi is also called Kashi, “City of Light.”
Kashi is mentioned in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Puranas, which date back 5,000 years, as the foremost city of Siva. The Muslims gave it the name Benares. At Independence, the old name, Varanasi, was given to the city again.
Many older people come to Varanasi to die and to be burned at the burning ghats along the river. It is believed that anyone who dies in Varanasi attains moksha (liberation). It is said that being burned at Varanasi adds to the pious credits of someone, therefore many bodies are brought here to be cremated. Many widows come here to die.
Many saints and sages have come to Varanasi including Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Buddha, Sankaracharya, and Sri Ramanuja. Sri Chaitanya met Sanatana Gosvami here and converted Prakasananda Sarasvati and his followers here. He bathed at Pancha-ganga (Panchanada) Ghat.
For many, it is one of the highlights of a trip to India to get on a boat at 6 am and see the city on the waters of the Ganges at sunrise. Six o’clock in the morning is the best time to visit the waterfront. It is a good idea to rent your own boat and not go with many other people.
Varanasi was looted numerous times by Muslim invaders beginning from the 11th century. Aurangzeb destroyed most of the temples during his reign in the 17th century. This is why most of the temples are not more than 300 years old. In 1669 the Bindu Madhava Vishnu Temple and the Siva Visvanath Temple were destroyed. Mosques were built in their place.
The Ganges, which normally flows southeast, reverses its course and flows north for a while at Varanasi, which is considered very auspicious. There is a five-mile parikrama path that goes around this sacred city. There are 81 bathing ghats and other holy kunds, or sacred tanks. It is said that it is important to bathe at Manikarnika, by the cremation ghat.
The three most important ghats are Manikarnika, Dasaswamedha, and Pancha-ganga. To bath at these three ghats is called Tri-tirtha Yatra. Also important are Asi Sangam and Varuna Sangam. To bathe in these five places is call Pancha-tirtha Yatra. You are supposed to bathe in these five ghats in a certain order. First you bathe in Asi Ghat, then Dasaswamedha Ghat, then the ghat by the Adi Keshava Temple near the Varuna River, then Pancha-ganga, and then Manikarnika. After taking bath at these five places, most pilgrims then go for darshan of Visvanath, Annapurna, and Sakshi Vinayaka (the witnessing Ganesh). It is said that if you bathe in these five places, all in the same day and in this order, you will not get another material body. You can do Pancha-tirtha Yatra by boat, but it is better to do it by foot.
The Panchakroshi road goes around the city of Varanasi. Many pilgrims walk the 58km around Varanasi starting at Manikarnika Ghat. They then walk to Asi Ghat and then proceed around the city. You are supposed to visit 108 shrines along the way. Following this procedure is said to be the same as circling the entire world.
The Adi Keshava Vishnu Temple is located where the Ganges meets the Varuna River, in the north of town. Tulasi Das translated the Ramayana from Sanskrit into Hindi in Varanasi, and there is a temple in his honor.
Sarnath is 10km away and is famous as the place where Buddha first preached about enlightenment. You can see all the principal places in Varanasi and Sarnath in two days, but it is not unusual for people to spend a week or two in Varanasi.
Orientation
The city of Varanasi is on the west bank of the Ganges River. The tourist office and the higher-end hotels are located in the Cantonment area, in the northern part of the city. The roads are much wider here. The railway station is south of the Cantonment area and north of the old part of the city, about a twenty minute auto-rickshaw ride from either area.
The old section of the city, by the river, is where the bathing ghats and most of the temples are located. The streets can be very narrow and crowded, so much so that a bike rickshaw cannot get by. The main bathing ghat is Dasaswamedha, which is located right in the middle of the old part of the city.
Tourist Offices and Tours
A good source of information is the Government of India Tourist Office (234-3744; Web Site: http://www.tourisminindia.com), 15B The Mall, in the Cantonment, by the Hotel de Paris. You can hire a guide there for either four (Rs 250) or eight hours (Rs 400). Open weekdays 9 am to 5.30 pm, and Sat 9 am to 1 pm. There is an Information Counter at the airport. They also have a tourist counter inside the railway station (234-6370).
The UP State Tourist Office (220-8162) is located in the Tourist Bungalow at Parade Kothi (Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm) and there is a good tourist counter at the railroad station (234-6370) (6 am to 8 pm). They have a list of paying guest accommodations.
The Bihar State Tourist Office (234-3821) is at Englishia Market, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Cantonment.
UPSRTC has a daily tour of the river, temples, and Benares Hindu University in the summer from 5.30 to 11.45 am and winter 6 am to 12.15 pm. They also have a tour to Sarnath and Ramnagar Fort daily from 2.30 to 6.30 pm in the summer and 2 to 6 pm in the winter. The bus starts at the Govt of India Tourist Office, The Mall, and at the Tourist Bungalow.
Rewarding Tours and Travels (348-546), next to the Tourist Office in the Cantonment, offers a tour of the city, which includes a pickup at a hotel, an early morning boat ride, a visit to some temples and a trip to Sarnath. It costs Rs 200 and goes from 5.30 am to noon.
I found a good knowledgeable guide named Shobhit Shankar for information about the temples and holy places in Varanasi. He is a saintly priest at the Visvanath Temple and he lives on the same small alley as the temple is located, at 35/15 Vishwanath Gali. I personally liked and trusted him. He also has a very high understanding of the Vedic scriptures.
Information
Heritage Hospital (231-3977), near Benares Hindu University, is a good private hospital. Gupta Optical, in Godaulia is good for glasses.
Visa extensions may be issued at the Foreigners’ Registration Office (235-1968), Srinagar Colony, Siddgiri Bagh.
The GPO is a ten-minute rickshaw ride north of the old city. You can have a package made outside. The Central Telegraph Office is in the cantonment. There is a post office in the Hotel Clarks in the Cantonment.
You can get on the Internet at Fontac Computer for Rs 25per hour. The Meeting Place, a little before the Vishwanath Temple, has good connection and cheap prices (Rs 15 per hr).
Malaviya Bhavan at Benares Hindu University has courses on yoga. There are morning and evening yoga classes at the Shanti Guest House.
Some Swimiing Pools that non-guest can swim at are the Hotel Clarks Varanasi (Rs 200), Hotel Hindustan International (Rs 100), and the Hotel Varanasi Ashok (100). The Hotel Clark has the best pool.
At the Hotel Surya you can get a full body massage (Rs 150) and they have a steam bath (Rs 40).
Travel Corporation of India (46209), Hotel Clarks, The Mall, is an established travel agency and they can arrange cars. The ITDC Office in the Hotel Varanasi Ashok can arrange a car for Rs 600 a day.
WARNING! There are many armed robberies along the Ghats at night. Varanasi is known for people who have bad drug problems and they will stop at nothing to get their drugs. During the day or on the public street there are almost no problems. If you are sitting in a peaceful secluded place when it is getting dark, be especially careful. When you see the locals leave, follow their example. Also be careful about walking alone down secluded alleys at night in the old city.
Varanasi is also known for con-men. I was talking to an Indian student at the railway station and a policeman came up to us and told the man to stop talking with me. I told the policeman it was alright and that I trusted the student. The policeman then told me, “Don’t come to me later with a complaint.” I am assuming that he must get many of them. While traveling to Varanasi by train, be especially careful of your luggage, as many people have their bags stolen.
Boat Ride on the Ganges
For many people a boat ride on the Ganges is a highlight of their trip. Taking a 6 am boat ride while the sun is coming up is outstanding. There is an especially tranquil atmosphere and it is very enjoyable. I highly recommend this. If you come by rickshaw have them take you to
Dasaswamedha Ghat, where there are many boats. The government rate for a boat that holds four people is Rs 60 per hour. You will be asked for much more (Rs 60 a person), but in reality you can usually get a boat for Rs 40 per hour, especially in the off-season.
Money
The State Bank of India, near Dasaswamedha Ghat changes Thomas Cook travelers cheques. The State Bank of India, near the Hotel Surya in the Cantonment area, changes money. The Bank of Baroda (credit cards only) and the Andhra Bank, both on Dasaswamedha Rd, do cash advances on major credit cards. The Shanti Guest House changes money at a rate slightly lower than the bank. They change most types of travelers cheques and most foreign currencies.
Shopping
Varanasi is a good place to buy silks. You have to be careful, as many items sold as silk are not pure silk. It is also a good place to get musical instruments. People will come up to you and invite you to their house, which actually means to someone’s shop.
Temple Bazaar, near the Visvanath Temple, is a good place to get silk items. This is one of the busiest and most interesting bazaars in India.
The government managed Handloom House, D64/132K Sigra, is a reliable place to purchase silks.
Imtiyaz Ali, Siddh Giri Bagh, located near a mosque, makes good tablas. To get here you go down about three roads from Godaulia Crossing (going away from Dasasvamedha Ghat) and then make a right and go about 1km. Triveni Music Centre (328-074), Keval Gali in Godaulia, near the Baba Restaurant, sells good musical instruments.
Book Shops & Books
Universal Book Shop in Godaulia is one of the better bookshops in India and has a good selection. Nearby Indica Books, D 40/18 Godaulia, has an excellent selection of spiritual and other books and the people who manage it are very helpful. Ashok Hotel has a good book shop.
Benares: City of Light by Diana Eck, a professor at Harvard, is a good, detailed book which describes the temples and ghats in Varanasi.
OLD CITY
Visvanath Temple (Golden Temple)
This present temple dedicated to Lord Siva was built by Rani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1776. Aurangzeb destroyed the old temple in 1669. It is called the Golden Temple because of the 800 kg of gold plating put on the sikharas (roof over the altar) by Maharana Ranjeet Singh of Lahore in 1835. The Siva-linga of Visvanath is on a golden altar. There has been a Siva temple at this site for over 1,000 years. Beside the Siva-linga, there are several other shrines. To the left as one enters the temple is a Deity of Vishnu, who is supposed to be worshiped along with Visvanath. Non-Hindus (non-Indians) are not allowed in the temple, and this is strictly enforced.
Behind the temple is the Jnana Vapi (Gyan Kupor), or the Wisdom Well, which is said to be the liquid form of enlightenment. It is said to have been in Varanasi before the Ganges came to this earth. Pilgrims give their sankalpa, or statement of intent, here before beginning their pancha-tirtha yatra.
Non-Hindus can look inside the temple through a hole in the wall, in the alley between the front of the temple and the Jnana Vapi. From this hole you can get a good view of the Siva-linga and what is happening in the temple.
You can see the roof of the temple from the roof of the Trimurti Guest House or from some shops upstairs opposite the temple for Rs 10.
Jnana Vapi and Razia’s Mosques
Next to the temple is the Jnana Vapi Mosque. This mosque was built from the material taken from destroyed Hindu temples. In the back of the mosque you can see the remains of the temples. It has very high minarets.
The 13th century Razia’s Mosque is north of here. It was built during the period of the Delhi Sultanate, and is located where a previous Visvanath temple used to stand.
Old City Area Temples
A major temple, dedicated to Annapurna, is located in the same alley as the Visvanath Temple. Anna means “food,” and purna means “who fills.” There is a Food Festival here in Oct/Nov.
Nearby is a black deity of Shani (Saturn) covered with silver. People worship at this temple, especially on Saturday, to free themselves of the bad effects of Saturn. Astrologically the effects of Saturn usually bring misfortune.
Dhundhiraj Ganesh is a small important Ganesh temple on Visvanath Lane, about a five-minute walk from the Visvanath Temple.
Sakshi Vinayaka is a Ganesh deity. Sakshi means “the witness.” After finishing the Panch Kosi circuit, pilgrims come before this deity so that Ganesh can witness the completion of their pilgrimage.
When pilgrims visit Varanasi they register their arrival at the Bhairava Temple. This temple is located near the intersection of Chauli Rd and Kabir Chaura Rd, near the Godaulia area. Bhairava is known as the policemen-magistrate and protector of the city. Bhairava is the terrifying aspect of Lord Siva, who chopped off the fifth head of Brahma. As punishment for doing this the head stuck to the hand of Bhairava and stayed there for years. It did not fall off until he reached Varanasi. Bhairava then became responsible for making sure that the residents of Varanasi live righteous lives. Nearby is the Bare Ganesh Temple, which is one of the main Ganesh temples in Varanasi.
Durga Temple
These two temples are both located in the southern part of town, between Asi Ghat and Benares Hindu University. The Durga Temple was built in the 18th century by a Bengali king and has many aggressive monkeys. Durga is the intense form of Lord Siva’s consort Parvati. Non-Hindu can enter the courtyard but are not supposed to enter the inner sanctum.
Sankat Mochan Temple
The Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to Hanuman, the “Liberator from Troubles.” Many people consider this to be one of the three major temples in Varanasi.
Benares Hindu University & Museum
This university was established at the beginning of the century and is famous for having an excellent Sanskrit school. It has over 150,000 rare manuscripts. It is about 11km from the center of the city, a 20-minute auto-rickshaw ride away.
It has one of the best museums in India, the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which has ancient sculptures and deities in it. The museum has various sections—bronze and cast metal, terracotta, and stone sculptures. There is also a painting gallery that contains a big statue of Krishna holding Govardhan Hill, dating from the fourth century. There are also two 18th century paintings on the same subject. Open 11 am to 4 pm, July to April, and 7.30 am to 12.30 pm in May and June. Closed on Sunday. Admission is Rs 100. Rs for a camera.
New Visvanath Temple
The New Visvanath Temple is a beautiful marble temple located on the grounds of Benares Hindu University. It was planned by Pandit Malaviya and built in 1966 by the Birla Family. It is open to everyone. Inside the temple is a Siva-linga. The temple is supposed to be a replica of the original Visvanath temple that Aurangzeb destroyed.
Open 4 am to noon and 1 to 9 pm. It is a 30-minute auto-rickshaw ride (Rs 30) from the old city.
Tulasi Manas Temple
This is a modern, marble, sikhara-type temple dedicated to Tulasi Das, who wrote the Ram-charit Manas, the Hindi translation of the famous Ramayana. He lived in Varanasi when he wrote it. It was built in 1964. On the walls of the temple are verses and pictures from the Ramayana. There is a diorama exhibit on the 2nd floor. Open 5.30 am to noon and 3.30 to 9 pm.
Bharat Mata Temple
This temple is dedicated to Bharat Mata which means “Mother India.” Bharat is the Hindi word for India. Inside the temple is a marble relief map of India. Mahatma Gandhi opened the temple.
Ramnagar Fort
South of the city, across the river, is the interesting 17th century Ramnagar Fort. It was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh and is the former home of the Maharaja of Varanasi. The Royal Museum, in the fort, displays arms, decorated palanquins, gold-plated elephant howdahs, and outfits of former Maharajas of Varanasi. There is a temple dedicated to Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, in the Ramnagar Fort. It is said that Veda Vyasa stayed at Ramnagar for a short time. Open daily except Friday 9 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. It is reached by a pontoon bridge, and during the monsoon you cross the river by ferry.
Entertainment and Music
At Nagari Natak Mandali there are classical concerts.
At the International Music Centre Ashram, near Dasaswamedha Ghat, there are classical music performances on Wed and Sat at 8 pm. You can take private sitar and tabla lessons here for Rs 75 per hour.
Clark’s Cultural Program, Raja Ghat, has an evening program which begins with a Ganga arati (worship), and then has drama from the Ramayana, music, and folk and classical dance for $10 (5.30 to 8.30 pm). The program can be reserved at the Clark Varanasi (348-501; fax 348-186).
Triveni Music Centre, Kevl Gali in Godaulia, near the Baba Restaurant, is a good place to take sitar and tabla lessons.
Festivals
During the month of April pilgrims perform circumambulation of Kashi Dharmaksetra (Varanasi). Ganga Dasara, in May, celebrates the day the Ganges reached Haridwar. In Oct/Nov, Nagnathaiya at Tulasi Ghat reenacts Krishna dancing on the head of the Kaliya snake in the Yamuna.
Bharat Milap at Nati Imli is the celebration of the meeting of Rama and Bharata after 14 years of separation. The Maharaja of Varanasi attends this interesting festival and rides on the back of an elephant. Ram Lila, at Ramnagar Fort in Sept/Oct, is a festive program during which the Ramayana is staged. Sphere: Related Content
Where to Stay—Lower & Middle
Cantonment Area
This area is north of the Varanasi Junction railway station. Except for in the hotels, there are not many eating places in this area.
Hotel Surya (234-3014,fax: 250-2758: Email: info@hotelsuryavns.com) is a recommended place that has rooms with bath for Rs 350/550 and rooms with A/C for Rs 750/900. It is a peaceful place with a nice garden and a philosophical manager who used to be a tourist guide, so he is very helpful. You can camp on the lawn for Rs 30. It has a good restaurant.
Hotel Shalimar (46227) has rooms with hot water ranging from Rs 200/250 to Rs 350/450. They may give a discount if you ask.
Tourist Dak Bungalow (42182), on The Mall, is a little run-down, but it has a nice garden. The rooms are Rs 200/350 and the dorm beds are Rs 40.
Hotel Temples Town (46582), Patel Nagar, by the station, is a good quiet place with rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 200/275. 24-hour checkout.
Hotel India (250-7593; fax: 250-7598; Web Site: http://www.hotelindiavns.com), 59 Patel Nagar, is a good place with rooms with hot water for Rs 750/850 and Rs 1200/1450 with A/C. Some of the rooms do not have windows. It has a good restaurant.
The nearby well-managed Hotel Vaibav (234-5056; fax: 234-6466) is also good, but slightly cheaper, with clean comfortable rooms for Rs 550/650 and Rs 875/1050 with A/C.
City Centre—Lahurabir Area
The Lahurabir area is fairly convenient for the railway station and bus stand, but is located away from the old city.
GM Guest House (361-292), Chandrika Colony, near the church, has good-sized clean rooms with hot water. Some rooms have a balcony. It is a good place.
The friendly Hotel Buddha (234-3686: Email: hotelbuddha@satyam.net.in) has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 150/175 and rooms with hot water for Rs 250/400. It is in an older building with high ceilings and a verandah. It has a restaurant.
Hotel Barahdari (330-581; fax 330-581), east of Lahurabir, near the GPO, at Maidagin, has comfortable air-cooled rooms for Rs 400/450 and A/C rooms for Rs 600/650. It has a garden and a good vegetarian restaurant.
Hotel Varuna (358-524), between the railway station and the ghats, opposite Sigra Police Station, has rooms for Rs 275/350 and Rs 600/650 with A/C. It is in a quiet area.
Hotel Ajaya (220-7763(, Kabir Chaura Rd, has rooms for Rs 250/350 and Rs 550/600 with air-cooling. It is one of the best hotels in the area and is recommended for budget travelers. 24-hour checkout.
The two-star Pradeep Hotel (344963; fax 344-898), at Jagatganj, has rooms with hot water and a TV for Rs 450/500 and Rs 750/850 with A/C.
Hotel Gautam is a good place with clean rooms for Rs 400/450 and Rs 350/400 with A/C. It is a bit overpriced.
Hotel Avaneesh (235-0730), Station Rd, has small, modern, comfortable A/C rooms for Rs 600/750.
Railway and Bus Station Area
There are many cheaper hotels in this area. The Retiring Rooms at the railway station are Rs 125/200 and with A/C Rs 350. A dorm bed is Rs 50. You can get a discount if you stay less than 12 hours.
SN Lodge has rooms with common bath for Rs 90/100 and Rs 1100/130 with bath.
Tourist Bungalow (343-413), off Parade Kothi, Grand Trunk Rd, is the best place in the area. It has rooms ranging from Rs 125/225 to Rs 300/375 and dorm beds are Rs 50. An A/C room is Rs 500/600. It is a popular place and is often full. It has a nice garden and is within walking distance of the railway and bus stations. Touts may bring you to another place called “Tourist Bungalow” which does not have a garden.
Hotel Relax (343-503), by the Tourist Bungalow, has rooms with bath for Rs 150/200 and with air-cooling for Rs 200/275. 24-hour checkout. It is a good alternative, if the Tourist Bungalow is full.
Raj Kamal Hotel has rooms for Rs 110/160.
Hotel Sandona (346-555) has clean basic rooms for Rs 150/200.
Nar India (343-586), Grand Trunk Rd, near the railway station, has a room with common bath with a TV for Rs 175/200, Rs 250/300 with bath, and Rs 400/450 with A/C. 24-hour checkout.
Old City and Ghats Area
The streets are so narrow here that bike-rickshaws cannot fit down the lanes, so you have to be able to carry all your baggage to get a room here. This is where the real budget places are. Many of the places in this area are very basic. This area has a lot of atmosphere and some hotels have great views of the Ganges and the ghats.
Yogi Lodge (239-2588; Email: yogilodge@yahoo.com) is a very popular place. It has basic rooms with common bath and hot showers for Rs 125/150. A dorm bed is Rs 80. If you are a backpacker, this is a popular place to stay and meet people. It is often full. People often do not like this place because it is too basic. Often rickshaw drivers or touts (commission agent) will bring you to some place with a similar name, where they will get a commission. Three different people wanting to come here told me they were brought to three other places by commission agents.
Sadhu Lodge, near the Yogi Lodge, is good, clean place with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90.
Golden Lodge (323-832), nearby at D8/35 Kalika Lane, is popular and has a rooftop patio. It has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90 and a room with bath and hot water is Rs 125.
Scindhia Guest House (232-0319; fax 327-317), by Manikarnika Ghat, has a good view of the Ganges. Rooms are Rs 150/200 with common bath and Rs 250 to Rs 275 with bath. An air-cooled room with bath and a balcony is Rs 350. Dorm beds Rs 50. To get to this place you have to walk to Manikarnika Ghat and then up a dirt hill by the river.
Shanti Lodge (322-568), down a road that goes to Manikarnika Ghat, is a very popular budget place by the burning ghat, with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 80/100 and Rs 140 to Rs 250 for a room with bath. Some of the rooms do not have windows. It has a 24-hour restaurant on the roof which has a great view of the Ganges. It is well-managed and also has a travel agency.
Sandhya Guest House (313-2920, near the Shivala post office, has clean rooms with common bath for Rs 90/100 and a room with bath is Rs 110/140. It has a restaurant on the roof.
Trimurti Guest House (322-554), near the Visvanath Temple, is a good place with rooms with common bath for Rs 60/100 and Rs 150 with bath. A dorm bed is Rs 40.
Vishnu Rest House (245-0206) is located right next to the Ganges and has a great view of the river from the terraces. A single room with bath is Rs 100. Double rooms go for between Rs 150 and Rs 300 and have hot water. You can get to this hotel by first going to Dasaswamedha Ghat, you then turn right after reaching the Ganges, and walk a few minutes. Other hotels have similar names to fool you to come to those places.
Kumiko House (324-308), next door, has good views of the Ganges. Small rooms with common bath are Rs 100/130 and Rs 200 with bath. A dorm bed is Rs 40. It is managed by an Indian man and his Japanese wife and is popular with Japanese. These two places are often full.
Sita Guest House has some rooms which have good views of the Ganges. A room with a common bath is Rs 125/200 and a double room with bath and hot water is Rs 350.
Sri Venkateshwar Lodge (239-2357; Email: venlodge@satyam.net.in), 5/64 Dasaswamedha Ghat Road, near Dasaswamedha Ghat, is a good place with clean rooms with common bath for Rs 100/150 and a double room with hot water for Rs 300. It is well-managed.
Alaknanda Guest House (327-177), north of Dasaswamedha Ghat, has basic rooms with bath for Rs 110/140 and Rs 200 for a room with a view of the Ganges, hot water and an air-cooler.
Sun Shiv Hotel (52468), 54/16-D Ravi Niketan, Jaddumandi Road, is a few blocks from the Old City area. It is a good place in a quiet area. It has rooms for Rs 175/300. The owner is a very knowledgeable and helpful person, and if this is important to you, this is the place to stay. It is a recommended place, if you don’t mind staying out of the main Old City area.
Hotel Ganges (321-097), Dasaswamedha Road, has rooms for Rs 275/350 and Rs 500/5500 with A/C. It is set back a little from the road.
Seema Hotel (352-686) 37/42 Baradev, has rooms with bath and a TV for Rs 350/400 and Rs 550/600 with A/C.
Alka Hotel (232-8445; Email: hotelalka@hotmail.com), D 3/23, Meerghat, overlooking the Ganges, is a good place with rooms for Rs 750/850. It is one of the best hotels in the area. The area around this hotel did not look so safe for a woman to walk alone at night.
Other Areas
GM Guest House (361-292), 1 Chandrika Colony, Sigra, is a little away from the Old City area. It has large, clean, budget and middle range rooms and is a very good value.
Hotel Faran is a good place.
Hotel Temple on Ganges (312-340), Asi Ghat, is a recommended place which is located in a good peaceful location. Some of the rooms have a great view of the Ganges. It has nice clean rooms for Rs 350/500. There are yoga lessons here and they can arrange a good guide for the city. It is a good distance from the Old City area. It has a rooftop veg restaurant.
Where to Stay—High
Hotel de Paris (346-601; fax 348-520), The Mall, in the Cantonment area, has a spacious garden and good, large comfortable rooms for Rs 900/1100, some with A/C. It is an older building that is starting to show its age.
Hotel Clarks Varanasi (234-8501, fax 234-8186), The Mall, in the Cantonment area, is an old famous building with atmosphere, dating to the British era. It also has a modern extension and a good swimming pool open to non-guest (Rs 200). Rooms costs $80/100. It is the best place in town.
Next to the Hotel Clarks is the new three-star Hotel Best Western Ideal (348-091; fax 348-685), which has good, comfortable, modern, spacious rooms for Rs 1500/1800. It has a good restaurant. It has free airport transfer. It is a well-managed, recommended place at a reasonable price.
Hotel Taj Ganges (234-5100; fax 234-8067), Nadesar Palace Grounds, is the most opulent place in town with rooms ranging from $120/140 up to $250. It has excellent facilities including tennis courts, a pool and yoga classes. The best rooms have a view of the pool.
The four-star Hotel Varanasi Ashok (346-020; fax 348-089), The Mall, Cantonment area next to Hotel Clarks, has a quiet location with air-conditioned rooms for Rs 1700/2700. It has a pool and a nice large garden. The best rooms have a view of the pool. It has a good restaurant.
The four-star Hindustan International (351-484; fax 350-931), C21/3 Maldahiya, in the center of the city, has a pool and modern comfortable rooms for $40/75. It is a business-type hotel.
Star Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Hotel Taj Ganges Nadesar, Ph.-091-542-2503001 130 260
2. Hotel Radisson The Mall ,Cantoment 117 234
3 Hotel Clarks The Mall ,Cantoment 58 116
4 Hotel Sidhartha Sigra Ph-2221961 32 64
5
Hotel Hindustan International
Maldahiya Ph.- 091-542-2393012 85 170
6 Hotel India Nadesar 80 160
7 Hotel De-Paris The mall ,Cantoment, Ph.-091-542-2505133 50 100
8 Hotel Vaibhav Ph.-091-542-2507593 58 116
9 Hotel Meredian Grant Patel Nagar 41 82
10 Hotel Pradeep Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2204594 36 72
11 Hotel Pallavi International - 43 86
Deluxe Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Gautam Grand Pared Kothi, Ph.-091-542-2206886 36 72
2. Rashmi Guest House Maan Mandir, Dasaswmegh 14 28
3 Kaumesh Hut Jagatganj, Ph.-091-542-2202689 20 40
4 Hotal Malti Ph.-091-542-2222895 47 94
5 Hotal M.M. International Bulanala 16 31
6 Hotal Gangej Dasaswmedh 32 70
7 Hotal Gautam Ram Katora, Ph.-091-542-2206450 37 74
8 Hotal Daimond Bhelupur, Ph,-091-542-2276696 - -
9 Hotal New International Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2208507 30 60
10 Parytak Awas Grih Ph.-091-542-2208413 40 46
11 Parytak Awash Grih Sarnath, Ph.-091-542-2595965 10 38
12 Hotal Sarin In Mahmoorganj 16 28
13 Hotal Tample On Gangej Assi 27 54
14 Hotal Rigency Andhrapul 41 66
15 Hotal Padmini International Mahmoorganj, Ph.-091-542-2220079 40 80
16 Hotal J.K. International Luxa 22 42
17 Hotal Lara India Dashaswmegh 25 50
18 Hotal Surya The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2508465/6 45 90
19 Hotal Baradari Maidagin 17 30
20 Hotal Ashok Sigra, Ph.-091-542-2221058 28 56
21 Hotal Salimar The Mall, Ph.-091-543-2501888 17 34
22 Hotal Awnish Maldahiya 21 42
23 Hotal Narendra G.T. Road, Ph.-091-542-2208121/3 54 116
24 Hotal Alka Mirghat, Ph.-091-542-2308445 20 37
25 Hotal Varuna Gulabbag 17 54
26 Hotal Gaurav Phatmaan road 18 34
27 Hotal Kashika West Western The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2301011 40 80
28 Palesh On Gangej Asshi, Ph.-091-542-2204963 22 44
29 Hotal Shiwam Pared Kothi 26 52
Economy Hotels
Sl. No. Hotel Address and Phone No. Of Rooms No. Of Beds
1. Preeti Guest House Maldahiya 14 28
2. Sai Kripa Guest House Shivala 16 32
3. Ambika Lodge Englishia Line 12 24
4. Hotel Ridge Lodge Varuna Pul, Cantoment 8 16
5. SriRam International BansFatak 20 40
6. Pawan Guest House Parade Kothi 7 16
7. Rashmi Guest House ManMandir, Dashashwamegh 14 28
8. Hotel Deewan Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 27 71
9. Shiva Visram Bhavan Luxa 7 11
10. Garden Lodge Godowlia 34 70
11. Hotel Prabhat Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 7 13
12. Hotel Moti Mahal Godowlia 7 17
13. Mint House Motel Nadesar 12 24
14. Hotel Samman Dashashwmegh 18 38
15. Satyanarayan Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 30 48
16. Hotel Ganges Dashashwamegh 32 70
17. Hotel Buddha Ramkatora, Lahurabir 22 44
18. Hotel Temple Town Patel Nagar 9 20
19. SriRam Vishram Bhavan Luxa 10 18
20. Hotel Gautam Ramkatora, Lahurabir, Ph-(0542)-2206450 37 74
21. Shankari Tourist Lodge MirGhat 5 13
22. Hotel Awadh Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 21 36
23. Girnar Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 24 46
24. SriRam Lodge Englishia Line 10 16
25. Vishnu Rest House Pandey Ghat 20 46
26. Hotel Friends House Dashashwamegh 6 15
27. National Lodge Kashi Vidyapith Road 11 19
28. Hotel Modern Lahurabir 21 42
29. Murali Guest House Bhogabir, Near BHU 19 23
30. Sundaram Guest House Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 24 48
31. Hotel Yamuna Luxa 23 44
32. Dashaswamegh Lodge Dashashwamegh 19 35
33. Palki Atithi Grih Parade Kothi 16 22
34. Dashaswamegh Boarding House Dashashwamegh 22 57
35. Hotel Vishnu Priya Near Cantt. Rly. Station 12 21
36. Sita Guest House Chausatti Ghat 20 36
37. Ashok Lodge Chetganj 9 17
38. Sun Blue Lodge Kedar Ghat 8 12
39. Hotel Jyoti Luxa 24 50
40. Anand Lodge Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station 13 22
41. Sri Venkateshwar Lodge Vishwanath Gali, Godowlia 27 35
42. Gokul Lodge Sonarpura 11 20
43. Hotel SunRise Shivala 18 33
44. Hotel Samrat Nai Sarak 13 25
45. Kedar Lodge AgastKunda 23 40
ITDC Varanasi Ashok
The Mall,
Tel :(542)46020-30
Fax : 0542-348089.
Hotel Hindustan International
C21/3 Maldahiya,
Tel : (542)351485-90
Fax : 0542-350931
Hotel Taj Ganges
C21/3 Maldahiya,
Tel :(542)351485-90
Fax : 0542-350931.
Hotel Clarks
The Mall,
Tel :(542)348501-10
Fax : 0542-348186.
Hotel Ideal Tops
The Mall,
Tel :(542)348091-92
Fax : 0542-348685.
Hotel India
59 Patel Nagar,
Tel :(542)43309,
Fax : 0542-342912.
Hotel Malti
Vidyapeeth Road,
Tel :(542)356844, 351395. Hotel Pallavi International
Hathwa Place
Chetganj,
Tel :(542)356939-42,
Fax : 0542-322943.
.
Hotel de-Paris
The Mall,
Tel : (542)46601-8,
Fax : 0542-348520.
Hotel Pradeep
Jagatganj,
Tel : (542)344963, 344594,
Fax : 0542-334898.
Other Accommodation
Railway Retiring Rooms
Varanasi Cantt.
Railway Station
U.P.T.D.C. Tourist Bungalow
Parade Kothi, Cantt.,
Tel : (542)43413.
U.P.T.D.C. Tourist Bungalow
Sarnath. Paying Guest Accommodation
‘The Nest’,
C/o, Mr. S K Roy,
B 21/122 A2,
Kamachha, near Baijnath Mandir
Tel : (542)360137.
BUDGET HOTELS IN VARANASI
Hotel Vaibhav
Hotel Vaibhav, newly built is Certified Three Star Hotel in Varanasi.. It shows the beautiful and clam look the Hotel gives. Reception, Rooms, Restaurant and Bar- all very classic
Hotel Pradeep
This Hotel is what one must see to appreciate the real essence of the Hotel. Its unique traditional design, the atmosphere of ambience that it mantains with excellent service. It has truly good looking rooms at relatively much lower rates.It is one of the most likeable places to stay in the city.
Hotel Temple on Ganges
Located on Assi Ghat this hotel gives an excellent veiw of the long string of Ghats along the Ganges.The dim red,blue lights on roof-top give a majestic image to the hotel in the night.You can see, feel the sunview. All rooms have windows that not only give refreshing, healthy and pollution free air but also a beautiful view of Holy Ganges. And more. All rooms have Balcony where you can take the breath taking view in your own privacy.
Hotel Varuna
Located centrally in the city the hotel is opposite Sigra Police Station. The hotel's main essence is its ever-expanding facilities that includes conference room, swimming pool in the near future. Check out the Hotel to see the dynamic nature that it possess. Credit Cards Master Card, Visa Card, Bob Card, CitiBank and American Express, Phone STD/ISD facility, Travel Tickets, Doctor, Safe Deposit, Laundary Services
Hotel Alka
Next to Golden Temple on the Meer ghat, this hotel is class apart.There is open space to sit and feel the Ganges. The restaurant veiw captures the beauty of the Ganges. Rooms are where you relax ! Value added facilities make your stay more enjoyable. Hotel Alka mantains an excellent atmosphere of ambience with all value added facilities that you could ask besides a comfortable room. We have 15 well furnished rooms, with hot/cold shower facility 24 hrs. a day.
Hotel Barahdari
Although it is stone throw distance from town area and ten minutes walk to the Ganges, the Peace and 'Shanti' can be felt in the Hotel. See the Hotel with its beautiful garden. All rooms are attatched with European Style Bathrooms, having 24 hrs. hot and cold water. Reception has a unique texture on it's walls, with an exclusive Help Desk for any assistance or enquiry. The Pleasing color gives you a more relaxed feeling. The Texture Effects have been created by the traditional artists of Varanasi. This reminds you of how art and culture has flourished in this ancient city.
Hotel Arya
This is clean and very approachable hotel on the Main road, next to Goudalia at Sonarpura. The Hotel's pride is it's beautiful roof top restaurant, serving continental and South Indian Food. Managed by N.R. Naidu, has good staff and very well mantained. Shopping complex is just under the hotel, with a medicine shop also owned by the Hotel itself. Roof Top Restaurant is simply the best in Varanasi. With all its eloquent beauty, excellent atmosphere and soothing music it has a great Menu list. Covers Breakfast, Lunch and Dinnes with all varieties in Indian, Continental and South Indian Dishes
Trimurti Guest House
Yes, here is the guest house in the old city, giving you something unique to see- from every room you can see Golden Temple and the mosque.The roof gives long distance veiw of the city-BHU Temple,DLW Chimney. East West Restaurant is clean one.
Hotel Son Many
The key feature is from this guest house you can see the "Burning Ghat" and all rituals associated from all of your rooms. The Ganges water can be viewed from every part of the Hotel. This hotel proposes to have five floors, with all the modern facilities. Wow! Just for you, Hotel Son Mony is just on top of the HarishChandra Ghat.
Hotel Sunrise
Very clean Hotel at Pandey Haveli. Is centrally located between BHU and Golden Temple. Has electric cold and hot shower supply. The key feature is its roof top from where you can see most of Varanasi including Ganges.
BUDGET HOTELS IN VARANASI
Hotel Buddha
The most spacious rooms (with high ceilings) in the town at an affordable price of 110 to 310 Rs. for single travellers, and 150 to 350 for doubles. Rooms are equiped with telephone facilities and colour TV. Next it has a peaceful garden restaurant. Facilities include 24 hrs. hot & cold water, Air ticketing, Bus/Train reservation
Hotel Ajaya
All rooms attatched with running Hot & cold water, with telephone. Hotel Ajaya rooms cost between Rs. 150 to 450 for single, and Rs. 200 to 500 for double.
Sandya Guest House
Located Shivala Ghat, its on the main road and very central. See Ganga, Assi Ghat, Benares Hindu University, Monkey Temple- all are walking distance from this place. Features it has- Roof top restaurant, library, ticket booking.
Hotel Gautam
Location at Ramkatora. Its away from the main road of the city at a peaceful site. It is delux 5 storeyed centrally air conditioned hotel located 10 minutes from Cantt Rly station, 30 mins. from Airport and 0.75 Km from River Ganges.
Ganpati Guest House
This is for the most spectacular veiw on Ganga away from the hustle and bustle of the city.And there is a seperate staircase built specially for you to go and stand right next to Holy Ganges.Besides, it is next to Golden Temple.
Sahi Riverview Guest House
Newly opened the Guest House has the most fascinating Ganges views(See Name) and the exotic sunrise from its balconies, rooms and terrace. Location is right on Assi Ghat,next to Harmony Book Shop. All rooms have 24 hrs hot water with attatched bathrooms. You will get a very homely touch. Monkey Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, BHU and Red Fort are very approachable.
Musical Guest House
Near Assi crossing as its name suugests there is music in it.Every Tuesday at 7.30p.m. concert is held.Plus if you want to learn local vocal and instrumental music teaching facility can be made available in the guest house.This small guest house has 5 rooms with attatched bathroom.
Om Vishwanath Lodge
The Lodge, beautifully decorated from outside, is located off the Main Road at Sonarpura.The advantage is it is located near River Ganges and has a beautiful roof top restaurant. All 18 rooms have attatched bath running Hot and Cold Shower. Yoga Lesson facilities are available.Further, the Lodge has Pooja Silk Handicrafts- a Specialist of Bed Spreads. The shop has a range of Handwoven Silk Brocades, Printed Sarees, Scarfs etc
Sita Guest House
Its on Ganges at the Main Ghat.The beauty lies in it being so close to Ganges that you feel you can literally touch the river with your hands. Address: Chausatti Ghat, Bengalitola. It has 20 rooms with hot shower.Note that telephone incoming facility is free.Besides Air ticketing is available-'Easy Travel Services'. Also tickets for Nepal etc. possible.
Shiva Ganga Lodge
Hanuman Ghat is very close to the Burning Ghat-"Harish Chandra Ghat". So, Safari Guest House provides an appropriate location to see "Burning Ghat". It has everything- veg and non veg. food served in the restaurant, cold drinks and good tour guides.
Varanasi (Benares, Kashi)
Pop: 1.2 million Area
Phone Code: 0542
Postcode 221002
Varanasi is said to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. There are supposed to be 2,000 temples in Varanasi. It is 125km east of Allahabad, on the bank of the Ganges, between Delhi (710km) and Calcutta (680km). Millions of pilgrims a year come to Varanasi.
The name Varanasi most likely stems from the two rivers, Varuna and Asi, which join the Ganges on the north and south borders of the city. Varanasi is a very fast-moving place and at times can seem unbelievable crowded. In the old part of the city there are numerous mazes of thin, very crowded streets, which makes the place very interesting.
It is said that the first Siva Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light, came through the earth here and flared into the sky. Therefore Varanasi is also called Kashi, “City of Light.”
Kashi is mentioned in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Puranas, which date back 5,000 years, as the foremost city of Siva. The Muslims gave it the name Benares. At Independence, the old name, Varanasi, was given to the city again.
Many older people come to Varanasi to die and to be burned at the burning ghats along the river. It is believed that anyone who dies in Varanasi attains moksha (liberation). It is said that being burned at Varanasi adds to the pious credits of someone, therefore many bodies are brought here to be cremated. Many widows come here to die.
Many saints and sages have come to Varanasi including Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Buddha, Sankaracharya, and Sri Ramanuja. Sri Chaitanya met Sanatana Gosvami here and converted Prakasananda Sarasvati and his followers here. He bathed at Pancha-ganga (Panchanada) Ghat.
For many, it is one of the highlights of a trip to India to get on a boat at 6 am and see the city on the waters of the Ganges at sunrise. Six o’clock in the morning is the best time to visit the waterfront. It is a good idea to rent your own boat and not go with many other people.
Varanasi was looted numerous times by Muslim invaders beginning from the 11th century. Aurangzeb destroyed most of the temples during his reign in the 17th century. This is why most of the temples are not more than 300 years old. In 1669 the Bindu Madhava Vishnu Temple and the Siva Visvanath Temple were destroyed. Mosques were built in their place.
The Ganges, which normally flows southeast, reverses its course and flows north for a while at Varanasi, which is considered very auspicious. There is a five-mile parikrama path that goes around this sacred city. There are 81 bathing ghats and other holy kunds, or sacred tanks. It is said that it is important to bathe at Manikarnika, by the cremation ghat.
The three most important ghats are Manikarnika, Dasaswamedha, and Pancha-ganga. To bath at these three ghats is called Tri-tirtha Yatra. Also important are Asi Sangam and Varuna Sangam. To bathe in these five places is call Pancha-tirtha Yatra. You are supposed to bathe in these five ghats in a certain order. First you bathe in Asi Ghat, then Dasaswamedha Ghat, then the ghat by the Adi Keshava Temple near the Varuna River, then Pancha-ganga, and then Manikarnika. After taking bath at these five places, most pilgrims then go for darshan of Visvanath, Annapurna, and Sakshi Vinayaka (the witnessing Ganesh). It is said that if you bathe in these five places, all in the same day and in this order, you will not get another material body. You can do Pancha-tirtha Yatra by boat, but it is better to do it by foot.
The Panchakroshi road goes around the city of Varanasi. Many pilgrims walk the 58km around Varanasi starting at Manikarnika Ghat. They then walk to Asi Ghat and then proceed around the city. You are supposed to visit 108 shrines along the way. Following this procedure is said to be the same as circling the entire world.
The Adi Keshava Vishnu Temple is located where the Ganges meets the Varuna River, in the north of town. Tulasi Das translated the Ramayana from Sanskrit into Hindi in Varanasi, and there is a temple in his honor.
Sarnath is 10km away and is famous as the place where Buddha first preached about enlightenment. You can see all the principal places in Varanasi and Sarnath in two days, but it is not unusual for people to spend a week or two in Varanasi.
Orientation
The city of Varanasi is on the west bank of the Ganges River. The tourist office and the higher-end hotels are located in the Cantonment area, in the northern part of the city. The roads are much wider here. The railway station is south of the Cantonment area and north of the old part of the city, about a twenty minute auto-rickshaw ride from either area.
The old section of the city, by the river, is where the bathing ghats and most of the temples are located. The streets can be very narrow and crowded, so much so that a bike rickshaw cannot get by. The main bathing ghat is Dasaswamedha, which is located right in the middle of the old part of the city.
Tourist Offices and Tours
A good source of information is the Government of India Tourist Office (234-3744; Web Site: http://www.tourisminindia.com), 15B The Mall, in the Cantonment, by the Hotel de Paris. You can hire a guide there for either four (Rs 250) or eight hours (Rs 400). Open weekdays 9 am to 5.30 pm, and Sat 9 am to 1 pm. There is an Information Counter at the airport. They also have a tourist counter inside the railway station (234-6370).
The UP State Tourist Office (220-8162) is located in the Tourist Bungalow at Parade Kothi (Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm) and there is a good tourist counter at the railroad station (234-6370) (6 am to 8 pm). They have a list of paying guest accommodations.
The Bihar State Tourist Office (234-3821) is at Englishia Market, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Cantonment.
UPSRTC has a daily tour of the river, temples, and Benares Hindu University in the summer from 5.30 to 11.45 am and winter 6 am to 12.15 pm. They also have a tour to Sarnath and Ramnagar Fort daily from 2.30 to 6.30 pm in the summer and 2 to 6 pm in the winter. The bus starts at the Govt of India Tourist Office, The Mall, and at the Tourist Bungalow.
Rewarding Tours and Travels (348-546), next to the Tourist Office in the Cantonment, offers a tour of the city, which includes a pickup at a hotel, an early morning boat ride, a visit to some temples and a trip to Sarnath. It costs Rs 200 and goes from 5.30 am to noon.
I found a good knowledgeable guide named Shobhit Shankar for information about the temples and holy places in Varanasi. He is a saintly priest at the Visvanath Temple and he lives on the same small alley as the temple is located, at 35/15 Vishwanath Gali. I personally liked and trusted him. He also has a very high understanding of the Vedic scriptures.
Information
Heritage Hospital (231-3977), near Benares Hindu University, is a good private hospital. Gupta Optical, in Godaulia is good for glasses.
Visa extensions may be issued at the Foreigners’ Registration Office (235-1968), Srinagar Colony, Siddgiri Bagh.
The GPO is a ten-minute rickshaw ride north of the old city. You can have a package made outside. The Central Telegraph Office is in the cantonment. There is a post office in the Hotel Clarks in the Cantonment.
You can get on the Internet at Fontac Computer for Rs 25per hour. The Meeting Place, a little before the Vishwanath Temple, has good connection and cheap prices (Rs 15 per hr).
Malaviya Bhavan at Benares Hindu University has courses on yoga. There are morning and evening yoga classes at the Shanti Guest House.
Some Swimiing Pools that non-guest can swim at are the Hotel Clarks Varanasi (Rs 200), Hotel Hindustan International (Rs 100), and the Hotel Varanasi Ashok (100). The Hotel Clark has the best pool.
At the Hotel Surya you can get a full body massage (Rs 150) and they have a steam bath (Rs 40).
Travel Corporation of India (46209), Hotel Clarks, The Mall, is an established travel agency and they can arrange cars. The ITDC Office in the Hotel Varanasi Ashok can arrange a car for Rs 600 a day.
WARNING! There are many armed robberies along the Ghats at night. Varanasi is known for people who have bad drug problems and they will stop at nothing to get their drugs. During the day or on the public street there are almost no problems. If you are sitting in a peaceful secluded place when it is getting dark, be especially careful. When you see the locals leave, follow their example. Also be careful about walking alone down secluded alleys at night in the old city.
Varanasi is also known for con-men. I was talking to an Indian student at the railway station and a policeman came up to us and told the man to stop talking with me. I told the policeman it was alright and that I trusted the student. The policeman then told me, “Don’t come to me later with a complaint.” I am assuming that he must get many of them. While traveling to Varanasi by train, be especially careful of your luggage, as many people have their bags stolen.
Boat Ride on the Ganges
For many people a boat ride on the Ganges is a highlight of their trip. Taking a 6 am boat ride while the sun is coming up is outstanding. There is an especially tranquil atmosphere and it is very enjoyable. I highly recommend this. If you come by rickshaw have them take you to
Dasaswamedha Ghat, where there are many boats. The government rate for a boat that holds four people is Rs 60 per hour. You will be asked for much more (Rs 60 a person), but in reality you can usually get a boat for Rs 40 per hour, especially in the off-season.
Money
The State Bank of India, near Dasaswamedha Ghat changes Thomas Cook travelers cheques. The State Bank of India, near the Hotel Surya in the Cantonment area, changes money. The Bank of Baroda (credit cards only) and the Andhra Bank, both on Dasaswamedha Rd, do cash advances on major credit cards. The Shanti Guest House changes money at a rate slightly lower than the bank. They change most types of travelers cheques and most foreign currencies.
Shopping
Varanasi is a good place to buy silks. You have to be careful, as many items sold as silk are not pure silk. It is also a good place to get musical instruments. People will come up to you and invite you to their house, which actually means to someone’s shop.
Temple Bazaar, near the Visvanath Temple, is a good place to get silk items. This is one of the busiest and most interesting bazaars in India.
The government managed Handloom House, D64/132K Sigra, is a reliable place to purchase silks.
Imtiyaz Ali, Siddh Giri Bagh, located near a mosque, makes good tablas. To get here you go down about three roads from Godaulia Crossing (going away from Dasasvamedha Ghat) and then make a right and go about 1km. Triveni Music Centre (328-074), Keval Gali in Godaulia, near the Baba Restaurant, sells good musical instruments.
Book Shops & Books
Universal Book Shop in Godaulia is one of the better bookshops in India and has a good selection. Nearby Indica Books, D 40/18 Godaulia, has an excellent selection of spiritual and other books and the people who manage it are very helpful. Ashok Hotel has a good book shop.
Benares: City of Light by Diana Eck, a professor at Harvard, is a good, detailed book which describes the temples and ghats in Varanasi.
OLD CITY
Visvanath Temple (Golden Temple)
This present temple dedicated to Lord Siva was built by Rani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1776. Aurangzeb destroyed the old temple in 1669. It is called the Golden Temple because of the 800 kg of gold plating put on the sikharas (roof over the altar) by Maharana Ranjeet Singh of Lahore in 1835. The Siva-linga of Visvanath is on a golden altar. There has been a Siva temple at this site for over 1,000 years. Beside the Siva-linga, there are several other shrines. To the left as one enters the temple is a Deity of Vishnu, who is supposed to be worshiped along with Visvanath. Non-Hindus (non-Indians) are not allowed in the temple, and this is strictly enforced.
Behind the temple is the Jnana Vapi (Gyan Kupor), or the Wisdom Well, which is said to be the liquid form of enlightenment. It is said to have been in Varanasi before the Ganges came to this earth. Pilgrims give their sankalpa, or statement of intent, here before beginning their pancha-tirtha yatra.
Non-Hindus can look inside the temple through a hole in the wall, in the alley between the front of the temple and the Jnana Vapi. From this hole you can get a good view of the Siva-linga and what is happening in the temple.
You can see the roof of the temple from the roof of the Trimurti Guest House or from some shops upstairs opposite the temple for Rs 10.
Jnana Vapi and Razia’s Mosques
Next to the temple is the Jnana Vapi Mosque. This mosque was built from the material taken from destroyed Hindu temples. In the back of the mosque you can see the remains of the temples. It has very high minarets.
The 13th century Razia’s Mosque is north of here. It was built during the period of the Delhi Sultanate, and is located where a previous Visvanath temple used to stand.
Old City Area Temples
A major temple, dedicated to Annapurna, is located in the same alley as the Visvanath Temple. Anna means “food,” and purna means “who fills.” There is a Food Festival here in Oct/Nov.
Nearby is a black deity of Shani (Saturn) covered with silver. People worship at this temple, especially on Saturday, to free themselves of the bad effects of Saturn. Astrologically the effects of Saturn usually bring misfortune.
Dhundhiraj Ganesh is a small important Ganesh temple on Visvanath Lane, about a five-minute walk from the Visvanath Temple.
Sakshi Vinayaka is a Ganesh deity. Sakshi means “the witness.” After finishing the Panch Kosi circuit, pilgrims come before this deity so that Ganesh can witness the completion of their pilgrimage.
When pilgrims visit Varanasi they register their arrival at the Bhairava Temple. This temple is located near the intersection of Chauli Rd and Kabir Chaura Rd, near the Godaulia area. Bhairava is known as the policemen-magistrate and protector of the city. Bhairava is the terrifying aspect of Lord Siva, who chopped off the fifth head of Brahma. As punishment for doing this the head stuck to the hand of Bhairava and stayed there for years. It did not fall off until he reached Varanasi. Bhairava then became responsible for making sure that the residents of Varanasi live righteous lives. Nearby is the Bare Ganesh Temple, which is one of the main Ganesh temples in Varanasi.
Durga Temple
These two temples are both located in the southern part of town, between Asi Ghat and Benares Hindu University. The Durga Temple was built in the 18th century by a Bengali king and has many aggressive monkeys. Durga is the intense form of Lord Siva’s consort Parvati. Non-Hindu can enter the courtyard but are not supposed to enter the inner sanctum.
Sankat Mochan Temple
The Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to Hanuman, the “Liberator from Troubles.” Many people consider this to be one of the three major temples in Varanasi.
Benares Hindu University & Museum
This university was established at the beginning of the century and is famous for having an excellent Sanskrit school. It has over 150,000 rare manuscripts. It is about 11km from the center of the city, a 20-minute auto-rickshaw ride away.
It has one of the best museums in India, the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which has ancient sculptures and deities in it. The museum has various sections—bronze and cast metal, terracotta, and stone sculptures. There is also a painting gallery that contains a big statue of Krishna holding Govardhan Hill, dating from the fourth century. There are also two 18th century paintings on the same subject. Open 11 am to 4 pm, July to April, and 7.30 am to 12.30 pm in May and June. Closed on Sunday. Admission is Rs 100. Rs for a camera.
New Visvanath Temple
The New Visvanath Temple is a beautiful marble temple located on the grounds of Benares Hindu University. It was planned by Pandit Malaviya and built in 1966 by the Birla Family. It is open to everyone. Inside the temple is a Siva-linga. The temple is supposed to be a replica of the original Visvanath temple that Aurangzeb destroyed.
Open 4 am to noon and 1 to 9 pm. It is a 30-minute auto-rickshaw ride (Rs 30) from the old city.
Tulasi Manas Temple
This is a modern, marble, sikhara-type temple dedicated to Tulasi Das, who wrote the Ram-charit Manas, the Hindi translation of the famous Ramayana. He lived in Varanasi when he wrote it. It was built in 1964. On the walls of the temple are verses and pictures from the Ramayana. There is a diorama exhibit on the 2nd floor. Open 5.30 am to noon and 3.30 to 9 pm.
Bharat Mata Temple
This temple is dedicated to Bharat Mata which means “Mother India.” Bharat is the Hindi word for India. Inside the temple is a marble relief map of India. Mahatma Gandhi opened the temple.
Ramnagar Fort
South of the city, across the river, is the interesting 17th century Ramnagar Fort. It was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh and is the former home of the Maharaja of Varanasi. The Royal Museum, in the fort, displays arms, decorated palanquins, gold-plated elephant howdahs, and outfits of former Maharajas of Varanasi. There is a temple dedicated to Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, in the Ramnagar Fort. It is said that Veda Vyasa stayed at Ramnagar for a short time. Open daily except Friday 9 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. It is reached by a pontoon bridge, and during the monsoon you cross the river by ferry.
Entertainment and Music
At Nagari Natak Mandali there are classical concerts.
At the International Music Centre Ashram, near Dasaswamedha Ghat, there are classical music performances on Wed and Sat at 8 pm. You can take private sitar and tabla lessons here for Rs 75 per hour.
Clark’s Cultural Program, Raja Ghat, has an evening program which begins with a Ganga arati (worship), and then has drama from the Ramayana, music, and folk and classical dance for $10 (5.30 to 8.30 pm). The program can be reserved at the Clark Varanasi (348-501; fax 348-186).
Triveni Music Centre, Kevl Gali in Godaulia, near the Baba Restaurant, is a good place to take sitar and tabla lessons.
Festivals
During the month of April pilgrims perform circumambulation of Kashi Dharmaksetra (Varanasi). Ganga Dasara, in May, celebrates the day the Ganges reached Haridwar. In Oct/Nov, Nagnathaiya at Tulasi Ghat reenacts Krishna dancing on the head of the Kaliya snake in the Yamuna.
Bharat Milap at Nati Imli is the celebration of the meeting of Rama and Bharata after 14 years of separation. The Maharaja of Varanasi attends this interesting festival and rides on the back of an elephant. Ram Lila, at Ramnagar Fort in Sept/Oct, is a festive program during which the Ramayana is staged. Sphere: Related Content
Budget Hotels Mumbai
About Mumbai .
CONTACT INFORMATION
To book, you can contact our Reservation Officer at
YWCA International Guest House
18, Madame Cama Road,
Fort,
Mumbai - 400 039,
MH, India.
Tel: +91-22-202 5053/9161/0598/282 6814
Fax: +91-22-202 0445
Grams: 'Maidens', Bombay.
E-Mail: ywcaic@hathway.com
or Submit your enquiry online to us
There are a number of less expensive places by Victoria Terminal.
Railway Hotel (2261-6705; fax 2265-8949; E railwayhotel@hotmail.com), 249 P D’Mello Rd, is better than average, with rooms with bath for Rs 1000/1400 and an A/C rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 1500/1900.
Hotel Manama (2261-3412; fax 2261 3860), 221/225 P D’Mello Rd, is a good place with clean rooms with common bath and TV for Rs 750, a room with bath and TV for Rs 1000, and with A/C for Rs 1200. It is conviently located by the railway station.
Lord Hotel, 301 Adi Marsban Path (Mangalore St), just off P D’Mello Rd, is a decent place with rooms for Rs 400/500.
Benazeer (261-1725; fax 261-7798), 16 Rustam Sindhwa Marg (Gunbow St), has decent rooms for Rs 750/850.
Oasis (2239 6570; 2266 9183; Email: hoteloasis@satyam.net), 272 SBS Marg, is a good value with well-maintained rooms with 650/750 and 900/1000 with A/C. This is a good choice in the Fort area..
Hotel City Palace (2261-5515; fax; 2267 6897; Email: hotelcitypalace@vsnl.net), 121 City Terrace, WH Marg, opposite Victoria Terminal, has a good selection of rooms with bath, TV, and a good view of the city for Rs 750/900 and Rs 1000/1350 for an A/C room. It is a decent place.
Mumbai Palace (308-6118), Syed Villa, off YMCA Rd, near Mumbai Central, is a mid-priced place with good-sized comfortable A/C rooms.
Hotel Kemp’s Corner (2363-4646; fax 2363-4732), 131 August Kranti Marg, has A/C rooms with bath and TV for Rs 1400/1500 and deluxe rooms for 1700/1800. It is a good value.
Grand Hotel (5658 0500-8211; fax 5658 0501; Web Site: http://www.grandhotelbombay.com), 17 Shri Shiv Ramgulam Marg, Ballard Estate, is a large, older place built around a boring central courtyard. It has comfortable rooms with bath, a small balcony, and TV for Rs 2300/2800. Economy rooms are Rs 1800/2100.
Regent Hotel (2287-1864; fax 2202-0363; Email: hotelregent@vsnl.com), 8 Best Rd, is a good place with very comfortable, A/C rooms with TV for Rs 2400/2700. Rooms have either a blacony or sitting room. Good value.
Hotel Diplomat (202-1661; fax 283-0000), 24-26 Boman Behram Marg, Apollo Bunder, has quiet, decent rooms for Rs 1500/1800.
Ascot Hotel (fax 204-6449), 38 Garden Rd, has an assortment of good-sized, well decorated, comfortable rooms with bath, A/C, fridge, and TV for Rs 1657 to Rs 2050. It is one of the oldest hotels in Mumbai. Recommended. If this hotel doesn’t appeal to you, you can look at the other two hotels on the same street.
Godwin Hotel (2287-2050; fax 2287-1592; Web Site: http://www.cybersols.com/godwin), 41 Garden Rd, has rooms for Rs 2200/3216. It is a clean, well-managed place. The rooms on the upper floors have better views.
Garden Hotel (2284-1476; Email: gardenhotel@mail.com), 42 Garden Rd, has clean, comfortable double rooms with bath and TV ranging from Rs 2100 to Rs 3100. Terrace garden. Well-managed.
Strand Hotel (288-2222; fax 284-1624), 25 Apollo Bunder, has rooms for Rs 1500/1860. It is not such a good value.
Kerawalla Chambers (282-1089), above the Strand has decent, clean rooms with bath, TV, and a fridge for Rs 650 and Rs 700 for an A/C room. Rooms with a seaview are Rs 950. It can be noisy.
Shelley's Hotel (2284-0229; fax 2284-0385; Email: shelleyshotel@vsnl.com; Web Site: http://www.shelleyshotel.com), next door, PJ Ramchandani Marg (Apollo Bunder), is a nice, older place with good-sized comfortable rooms with TV starting at Rs 1400/2100 and a room with a sea view for Rs 2500. Recommended, but you should reserve in advance..
Regency Inn (202-0292), Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, behind Regal Cinema, has A/C rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 1400/1650. It is best to see the rooms, as they have quite a variety.
On the same street, the three-star Hotel Suba Palace (2202-0636; fax 2202-0812; Web Site: http://www.hotelsubapalace.com), Battery St, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, has good, clean, comfortable rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 2000/2650. It is a modern place.
Hotel Apollo (202-0223; fax 287-4990), Lansdowne Rd, behind Regal Theatre, is a good place with rooms for Rs 1200/1400. The rooms with a sea view are best.
Hotel Causeway 2(281-7777; fax 2281-0999; Web Site: http://www.hotelcauseway.com), 3rd floor Mathuradas Estate, 43/45 SB Singh Rd, Colaba Causeway, above the Hotel Apollo, is a decent place with small A/C rooms with bath for Rs 1250.
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It is important to find a place to stay as early in the day as possible, as finding a room can be difficult. It is best to arrive early in Mumbai and start looking for a room right away, or reserve a room in advance. Most hotels are booked well before noon. Also, Mumbai is by far the most expensive place in India in which to get a room. Rooms cost three to five times the normal Indian price. A room that would be Rs 100 somewhere else could be Rs 400 in Mumbai.
For less expensive hotels, the luxury tax is 10%; for expensive hotels, service charges and luxury tax can range from 30% to 42%.
If you arrive at the airport in the evening or at night and you plan to get a middle or high-priced hotel, it is a good idea to book a room at the accommodations booking desk in the airport lobby. By this time most of the hotels will be full. If you go to the Colaba area to get an inexpensive room in the afternoon, you may want to engage a tout (commission agent) to find you a room. They often know what hotels have rooms available
Note :-all the phone numbers should be nine digits.If there are 8 digits you need to place a 2 before the number .
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Where to Stay In Colaba—Lower
The well-managed Hotel Lawrence (2284-3618), 3rd floor, 33 As Baba Marg, down a side road in back of the Prince of Wales Museum off K Dubash Marg, is a small, quiet, place with clean rooms for Rs 450/550 and Rs 800 for a triple. It is a good value and usually full (has only six rooms. Recommended.
Salvation Army Red Shield Hotel (2284-1824), 30 Mereweather Rd, behind the Taj, has rooms for Rs 700/1000 (meals included) and dorm beds for Rs 150 (with meals Rs 160). It is the least expensive place in town. You have to reserve a room in advance. Dorm beds are first come, first served, so it is a good idea to arrive by the 9 am checkout time. Have left luggage facilities for Rs 50 per day.
Apollo Guest House (2204-5540; Email: hotelapollogh@hotmail.com), first floor of the Mathuradas Estate Building, 43/45 Colaba Causeway, has really small rooms with common bath for Rs 550/650, rooms with bath for Rs 800/900 and A/C Rs 1400.
The popular Whalley’s Guest House (283-1802; fax 283-4206), 41 Mereweather Rd, on the third floor, has large rooms with common bath and a nice verandah for Rs 650/750 and Rs 750/850 with A/C. The rooms on the top floor overlooking the street are best. Overpriced.
Many backpackers stay at Rex-Stiffles, by the Taj Hotel, which has rooms for Rs 350.
Hotel Volga II (2282 4755), upstairsRustam Manzil, near the Leopold Restaurant, has very small rooms with common bath for Rs 600, with bath for Rs 700, and with A/C for Rs 950. The A/C rooms are the cheapest in Colaba. There is no sign for this place.
Hotel Carlton (202-0259), 12 Mereweather Rd, is a decent value, but run-down. Rooms with common bath are Rs 400/500 and A/C rooms with bath are Rs 1050. It is an acceptable place.
Hotel Prosser’s (2284-1715), 2-4 Henry Rd, has decent rooms with common bath ranging from Rs 500/700 to Rs 850 for much nicer rooms. Some rooms have an ocean view.
India (2283-3769), 3rd Floor, 1/39 Kamal Mansion, Arthur Bunder Rd, has small, partitioned rooms with common bath and no windows for Rs 500/600 and rooms with a sea view for Rs 600/700.
The Sea Shore (2287-4237), above the India Hotel on the 4th floor, is a decent value with rooms for 500/600. The rooms facing the sea for Rs 600/800 are better than the other rooms.
Below the Hotel Indian is the Hotel Sea Lord (2284-5392), with windowless small rooms for Rs 500/600 and rooms with a seaview for Rs 600/700. All these places are about the same.
YWCA International Guest House is a quiet place with very clean rooms for Rs 850/1500 and with A/C for Rs 1800. It is popular and must usually be booked one month in advance. Breakfast, dinner, and all taxes included in the price.Good location.
Dorm Bed (Sharing) (F\R) Rate Rs. 787 Advance 850
Above Tariff includes:
* Morning Tea / Coffee
* Buffet Breakfast
* Buffet Dinner (MAP basis)
CONTACT INFORMATION
To book, you can contact our Reservation Officer at
YWCA International Guest House
18, Madame Cama Road,
Fort,
Mumbai - 400 039,
MH, India.
Tel: +91-22-202 5053/9161/0598/282 6814
Fax: +91-22-202 0445
Grams: 'Maidens', Bombay.
E-Mail: ywcaic@hathway.com
or Submit your enquiry online to us
http://www.ywcaic.info/rates.htm
YMCA International House
ADDRESS:18, YMCA Road,Mumbai - 400 008.
Tel.: 23070601/ 02/ 03. Fax: 2309 1101.
Email: ymcaih@ymcabombay.com
http://www.ymcabombay.com/accomodations.htm
ROOM TYPE
Charges in Indian Rs.
Single Occupancy ........(AC Bath Attached) 1413.00
Double Occupancy .......(AC Bath Attached) 2165.00
Single Occupancy ........(AC Common Bath Room) 863.00
Double Occupancy .......(AC Common Bath Room) 1384.00
Single Occupancy ........(Non-AC Common Bath Room) 654.00
Double Occupancy .......(Non-AC Common Bath Room) 1065.00
Extra Person ........(AC Bath Attached) 522.00
Extra Person ........(Common Bath) 473.00
The Above License Fee & Other Charges are inclusive of :
* Room Service, Electricity charges etc.
* 12.5% VAT on Meals
Meal Charges for:Morning Tea/Coffee, Breakfast (Buffet), Dinner (Buffet)..
Extra : 10% Service Charges on total bill (excluding membership).
In addition, Membership fee of Rs.120/- (half yearly) will be charged.
Master/Visa Credit Card facilities is present.
RESERVATION INFORMATION :
* Reservation Timings: 09.00 Hrs. to 17.00 Hrs on all working days.
* No booking will be confirmed without one day's Advance Deposit. Balance Advance Deposit in Indian Rupees to be paid on arrival.
* Confirmed Booking is applicable only for the day of reservation.
* Confirmed Bookings for subsequent days get cancelled in case of no-show on the first day.
* If reservation is requested for arrival prior to check-in-time, charges will be levied from previous night.
* No concession for half-day occupancy.
Bentley’s Hotel (2284-1474; fax 2287-1846; Email: bentleyshotel@hotmail.com; Web Site: http://www.bentleyshotel.com), 17 Oliver Rd, is an older place with well-maintained rooms with common bath for Rs 800/1085 and a room large enough in which to hold a cricket match for Rs 1250. A/C Rs 200 extra. It is a popular place. Breakfast included with the price. Rooms have character with balconies and colonial furniture..Can book by email, which is recommended. Accept credit cards.
Jones Lodging House, Abbas Building, 35 Mereweather Rd, is a basic place, but is a good value for the price.
Maria Lodge
5/2 Grant Building
Haji Niyaz Ahmed Azmi Marg
(Arthur Bunder Rd)
Near radio club
Colaba
Mumbai
400 005
400 Rs per night
There are a number of less expensive places by Victoria Terminal.
Railway Hotel (2261-6705; fax 2265-8949; E railwayhotel@hotmail.com), 249 P D’Mello Rd, is better than average, with rooms with bath for Rs 1000/1400 and an A/C rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 1500/1900.
Hotel Manama (2261-3412; fax 2261 3860), 221/225 P D’Mello Rd, is a good place with clean rooms with common bath and TV for Rs 750, a room with bath and TV for Rs 1000, and with A/C for Rs 1200. It is conviently located by the railway station.
Lord Hotel, 301 Adi Marsban Path (Mangalore St), just off P D’Mello Rd, is a decent place with rooms for Rs 400/500.
Benazeer (261-1725; fax 261-7798), 16 Rustam Sindhwa Marg (Gunbow St), has decent rooms for Rs 750/850.
Oasis (2239 6570; 2266 9183; Email: hoteloasis@satyam.net), 272 SBS Marg, is a good value with well-maintained rooms with 650/750 and 900/1000 with A/C. This is a good choice in the Fort area..
Hotel City Palace (2261-5515; fax; 2267 6897; Email: hotelcitypalace@vsnl.net), 121 City Terrace, WH Marg, opposite Victoria Terminal, has a good selection of rooms with bath, TV, and a good view of the city for Rs 750/900 and Rs 1000/1350 for an A/C room. It is a decent place.
Mumbai Palace (308-6118), Syed Villa, off YMCA Rd, near Mumbai Central, is a mid-priced place with good-sized comfortable A/C rooms.
Hotel Kemp’s Corner (2363-4646; fax 2363-4732), 131 August Kranti Marg, has A/C rooms with bath and TV for Rs 1400/1500 and deluxe rooms for 1700/1800. It is a good value.
Grand Hotel (5658 0500-8211; fax 5658 0501; Web Site: http://www.grandhotelbombay.com), 17 Shri Shiv Ramgulam Marg, Ballard Estate, is a large, older place built around a boring central courtyard. It has comfortable rooms with bath, a small balcony, and TV for Rs 2300/2800. Economy rooms are Rs 1800/2100.
Hotel Residency (2262-5524; fax 2261-9164, Email; residencyhotel@vsnl.com) 26 Rustom Sidhwa MargSt, corner of D Naoroji Rd, is a nice, well-maintained place with standard, very clean, comfortable rooms with TV for Rs 1700; deluxe rooms Rs 2000. Recommended.
Regent Hotel (2287-1864; fax 2202-0363; Email: hotelregent@vsnl.com), 8 Best Rd, is a good place with very comfortable, A/C rooms with TV for Rs 2400/2700. Rooms have either a blacony or sitting room. Good value.
Hotel Diplomat (202-1661; fax 283-0000), 24-26 Boman Behram Marg, Apollo Bunder, has quiet, decent rooms for Rs 1500/1800.
Ascot Hotel (fax 204-6449), 38 Garden Rd, has an assortment of good-sized, well decorated, comfortable rooms with bath, A/C, fridge, and TV for Rs 1657 to Rs 2050. It is one of the oldest hotels in Mumbai. Recommended. If this hotel doesn’t appeal to you, you can look at the other two hotels on the same street.
Godwin Hotel (2287-2050; fax 2287-1592; Web Site: http://www.cybersols.com/godwin), 41 Garden Rd, has rooms for Rs 2200/3216. It is a clean, well-managed place. The rooms on the upper floors have better views.
Garden Hotel (2284-1476; Email: gardenhotel@mail.com), 42 Garden Rd, has clean, comfortable double rooms with bath and TV ranging from Rs 2100 to Rs 3100. Terrace garden. Well-managed.
Strand Hotel (288-2222; fax 284-1624), 25 Apollo Bunder, has rooms for Rs 1500/1860. It is not such a good value.
Kerawalla Chambers (282-1089), above the Strand has decent, clean rooms with bath, TV, and a fridge for Rs 650 and Rs 700 for an A/C room. Rooms with a seaview are Rs 950. It can be noisy.
Shelley's Hotel (2284-0229; fax 2284-0385; Email: shelleyshotel@vsnl.com; Web Site: http://www.shelleyshotel.com), next door, PJ Ramchandani Marg (Apollo Bunder), is a nice, older place with good-sized comfortable rooms with TV starting at Rs 1400/2100 and a room with a sea view for Rs 2500. Recommended, but you should reserve in advance..
Regency Inn (202-0292), Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, behind Regal Cinema, has A/C rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 1400/1650. It is best to see the rooms, as they have quite a variety.
On the same street, the three-star Hotel Suba Palace (2202-0636; fax 2202-0812; Web Site: http://www.hotelsubapalace.com), Battery St, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, has good, clean, comfortable rooms with TV and fridge for Rs 2000/2650. It is a modern place.
Hotel Apollo (202-0223; fax 287-4990), Lansdowne Rd, behind Regal Theatre, is a good place with rooms for Rs 1200/1400. The rooms with a sea view are best.
Hotel Causeway 2(281-7777; fax 2281-0999; Web Site: http://www.hotelcauseway.com), 3rd floor Mathuradas Estate, 43/45 SB Singh Rd, Colaba Causeway, above the Hotel Apollo, is a decent place with small A/C rooms with bath for Rs 1250.
Where to Stay—Marine Drive
Sea Green Hotel 5633 6525; fax 5633 6530, Web Site: http://www.seagreenhootel.com), 145 Marine Dr., has clean rooms with A/C and TV for Rs 1800/2400. 24-hour checkout.
The Sea Green South (5633 6535; fax: 5633 6540; fax;: 5636 6540; Web Site: http://www.seagreensouth.com), next door, is about the same. Ask for a sea facing room.
Chateau Windsor Guest House (2204 4455; fax 2202-6459; Web Site: http://www.chateauwindsor.com), 86 Veer Nariman Rd, is a popular place with a selection of very clean rooms. Rooms are Rs 850/1400 and Rs 1400/1800 with A/C. As there are a variety of rooms, it is best to look at a few rooms. Popular so should be reserved in advance. Excellent service.
Norman’s Guest House (203-4234), 127 Marine Dr, has clean, basic A/C rooms with common bath for Rs 1000/1150 and with bath for Rs 1400. The rooms in the front of the building are better. Overpriced.
Hotel Shantidoot
( 2 Star Hotel in Dadar, Mumbai )
Dr. Ambedkar Road, Near Hindmata, Dadar(E), Mumbai: 400014 Tel. No.24164923
Hotels Red Rose
Hotels Red Rose is located at Dadar area in the center on Mumbai. The hotel is conveniently located at a 5 minute walking distance from the Dadar station. At this hotel we provide utmost comfort to our guests at the most affordable prices. The most important thing we believe in is "value for money" to our esteemed guests.
Location
Area: Dadar (E)
Address: 16,76 Gokuldas, Pasta Road, Behind Chitra-cinema, Dadar(E),, Bombay, 400014
Executive Enclave
Address : 331 Dr Ambedkar Road, Pali Hill,Bandra Wes
Tel. : 91-22-26490227, 26047144
Hotel Mansarovar
Address : Bansidhar Bhuvan, Turner Road,Bandra West
Tel. : 91-22-26409817 / 0925, 26425399
Hotel Metro Palace
Address : 355 Ramdas Nayak Road,Bandra West
Tel. : 91-22-26427311 / 7022 / 7033, 26510937 / 38 / 39
40 a/c rooms for yor comfort & luxury.
Where to Stay Middle Range—Juhu Beach
ISKCON Guest House
Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple
Hare Krishna Land, Juhu 400 049
Mumbai, Maharashtra (Bombay)
To help our Guest House to serve you better we suggest you book at least 40 days in advance. Rooms are subject to availability.
Important: Please book your rooms at least 1 month in advance.
Booking can be done through Phone, Fax or Email.
Fax: + 91 (22) 2620-5214
Tel: + 91 (22) 2620-6860 / 2620-0870 / 2620-2226
E-mail: guest.house.bombay@pamho.net
http://www.iskconmumbai.com/guesthouse.php?page_id=25
1. Well Furnished, Single / Double AC & Non AC Rooms.
2. Telephone in each room with STD / ISD Facility.
3. Room Service (07.00 am to 10.00 pm), Hot Water Round the Clock
4. Check-out time: 12 Noon.
5. Tariff for Guests (per day):
AC Double Rs.2000 / Single Rs.1452
Non-AC Double Rs.1600 / Single Rs.1248
(inclusive of Luxury tax)
Tariff for Life Members (per day):
AC Double - Rs.325 + Rs.100 (Maintenance) = Rs.425
Non AC Double - Rs.100 (Maintenance)
6. Five Minutes walking distance from the Juhu Beach.
7. Local sight seeing facility provided with vehicle.
8. Internet facility @ Rs.30 per hour & Rs.20 per half hour
is attached to the Hare Krishna Temple. Smoking and drinking are not allowed on the premises and there are no TVs in the rooms.
It is an interesting place and a good value. It has an excellent restaurant. Thalis Rs 150. It is a well-managed place and it is worth staying just for the experience. Govindas offers a wide variety of choices. Most guests like to settle for the thali which gives you a wide varity of flavours and dishes. There are sabjis, rice, dal, salad and so many other things in the thali option. This is really a sumptuous meal which leaves you very satisfied.
Other than that one can have the pizza or the burger, a juice or even try the cakes especially made without egg. Try the chappatis, they will melt in your mouth. The bread that are available here are unique in their flavour. They always leave you asking for more. So go on try out a meal at Govinda´s and you are sure to come back for more.
Timings:
Restaurant: 12.30pm - 3.00pm and 7.30pm - 10.00pm.
Snacks Bar: 7.00am – 10:30am and 4.00pm –5:30pm.
Govinda's Restaurant, Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, Mumbai
Tel: 2692-4061 / 2620-0337 / 2620-6860 Extn.:621 Fax: 2620-5214
Sea Side Hotel (620-0293), 39/2 Juhu Rd, has A/C rooms with bath for Rs 1000/1200.
Hotel King's International
5, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu.
Tel.: 022 26184381/82/83,022 26129726 Fax:022 26110059.
with overpriced rooms for Rs 1100/1200.
Hotel Golden Manor
http://www.goldenmanor.com/aboutrooms.htm
Opp. Juhu Church, Juhu, Mumbai - 400 049.
Tel: 91-22-6692 6321 / 22 & 91-22-26104271 / 73 / 74
Fax: 91-22-6692 6329.
E-mail: reservations@goldenmanor.com
has a pool and A/C rooms ranging TARIFF
STANDARD ROOM : Rs. 4000/- plus 10% Tax
EXECUTIVE ROOM : Rs. 4500/- plus 10% Tax
DELUXE ROOM : Rs. 5000/- plus 10% Tax
. It is a nice place.
Juhu Hotel,
Juhu Beach,
Mumbai- 400 049,
INDIA.
Phone: (91-22) 6693 8230/ 26184014,
Fax: (91-22) 26192578.
Email: booking@juhuhotel.com
HOTEL FOUR SEASONS
3 Star
5, Juhu Tara Road,
Opp. Juhu Church, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26631441 (7 lines)
Fax : 022 - 26177573
season4@bom3.vsnl.net.in
European Plan
Single Double
3250 3750
http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/Asia/India/State_of_Maharashtra/Mumbai-1101422/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Mumbai-Hotel_Four_Seasons-BR-1.html
CITIZEN HOTEL
Address: 960, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu Beach, Mumbai 400 049, India.
Tel:91-22-6693 2525, 2660 7273.
Reservations:91-22-6693 2525.
Fax: 91-22-6693 2526.
http://www.citizenhotelmumbai.com/
email address - citizen@vsnl.com
Deluxe Room 6000
HOTEL FITION
2 Star
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 56924658, 2660
Fax : 022 - 56924657
fition@rediffmail.com
www.hotelfition.com
SEA SIDE HOTEL
2 Star
39/2, Juhu Beach, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 56923901 (8 li
Fax : 022 - 26202306
hotelseaside@rediffmail.com
Access 5 kms. from Airport, 3 kms. from Railway Station, 1/2 km. from Bus Stand
Room Type Tariff
Standard Room Single/ Double Occupancy on CP Plan INR 3500
Deluxe Room Single/ Double Occupancy on CP Plan INR 4500
Suite Single/ Double Occupancy on CP Plan INR 6000
RAMEE GUESTLINE HOTEL - JUHU
http://www.ramee-group.com/Ramee/juhu/profile.htm
4 Star
Ramee Guestline, Juhu
462, A.B. Nair Road,
Juhu, Mumbai - 400 049,
India.
Tel: +91 22 5690 5555 / 5693 55555
Fax: +91 22 2620 2821 / 2670 3344
Email: mumbai.juhu@rameeguestlinehotels.com
For special rate: mumbai.juhu@rameeguestlinehotels.com
RAMADA PLAZA PALM GROVE
Juhu Beach, Mumbai 400 049
Tel: +91 (22) 2611-2323
Reservations Direct: +91 (22) 2614-7466
Fax: +91(22) 2611-3682 / 0641
E-Mail: palmgrove@krahejahospitality.com
http://www.krahejahospitality.com/ramada/accomodation.htm
Room Types Rates (Indian Rupees)
Single Occupancy 11,000
Double Occupancy 12,000
Executive Salon 15,000
Deluxe Suite 18,000
Extra Bed 1,000
HOTEL KING`S INTERNATIONAL
3 Star
5, King’s International House,
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 56922222, 2618
Fax : 022 - 26110059
kings@bom5.vsnl.net.in
SEA PRINCESS
5 Star
969, Juhu Tara Road,
Juhu Beach
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
For Further Information:
Telephone: (091-22) 26611111, 6692 44 55.
Fax: (091-22) 26611144, 26603973
E-mail: seaprincess@vsnl.com
www.seaprincess.com
http://www.seaprincess.com/reservations.html
Suite Type INR USD
Executive Suite 15,400.00 356
Viceroy Suite 22,000.00 509
Rang Mahal 22,000.00 509
Azure Fantasy 22,000.00 509
Presidential Suite 22,000.00
Rooms
Room Type INR USD
Deluxe Single 11,000.00 254
Deluxe Double 12,100.00 279
Extra Bed/Third Person 1,100.00 25
HOTEL JUHU PLAZA (Unit of Sands Hotel Pv
4 Star
39/2, Juhu Beach
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26204511 / 12
Fax : 022 - 26205268
jplaza@vsnl.net
HOTEL ATLANTIC
2 Star
18 / B Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26602440, 2660
Fax : 022 - 26608828
pelican@bom3.vsnl.net.in
www.indialog.com/atlantic
SUN-N-SAND - MUMBAI
5 Star Deluxe
39 Juhu Beach
Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 56938888, 2620
Fax : 022 - 26202170
reservations@sunnsandhotel.com
www.sunnsandhotel.com
HOTEL JUHU RESIDENCY
2 Star
148 B, Juhu Tara Road
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26184544 / 46
Fax : 022 - 26110892
ROYAL GARDEN
3 Star
Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz ( West)
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26603516, 5691
Fax : 022 - 26602201
info@royalgarden.ws
www.royalgardenhotelmumbai.com
BEST WESTERN THE EMERALD (Hotel & Execut
4 Star
Juhu-Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26611150
Fax : 022 - 26603475
info@theemerald.com
www.theemerald.com
HOTEL BAWA CONTINENTAL
2 Star
Opp. Theosophical Society,
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 26182563, 2618
Fax : 022 - 26117502
bawacont@vsnl.net
www.bawahotels.com
JUHU HOTEL
Un-classified
Juhu Beach
Mumbai
Maharashtra-400 049
Tel. No :022 - 56938230, 2618
Fax : 022 - 26192578
juhuhotel@vsnl.com
www.juhuhotel.com
Where to Stay - Andheri
Hotel Highway Residency
Bamanwada, Lane of Chakala Cigarette Factory | Off Sahar International Airport Road, Andheri (E.), Mumbai (Bombay) 400099, India
(Rates from Rs. 2000)
Hotel Highway Residency is situated in the vicinity of Andheri(E.), Mumbai and is just 2 kms from both domestic and international airport. Andheri railway station is just 2 kms from the hotel. Many commercial & shopping centers, and sports complex are within easy access making it an ideal hotel for those who want the best of the city.
# Hotel offers 35 A/C rooms with attached bath and shower, hot/cold water, direct dial telephone, colour TV with cable. More details
# Facilities include a restaurant, 24-hour room service, a business center, conference facility, travel desk, and more. More details
# Theme: Hotel
# Price: US$20-40 » Currency Converter
# Comparison: least expensive
# Phone: 00919820152506
# Directions: Its only 2 K.M. away from airport & 1.5 K.M. away from M.I.D.C. Business District.
# Website: http://travel.vsnl.com/hotelhighwayresidency
# Other Contact: highway@vsnl.net
http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/Asia/India/State_of_Maharashtra/Mumbai-1101422/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Mumbai-Hotel_Highway_Residency-BR-1.html
Benzy Palace
Area: Andheri (E)
Address: Vijaynagar Marol Maroshi Road, Andheri (E), Bombay, 400059
Located near the International airport at the industrial hub of Andheri (East). It is centrally located and easily accessible from the local railway station and bus depot. The hotel offers all the modern facilities of comfort and convenience required by today's corporate executive at the most reasonable tariff.
Area:
Andheri (E)
Address:
Vijaynagar Marol Maroshi Road, Andheri (E), Bombay, 400059
Hotel policies
Check-In: 1200
Check-Out: 1000
Marol- Sakinaka
Anjali Inn, Mumbai
Mr Joseph,Mr Anil+(91)-(22)-67624394
www.anjaliinn.com
Contact us 24Hrs on : Joseph@anjaliinn.com
09122 - 28517591 / 28517592
Mobile nos : 9821510699,9892274429,
Free Airport Pickup and Drop
http://www.anjaliinn.com/
Plot No 15, Sagbaung, Behind Mahalaxmi Again Restaurant. Andheri Kurla Road, Marol- Sakinaka
Near Mittal Estate.Next to Time Square Bldg Mumbai,Maharashtra 400059, India
http://www.hostels.com/maps/Anjali-Inn/33144
Where to Stay - Malad
Sampoorna Hotels Pvt Ltd
MS Deeksha Payyade
+(91)-(22)-28819543,28819544,28819545
+(91)-9820322383
hotelsampoorna@rediffmail.com
Link Road, Opp Goregaon Sports Club, Malad W, Mumbai - 400064
Aditi International Hotel
Mr Dsouza/Mr Jayesh
+(91)-(22)-67731212
+(91)-(22)-28821790
info@hoteladitiinternational.com
www.hoteladitiinternational.com
105, S V Rd, Opp Malad Shc, Malad W, Mumbai - 400064
Samadhan Residency Hotel
Mr Prakash / MS Bhavna / Mr Ravi Shetty
+(91)-(22)-28887681,28803790,28809102,28833334
+(91)-(22)-28833339
Jagdamba Complex Evershine Nagar, Malad Link Road, Behind Movie Time Cinema, Malad W, Mumbai - 400064
Royal Shelter Hotel
+(91)-(22)-28803143,28803144,28827666
+(91)-(22)-28803145
572, Undeari Rd, Nr Malad Police Station,Bh New Era Cinema, Malad W, Mumbai - 400064
Where to Stay—Airport
There are some relatively cheaper hotels about a ten-minute walk from the airport. For what you get the rooms are overpriced but they are definitely convient for a early morning flight.
There are comfortable Retiring Rooms at the domestic airport, which can be used if you are departing on a flight within 24 hours. Inquire at the airport manager’s office. It is often full.
Hotel Shangri-la (2612 8983) Nanda Patkar Rd, off Nehru Rd, Vile Parle, ten minutes from the airport, is the cheapest place in the area with clean rooms for Rs 600 and Rs 900 with A/C.
Hotel Aircraft (2612-1419; fax 2618 2942; Email: aircraft@indiatimes.com), 179 Dayaldas Rd, opposite Western Express Highway near the domestic airport, is one of the least expensive hotels in the area with clean rooms for Rs 1400/1800 with A/C and TV. 24-hour check-out
Highway Inn (832-0021), Vishal Shopping Center, Andheri Kurla Rd, 3km from Sahar by the Andheri railway station, has a selection of inexpensive but clean rooms with bath and TV for Rs 1050/1200. It is a good value.
Hotel Airways (514-9855), near Sarvodaya Hospital, 5km from the airport, has rooms for Rs 550/650 and Rs 750/850 with A/C.
Most of the hotels by the airport are high-priced. Behind the Centaur is a group of high-priced but good hotels.
The modern Hotel Airport International (612-2883; fax 618-3333) has comfortable, clean rooms for Rs 1400/1600.
Hotel BAWA (2611-3636; fax 2610-7096; Email: bawaintl@vsnl.com), Nehru Rd Extension, has comfortable rooms for Rs 3400/3900.
Avion Hotel (612-3902), Nehru Road, has rooms for Rs 1650/1900.
Hotel Atithi (611-6124; fax 611-1998), near the domestic terminal, is a popular place with comfortable rooms for Rs 2300/2500. It is heavily booked, so it must be reserved in advance.
The five-star Centaur Hotel, directly across from the Indian Air Terminal, Santa Cruz, has rooms for Rs 6500.
The best place near the airports is the excellent Leela Kempinski (836-3636; fax 836-0606), near the international terminal, with rooms for $335/360. It has an excellent restaurant.
High—Colaba and Downtown
West End Hotel (2203-9121; fax 2205-7506; Web Site: http://www.westendhotelmumbai.com), 45 New Marine Lines, opposite the Bombay Hospital, is a well-managed place with comfortable rooms starting at Rs 2000/2600 and going up to a suite for Rs 3800. It has a good restaurant. It is a good value for what you get. Recommended.
The well-managed four-star Fariyas Hotel (2204-2911; fax 2283-4992; http://www.fariyas.com), is a four-star place west of Arthur Bunder Rd, near the Taj, has good, well-maintained rooms with A/C starting at $150/175. It has a small pool and a health club.
The four-star Ritz Hotel (282-0141; fax 285-0494), 5 Jamshedji Tata Rd, near Churchgate Station, has rooms starting at Rs 4000/5000. It is in an older, well-maintained building. No pool.
Taj Mahal Intercontinental (5665-3366; fax 5665-0323; Email: tmhresv.bom@tajhotels.com; Web Site: http://www.tajhotels.com), next to the Gateway of India, is considered one of the best hotels in the world. It has a good bookshop an excellent pool and a heath club. The opulent rooms begin at $200/250 and the Presidential suite is $1700. A room with a sea view is $310/340.Some of rooms face the pool. This hotel has a new and an old wing. The old wing is slightly more expensive. It has Indian dance at night (open to non-guests). This hotel is so impressive that it worth coming to see it as a tourist site. Great location and atmosphere. You can check room availability on their web site and reserve a room online.
The five-star Taj Group’s Hotel President (215-0808; fax 215-1201), 90 Cuffe Parade, Colaba, is a luxurious place with rooms starting at $195/215. Between November and April this place is usually booked, so reserve a room well in advance.
The four-star Ambassador Hotel (2204-1131; fax 2204-0004; Email: ambassador@vsnl.com) is a luxury four-star place with a revolving rooftop restaurant that is worth checking out for the views. Rooms are $200/210.
Oberoi & Oberoi Towers (25632 5757; fax 2204-3282; Email; reservations@oberoi-mumbai.com; Web Site http://www.oberoihotels.com) are two luxury hotels right next to each other with modern business rooms. The rooms at the Oberoi start at $325, and go up to well over $1,000 The rooms at the Tower start at $250. . It competes with the Taj for being the most luxurious hotel in Mumbai. It has a good shopping mall and a nice pool. Popular with businessmen.
High—Juhu Beach
Centaur Hotel (2611-3040; fax 2611-6343), Juhu Beach, is an excellent place. Rooms range from $150 to $400. There is a reservation office here for Indian Airlines and Air India.
The four-star Hotel Sands (2620-4512; fax 2620-5268), 39/2 Juhu Beach, has rooms for Rs 1700/2000 and suites for Rs 3700. It has a good restaurant.
Holiday Inn (25693-4444; fax 25693-4455; Email: reserve@holidayinnbombay.comWeb Site: http://www.holidayinnbombay.com), Balraj Sahani Marg, next to the beach has rooms for $225/250 up to $400. The price includes a buffet brealfast
Ramada Inn Palm Grove (2611-2323; fax 2611-3682), Juhu Beach, has rooms from $150/175 to $275 for a suite.
The five-star Hotel Sea Princess (2661-1111, 25692 4455; fax 2661-1144, Email: seaprincess@vsnl.com; Web Site:http://www.seaprincess.com/) has rooms for Rs 5500/6000.
Hotel Horizon (2614-4512; fax 2611-6715), 37 Juhu Beach, has rooms for 4000/4500.
Sun-n-Sand Hotel (2620-1811; fax 2620-2170) is a good place with rooms for Rs 5000/5500.
Paying Guest Accommodation
Bandra
1. Travelers who want accommodation long term 1-2 months
location : 22/a, new kantwadi, off perry cross road,
4 rooms including a kitchen and a loft
one common washroom
kitchen is well equipped
washing machine is there
internet bed bedsheets available
monthly rental Rs 10,000 (about 10$ per day).For 1 week Rs 3500.
Contact Mitesh mobile 98211 65325
Mumbai is the most important business center in India, owning a high percentage of India’s wealth. Over one-third of the income tax paid in India comes from Mumbai, and half the foreign trade is carried out from here. Land prices here compare to Tokyo or New York. Mumbai is the Hollywood of India. More films are produced here than almost anywhere else in the world.
Most people coming to Mumbai stay only for a short while to do some business or to just travel through.
Mumbai is one of my favorite cities in India. It is a fast-paced, fairly hip, safe city, where people usually treat you good. There are not many con-men on the streets, and even the taxi drivers tend to use their meters without being asked. Many people will find the accommodations high-priced and may feel Mumbai too hectic and will want to leave as soon as they get here.
The best time to visit Mumbai is from December to the middle of February, during which time the weather is perfect. The rains during the rainy season are heavier than in most places in India.
Orientation
The city is a long, thin island which runs north to south. The downtown is located in the south, at the thinnest point of the island. The old part of the city is near the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Gateway of India. The less expensive hotels are in this area, up to Victoria Terminus. This area is called Colaba, and many tourists never leave this area of Mumbai because of the facilities both for tourist services and business.
The area called the Fort is just north of Colaba. This is the site upon which the original British fort was located and where many of the interesting, old British buildings are situated. Also located here are Victoria Terminus (VT) Station, banks, the GPO, and other business-oriented offices. To the west of this area is the Maidan, a grassy park. Churchgate Station, one of Mumbai’s main train stations, is further west.
The southwestern part of the island is called Nariman Point. Running north along the bay from Nariman Point past Chowpatty Beach is Marine Drive, which runs into the high-class residential area, Malabar Hill.
Located north of South Mumbai are a group of crowded bazaars. The streets in this area tend to be narrow and crowded. Located north of this area are Mumbai’s residential suburbs and the International and Domestic airports.
Juhu Beach is in the North Mumbai, 20km from downtown. It takes forty minutes by train to go from downtown to Juhu.
Some time ago, the city changed many of the street names. Some name changes were not popularly accepted, so people may know them by their old names and not by the new ones.
A very detailed map of Mumbai is Mumbai A to Z.
Tourist Offices
• Government of India Tourist Office
123, Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai 400 020.
Tel: (022) 2207 4333/4, IVRS: (022) 2203 3144, Fax: (022) 2201 4496.
Website: www.india-tourism.com / www.indiatouristoffice.org
Time: 0830 hrs - 1800 hrs (Mon - Fri)
• Government of India Tourist Information Center
Santacruz Airport, Santacruz (E), Mumbai.
Tel: (022) 2615 6920, 2615 6600 (ext. 4700).
• Government of India Tourist Information Center
Sahar Airport, Mumbai.
Tel: (022) 2682 9248 (ext 3253).
• Maharastra Tourism Development Corporation
MAIN RESERVATION DIVISION :
C.D.O. Hutments, Opp. L.I.C. Building,
Madame Cama Road, Mumbai-400 020.
Tel: +91 22 2202 6713 / 7762 / 4627
Fax: +91 22 2285 2182
Tel:Call Toll Free No.Between 7.00 a.m to 11.00 p.m. --- 1800 - 233 - 5050
Website: http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/
State Tourist Offices
Delhi Tourism
c/o MTDC, CDO Hutments, Madam Cama Rd, Nariman Point (285-5736)
Goa
Mumbai Central Station (308-6288)
Gujarat
Dhanraj Mahal, PJ Ramchandani Marg (202-4925)
Himachal Pradesh
World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade (218-1123)
Jammu and Kashmir
World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade (218-7603)
Himachal Pradesh
World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade (218-1123)
Kerala
c/o Kairali, Nirmal Building, Nariman Point (202-6817)
Madhya Pradesh
World Trade Centre (218-7603)
Rajasthan
230 Dr D Naoroji Rd. (207-4162)
Tamil Nadu
c/o Peerless Hotels and Travel Ltd, Churchgate Chambers, New Marines Lines (262-4811)
Uttar Pradesh
World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade (218-5458)
Tours
The MTDC City Tour (9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 6 pm) goes to the Gateway of India, the Aquarium, the Prince of Wales Museum, Hanging Gardens, Kamla Nehru Park, and the Gandhi Museum for Rs 70. The tour departs daily except Monday from the MTDC Office on Madame Cama Rd. (Opp LIC Office) at Nariman Point. It picks up passengers near the Gateway of India. You can purchase tickets at the MTDC counter next to the Gateway of India.
The MTDC Suburban Tour goes to Juhu Beach, the Kanheri Caves, the National Park, and the Lion Safari Park from 9.15 am to 6 pm for Rs 150.
Guides speaking several languages can be hired at the Government of India Tourist Office.
There is a four-day tour to Aurangabad, departing daily, run by ITDC that includes staying at the three-star Aurangabad Ashoka Hotel. The tour costs Rs 1600. ITDC also runs an overnight bus to Aurangabad (12 hr ) for Rs 150.
MTDC runs a one-day overnight tour to Nasik for Rs 350. They also have a luxury bus departing 6.30 am to Nasik (6 hr) for Rs 92.
Money
You can change money quickly at the American Express Travel Service Office (2204 8291), at the intersection of Colaba Causeway and Shivaji Marg, near Regal Cinema. They give cash against American Express credit cards. Open Mon to Sat 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. You can change only American Express travelers cheques at the American Express Bank (204-8278), Oriental Building, 364 Dr D Naoroji Rd. (Mon to Fri 10.30 am to 2.30 pm, Sat 10.30 am to 12.30 pm).
Equally efficient is Thomas Cook (2204-8556) on Dr D Naoroji Rd, between Flora Fountain and the Khadi Bhavan (Mon to Sat 9.30 am to 6 pm).
The major banks downtown all change foreign currency. Bank of America, Express Towers, Nariman Point, accepts MasterCard; the Andhra Bank, 18 Homi Mody St (near Flora Fountain), accepts Visa. Citibank, 293 D Naoroji Rd, gives cash advances on both MasterCard and Visa. They also have an ATM machine.
Hong Kong Bank, MG Rd, Flora Fountain, has an ATM machine and gives cash advances against MasterCard and Visa cards. Standard Chartered, 81 Ismail Building, Dr DN Rd, also has an ATM machine. There is an ATM machine at the HSBC Bank.
At Sahar airport you can change money at the State Bank of India’s 24-hour counter, where the rates are standard. You can also change money quickly at the Air India Building at Nariman Point (open all night).
Be careful of changing money on the streets. Mumbai is known for cheaters in this regard. A man will tell you that you have to go somewhere private to change the money, and when you agree and accompany the man to a private place, two other men appear. You may be handed a wad of bills stapled together, and just when you hand over the foreign money, you are told suddenly that the police are coming. Everyone disappears. When you count your money, you will often find the wad of bills you were handed contains only a few real bills on the top and the bottom of the pile, and that the rest is paper.
Budget Hotels Maharashtra
Population: 90 million
Capital: Mumbai
Area: 307,000
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Main Language: Marathi
Literacy Rate: 63%
Maharashtra is the third largest state in India. Most people speak Marathi. Approximately 50% of the nation’s tax revenue and international trade come from this state. The main places visited in Maharashtra are Mumbai and the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Originally the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were united, but they were divided in 1960 on the basis of language.
Near Mumbai
Kanheri Buddhist Caves and Sanjay Gandhi Park
The Kanheri Buddhist Caves are located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park), 40km north of Mumbai. The caves are located 5km from the entrance of the park. The park is closed on Monday. Admission: Foreigners/Indians US$5/Rs 20
There are 109 caves, but only a few are worth seeing. The caves date from the 2nd to the 9th centuries and were excavated into the face of a hill in the center of Salsette Island. The most interesting cave, the Great Chaitya Cave (No 3), is a columnar hall with two standing figures of Buddha, each 5m (16½ ft) tall. Caves 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 21, 34, 35, 66, and 67 are interesting, and from cave 35 there is a good view of the sea. The caves are open from 9 am to 5.30 pm. You should bring your own water as the stalls near the caves sell only cold drinks.
To get to the caves, you take a suburban train (50-min) from Churchgate Station to Borivali Station, then an auto-rickshaw or taxi (8km) to the caves. Best to arrange a roundtrip fare plus waiting time. Set the fare for the waiting time and do not let the driver keep the meter running, as it may be tampered with. The bus to that used to go to Kanheri Buddhist Caves on Sundays and public holiday no longer operates. You can also visit the caves on the MTDC suburban guided tour.
There is a Lion Safari Park (daily except Mon 9 am to 5 pm) about half a km from the park entrance. Visitors must go by auto-rickshaw either from the caves or the train station.
Esselworld has thirty-five rides. It is located on Corao Island, near Govai Creek (Borivali-W). Admission is based on height (taller than 137cm is Rs 135), and the admission fee entitles you to unlimited rides as well as a visit to the Water Sport Complex. Open daily 11 am to 7 pm.
Bassein
Located in Bassein is what remains of the Portuguese city of Bassein. Bassein is located on the northern side of the Ulhas River, which separates Mumbai and the mainland. It was once a large city that contained the Cathedral of St Joseph (1536), thirteen churches, five convents and opulent houses. The Marathas attacked the city in 1739 and the Portuguese surrendered. The city walls are still intact, as are the cathedral and some of the churches. This place is on the coast, 11km west of the Bassein (Vasai) Road railway station.
Manori Beach
Manori Beach, about 40km north of downtown Mumbai, past Juhu, is a seaside resort for Mumbai’s wealthy. There are some all-night beach parties here. For Christmas and New Years, places here have to be booked months in advance.
Domonica (444-9735) has rooms for Rs 175 per person. This place must be booked in advance for weekend stays.
Doris Pinic Spot has an assortment of rooms.
Manoribel Hotel (269-1301) has rooms for Rs 500 (Rs 600 on the weekend), and cottages for Rs 900 (Rs 1800 on the weekend). It has to be booked in advance.
To get here you first take the local train from Churchgate to Malad, and then Bus #272 or an auto-rickshaw to Marve. Then take a ferry across Manori Creek, and from there it is 2km to Manori.
Igatpuri
Located here is the Vipassana International Academy (2553 4076; fax 2533 4276) founded by the SN Goehka, which has ten-day vipassana meditation courses. During the course one has to remain silent, except to ask questions to the instructors. One meditates around eleven hours daily. There are videotapes of SN Goenka shown, during which he gives instructions on the vipassana process.
During the course you are requested to not engage in any other spiritual practices such as chanting mantras, praying and doing yoga exercises.
There is basic accommodations and Indian vegetarian food is served. You can contact the center at Dhammagiri, PO Box 6, Igatpuri, Dist. Nasik 422 403. Igatpuri is around 130km northeast of Mumbai, on the train line to Nasik. The center is about 1km from the railway station.
Trimbak
Population 8,000
The town of Trimbak (“three eyes”) is 30km west of Nasik. One of the twelve Siva Jyotirlingas is located here, and it is close to the source of the holy Godavari River. There is also an impressive Maratha Fort on the nearby hill.
Trimbakeswara Temple
The three lingas in this 18th century temple, dedicated to Trimbakeswara, are eye-shaped. Tri means “three,” and ambak means “eye.” The three-eyed deity is Lord Siva. Trimbakeswara is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This interesting temple was built in 1730 by Baji Rao Peshwa, and it cost almost 1 million rupees. There is a large tower over the sanctuary.
Non-Hindus are not permitted into the temple, but they are permitted to climb the steps and to look inside. I went inside and no one said anything.
Source of Godavari River
Trimbak is the source of the Godavari, which is one of the most important holy rivers in India. This river flows almost 1,000km east to the Bay of Bengal. It is said that this is the exact spot where the drop of nectar fell from the Kumbha vessel, for which the Kumbha-mela is famous. To reach Gangasagar, a tank of water fed by the Godavari’s source, you must climb a flight of 690 stairs. It is said that both the Ganges and Godavari emanate from the same source and meet in an underground passage. Bathing here is said to cleanse you of the worst sins.
The roundtrip climb to Brahmagiri, the Godavari’s source, takes two or three hours and is best done in the morning. It is a difficult climb, so you should bring water with you. On the way, you will pass a temple dedicated to the Goddess Ganga, a cave containing 108 Siva-lingas, a temple dedicated to the sage Gautama Rishi, whose ashram was said to be here, and the remains of the Anjeri Fort. About twenty minutes from the Anjeri Fort is the Gaumukha (Mouth of the Cow) Temple, where the source of the Godavari is located.
Kushawarth Tirtha
A few minutes’ walk from the Trimbakeswara Temple is Kushawarth Tirtha, a bathing tank, said to contain Ganges water. This place is mentioned in the Puranas. It is said to have been named for the sacred kusha grass that used to grow in profusion around it.
Practicalities
Trimbak is a nice, peaceful place, so you may want to stay overnight. The MTDC Tourist Bungalow is the best place to stay, but it is quite basic. All the eating places are basic.
There are hourly buses from Nasik (45 min) from the City bus stand. You can take a bus back to Nasik or one of the shared taxis that wait outside the bus stand.
Khaildabad (Rauza)
Khaildabad is located between the Ellora caves and Aurangabad. At this place is the modest mausoleum of Aurangzeb, the cost of which was funded by the income he received by personally copying the Koran. There are several shrines of Sufi saints nearby.
The mausoleum of the Muslim saint, Sayeed Zain-ud-din, is located close to Aurangzeb’s tomb. Embedded in the steps leading to the tomb are polished semi-precious stones. Located here is the Robe of the Prophet, which is shown once a year on the twelfth day of the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal (usually November). This is a major event.
Close by is the mausoleum of Sayeed Burha-ud-din (1334), a Chishti saint and what are said to be hairs from the Prophet’s beard.
Buses come here about every half-hour from Aurangabad.
Daulatabad Fort
The interesting Daulatabad Fort is located 13km (9 mile) northwest of Aurangabad on the road to Ellora. A 5km wall surrounds the fort, and it has a central fort built on volcanic lava rock, 200m above the rest of the area.
The Yadava dynasty’s Bhilama Raja constructed it in the 12th century. Daulatabad means “City of Fortune.” In 1327 the Delhi sultan, Mohammed Tughlaq (who was known to be insane), seized Daulatabad and decided to make it his capital. He marched the residents of Delhi here and seventeen years later marched them back. Many of the residents died on the 1100km (690 mile) march.
Three walls surround the fort. The first gate of the fort has huge elephant spikes to prevent elephant attacks. The Jama Masjid, built in 1318 by the Delhi sultan, is constructed from the remnants of Hindu and Jain temples in the area, including 106 carved pillars. The Chand Minar victory tower (1435) is near the mosque. Nearby is the Elephant Tank, the fort’s water supply.
The third gate is known as Chini Mahal, and it is where Aurangzeb imprisoned the last ruler of Golconda in 1687 for thirteen years. The huge (6m) cannon called Qila Shikan (Fort Breaker) is on a tower at the bottom of the hill.
The bottom of the hill was surrounded by a moat containing crocodiles. Until recently, the only entrance to the Central Fort on top of the hill was a pitch-black tunnel 190m (640 ft) long. No attacker ever made it to the top, but it was captured by putting the fort to siege. The water supply ran out.
To get to the top, attackers had to climb through the long, tortuous tunnel in the dark, which at one point divides and meets again so that enemy soldiers might attack one another unknowingly in the dark. Also, defenders could throw hot coal into the tunnel to fill it with toxic fumes. If an attacker survived all that, he would be forced to crawl the last few metres of the tunnel, so one could be attacked while he was bent over.
At the end of the tunnel is an interesting 12-pillared hall. There are great views from the top of the hill. There is a huge cannon and an ancient rock-cut cave.
You can stop here on the way to the Ellora caves, which the tour buses do. But they do not stop long enough to get a good look at the place. There are regular buses to here from Aurangabad (every hour). The resident guides who bring you to the top of the fort with the help of a torch do a good job. Without a good flashlight you cannot see anything in the passageways. Open daily dawn to 6 pm. There is a small MTDC restaurant here.
Jalgaon
Pop: 250,000
Phone Code: 0257
To get to the Ajanta Caves (58km south, 1½ hr), you may have to stop here. There is nothing to see in this town. Most people will only stay here while traveling between the caves and somewhere else. Jalgaon is on the main Mumbai to Delhi line.
Where to Stay
The railway Retiring Rooms are a good value.
PWD Rest House (29702) is a good place with rooms for Rs 125 per person.
Tourist Hotel (225-192), Nehru Chowk, half a km from the railway station to the right, has rooms with bath for Rs 175/200 and deluxe rooms for Rs 300/350.
The nearby Hotel Morako (26621) has rooms for Rs 300/400 and Rs 650 with A/C.
Amram Guest House (226-549), by the station, is one of the better budget hotels.
The new Hotel Plaza (227-354), Station Rd, is the best mid-range place. It has clean rooms with bath and TV for Rs 200/250. 24-hour checkout.
Hotel Galaxy (23578) has rooms with TV for Rs 200/300 and Rs 550 with A/C.
Hotel Anjali, right outside the station to the right, has good, clean room for Rs 250/300. It has a good veg restaurant.
Travel
The railway station is on the main Delhi-Mumbai line, so several trains a day depart from here to Mumbai (8 hr) and to Delhi. Trains also go to Bhopal (8 hr) and Nagpur.
There is an hourly bus to Ajanta which continues on to Aurangabad (4 hr). Be sure to confirm that the bus stops at the caves, as some buses go only as far as Fardapur, four km from Ajanta.
Lonar Meteorite Crater
Located about five hours northeast of Aurangabad, at Lonar, is a huge crater formed by a falling meteorite, believed to be 40,000 years old. The crater is 2km in diameter and hundreds of metres deep. Hindu temples have been constructed at the bottom of the crater. This is a nice peaceful place to visit.
The MTDC Hotel, next to the crater, has basic rooms for Rs 50. They also have a big tent to stay in, but it has no beds and you have to sleep on the ground.
To get here, you can take a train or bus from Aurangabad to Jalna, and from there a bus. There is a bus from Fardapur (1½ hr) to Buldhana, from where you take another bus to Lonar.
Sevagram
Mahatma Gandhi established an ashram here in 1936 and used it as his base until Independence. There are adobe huts, present during Gandhi’s time, including huts where Gandhi lived (Niwases and Kutirs)—all of which have been left exactly as they appeared in the 1930s.
His hut includes his original bed and some of his personal items—his spinning wheel, his three brass monkeys, and his glasses. In Mahatma Gandhi’s office is a phone put in by the British as a “hot-line” to Delhi. It is a very friendly place, and tours are easily available. There are multi-faith prayer meetings held under the pipal tree Gandhi planted (4.45 and 6 pm),
The Centre of Science for Villages has a photo exhibit of his life. It also has exhibits illustrating the concept of Gandhi’s self-sufficient village economics. There is a shop that sells khadi (hand-spun cotton) products and books by Gandhi. The Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, named after Gandhi’s wife, provides discount health care for the local villagers. Phone: 07152 43526.
Practicalities
The Yatri Nivas, at the ashram, has basic rooms and vegetarian meals for a donation. In Wardha, twenty minutes away, there is an MTDC Hotel with rooms for Rs 250/300 and dorm beds Rs 75. 8 am checkout.
The closest railway stations are in Sevagram and Wardha. Express trains take 1 hr from Nagpur. Buses from Nagpur to Wardha take 2½ hours. There are regular buses from Wardha to the ashram (twenty minutes). From Sevagram railway station it costs Rs 70 by auto-rickshaw.
Paunar
Located in Paunar, 3km from Sevagram, is the ashram of Gandhi’s good friend and disciple, Vinoba Bhave, founded in 1938. It was established following the principle of swarajya, or self-sufficiency. Taking place here is hand-spinning cloth, milk production, and food growing. The sadhaks in this ashram are almost all women.
There is a Memorial on the bank of the Paunar River which marks where some of Gandhi’s ashes were scattered, and another memorial where Vinoba’s ashes were placed. Every February 12th, over a 100,000 people come here to celebrate the anniversary of Gandhi’s death.
It is possible to stay at the ashram in a private room or a dorm, if they are available. You get to Paunar from Nagpur or Wardha by bus (ask to be let down at the correct place). You can also walk here from Sevagram.
Ramtek
Ramtek, 40km northeast of Nagpur, has a fort that contains several ancient hilltop temples (on Ramtek Hill). It is said that Rama and Sita came here on their way back from Lanka. Most of the main temples are dedicated to Sita and Rama. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidas also lived here, and this is where he wrote his famous work Meghdoot. Most of the temples date from the 18th century. There are good views from on top of the hill.
About a 1km from Ramtek Hill is the holy Ramsagar Lake, where several temples are located.
The MTDC Holiday Resort (07114 55620) has basic rooms for Rs 175 and dorm beds.
There are regular buses to here from Nagpur (1 hr).
Taroba National Park
This park, located 45km from Chandrapur and 150km from Nagpur, is home to tigers, leopards, sambars, wild boars, jackals, gaurs, chitals, nilgais, marsh crocodiles and, water birds. It has a teak and bamboo forest and a lake. The best times to visit are November to June, and especially during March to May.
Minibuses go on tours of the park. The best time to go out is in the evening or at night (use a searchlight).
There are three basic Forest Rest Houses near the lake. They should be arranged in advance with the Division Forest Officers, W Chanda Division, Mul Rd, Chandrapur.
The Mayur Hotel (3712) is located in Chandrapur on Mul Rd, 1km from the railway station.
Karla and Bhaja
The Hinayana Buddhist caves at Karla and Bhaja, dating from the 2nd century BC, are some of the best cave temples in India. The caves can be very crowded on weekends and holiday, so best to visit on a weekday. The caves are nowhere near as impressive as Ellora and Ajanta, but are worth seeing if you are passing through.
Karla (Karli) Cave
Located in Karla is the largest and best-preserved Hinayana Buddhist cave temple in India. The caves here were carved around 80 BC.
The chaitya hall (40m long, 15m wide) has wooden teak beams supporting the ceiling. It also contains thirty-seven pillars, each of which are supported by a kneeling elephant with the figure of a person on top. Outside the cave there is a pillar with four lions standing back to back at the top. The caves (02114 282115are open 8 am to 6 pm. Admission Rs 5for Indians and US$2 foreigners.
Bhaja Caves
Bhaja is an easy 5km walk from Karla. When you reach Bhaja village there are steps that lead up to 19 caves, all of which date from the 2nd century BC.
The caves here are not so impressive, but they do contain some good sculptures. Cave 12 is the most interesting. The sculpture of a war elephant tearing up trees is interesting.
On the right side, behind Cave 12, are fourteen small stupas. In Cave 19 (the last cave) there are good carvings. Viewing the caves is Rs 5 for Indians, but US$2 for foreigners.
There is a waterfall a few minutes walk past the last cave.
The Lohaged (4km) and Visapur Forts are a good climb above the caves.
Where To Stay
MTDC Karla Resort (02114 282230; fax: 282370), just off Mumbai-Pune Highway has cottages for Rs88 and deluxe rooms for Rs 1100.
Bedsa
There are also Buddhist Caves in Bedsa, about 20km from Karla and 12km from Bhaja. The chaitya hall is fairly simple. From the town of Bedsa it is an uphill walk for 3km.
Practicalities
Peshwa Holiday Resorts, near the Karla caves, is a decent place to stay with rooms from Rs 200/350 and Rs 650 for an A/C cottage.
Karla is about 126km southeast of Mumbai. You can get to Karla by taking a train (2 hr) from Mumbai to Lonavla. From Lonavla, it is a 14km bus or taxi ride to the foot of the hill at Karla. During the monsoon, the road may be closed. Karla is 1km north of the main road and Bhaja is 3km south of the main road.
It is a 5km (1½ hr) walk from Karla to Bhaja. From Bhaja it is a 3km (1 hr) walk to Malavli, from where you can take a local train to Lonavla.
An auto-rickshaw from Lonavla railway station to Karla and Bhaja (plus waiting time) is about Rs 300; a taxi Rs 500.
Near Pune
Sinhagad (Sinhagard)
Visiting Sinhagad (Lion Fort) is an interesting day-trip from Pune (24km northwest). This ruined fort, located on a high hill, is where Tanaji Malasure, one of Shivaji’s generals, led a successful attack on the fort controlled by the Bijapur kingdom. It is said that the Marathas took the fort by engaging Yashwati, an iguana to carry a rope ladder up the hillside to the fort so they could scale the almost impregnable wall. There is a monument where Tanaji lost his left hand and another where he eventually died. It is said that when Shivaji heard about Tanaji’s death he said “I have won the fort but have lost my lion.” Thus the fort was named Sinhagad, “Lion Fort.” There is a house here where Mahatma Gandhi met the freedom fighter Tilak in 1915.
From Pune, Bus #50 comes to the village of Sinhagad at the bottom of the hill on which the fort is situated. You catch the bus at the bus stop across from Nehru Stadium. There is a road leading up to the fort, which can be reached by car. If you come by local bus, the place where the bus lets you off is about a two-hour, difficult trek up the hill. You should bring water and food with you.
Near Mahabaleswara
Panchgani
Panchgani is a popular hill station, 20km east of Mahabaleswara. It is a pleasant place with some good viewpoints.
Hotel Simla (40235), near the bus stand, has nice rooms built around a garden for Rs 200/275 (Rs 400/600 during season).
Hotel Prospect (40236) is a British built hotel with big, comfortable roosm for Rs 800 (Rs 1100 during season). It is on a hill.
Pratapgarh Fort
This impressive fort (1656), 24km from Mahabaleswara, contains a statue of Shivaji. At this place, Shivaji, leader of the Marathas, and Afzal Khan, the general of the Bijapur army, decided to meet about a possible truce. Neither was supposed to carry weapons or wear armor, but Afzal Khan hid a knife and during the meeting, stabbed Shivaji, who was wearing a mail shirt under his robe. Shivaji then pulled out his waghnakh (metal claws) with his left hand and killed Afzal Khan. Located here is a memorial to Shivaji, and Afzal Khan’s tomb.
There is great view of the area surrounding the fort.
The MTDC tour from Mahabaleswara comes here. A bus from Mahabaleswara takes one hour (24km).
Satara
Located here are former possessions of the famous Maratha leader, Shivaji. Near the palace is a building containing the waghnakh with which he killed Afzal Khan, and his mail shirt. His sword is also here. The Shivaji Maharaja Museum is across from the bus station.
Wasota Fort is south of the city. Aurangzeb and his army took it from the Marathas in 1699. It was retaken by the Marathas in 1705.
Satara is 40km south of Mahabaleswara.
Raigad Fort
Shivaji ruled from this fort during the later part of his life after capturing it in 1648 (he was crowned Maharaja of the Marathas in 1674). Shivaji died in the fort in 1680. The fort is located 80km northwest of Mahabaleswara. Visitors must climb 1,400 steps to the top of the hill to where the fort is actually located. There are several buildings in the fort. In the northeast corner is Shivaji’s Samadhi (memorial tomb) along with a chhatri for his dog. It is possible to hire a dhoolie and to be carried up the steps. Admission: Foreigners/Indian US$5/Rs 5. Hours: Daily 8 am to 5pm
There are great views from the fort, especially looking out at the lakes to the north.
There is a MTDC tourist bungalow here with rooms for Rs 450 and dorm beds for Rs 60.
There are buses to Pune (125km) and Mumbai (210km).
Murud & Janjira Fort
Murud is 160km south of Mumbai. Off the coast is the Janjira Fort, the 16th century capital of the Siddis of Janjira. It is reached from the village of Murud by boat (around Rs 50). The fort with its 14m high walls was impregnable. Both Shivaji and his son Sambhaji tried to unsuccessfully take the fort.
About 1km north of Murud is the hilltop Dattatreya Temple. Dattatreya has three heads, which represents Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. There is a good view from the hill.
The 18th century Nawab’s Palace is 2km north of Murud. It is closed, but you may be able to get the watchman to let you in. It has stained glass windows, carved and marble antique furniture, and old photos.
Practicalities
Ruchit (021447 4219), a three-minute walk from the bus stand next to the beach, has four rooms for Rs 600. It is a well-managed place with a good garden and a good restaurant.
MTDC Beach Resort (021447 4078) has basic rooms for Rs 700/1100.
Buses departing Mumbai Central take six hours to arrive in Murud. Two express buses arrive at 6 am and 11 am, which should be booked in advance. The nearest railway station is at Indapur.
Kashid
Kashid, 140km south of Mumbai, has 3km of beautiful, clean beaches. It is a good place for swimming.
Kashid Beach Resort (02144 85010; Mumbai 262-5406) has rooms with an ocean view for Rs 1100. It has a pool.
It takes four hours to arrive in Kashid on a bus from Mumbai Central.
Solapur
Pop: 640,000
Visitors may have to travel through Solapur to catch a train.
There are railway Retiring Rooms and dorm beds available.
Rajdhani (23291), 26 Railway Lines, has basic rooms and an A/C restaurant.
Surya International (29501; fax 29505), 3/2/2 Murarji Path, has rooms for Rs 400/500 and Rs 600/700 with A/C.
Pratham (29581; fax 28724), Sadar Bazaar, has clean, comfortable rooms with bath for Rs 550/650. It is well-managed and has a good, outdoor restaurant.
There are many trains departing from Solapur to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bijapur Sphere: Related Content
Capital: Mumbai
Area: 307,000
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Main Language: Marathi
Literacy Rate: 63%
Maharashtra is the third largest state in India. Most people speak Marathi. Approximately 50% of the nation’s tax revenue and international trade come from this state. The main places visited in Maharashtra are Mumbai and the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Originally the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were united, but they were divided in 1960 on the basis of language.
Near Mumbai
Kanheri Buddhist Caves and Sanjay Gandhi Park
The Kanheri Buddhist Caves are located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park), 40km north of Mumbai. The caves are located 5km from the entrance of the park. The park is closed on Monday. Admission: Foreigners/Indians US$5/Rs 20
There are 109 caves, but only a few are worth seeing. The caves date from the 2nd to the 9th centuries and were excavated into the face of a hill in the center of Salsette Island. The most interesting cave, the Great Chaitya Cave (No 3), is a columnar hall with two standing figures of Buddha, each 5m (16½ ft) tall. Caves 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 21, 34, 35, 66, and 67 are interesting, and from cave 35 there is a good view of the sea. The caves are open from 9 am to 5.30 pm. You should bring your own water as the stalls near the caves sell only cold drinks.
To get to the caves, you take a suburban train (50-min) from Churchgate Station to Borivali Station, then an auto-rickshaw or taxi (8km) to the caves. Best to arrange a roundtrip fare plus waiting time. Set the fare for the waiting time and do not let the driver keep the meter running, as it may be tampered with. The bus to that used to go to Kanheri Buddhist Caves on Sundays and public holiday no longer operates. You can also visit the caves on the MTDC suburban guided tour.
There is a Lion Safari Park (daily except Mon 9 am to 5 pm) about half a km from the park entrance. Visitors must go by auto-rickshaw either from the caves or the train station.
Esselworld has thirty-five rides. It is located on Corao Island, near Govai Creek (Borivali-W). Admission is based on height (taller than 137cm is Rs 135), and the admission fee entitles you to unlimited rides as well as a visit to the Water Sport Complex. Open daily 11 am to 7 pm.
Bassein
Located in Bassein is what remains of the Portuguese city of Bassein. Bassein is located on the northern side of the Ulhas River, which separates Mumbai and the mainland. It was once a large city that contained the Cathedral of St Joseph (1536), thirteen churches, five convents and opulent houses. The Marathas attacked the city in 1739 and the Portuguese surrendered. The city walls are still intact, as are the cathedral and some of the churches. This place is on the coast, 11km west of the Bassein (Vasai) Road railway station.
Manori Beach
Manori Beach, about 40km north of downtown Mumbai, past Juhu, is a seaside resort for Mumbai’s wealthy. There are some all-night beach parties here. For Christmas and New Years, places here have to be booked months in advance.
Domonica (444-9735) has rooms for Rs 175 per person. This place must be booked in advance for weekend stays.
Doris Pinic Spot has an assortment of rooms.
Manoribel Hotel (269-1301) has rooms for Rs 500 (Rs 600 on the weekend), and cottages for Rs 900 (Rs 1800 on the weekend). It has to be booked in advance.
To get here you first take the local train from Churchgate to Malad, and then Bus #272 or an auto-rickshaw to Marve. Then take a ferry across Manori Creek, and from there it is 2km to Manori.
Igatpuri
Located here is the Vipassana International Academy (2553 4076; fax 2533 4276) founded by the SN Goehka, which has ten-day vipassana meditation courses. During the course one has to remain silent, except to ask questions to the instructors. One meditates around eleven hours daily. There are videotapes of SN Goenka shown, during which he gives instructions on the vipassana process.
During the course you are requested to not engage in any other spiritual practices such as chanting mantras, praying and doing yoga exercises.
There is basic accommodations and Indian vegetarian food is served. You can contact the center at Dhammagiri, PO Box 6, Igatpuri, Dist. Nasik 422 403. Igatpuri is around 130km northeast of Mumbai, on the train line to Nasik. The center is about 1km from the railway station.
Trimbak
Population 8,000
The town of Trimbak (“three eyes”) is 30km west of Nasik. One of the twelve Siva Jyotirlingas is located here, and it is close to the source of the holy Godavari River. There is also an impressive Maratha Fort on the nearby hill.
Trimbakeswara Temple
The three lingas in this 18th century temple, dedicated to Trimbakeswara, are eye-shaped. Tri means “three,” and ambak means “eye.” The three-eyed deity is Lord Siva. Trimbakeswara is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This interesting temple was built in 1730 by Baji Rao Peshwa, and it cost almost 1 million rupees. There is a large tower over the sanctuary.
Non-Hindus are not permitted into the temple, but they are permitted to climb the steps and to look inside. I went inside and no one said anything.
Source of Godavari River
Trimbak is the source of the Godavari, which is one of the most important holy rivers in India. This river flows almost 1,000km east to the Bay of Bengal. It is said that this is the exact spot where the drop of nectar fell from the Kumbha vessel, for which the Kumbha-mela is famous. To reach Gangasagar, a tank of water fed by the Godavari’s source, you must climb a flight of 690 stairs. It is said that both the Ganges and Godavari emanate from the same source and meet in an underground passage. Bathing here is said to cleanse you of the worst sins.
The roundtrip climb to Brahmagiri, the Godavari’s source, takes two or three hours and is best done in the morning. It is a difficult climb, so you should bring water with you. On the way, you will pass a temple dedicated to the Goddess Ganga, a cave containing 108 Siva-lingas, a temple dedicated to the sage Gautama Rishi, whose ashram was said to be here, and the remains of the Anjeri Fort. About twenty minutes from the Anjeri Fort is the Gaumukha (Mouth of the Cow) Temple, where the source of the Godavari is located.
Kushawarth Tirtha
A few minutes’ walk from the Trimbakeswara Temple is Kushawarth Tirtha, a bathing tank, said to contain Ganges water. This place is mentioned in the Puranas. It is said to have been named for the sacred kusha grass that used to grow in profusion around it.
Practicalities
Trimbak is a nice, peaceful place, so you may want to stay overnight. The MTDC Tourist Bungalow is the best place to stay, but it is quite basic. All the eating places are basic.
There are hourly buses from Nasik (45 min) from the City bus stand. You can take a bus back to Nasik or one of the shared taxis that wait outside the bus stand.
Khaildabad (Rauza)
Khaildabad is located between the Ellora caves and Aurangabad. At this place is the modest mausoleum of Aurangzeb, the cost of which was funded by the income he received by personally copying the Koran. There are several shrines of Sufi saints nearby.
The mausoleum of the Muslim saint, Sayeed Zain-ud-din, is located close to Aurangzeb’s tomb. Embedded in the steps leading to the tomb are polished semi-precious stones. Located here is the Robe of the Prophet, which is shown once a year on the twelfth day of the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal (usually November). This is a major event.
Close by is the mausoleum of Sayeed Burha-ud-din (1334), a Chishti saint and what are said to be hairs from the Prophet’s beard.
Buses come here about every half-hour from Aurangabad.
Daulatabad Fort
The interesting Daulatabad Fort is located 13km (9 mile) northwest of Aurangabad on the road to Ellora. A 5km wall surrounds the fort, and it has a central fort built on volcanic lava rock, 200m above the rest of the area.
The Yadava dynasty’s Bhilama Raja constructed it in the 12th century. Daulatabad means “City of Fortune.” In 1327 the Delhi sultan, Mohammed Tughlaq (who was known to be insane), seized Daulatabad and decided to make it his capital. He marched the residents of Delhi here and seventeen years later marched them back. Many of the residents died on the 1100km (690 mile) march.
Three walls surround the fort. The first gate of the fort has huge elephant spikes to prevent elephant attacks. The Jama Masjid, built in 1318 by the Delhi sultan, is constructed from the remnants of Hindu and Jain temples in the area, including 106 carved pillars. The Chand Minar victory tower (1435) is near the mosque. Nearby is the Elephant Tank, the fort’s water supply.
The third gate is known as Chini Mahal, and it is where Aurangzeb imprisoned the last ruler of Golconda in 1687 for thirteen years. The huge (6m) cannon called Qila Shikan (Fort Breaker) is on a tower at the bottom of the hill.
The bottom of the hill was surrounded by a moat containing crocodiles. Until recently, the only entrance to the Central Fort on top of the hill was a pitch-black tunnel 190m (640 ft) long. No attacker ever made it to the top, but it was captured by putting the fort to siege. The water supply ran out.
To get to the top, attackers had to climb through the long, tortuous tunnel in the dark, which at one point divides and meets again so that enemy soldiers might attack one another unknowingly in the dark. Also, defenders could throw hot coal into the tunnel to fill it with toxic fumes. If an attacker survived all that, he would be forced to crawl the last few metres of the tunnel, so one could be attacked while he was bent over.
At the end of the tunnel is an interesting 12-pillared hall. There are great views from the top of the hill. There is a huge cannon and an ancient rock-cut cave.
You can stop here on the way to the Ellora caves, which the tour buses do. But they do not stop long enough to get a good look at the place. There are regular buses to here from Aurangabad (every hour). The resident guides who bring you to the top of the fort with the help of a torch do a good job. Without a good flashlight you cannot see anything in the passageways. Open daily dawn to 6 pm. There is a small MTDC restaurant here.
Jalgaon
Pop: 250,000
Phone Code: 0257
To get to the Ajanta Caves (58km south, 1½ hr), you may have to stop here. There is nothing to see in this town. Most people will only stay here while traveling between the caves and somewhere else. Jalgaon is on the main Mumbai to Delhi line.
Where to Stay
The railway Retiring Rooms are a good value.
PWD Rest House (29702) is a good place with rooms for Rs 125 per person.
Tourist Hotel (225-192), Nehru Chowk, half a km from the railway station to the right, has rooms with bath for Rs 175/200 and deluxe rooms for Rs 300/350.
The nearby Hotel Morako (26621) has rooms for Rs 300/400 and Rs 650 with A/C.
Amram Guest House (226-549), by the station, is one of the better budget hotels.
The new Hotel Plaza (227-354), Station Rd, is the best mid-range place. It has clean rooms with bath and TV for Rs 200/250. 24-hour checkout.
Hotel Galaxy (23578) has rooms with TV for Rs 200/300 and Rs 550 with A/C.
Hotel Anjali, right outside the station to the right, has good, clean room for Rs 250/300. It has a good veg restaurant.
Travel
The railway station is on the main Delhi-Mumbai line, so several trains a day depart from here to Mumbai (8 hr) and to Delhi. Trains also go to Bhopal (8 hr) and Nagpur.
There is an hourly bus to Ajanta which continues on to Aurangabad (4 hr). Be sure to confirm that the bus stops at the caves, as some buses go only as far as Fardapur, four km from Ajanta.
Lonar Meteorite Crater
Located about five hours northeast of Aurangabad, at Lonar, is a huge crater formed by a falling meteorite, believed to be 40,000 years old. The crater is 2km in diameter and hundreds of metres deep. Hindu temples have been constructed at the bottom of the crater. This is a nice peaceful place to visit.
The MTDC Hotel, next to the crater, has basic rooms for Rs 50. They also have a big tent to stay in, but it has no beds and you have to sleep on the ground.
To get here, you can take a train or bus from Aurangabad to Jalna, and from there a bus. There is a bus from Fardapur (1½ hr) to Buldhana, from where you take another bus to Lonar.
Sevagram
Mahatma Gandhi established an ashram here in 1936 and used it as his base until Independence. There are adobe huts, present during Gandhi’s time, including huts where Gandhi lived (Niwases and Kutirs)—all of which have been left exactly as they appeared in the 1930s.
His hut includes his original bed and some of his personal items—his spinning wheel, his three brass monkeys, and his glasses. In Mahatma Gandhi’s office is a phone put in by the British as a “hot-line” to Delhi. It is a very friendly place, and tours are easily available. There are multi-faith prayer meetings held under the pipal tree Gandhi planted (4.45 and 6 pm),
The Centre of Science for Villages has a photo exhibit of his life. It also has exhibits illustrating the concept of Gandhi’s self-sufficient village economics. There is a shop that sells khadi (hand-spun cotton) products and books by Gandhi. The Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, named after Gandhi’s wife, provides discount health care for the local villagers. Phone: 07152 43526.
Practicalities
The Yatri Nivas, at the ashram, has basic rooms and vegetarian meals for a donation. In Wardha, twenty minutes away, there is an MTDC Hotel with rooms for Rs 250/300 and dorm beds Rs 75. 8 am checkout.
The closest railway stations are in Sevagram and Wardha. Express trains take 1 hr from Nagpur. Buses from Nagpur to Wardha take 2½ hours. There are regular buses from Wardha to the ashram (twenty minutes). From Sevagram railway station it costs Rs 70 by auto-rickshaw.
Paunar
Located in Paunar, 3km from Sevagram, is the ashram of Gandhi’s good friend and disciple, Vinoba Bhave, founded in 1938. It was established following the principle of swarajya, or self-sufficiency. Taking place here is hand-spinning cloth, milk production, and food growing. The sadhaks in this ashram are almost all women.
There is a Memorial on the bank of the Paunar River which marks where some of Gandhi’s ashes were scattered, and another memorial where Vinoba’s ashes were placed. Every February 12th, over a 100,000 people come here to celebrate the anniversary of Gandhi’s death.
It is possible to stay at the ashram in a private room or a dorm, if they are available. You get to Paunar from Nagpur or Wardha by bus (ask to be let down at the correct place). You can also walk here from Sevagram.
Ramtek
Ramtek, 40km northeast of Nagpur, has a fort that contains several ancient hilltop temples (on Ramtek Hill). It is said that Rama and Sita came here on their way back from Lanka. Most of the main temples are dedicated to Sita and Rama. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidas also lived here, and this is where he wrote his famous work Meghdoot. Most of the temples date from the 18th century. There are good views from on top of the hill.
About a 1km from Ramtek Hill is the holy Ramsagar Lake, where several temples are located.
The MTDC Holiday Resort (07114 55620) has basic rooms for Rs 175 and dorm beds.
There are regular buses to here from Nagpur (1 hr).
Taroba National Park
This park, located 45km from Chandrapur and 150km from Nagpur, is home to tigers, leopards, sambars, wild boars, jackals, gaurs, chitals, nilgais, marsh crocodiles and, water birds. It has a teak and bamboo forest and a lake. The best times to visit are November to June, and especially during March to May.
Minibuses go on tours of the park. The best time to go out is in the evening or at night (use a searchlight).
There are three basic Forest Rest Houses near the lake. They should be arranged in advance with the Division Forest Officers, W Chanda Division, Mul Rd, Chandrapur.
The Mayur Hotel (3712) is located in Chandrapur on Mul Rd, 1km from the railway station.
Karla and Bhaja
The Hinayana Buddhist caves at Karla and Bhaja, dating from the 2nd century BC, are some of the best cave temples in India. The caves can be very crowded on weekends and holiday, so best to visit on a weekday. The caves are nowhere near as impressive as Ellora and Ajanta, but are worth seeing if you are passing through.
Karla (Karli) Cave
Located in Karla is the largest and best-preserved Hinayana Buddhist cave temple in India. The caves here were carved around 80 BC.
The chaitya hall (40m long, 15m wide) has wooden teak beams supporting the ceiling. It also contains thirty-seven pillars, each of which are supported by a kneeling elephant with the figure of a person on top. Outside the cave there is a pillar with four lions standing back to back at the top. The caves (02114 282115are open 8 am to 6 pm. Admission Rs 5for Indians and US$2 foreigners.
Bhaja Caves
Bhaja is an easy 5km walk from Karla. When you reach Bhaja village there are steps that lead up to 19 caves, all of which date from the 2nd century BC.
The caves here are not so impressive, but they do contain some good sculptures. Cave 12 is the most interesting. The sculpture of a war elephant tearing up trees is interesting.
On the right side, behind Cave 12, are fourteen small stupas. In Cave 19 (the last cave) there are good carvings. Viewing the caves is Rs 5 for Indians, but US$2 for foreigners.
There is a waterfall a few minutes walk past the last cave.
The Lohaged (4km) and Visapur Forts are a good climb above the caves.
Where To Stay
MTDC Karla Resort (02114 282230; fax: 282370), just off Mumbai-Pune Highway has cottages for Rs88 and deluxe rooms for Rs 1100.
Bedsa
There are also Buddhist Caves in Bedsa, about 20km from Karla and 12km from Bhaja. The chaitya hall is fairly simple. From the town of Bedsa it is an uphill walk for 3km.
Practicalities
Peshwa Holiday Resorts, near the Karla caves, is a decent place to stay with rooms from Rs 200/350 and Rs 650 for an A/C cottage.
Karla is about 126km southeast of Mumbai. You can get to Karla by taking a train (2 hr) from Mumbai to Lonavla. From Lonavla, it is a 14km bus or taxi ride to the foot of the hill at Karla. During the monsoon, the road may be closed. Karla is 1km north of the main road and Bhaja is 3km south of the main road.
It is a 5km (1½ hr) walk from Karla to Bhaja. From Bhaja it is a 3km (1 hr) walk to Malavli, from where you can take a local train to Lonavla.
An auto-rickshaw from Lonavla railway station to Karla and Bhaja (plus waiting time) is about Rs 300; a taxi Rs 500.
Near Pune
Sinhagad (Sinhagard)
Visiting Sinhagad (Lion Fort) is an interesting day-trip from Pune (24km northwest). This ruined fort, located on a high hill, is where Tanaji Malasure, one of Shivaji’s generals, led a successful attack on the fort controlled by the Bijapur kingdom. It is said that the Marathas took the fort by engaging Yashwati, an iguana to carry a rope ladder up the hillside to the fort so they could scale the almost impregnable wall. There is a monument where Tanaji lost his left hand and another where he eventually died. It is said that when Shivaji heard about Tanaji’s death he said “I have won the fort but have lost my lion.” Thus the fort was named Sinhagad, “Lion Fort.” There is a house here where Mahatma Gandhi met the freedom fighter Tilak in 1915.
From Pune, Bus #50 comes to the village of Sinhagad at the bottom of the hill on which the fort is situated. You catch the bus at the bus stop across from Nehru Stadium. There is a road leading up to the fort, which can be reached by car. If you come by local bus, the place where the bus lets you off is about a two-hour, difficult trek up the hill. You should bring water and food with you.
Near Mahabaleswara
Panchgani
Panchgani is a popular hill station, 20km east of Mahabaleswara. It is a pleasant place with some good viewpoints.
Hotel Simla (40235), near the bus stand, has nice rooms built around a garden for Rs 200/275 (Rs 400/600 during season).
Hotel Prospect (40236) is a British built hotel with big, comfortable roosm for Rs 800 (Rs 1100 during season). It is on a hill.
Pratapgarh Fort
This impressive fort (1656), 24km from Mahabaleswara, contains a statue of Shivaji. At this place, Shivaji, leader of the Marathas, and Afzal Khan, the general of the Bijapur army, decided to meet about a possible truce. Neither was supposed to carry weapons or wear armor, but Afzal Khan hid a knife and during the meeting, stabbed Shivaji, who was wearing a mail shirt under his robe. Shivaji then pulled out his waghnakh (metal claws) with his left hand and killed Afzal Khan. Located here is a memorial to Shivaji, and Afzal Khan’s tomb.
There is great view of the area surrounding the fort.
The MTDC tour from Mahabaleswara comes here. A bus from Mahabaleswara takes one hour (24km).
Satara
Located here are former possessions of the famous Maratha leader, Shivaji. Near the palace is a building containing the waghnakh with which he killed Afzal Khan, and his mail shirt. His sword is also here. The Shivaji Maharaja Museum is across from the bus station.
Wasota Fort is south of the city. Aurangzeb and his army took it from the Marathas in 1699. It was retaken by the Marathas in 1705.
Satara is 40km south of Mahabaleswara.
Raigad Fort
Shivaji ruled from this fort during the later part of his life after capturing it in 1648 (he was crowned Maharaja of the Marathas in 1674). Shivaji died in the fort in 1680. The fort is located 80km northwest of Mahabaleswara. Visitors must climb 1,400 steps to the top of the hill to where the fort is actually located. There are several buildings in the fort. In the northeast corner is Shivaji’s Samadhi (memorial tomb) along with a chhatri for his dog. It is possible to hire a dhoolie and to be carried up the steps. Admission: Foreigners/Indian US$5/Rs 5. Hours: Daily 8 am to 5pm
There are great views from the fort, especially looking out at the lakes to the north.
There is a MTDC tourist bungalow here with rooms for Rs 450 and dorm beds for Rs 60.
There are buses to Pune (125km) and Mumbai (210km).
Murud & Janjira Fort
Murud is 160km south of Mumbai. Off the coast is the Janjira Fort, the 16th century capital of the Siddis of Janjira. It is reached from the village of Murud by boat (around Rs 50). The fort with its 14m high walls was impregnable. Both Shivaji and his son Sambhaji tried to unsuccessfully take the fort.
About 1km north of Murud is the hilltop Dattatreya Temple. Dattatreya has three heads, which represents Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. There is a good view from the hill.
The 18th century Nawab’s Palace is 2km north of Murud. It is closed, but you may be able to get the watchman to let you in. It has stained glass windows, carved and marble antique furniture, and old photos.
Practicalities
Ruchit (021447 4219), a three-minute walk from the bus stand next to the beach, has four rooms for Rs 600. It is a well-managed place with a good garden and a good restaurant.
MTDC Beach Resort (021447 4078) has basic rooms for Rs 700/1100.
Buses departing Mumbai Central take six hours to arrive in Murud. Two express buses arrive at 6 am and 11 am, which should be booked in advance. The nearest railway station is at Indapur.
Kashid
Kashid, 140km south of Mumbai, has 3km of beautiful, clean beaches. It is a good place for swimming.
Kashid Beach Resort (02144 85010; Mumbai 262-5406) has rooms with an ocean view for Rs 1100. It has a pool.
It takes four hours to arrive in Kashid on a bus from Mumbai Central.
Solapur
Pop: 640,000
Visitors may have to travel through Solapur to catch a train.
There are railway Retiring Rooms and dorm beds available.
Rajdhani (23291), 26 Railway Lines, has basic rooms and an A/C restaurant.
Surya International (29501; fax 29505), 3/2/2 Murarji Path, has rooms for Rs 400/500 and Rs 600/700 with A/C.
Pratham (29581; fax 28724), Sadar Bazaar, has clean, comfortable rooms with bath for Rs 550/650. It is well-managed and has a good, outdoor restaurant.
There are many trains departing from Solapur to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bijapur Sphere: Related Content
Budget Hotels Andaman Islands
Population: 345,000
Capital: Port Blair
Area: 820 sq km
Best Time to Visit: mid-November to April
Main Language: Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and local tribal languages
Literacy Rate: 71%
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of over 300 islands located in the Bay of Bengal, a group that extends for 750km north to south. These islands are over 1,000km east of India, between India and Myanmar (Burma). The people here were originally tribal people, but many Indians have emigrated from mainland India and have come to far out-number the original people of the islands. Most of the islands are uninhabited. Many of them have palm-fringed white-sand beaches with very clear water. Most are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. They are home to many species of animals and birds unique to the islands.
The Andaman Islands can be reached either from Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta). Even though the islands are far to the east of India, time is still calculated by Indian time, which means it can be dark at 5.30 pm and light by 4 am during certain seasons.
The Andaman Islands have some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world, and there are a variety of places for visitors to engage in these sports. Most of the best beaches and coral reefs are found on the other islands (not South Andaman Island), where the capital, Port Blair, is located.
Foreign tourists are allowed a thirty-day permit to visit the Andaman Islands; they are not permitted to visit the Nicobar Islands. Indians are not restricted and do not need permits.
The temperature stays almost even most of the year, between 22ºC (71ºF) and 33ºC (92ºF). There are two rainy seasons, one from June to mid-September and the other from November to mid-December. The best time to visit is from the end of November to the end of April. December and January is the busiest season.
There are Andaman Islands Tourist Offices (011 387-015) at 104 Curzon Rd, Kasturba Gandhi Marg in New Delhi, and at 3A Auckland Place in Kolkata (Calcutta) (033 247-5084).
Andaman Nicobar islands Web Site (http://www.andaman.nic.in)
History
Marco Polo visited the Andaman Islands during his travels around the world in the 13th century. In the early 18th century, Kanhoji Angre, the tenacious Maratha admiral, used the islands as his base from which to attack British, Portuguese, and Dutch ships. One time the Portuguese and British combined to attack him, but he was never defeated. In the 19th century, the British took control of the islands and used them as prison colonies. The Cellular Jail was used beginning in the early 1900s to detain political prisoners and life-termers. The Japanese occupied the islands during WWII. In 1947, after India became independent, the islands became part of India.
Many people from the mainland have moved to the islands. Over the last twenty years, the population has increased from 50,000 to over 300,000.
Permits
Foreigners wishing to visit the Andaman Islands require permits. Permits are good for thirty days and may be extended a few extra days for a good reason. Indians do not need permits, although they must get permits to visit certain restricted areas.
Permits can be obtained at the airport. Visitors who arrive without a confirmed flight out may only be given a fifteen-day permit, which can be extended to thirty days at the Superintendent of Police, Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. Visitors arriving by boat usually must have the permit before departing the mainland.
Permits are issued at overseas Indian embassies and should be requested when applying for a visa. Permits are also issued at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, or at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata (Calcutta) (033-2247-3300) or Chennai (044-2827-8210). In Chennai, you apply at the Chief Immigration Officer, 26 Haddows Rd, Nungambakkam. When applying for the permit, give the exact arrival and departure dates, allowing three days boat travel time. You need two passport size photos.
When you arrive by ship you have to sign in at the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair to prove that you did not stay longer than 30 days. Permits are stamped when visitors leave the islands.
Not all of the islands are open to foreigners. Foreigners are permitted to stay overnight in South Andaman, certain places in Little Andaman, Middle Andaman, Neil Island, Havelock, and only in Diglipur on North Andaman. Day trips are permitted to the islands of Viper, Ross, Interview, Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Cinque, Narcondum, Brother and Sisters. There are regular boats only to Viper and Ross islands. A boat can stop at the volcanic Barren Island, but you are not permitted to leave the boat. Most of the islands in Mahatma Gandhi National Park can be visited. Foreigners cannot visit any of the Nicobar Islands.
For reservation please contact :
E-mail - aniidco@vsnl.com Website: www.aniidco.nic.in
Tribal People
Andanmanese There are about thirty native Andanmanese remaining. They live mainly on small Strait Island. There were about 5,000 of them when the British arrived, but many died from diseases brought from the mainland.
Sentinelese The 120 Sentinelese people remaining resist contact with outsiders. They live on the North Sentinel Island by themselves.
Jarawa The 250 Jawaras live on a 750 sq km reserve on the islands of Middle and South Andaman. They do not appreciate people coming into their area, and when buses travel on Trunk Rd., they are protected by armed guards in case of attack.
Onge There are about 100 Onges living on a 100 sq km reserve at Dugong Creek on the island of Little Andaman. They are nomadic, and build temporary thatched huts, living in them only for about fifty days before moving on.
Nicobarese There are about 30,000 Nicobarese who live in villages and farm bananas, coconuts, yams and pigs. Their complexions are fair.
Shompen There are around 200 Shompens left. They live on Great Nicobar. They do not integrate with the people who have moved to the islands. They barter honey and nuts with the Nicobarese.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world is in the Andaman Islands because of the excellent coral and clear water. If you plan to snorkel, it is a good idea to bring your own equipment. What is for rent is often of low quality and expensive.
At the present time there are no diving schools operating in Port Blair.
Jagannatha Guest House rents snorkel equipment for Rs 50 per day. Other places usually rent snorkels for Rs 80 per day or more.
TS Abhishek Hotel, Dhanalaxmi Hotel, and Guruswamy on Babu Lane, all rent equipment. Two popular places to go on a day trip are MG National Marine Park and the beaches at Chiriya Tapu.
In the past there was a diving centers at the Samudra (233159 282634. Wild Orchid 282411; fax 232038' http://www.diveandaman.com), in the Hotel Sinclair’s Bay View, charges Rs 2500 for a few dives around Port Blair; Rs 3500 for other areas.
Also in the past there was the PADI course for Rs 10,000 and the PADI Open Water Course (five days) for Rs 15,000. A certificate is offered that is recognized internationally. This place may be operating when you visit Port Blair, but as far as we know it is closed now.
This place may also be operating. Port Blair Underwater (85389; fax (040) 339–2718), in the Peerless Resort at Corbyn’s Cove, is PADI registered. They charge about the same prices as the Samudra.
Andaman Adventure Sports (30295; fax same), near the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair, charges a cheaper rate. The owner is an expert, but they are not registered by PADI.
Andaman and Nicobar Scuba Diving Club (282113; Web Site www.andamanscubaclub.com), Bay Island Hotel on Marine Hill in Port Blair, runs good courses.
To dive in the MG National Park, visitors must pay an extra Rs 1000 to the park.
Coral can be damaged easily by even slight contact, so it pays to be very careful.
Cinque Islands
North and South Cinque are some of the most beautiful of the Andaman Islands. They have excellent coral formations. They are uninhabited, and visitors are allowed to visit only on day trips. Cinque Island has a sheltered bay and clear water, so it is a good place to snorkel. From where the boat lands, there is a path to the right leading to a beach on the other side of the island, which is ideal for snorkeling. If you are not going on a tour organized by a travel agency you will need permission from the Forest Department to visit. These islands are three hours by boat from Phoenix Bay and two hours from Chiriya Tapu, so it is expensive to get to.
Neil Island
Neil Island, located 40km northeast of Port Blair, has excellent coral and snorkeling. Beaches have numbers. Beach #1 is a 45-minute walk west of the boat jetty. Snorkeling is good at the north end of the beach. Many travelers prefer to camp out. It has a well with fresh water. A good beach is Neil Kendra.
Practicalities
Hawabill Nest Yatri Niwas (03192-282630) has rooms with dorm beds for Rs 170 and Rs 700/1100 with A/C. It should be reserved in advance with A&N Tourism. Built around a courtyard.
The APWD Guest House (30215) has two rooms. To camp, visitors must first obtain permission from the APWD in Port Blair.
There are some basic food places in the village. Often there are no bottled water or cold drinks available.
Boats Depart from Phoenix Bay to here (3 hr) on Wed and Fri at 6.30 am for Rs 15/20 for deck/upper clas.
Long Island
This island is located southeast of Middle Andaman and has sandy beaches and good coral reefs. There is a Forest Rest House and an APWD rest house on the island. It is a good place to camp. Campers must first obtain permission from the APWD in Port Blair.
From Port Blair and Havelock there are boats on Wed and Sat to this island (8 hr). The boat stops here before going to Rangat. You can rent a bicycle to get around. From Rangat visitors can sometimes take a lumber boat to here.
Middle Andaman
This island is not particular interesting and is not geared for tourism. You get to this island by boat or bus from Port Blair. The west side of the island is mainly made up of the Jawara Tribal Reserve. When the bus passes the Jarawa reserves the bus carries an armed guard, because the Jarawa tribals have been hostile since losing their land to Indian settlers. It is not a good idea to travel alone.
There are places to stay in Rangat and Mayabunder. To stay in the APWD rest houses, visitors need permission from the APWD Chief Engineer, whose office is near the Shompen Hotel in Port Blair (30215). The APWD rest houses are good places to stay, but are sometimes full.
Permission to rent a room must be given by the local APWD officer. It pays to be respectful. It is hard to find bottled water here.
Swiftlet Nest, in Karmatang Bay has rooms for 500/700.
Rangat
The closest nice beach is in Betapur, 20km away on the road to Mayabunder, which can be reached by bus. There is good snorkeling at Amakun Beach (9km).
In Rangat there are places to stay. The Hare Krishna Lodge and the APWD Guest House (74237) are basic places with rooms for Rs 150 to 250.
Hawksbill Nest(A&N Tourism) (03192 79022) has A/C rooms for Rs 500/700 and dorm beds for Rs 125. It should be booked in advance at the A&N Tourism office in Port Blair.
Rangat can be reached by bus from Port Blair (6 hr, 3 daily) or by boat (8 hr, several weekly) from Port Blair via Havelock Island. There is a bus to Mayabunder (3 hr).
Mayabunder
Mayabunder is 70km north of Rangat (3 hr by bus) and 160km by sea from Port Blair. The beach at Karmateng is a half-hour away by bus. There are several islands in the bay with beaches for swimming. None of the places in the area are good for snorkeling.
The APWD Guest House (73214) is a good, clean place in a great location. It should be reserved in advance if possible. It is the best place to eat in town. Dhanakakshmi Lodge is not so good, but it may be the only place available.
Yatri Niwas, Karmateng Bay, 10km northeast of Mayabunder, should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair.
Mayabunder can be reached by the daily bus from Port Blair (9 hr). There are several daily buses to Rangat and Karmateng. To get to North Andaman Island, you take a ferry to Kalighat (2½ hr, daily around 9 am) or Ariel Bay, from where you can catch a bus to Diglipur. Also, private boats leave early in the morning to Kalighat (Rs 350).
North Andaman
The main place to stay here is at Diglipur, which is a nothing town. There is a sandy beach at Kalipur, to which buses travel. You can walk from there to Saddle Peak (4 hr), but you first have to have permission from the Forest Officer at Arial Bay.
There is a weekly ferry to here from Port Blair (14 hr) with bunk and deck class. For the ferry from Diglipur to Port Blair, tickets go on sale the day before departure at the office next to the Diglipur Rest House. You can also get tickets on the boat, but often only deck class is available.
There is a daily boat from Mayabunder on Middle Andaman direct to Diglipur (4½ hr). You can also take a boat from Mayabunder to Kalighat (2½ hr, daily) and then a bus to Diglipur. There are beds in the APWD Guest House (72203). The Yatri Niwas has rooms. It should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair. From Diglipur there are regular buses to Aerial Bay and Kalighat.
In Kalighat there is a APWD Guest House. Balaji is a decent place to eat near the boat jetty. From Kalighat there is a crowded ferry to Mayabunder (2½ hr) around noon and regular buses to Diglipur.
Saddle Peak National Park
To visit here visitors must obtain a permit from the Forestry Dept. in Aerial. To get to the park you take a bus to Kalipur. You then walk south on the road from where the bus stops to a path and then take the second path on the right for around a half-hour until you arrive at the Forest Dept encampment. There is a Yatri Niwas Hotel at this place. You can walk to Lamia Bay, which has a beach and camping. From Lamia Bay it is a 5km walk to Saddle Peak (720m).
Little Andaman
The last 100 persons belonging to the Onge tribe live on a reserve at the south end of the island. Foreigners are not permitted to visit the reservation. The best beach is about 20km north of the boat jetty. It is a good place to camp and swim, but is not good for snorkeling.
Basic supplies can be purchased from the village a couple of km north of the boat jetty. The APWD Guest House, 1km north of the village. Rooms are Rs 200/300 per person and Rs 90 for a dorm bed. It should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair. When you arrive, you have to register at the police station a few km north of the APWD Guest House.
Boats dock at Hut Bay on the east side of the island. There are one or two boats a week between Port Blair and Hut Bay (8 hr) for Rs 18 for lower and Rs 35 for upper deck.tc
Other Islands
North Passage and Bharatang Islands are open for overnight stays.
Interview, Narcondam, Brother, and Sisters Islands can be visited only on day trips, but there are no regular boats to these islands. You can take a boat to the volcanic Barren Island, but you are not allowed to leave the boat.
The only places to stay on these islands are in Forest Rest Houses (about Rs 80 per night), or in APWD Guest Houses. Reserve in advance in Port Blair at the APWD office near the Hotel Shompen, or at the Forest Department in Haddo. Some people bring tents and hammocks and camp out on the beach. You can rent a tent from Andaman
Teal House for Rs 60 a day. Fires are not permitted, so you should bring a kerosene stove with you. It is often not possible to buy kerosene on the islands, so you should bring your own supply.
Pop: 78,000 Area Code: 03192
Port Blair is the capital and the only decent-sized town on the islands. It is a pleasant town located on the east side of South Andaman Island.
The Island Tourism Festival is a cultural event lasting ten days. It is held at the end of February.
Orientation
Port Blair is spread out over several hills, so it is difficult to walk around. Most of the hotels, boat docks, and bus stations are in the main bazaar area called Aberdeen Bazaar. The closest beach is Corbyn’s Cove, 8km south of the center of town. The airport is 3km south of Aberdeen Bazaar.
Information
The helpful Government of India Tourist Office (ITDC) (233006) is in the Super Shoppe complex, near the airport (Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm). The office provides a printout of useful practical information.
The Andaman and Nicobar Tourist Office (232747) is near the GPO (Mon to Sat 9 am to 5 pm). They have information on tours and ferry schedules.In the south part of twon opposite Indian Airlines
There is a tourist counter (03292/232414) at the airport, which provides information about accommodations and sites on South Andaman Island.
The Chief Wildlife Warden (33549, 31371) in Haddo, west of the Phoenix Bay Jetty, can give information on wildlife, and travel to places such as Chirya Tapu and Mount Harriet. Permits for various places are also issued in this office.
You can reserve rooms in APWD guesthouses at the APWD Office (30215), near the Shompen Hotel.
The Superintendent of Police, (33590) in Aberdeen Bazaar, can extend permits.
Camping equipment can be rented from Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) in Port Blair.
Reference books about the Andaman Islands are available at the State Library, near the GPO (noon to 7 pm).
Travel Agencies and Tours
Well-established travel agents are A&N Tourism (32642) at Andaman Teal House; Island Travels (21358) at Aberdeen Bazaar; and Shompen Travels (32360, 33028) in the Shompen Hotel. Sunshine Tours arranges good tours of Port Blair.
Island Travel (233358) is an agent for Indian Airlines and Thai Airways. They also do foreign exchange and rent cars.
KLM Travels (32111; fax 34255) gives good environmental freely tours of the islands.
A tour boat departs daily at 3 pm from the Phoenix Bay jetty for a 1½ hr ride around the harbor. It stops briefly at Viper Island. You book it at the Marine Dept (20725).
Money
The State Bank of India changes cash and travelers checks (9 am to 12 noon, 1pm-3pm).
Island Travels (33034), near Sampat Lodge & the clock in Aberdeen Bazaar, changes money efficiently daily except Sun 9am-1pm, 2 to 4 pm. The higher-class hotels usually change money.
ICICI Bank ATM (Moulana Azad Rd & Foreshroe Roads) accepts MaterCard, VISA and Cirrus.
Most hotels do not acceot credit cards.
Post, Internet and Faxes
The GPO is about 1km south of Aberdeen Bazaar. Next door, at the Telegraph Office (fax 21318), visitors can send and receive faxes.
Internet facilites at Holiday Resort (9am-11pm Rs 30 hr), or at Cyber Point (9am-11pm, 35 per hr) & Kembu's netJoint (9am-8pm, 35 per hr), both on Moulana Azad Rd.
Cellular Jail National Memorial
The British built this jail at the beginning of the 1900s. It once had seven wings, but only three remain. Many Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned here. It has a small museum. Open daily 9 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Admission free. There is a Sound and Light Show in English on Wed, Sat and Sun at 7 pm. (Rs 25).
Zoo
There are over 100 species of animals on the Andaman Islands found nowhere else in the world. Some of them are in this zoo, including Andaman pigs and Nicobar pigeons. They have a successful saltwater crocodile-breeding program. Open daily except Mon 8 am to 5 pm. Admission Rs 1.
Chatham Sawmill and Forest Museum
Timber is processed at the Sawmill. Open 8 am to 2.30 pm.
In the Forest Museum near the zoo, there is an exhibit of woods grown in the Andaman Islands. Open Mon to Sat, 8 am to 3 pm. Admission free.
Anthropological Museum
This small, interesting museum contains photos of indigenous tribal people, native dress, and tools. Open Mon to Sat 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm. Admission free.
Fishery Museum
This interesting museum and aquarium contains over 300 species found in the Andaman Sea, including exotic fish and coral. Open daily 9 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 to 5 pm.
Samudrika Marine Museum
In this museum there are exhibits of coral, shells, and displays on the history of the island. It is opposite Andaman Teal House. Open Tues to Sun 9 am to noon and 2 to 5.30 pm. Admission Rs 15.
Water Sports Complex
At this place, near the Fisheries Museum, visitors can hire sailboats, rowboats, and windsurfing equipment. Snorkels can be rented, but you can use them only here. Water skiing for Rs 250 for 20 minutes.
Viper Island
Viper Island, at the mouth of Port Blair Harbor, is where prisoners were kept before the Cellular Jail was built.
Where to Stay—Lower
Checkout time is often as early as 7 am in the morning, so you may want to ask about this.
The Youth Hostel (32459) has dorm beds for Rs 50 (Rs 60 for nonmembers) and a few private rooms for Rs 125.
Sampat (33752, 30752), Aberdeen Bazaar, has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90/175 and with bath for Rs 250. The rooms with balconies are best.
Central Lodge (233632), Middle Point, is a popular, inexpensive hotel with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 100/125 and Rs 175 with bath. There is camping in the garden for Rs 75.
Hotel Jai Mathi (30836), 78 MI Rd, has rooms with bath for Rs 200/240 and up. Hot water in buckets in the morning.
Jagannath Guest House (32140. 32148), Moulana Azad Rd, has good, clean rooms with bath for Rs 100/250 and up. It is a well-managed, friendly place. It is a good value. Recommended. It is near the bus station and Phoenix Bay Jetty/
Shah and Shah (32331), near Aberdeen Bazaar & the bus stand, has large clean rooms. It is a new, nice, friendly, recommended place.
Where to Stay—Middle
Hotel Shalimar (33953), on the road to Haddo, has rooms with bath for Rs 300/325 and Rs 350 with A/C. You can ask for a discount.
Hornbill Nest Yatri Nivas (232018; fax 233161; E: hornbillresort@rediffmail.com), around 1km north of Corbyn’s Cave, has clean rooms with two/four/six beds for Rs 900 to deluxe rooms for 1300. It has a great location with good views.
Hotel Shompen (32360, 32644; fax 32425), 2 Middle Pt, Kamaraj Rdhas rooms for Rs 400 and Rs 800 with A/C.
Hotel Abhishekh (33565) has clean rooms with bath for Rs 450/500 and Rs 550/600 with A/C. It is a friendly, well-managed place.
Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) (234060), on the road to Haddo, has clean double rooms with bath for Rs 500 and Rs 700 with A/C. It has good views and is a good value. Iti is on a hill overlooking Haddo port. Off-season discounts
Hotel Dhanalaxmi (234963-4; fax: 238698), in Aberdeen Bazaar, has large rooms with bath for Rs 500/750 to Rs 850/950. The rooms in front can be noisy.
Holiday Resort (230516; fax 234231; E: holidayresort88@hotmail.com or info@aboutandamans.com), Premnagar, has clean large rooms with bath and TV for Rs 550/600 and Rs 700/900 with A/C. It is a good place. Has a good Internet cafe.
Megapode Nest (233659, 235098; fax 32702: pblanitco1@sancharnet.com), at Haddo, has spacious double rooms with bath, a TV and A/C for Rs 1100/1400 and Rs 1800 for a cottage. It is peaceful, has a good view from the terrace, and is a good value. It is on top of the hill Price includes breakfast. overlooking the bay.
Nicobari Cottages (20207), next door, has rooms with bath and a good view for Rs 1100. It is a good place and has a good restaurant.
Where to Stay—High
Sinclairs Bay View (232937 233159; fax 231824; E: sinbview@cal3.vsnl.net.in or pblsinbview@sancharnet.in), on a clifftop on the road to Corbyn’s Cove, has clean rooms with a good view of the sea for Rs 2000/2200 and Rs 2000/3000 with A/C. It has a good Indian restaurant. Located here is the Samudra Diving Centre. Has a nice garden. A good top-end choice. Has a hotel shuttle bus
Peerless Resort (233461; fax 233463; E: pblbeachinn@sancharnet.in), Corbyn’s Cove, is located in a quiet area next to the beach. It has A/C rooms for Rs 2400/3800 and A/C cottages for Rs 5000. Discounts available during the off-season. You can book this place on the mainland at their Chennai office (044-2435-3079; fax 24320605 In a great location with rooms with balconies
Andaman Beach Resort (32463), Corbyn’s Cove, is in a great location surrounded by palm trees, next to a nice beach. It has rooms with balconies and nice cottages.
Welcomgroup Bay Island Hotel (32112; fax 31555; Email: sripadshir@yahoo.com), Marine Hill, has rooms for Rs 3400/5000, which includes meals. It has a nice garden, a good view and a pool.
Fortune Resort - Bay Island (234101; fax 231555; E: sripadsudhir@yahoo.com. bombayisland@email.com) has rooms with balconies for 3600/5500 and up. Has great viences and the rooms are fairly good for the money. Has a salt-water pool. Have great service and an excellent location.
Where to Eat
Islet Restaurant serves good Chinese and Indian food.
New India Cafe, on the ground floor of the Hotel Jai Mathi, serves inexpensive thalis.
Dhanalaxmi Restaurant, in the Dhanalakshmi Hotel, is a popular place with good vegetarian food.
Delhi Cafeteria, across from Mountbatten Talkies, is a good, inexpensive place.
Ananda Restaurant, near the Hotel Dhanalaxmi, has low-priced thalis.
China Room (230759), near the Phoenix Bay Jetty, serves good Chinese food. Should be booked in advance.
Chinese Restaurant is a good outdoor place. Recommended.
Annapurna Cafe, Aberdeen Bazaar, is a popular place with great dosas and good breakfasts. Recommended.
The Waves, Corbyn’s Cove, is a good place.
Mandalay Restaurant, in the Bay Island Hotel, is a pleasant place to eat with good food.
Local Travel
Taxis wait at the west end of Gandhi Rd, across from the bus station. A taxi to Corbyn’s Cove should cost about Rs 60. There are regular buses to Wandoor (1½ hr).
Shompen Travels (32360), at the Shompen Hotel, can charter a boat for about Rs 10,000 per day.
Riding a bicycle can be difficult because of the hills. You can hire a bike at Aberdeen Bazaar for Rs 20 per day. Jagannath Guest House rents bikes.
Motorcycles can be rented from TSG Travels (232894), Babu Lane, in the center of Aberdeen Bazaar. Suzuki 150 or scooters are Rs 150 to Rs 250 per day. Jagannath Guest House and Singh Travels (33757) in Aberdeen Bazaar, rent motorcycles for Rs 200 to Rs 300 per day. GDM Tours (232999) also rents motor bikes.
There is a petrol station on the road to the airport, and also one west of the bus stand.
Ferry The Marine Department (32742) and the Phoenix Jetty Boating Office have the schedules for boats and ferries going to other islands. The daily newspaper publishes ferry schedules. Snacks are sold on board.
There are boats to Havelock, Rangat Bay, Aerial Bay and Mayabunder. The boats to Rangat Bay go on two different routes—via Neil, Havelock, and Strait Islands, and via Baratang, Kadamtala, and Long Island.
Harbor ferries go from Phoenix Jetty to Bamboo Flats, Hope Town, and Ross Island. From Chatham Jetty, boats go to Bamboo Flats and Dundas Pt about every hour. There is a car ferry at 9 am.
Travel
Air Indian Airlines (234744, 233108; Airport: 232983; fax 231483), near the GPO, has flights from Kolkata (Calcutta)) ($250 one-way) to Port Blair five days (not Wed & Fri) a week. There are flights from Chennai ($200) to Port Blair four days a week on Indian Airlines.
There are daily flights to Chennai ($200) on Jet Air (236922; Airport: 35911). Flights are often heavily booked and persons on waiting class do not usually get on. During the high-season flights can be booked out months in advance, so it is a good idea to book your return flight before coming to the islands. If your permit has almost expired, you may be able to go to the airline manager and be put on a priority waiting list. The office is open Mon to Sat 9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm.
Shompen Travels (20360), at the Shompen Hotel, books East-West flights.
The airport is 5km south of Port Blair. There is a bus run by the tourist office going to most hotels in Port Blair for Rs 20. From the airport to Aberdeen Bazaar by taxi should cost about Rs 50-60
Boat There are usually two to four boats a month between Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta) and Port Blair. Boats are operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) (233347; 233590; fax 233778). There is also a monthly boat from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair (may not depart).
The SCI office in Chennai is at Jawahar Building, Rajaji Salai (opposite the Customs House) (044 522-6873; 044 522-0841) and the SCI office in Kolkata (Calcutta) is on the first floor at 13 Strand Rd (033 248-2354; fax 033 248-0377). The SCI office in Visakhapatnam is at AV Bhanoji (0891 565-597), near the main gate of the port.
In Port Blair the SCI office for the Kolkata (Calcutta) boat is in Aberdeen Bazaar opposite the Dhanalaksmi Hotel (233-590). You may have to go to Phoenix Bay to book the Chennai boat.
To book a boat in Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta), you must have three photos and the appropriate forms. You are supposed to book the boat at least four days before the boat departs. You may be required by the SCI to have a permit to visit the islands. It is best to arrange the return ticket from Port Blair before departing from Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta). Bookings should be reconfirmed two days before the boat’s departure.
The trip from Chennai takes three or four days; and from Kolkata (Calcutta) five days. Bunk class costs Rs 1500, but foreigners are usually not permitted to take this class. There is second class (four to six-berth) for Rs 2600, first class (two to four-berth) for Rs 4500, and deluxe (two-berth) for Rs 3600.
Meals costs about Rs 175 a day (usually a thali served three times a day). You may want to bring something extra, such as fruit and bottled water.
Bus The bus station (232-278) is in the center of town. Buses go to various places in the area.
There are buses to Rangat and Mayabunder in the morning. Tickets for these buses must be bought the day before departure at the office near the Phoenix boat jetty. Tickets go on sale at 2 pm, but you should be lined up early because the demand is heavy.
Geetanjali Travels, near the bus stand and Ananda (233-252) run luxury buses to many places.
Corbyn’s Cove
Corbyn’s Cove is the closest beach to Port Blair (8km). It is a white-sand beach surrounded by palm trees. The water is warm and the surf mild. A taxi costs about Rs 50. Taxis wait at the beach for return trips to Port Blair. It is a nice walk from Port Blair to Corbyn’s Cove. Andaman Beach Resort is a high-end hotel located near the beach.
Snake Island, nearby, has nice coral reefs. Visitors can hire a fishing boat to go to the island. To swim there can be dangerous because of the strong current.
Mt Harriet
Mt Harriet (365m) is across the bay from Port Blair. To get here you take a boat from Chatham Wharf to Bamboo Flat (7km) or from Phoenix Bay to Hope Town (4km) and then walk to Mt Harriet. You can also take a vehicle to Bamboo Flat or Hope Town. Entry foreigners/Indians/students Rs 250/25/5
There are buses to these places leaving at 6 am and 8 am. You can also take a taxi to Mt Harriet from Bamboo Flat. To take a taxi to the top cost Rs 300. There are nice walks in the area. To get permission to walk around the area, contact the Chief Wildlife Warden at the Forest Department in Haddo. He may also give permission to stay at the Forest Guest House at Mt Harriet.
North of Mt Harriet at Madhuban, elephants are trained for logging. To get there, take a boat from the Phoenix Bay Jetty (30 min) to Bamboo Flats, then a bus the rest of the way. You can also take a car from Chatham Wharf Jetty to Bamboo Flats.
Ross Island
Ross Island was once the site of the British headquarters, but it is now deserted and the buildings are in ruins. There is an interesting church on top of the hill and a museum near the boat jetty, which are worth seeing. Swimming is not allowed around the island. You may want to pack a lunch, as the island has no eating facilities other than a cold drink stand.
Boats (Rs 16 return, 20 min) depart from Phoenix Bay jetty daily except Wed 8.30 am, 10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 2 pm. From Ross Island boats depart at 9 am, 11 am, and 12.45 pm, 2.30 pm, and 5 pm. Rs 5 for entry. You are required to sign in upon arrival.
Chiriya Tapu
Chiriya Tapu is a small village, 33km south of Port Blair, with a good beach. There is another good beach a few km south of the village, with some of the best snorkeling on the island. It is a nice place for bird watching. There are good places to camp, and a few small beaches further south.
You can get a boat from this place to take you to Cinque Island. There are buses to Chiriya Tapu from Port Blair (1½ hr) every few hours. The last bus returns at around 7 pm. You can also come here by scooter.
Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park
MG National Park encompasses fifteen islands and extends about 300 sq km. It is home to fifty types of corals, exotic fish, beautiful jungles, good beaches, mangroves, and birdlife. It is a good place to snorkel. Only three of the islands can be visited—Red Skin, Jolly Buoy, and Cinque. No one is permitted to stay overnight on the islands. Collection of coral and shells is not permitted.
To get to the park, you first go to the village of Wandoor, 30km southwest of Port Blair. There is a bus from Port Blair to Wandoor (1½ hr). From the boat jetty in Wandoor, boats visit some of the islands in the park (Rs 150). Tours also go to the park.
Entry Permists are foreigner/Indian Rs 500/50.Camera is Rs 30
Red Skin & Jolly Buoy Islands
These two islands are located in MG National Park. A boat departs Tues to Sun from Wandoor village to Red Skin and Jolly Buoy islands at 10 am (1½ hr) and returns around 5 pm. The boat should be booked in advance. It can be arranged through a travel agency or your hotel.
The islands are beautiful and there are some nice coral and fish. It is a good place for beginning snorkelers because the water is shallow in places. You can take a ride on a glass bottom boat to see the coral.
The disappointing thing about this trip is that only a few hours are actually spent at the island. On Jolly Buoy Island, the best coral is to the left of the landing place. The current can be strong here, so it is a good ideal to be careful. The trip costs Rs 125; less during the off-season because then the boat goes only to Red Skin. You have to pay an extra Rs 15 as park entry.
Havelock, 55km northeast of Port Blair, is a 100 sq km island that has great white-sand beaches and clear water, which is perfect for snorkeling. There are interesting coral formations and large fish—dolphins and turtle, which make snorkeling very interesting. This is one of the few islands at which foreigners are permitted to stay overnight.
The beach at Radhnagar, 10km from the boat jetty, is one of the best beaches for swimming.
Bengali settlers inhabit the northern part of the island. Each village is numbered. The boat jetty is at village #1 and the main shopping area is in village #3, a couple of km south.
A bicycle is a good way to get around. You can bring your own or rent one in village #3 or across from the Dolphin Yatri Niwas for Rs 40 per day. You can rent a scooter for Rs 200 per day at Narayana pan shop in village #3. The villages are connected by hourly buses, which go to beach #7.
Where to Stay
Gauranga Lodge, between villages #1 and #3, has basic rooms for Rs 125.
MS VS Lodge (03192-82439, half a km from the boat jetty, has basic rooms with bath for Rs 250 and Rs 75for a dorm bed.
You have to reserve a rooms in advance with A&N Tourism in Port Blair to stay at the Tent Resort or Dolphin Yatri Niwas Complex.
Tent Resort, next to beach #7, has eight, good-sized tents for Rs 250 to 300 per person. You can only stay for four days. Well water is available for washing. There is a basic restaurant. To get here you take a bus to village #6 and then walk 4km to beach #7
There is also a Tent Resort near beach #5.
Dolphin Yatri Niwas (03192-82411, 33328), next to a secluded beach (not so nice), has a nice garden and cottages with bath for Rs 600, Rs 700 for a deluxe room and Rs 1100 to 1700 with A/C. It has a restaurant. It can be reserved in advance at the tourist office. A bus comes here from the boat jetty.
The Wild Orchid (03192-82472;; E) has rooms with A/C for Rs 2000/2500 and 2700/3200 during the high season. It is located on a beautiful beach. Rooms have beautiful tranditioanl Andamanese designs. Landscape gardens. Includes free breakfasts. Can be booked at Island Travels (03192-33358; fax 30109; E: islandtravels@yahoo.com) in Port Blair.
Some people bring their own tents and stay on the beach.
Where to Stay Radhnagar
ANIDCCO Camp have tents for Rs 150 to Rs 500.
Harmony Resort (03192-37656) has rooms for Rs 150.
Jungle Resort (03192-37656; fax: 37657; E susheeldixit@yahoo.com) has baisc huts for Rs 400 and luxury wood-thatch cottages stariting at Rs3400. It is near No 7 Beach. Rates for the cottages includes meals.
Travel
Ferry depart from Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair to here on everyday (2 hr, Rs 150).
Eco-Tourism & Adventure water sports
Islands have many attractions for adventure loving eco-tourism. There are 96 wildlife sanctuaries and 6 national parks. The island are covered with dense forest and offers variety of exotic flora and fauna. The islands have 92% forest cover, 110 species of wild orchids, 120 species of fish 179 species of corals, 246 varieties of birds etc. Island water is suitable for adventure water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, game fishing etc. Trekking through dense ever green forest , birds watching and island camping in beach are other adventure activities of the client.
Snorkeling: .Snorkeling to view corals and marine life you can visit, Northbay, Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Havelock island etc.
Scuba Diving : Underwater marine life coral can be explored through scuba diving at Rutland Island, Wandoor, Snake Island, North Point, Neil Island etc. Generally two dives including equipment, boat charges, refreshment cost about Rs.3,200/- per person in and around Port Blair.
Game Fishing : Surmai fishing organizes game fishing.
Water Sports: Water sports, skiing, speed boat ride is possible at water sport complex, Aberdeen Jetty.
Trekking: Trekking through evergreen forest is possible from Bambooflat to Mount Harriet, Mount Harriet to Madhuban etc.
Bird Watching: Bird watching is possible during early morning hours at Chidyatapu, Shippigat, Mount Harriet etc.
Island Camping: Tourism Department operates island camping at Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock.
Turtle Nesting: There are many turtle nesting grounds in these islands. Cutbertbay near Rangat can be visited for turtle nesting.
Volcano: Barren Island about 135kms from Port Blair is the only active volcano in India.
ay 1 Harbour Cruise for a panoramic view of different points around Harbour including visit to Viper island.
Sound and Light Show at Cellular Jail where freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere.
Day 2 Visit Coral island - North Bay
Day 3
City tour : Cellular Jail, Water Sports Complex, Corbyn”s Cove Beach, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum and Shopping.
Day 4 Visit Ross Island erstwhile Capital during the British regime and now in ruin
Chidiyatapu beach the sunset point
Day 5 Visit Mount Harriet, the highest peak in South Andaman with lush green forest Sphere: Related Content
Capital: Port Blair
Area: 820 sq km
Best Time to Visit: mid-November to April
Main Language: Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and local tribal languages
Literacy Rate: 71%
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of over 300 islands located in the Bay of Bengal, a group that extends for 750km north to south. These islands are over 1,000km east of India, between India and Myanmar (Burma). The people here were originally tribal people, but many Indians have emigrated from mainland India and have come to far out-number the original people of the islands. Most of the islands are uninhabited. Many of them have palm-fringed white-sand beaches with very clear water. Most are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. They are home to many species of animals and birds unique to the islands.
The Andaman Islands can be reached either from Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta). Even though the islands are far to the east of India, time is still calculated by Indian time, which means it can be dark at 5.30 pm and light by 4 am during certain seasons.
The Andaman Islands have some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world, and there are a variety of places for visitors to engage in these sports. Most of the best beaches and coral reefs are found on the other islands (not South Andaman Island), where the capital, Port Blair, is located.
Foreign tourists are allowed a thirty-day permit to visit the Andaman Islands; they are not permitted to visit the Nicobar Islands. Indians are not restricted and do not need permits.
The temperature stays almost even most of the year, between 22ºC (71ºF) and 33ºC (92ºF). There are two rainy seasons, one from June to mid-September and the other from November to mid-December. The best time to visit is from the end of November to the end of April. December and January is the busiest season.
There are Andaman Islands Tourist Offices (011 387-015) at 104 Curzon Rd, Kasturba Gandhi Marg in New Delhi, and at 3A Auckland Place in Kolkata (Calcutta) (033 247-5084).
Andaman Nicobar islands Web Site (http://www.andaman.nic.in)
History
Marco Polo visited the Andaman Islands during his travels around the world in the 13th century. In the early 18th century, Kanhoji Angre, the tenacious Maratha admiral, used the islands as his base from which to attack British, Portuguese, and Dutch ships. One time the Portuguese and British combined to attack him, but he was never defeated. In the 19th century, the British took control of the islands and used them as prison colonies. The Cellular Jail was used beginning in the early 1900s to detain political prisoners and life-termers. The Japanese occupied the islands during WWII. In 1947, after India became independent, the islands became part of India.
Many people from the mainland have moved to the islands. Over the last twenty years, the population has increased from 50,000 to over 300,000.
Permits
Foreigners wishing to visit the Andaman Islands require permits. Permits are good for thirty days and may be extended a few extra days for a good reason. Indians do not need permits, although they must get permits to visit certain restricted areas.
Permits can be obtained at the airport. Visitors who arrive without a confirmed flight out may only be given a fifteen-day permit, which can be extended to thirty days at the Superintendent of Police, Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. Visitors arriving by boat usually must have the permit before departing the mainland.
Permits are issued at overseas Indian embassies and should be requested when applying for a visa. Permits are also issued at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, or at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata (Calcutta) (033-2247-3300) or Chennai (044-2827-8210). In Chennai, you apply at the Chief Immigration Officer, 26 Haddows Rd, Nungambakkam. When applying for the permit, give the exact arrival and departure dates, allowing three days boat travel time. You need two passport size photos.
When you arrive by ship you have to sign in at the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair to prove that you did not stay longer than 30 days. Permits are stamped when visitors leave the islands.
Not all of the islands are open to foreigners. Foreigners are permitted to stay overnight in South Andaman, certain places in Little Andaman, Middle Andaman, Neil Island, Havelock, and only in Diglipur on North Andaman. Day trips are permitted to the islands of Viper, Ross, Interview, Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Cinque, Narcondum, Brother and Sisters. There are regular boats only to Viper and Ross islands. A boat can stop at the volcanic Barren Island, but you are not permitted to leave the boat. Most of the islands in Mahatma Gandhi National Park can be visited. Foreigners cannot visit any of the Nicobar Islands.
Star Hotels
***** (5 Star)
| Name of Hotel | Address | Tel./ Fax | No. of Rooms | No. of Beds | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff applicable till | E-mail/Web Site | Sea front rooms | Credit card accepted | Scuba Diving facility |
| Welcome Group Bay Island | Marine Hill, P/Blair | 234101 232198 232065 231555(F) | 45 | 90 | AC SB Rs.3,299 (A.P) AC SB Rs.2,999 (M.A.P) AC DB Rs.5,450 (A.P) AC DB RS.4,650 (M.A.P) | Yes | Negotiable | mail@welcomegroup.com www.welcomegroup.com | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*** (3 Star)
| Sl. No. | Name of the Hotel | Type of accommodation | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff Applicable till | Phone Nos. |
| 2. | Megapode Nest | Standard Room Double Occupancy Single Occupancy Deluxe RoomDouble Occupancy Single Occupancy Nicobari CottageExtra bed | Existing Rates 1300/- 1000/-
1600/- 1200/- 1800/- 350/-
| Rates from 1st Oct.2004 1400/- 1000/-
1600/- 1200/- 2000/- 350/- | a | 232076 232207 |
For reservation please contact :
B
General Manager,
ANIIDCO,
Vikas Bhawan,
Phone:03192-232207/232380
234108/232098
Fax: 03192-235098/232702
E-mail - aniidco@vsnl.com Website: www.aniidco.nic.in
* (1 Star)
| Sl. No. | Name of the Hotel | Type of accommodation | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff Applicable till | Phone Nos. |
| 1. | Palm Grove Eco Resort (With Tree Top Huts) E-mail:ecopalmgrove@hotmail.com | Tree top Hut deluxe Tree top Hut regular Eco Cottage-AC Eco family rooms (4 beds) Eco Double Rooms Additional persons | Rs.2000/- Rs.1000/- Rs.1000/- Rs.1000/- Rs. 550/- Rs. 150/- | Yes | a | 260282 260306 |
OP
Premium Hotels but not Star
| Name of Hotel | Address | Tel./ Fax | No. of Rooms | No. of Beds | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff applicable till | E-mail/Web Site | Sea front rooms | Credit card accepted | Scuba Diving facility |
| Peerless Beach Resort | Carbyn's Cove, P/Blair | 233461-64 240201-03 233463(F) | 51 | 102 | AC SB Rs.2,900(A.P) AC SB Rs.2,575(M.A.P) AC SB Rs.2,250(C.P) Rs.4,500(Cottages) AC DB Rs.4,950(A.P) AC DB Rs.3,650(C.P) AC DB Rs.4,300(M.A.P) AC DB Rs.2600 to Rs.3000 (E.P) | Yes | May to Sep 20% | ppbeachin @sancharnet.in | No | No | Yes |
| Sentinel | Phoenix Bay, Port Blair | 237914-17 236278(F) 232425(F) | 40 | 80 | NAC DB Rs. 1,800/- AC Dlx.DB Rs. 2,800/- AC Royal Suite Rs. 4,500/- AC DB Stnd.Rs.2,000 Extra Bed Rs.500 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | hotelsentine l@hotmail.com | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sinclairs Bay View | South Point, P/Blair | 233159 232937 231824(F) | 24 | 48 | AC SB Rs.2,210(E.P) AC SB Rs.2,910(A.P) AC SB Rs.2,520(M.A.P) NAC DB Rs.2,820(E.P) NAC DB Rs.4,220(A.P) NAC DB Rs.3,440(M.A.P) AC DB Rs.3,240(E.P) AC DB Rs.4,640(A.P) AC DB Rs.3,860(M.A.P) Extra Bed Rs.700 | Yes | May to Sep 10-15% | sinview@ cal3.vsnl.net.in sinclairshotels.com | Yes | Yes | Yes |
TOP
Budget Hotels
| Name of | Address | Tel./ Fax | No. of Rooms | No. of Beds | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff applicable till | E-mail/ Web Site | Sea front rooms | Credit card accepted | Scuba Diving facility |
| Citi King Palace | Supply Line, Port Blair |
233754 233320 230766 Fax- 233166
| 24 | 48 | Dlx. DB A/C Rs.1200/- Regular DB A/C Rs. 800/- Extra Bed Rs 300/-
| Yes | June to Sep. 20-25%
| citikpalace@yahoo.com | No | No | No |
| Shompen | Middle Point, P/Blair | 233236 232644 232682 232425(F) | 40 | 80 | AC DB Dlx. Rs.1,250 NAC DB Dlx. Rs.1,000 NAC DB Std.Room Rs.800.00 Extra Bed Rs.200 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | hotelshompen | No | No | No |
| N.K. International | Phoenix Bay, Sea Shore, P/Blair | 233382 233066 230413 230413(F) | 30 | 60 | AC DB Rs.750 AC SB Rs.550 NAC DB Rs.600 NAC SB Rs.400 Extra Bed Rs.150 | No | -- | N.A | No | No | No |
| Abhishek | Goal Ghar, Port Blair | 233565 234561 230705(F) | 32 | 60 | AC SB Rs.700 NAC DB Rs.500 AC DB Rs.800 NAC SB Rs.400 Extra Bed Rs.200 | Yes | June to Sep 20-25% | No | No | Yes | |
| Dhanalakshmi Pvt.Ltd. | Aberdeen Bazar, P/Blair | 233953 233952 234964(F) 238698(F) | 38 | 80 | AC SB Dlx. Rs.1,300 AC SB Stnd.Rs.700 AC X-tra B Rs.200 AC DB Dlx.Rs.1,500 AC DB Stnd.Rs.800 X-tra B Rs.200 NAC DB Rs.600 NAC SB Rs.400 | Yes | May to 15th Sep 25% | N.A | No | No | No |
| Blair | Hindi Sahitya Kala Parishad Complex, P/Blair | 238109 237668 234062(F) | 25 | 50 | AC DB Royal Suite Rs.1,750 AC DB Sup.Dlx. Rs.1,250 AC DB Dlx Rs.950 Std.AC DB Rs.750 AC SB Sup.Dlx. Rs.1,000 AC SB Dlx. Rs.800 Stnd.AC SB Rs.600 NAC DB Rs.550 NAC SB Rs.400 Extra bed Rs.200 | Yes | -- | hotelblair@yahoo.com | No | No | No |
| Holiday Resort | Prem Nagar, P/Blair | 230516 234231 234231(F) | 16 | 32 | AC DB Rs.800 AC SB Rs.600 NAC SB Rs.350 NAC DB Rs.500 Extra Bed Rs.150 | No | May to Sep 20%-50 % | holidayresort88 | No | No | No |
| Gem Continental | Goal Ghar, P/Blair | 234534 237537 232327(F) | 9 | 18 | AC Dlx.DB Rs.1,200 AC SB Rs.1,000 Extra Bed Rs.300 | Yes | May to Sep 10% | gemcontinenta @vsnl.com | No | No | No |
| Hotel Tejas | Haddo, Port Blair | 233760 230360 | AC DB Rs.750 NAC DB Delux Rs.650 NAC DB Rs.550 AC Four Bed Rs.1000 NAC Four Bed Rs.850 Extra Person Rs.50 Extra Bed Rs.100 | Yes | | hotel_tejas@yahoo.co.in | Yes | ||||
| Holiday Inn | Delanipur, P/Blair | 235167 239341(F) | 8 | 16 | AC SB Rs.600 AC DB Rs.800 NAC DB Rs.500 NAC SB Rs.350 | Yes | 10% for Travel Agents June to15th Sep 50% | arun-hi@yahoo.com | No | No | Yes |
| Shalimar | Delanipur, P/Blair | 239316 | 15 | 28 | NAC DB Rs.200 NAC Triple B Rs.275 | Yes | June to Sep 5-10% | hotelshalimar @yahoo.com | No | No | Yes |
| Atlanta Cottage | Near Cellular Jail, P/Blair | 236739 | 8 | 18 | NAC SB Rs.150 NAC DB Rs.400 NAC Trp.B.Rs.450 NAC 4 B Rs.650 | Yes | June to Sep 10% | N.A | No | No | No |
| Hornbill Nest Resort Plan | Carbyn's Cove, Port Blair | 246042 244449 233161(F) | 20 | 60 | AC DB Suite Rs.2,500 AC DB Rs.1,250 NAC DB Rs.800 NAC Four Bed Rs.1,200 Extra Bed Rs.300 | Yes | May to Sep | hornbillresort @rediffmail.com | Yes | No | Yes |
TOP
| Name of Hotel | Address | Tel./Fax | No. of Rooms | No. of Beds | E-mail/Web site | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff applicable till | Sea front rooms | Credit card accepted | Scuba Diving facility |
| Swagat Lodge | Aberdeen Bazar, | 239704 | 8 | 11 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.75 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Kavitha | Aberdeen Bazar, | 233762 | 25 | 40 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.100 NAC DB Rs.150 Dor.1Bed Rs.50 Extra Bed Rs.60 | No | -- | No | No | Yes |
| Ram Niwas | Aberdeen Bazar, | 233717 | 45 | 70 | N.A. | NAC Dlx.SB Rs.100 NAC SB Rs.85 NAC Rs.75 NAC Dlx. DB Rs.175 NAC DB Rs.125 Trp.Bed Rs.225 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Andaman Tourist Cottage | Babu Lane, | 230809 | 21 | 57 | N.A. | NAC DB Rs.125 NAC DB Rs.110 NAC DB Rs.100 NAC DB Rs.80 NAC DB Rs.30 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Sampat Lodge | Aberdeen Bazar, | 230752 | 23 | 67 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.60 | Yes | June to Sep 10% | No | No | No |
| Bengal K.P | Aberdeen Bazar, | 232964 | 33 | 73 | N.A. | NAC Dlx.SB Rs.100 NAC DB Rs.150 NAC DB Dlx. Rs.250 NAC Trp.B. Rs.225 NAC 4 Bed Rs.240 | No | May to Sep 10% | No | No | No |
| Jai Mathi | Phoenix Bay, | 230836 | 24 | 38 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.150 NAC DB Rs.200 Extra Bed Rs.25 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Nagri Inn | Dairy Farm, | -- | -- | -- | N.A. | NAC DB Rs.300 NAC DB Rs.200 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Shah N Shah | Mohan Pura, | 233696 | 18 | 39 | shahnshahrediff | NAC SB Rs.150 NAC DB Rs.50 Trp.Bed Rs.350 | Yes | May to Sep 10% | No | No | Yes |
| Jagannath Guest House | Phoenix Bay, | 232148 | 15 | 27 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.60 | Yes | May to Sep | No | No | No |
| Central Lodge | Goal Ghar, | 233632 | 20 | 30 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.60 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| K.K.Guest House | Aberdeen Bazar, | -- | | | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.35 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Anand Lodge | Haddo, | 233252 | 10 | 14 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.50 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Phoienix Lodge | Phoenix Bay, | 233820 | 20 | 40 | N.A. | NAC DB Rs.100 to Rs.150 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Youth Hostel | Near Netaji Stadium, P/Blair | 232459 | | | N.A. | Members Rs.20 (p/bed) | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Sagar Alok Lodge | Supply Lane, | 232133 | 8 | 12 | lalbullet | NAC SB Rs.50 NAC DB Rs.90 | No | -- | No | No | No |
| Azad Lodge | Aberdeen Bazar, | 242646 | 5 | 8 | azadcmc11 | NAC SB Rs.100 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | No | No | No |
| Mangrove Bay Resort | Wandoor | 280008 | 12 | 24 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.175 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sea View Tourist Complex | Near Jetty, | 282367 | 8 | 14 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.100 | Yes | May to Sep | No | No | No |
| M.S.Guest House | Near Jetty, | 282439 | 8 | 16 | N.A. | NAC DB Rs.200 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | Yes | No | No |
| MSM | Dairy Farm, Port Blair | 230721 | 12 | 26 | N.A. | NAC DS Rs.200 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | No | No | No |
| Nagri Inn | Dairy Farm, Port Blair | 239398 | 7 | 14 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.175 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | No | No | Yes |
| Mangrove Bay Resort | Wandoor | 280008 | 12 | 24 | N.A. | NAC SB Rs.175 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | Yes | No | Yes |
| YMCA International Guest House | 79, M.G.Road, Port Blair | 230478 | | | ymcaportblair@yahoo.co.in | AC DB Rs.400 NAC DB Rs.250 NAC SB Rs.150
| | | | | |
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| Name of Hotel | Address | Tel./Fax | No. of Rooms | No. of Beds | E-mail/Web Site | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff applicable till | Sea front rooms | Credit card accepted | Scuba diving facility |
| Jungle Resort | Radha Nagar, | 237656 237657(F) | 10 | 22 | www.travelworld-andaman.com | 4 Bed Cott.AC Rs.2600 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | Yes | No | Yes |
| Coconut Groves | Havelock | 282427 | 10 | 20 | N.A. | NAC DB Rs.200 | Yes | May to Sep 20% | Yes | No | No |
TOP
| Sl. No. | Name of the guest house | Type of accommodation | Tariff | Discount if Any | Tariff Applicable till | Phone Nos. |
| 1. | Andaman Teal House | AC (D/B) NAC (D/B) | Rs. 600/- Rs. 400/- | Yes | June to Sept 25% | 232642, 234060, 234061 |
| 2. | Dolphin Resort | VIP Cottage D/B Deluxe Semi Deluxe | Rs. 1500/- Rs. 1000/- Rs. 500/- | Yes | June to Sept 25% | 282411 Fax: 282444 |
| 3. | Hawabill Nest | AC Deluxe D/B AC Semi-Deluxe D/B NAC Dormitory | Rs. 1000/- Rs. 600/- Rs. 500/- ** | Yes | June to Sept 25% | 282630 |
| 4. | Hawksbill Nest | AC D/B NAC D/B Dormitory | Rs. 600/- Rs. 400/- Rs. 500/- ** | Yes | June to Sept 25% | 279022 |
| 5. | Swiflet Nest | AC D/B NAC D/B Dormitory | Rs. 600/- Rs. 400/- Rs. 500/- ** | Yes | June to Sept 25% | 273495 |
| 6. | Turtle Resort | AC D/B NAC D/B Dormitory | Rs. 600/- Rs. 400/- Rs. 500/- ** | Yes | June to Sept 25% | . |
** For Dormitory Rs.150/- per bed
For reservation please contact : Director, Information, Publicity and Tourism
Phone No. 230933
E-mail - dipt@cal3.vsnl.net.in
TOP
ACCOMMODATION RUN BY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
| Sl. No. | Name of the guest house | Type of accommodation | Tariff | Discount if Any | Phone Nos. |
| 1. | Municipal Lodging House, Aberdeen Bazar | NAC D/B NAC Triple bed C/B NAC Four Bed | Rs. 180/- Rs. 150/- Rs. 300/- | No | 234919 |
| 2. | Municipal Guest House, Delanipur | NAC D/Bed Room | Rs. 75/- | No | 234919 |
| 3. | Municipal Dharamsala, Aberdeen Bazar | NAC Dormitory NAC Bed Room NAC Double Bed | Rs. 10/- Rs. 15/- Rs. 30/- | No | 234919 |
For reservation please contact : Secretary, Municipal Council, Port Blair
Phone No. - 234919
E-mail
Tribal People
Andanmanese There are about thirty native Andanmanese remaining. They live mainly on small Strait Island. There were about 5,000 of them when the British arrived, but many died from diseases brought from the mainland.
Sentinelese The 120 Sentinelese people remaining resist contact with outsiders. They live on the North Sentinel Island by themselves.
Jarawa The 250 Jawaras live on a 750 sq km reserve on the islands of Middle and South Andaman. They do not appreciate people coming into their area, and when buses travel on Trunk Rd., they are protected by armed guards in case of attack.
Onge There are about 100 Onges living on a 100 sq km reserve at Dugong Creek on the island of Little Andaman. They are nomadic, and build temporary thatched huts, living in them only for about fifty days before moving on.
Nicobarese There are about 30,000 Nicobarese who live in villages and farm bananas, coconuts, yams and pigs. Their complexions are fair.
Shompen There are around 200 Shompens left. They live on Great Nicobar. They do not integrate with the people who have moved to the islands. They barter honey and nuts with the Nicobarese.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world is in the Andaman Islands because of the excellent coral and clear water. If you plan to snorkel, it is a good idea to bring your own equipment. What is for rent is often of low quality and expensive.
At the present time there are no diving schools operating in Port Blair.
Jagannatha Guest House rents snorkel equipment for Rs 50 per day. Other places usually rent snorkels for Rs 80 per day or more.
TS Abhishek Hotel, Dhanalaxmi Hotel, and Guruswamy on Babu Lane, all rent equipment. Two popular places to go on a day trip are MG National Marine Park and the beaches at Chiriya Tapu.
In the past there was a diving centers at the Samudra (233159 282634. Wild Orchid 282411; fax 232038' http://www.diveandaman.com), in the Hotel Sinclair’s Bay View, charges Rs 2500 for a few dives around Port Blair; Rs 3500 for other areas.
Also in the past there was the PADI course for Rs 10,000 and the PADI Open Water Course (five days) for Rs 15,000. A certificate is offered that is recognized internationally. This place may be operating when you visit Port Blair, but as far as we know it is closed now.
This place may also be operating. Port Blair Underwater (85389; fax (040) 339–2718), in the Peerless Resort at Corbyn’s Cove, is PADI registered. They charge about the same prices as the Samudra.
Andaman Adventure Sports (30295; fax same), near the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair, charges a cheaper rate. The owner is an expert, but they are not registered by PADI.
Andaman and Nicobar Scuba Diving Club (282113; Web Site www.andamanscubaclub.com), Bay Island Hotel on Marine Hill in Port Blair, runs good courses.
To dive in the MG National Park, visitors must pay an extra Rs 1000 to the park.
Coral can be damaged easily by even slight contact, so it pays to be very careful.
Cinque Islands
North and South Cinque are some of the most beautiful of the Andaman Islands. They have excellent coral formations. They are uninhabited, and visitors are allowed to visit only on day trips. Cinque Island has a sheltered bay and clear water, so it is a good place to snorkel. From where the boat lands, there is a path to the right leading to a beach on the other side of the island, which is ideal for snorkeling. If you are not going on a tour organized by a travel agency you will need permission from the Forest Department to visit. These islands are three hours by boat from Phoenix Bay and two hours from Chiriya Tapu, so it is expensive to get to.
Neil Island
Neil Island, located 40km northeast of Port Blair, has excellent coral and snorkeling. Beaches have numbers. Beach #1 is a 45-minute walk west of the boat jetty. Snorkeling is good at the north end of the beach. Many travelers prefer to camp out. It has a well with fresh water. A good beach is Neil Kendra.
Practicalities
Hawabill Nest Yatri Niwas (03192-282630) has rooms with dorm beds for Rs 170 and Rs 700/1100 with A/C. It should be reserved in advance with A&N Tourism. Built around a courtyard.
The APWD Guest House (30215) has two rooms. To camp, visitors must first obtain permission from the APWD in Port Blair.
There are some basic food places in the village. Often there are no bottled water or cold drinks available.
Boats Depart from Phoenix Bay to here (3 hr) on Wed and Fri at 6.30 am for Rs 15/20 for deck/upper clas.
Long Island
This island is located southeast of Middle Andaman and has sandy beaches and good coral reefs. There is a Forest Rest House and an APWD rest house on the island. It is a good place to camp. Campers must first obtain permission from the APWD in Port Blair.
From Port Blair and Havelock there are boats on Wed and Sat to this island (8 hr). The boat stops here before going to Rangat. You can rent a bicycle to get around. From Rangat visitors can sometimes take a lumber boat to here.
Middle Andaman
This island is not particular interesting and is not geared for tourism. You get to this island by boat or bus from Port Blair. The west side of the island is mainly made up of the Jawara Tribal Reserve. When the bus passes the Jarawa reserves the bus carries an armed guard, because the Jarawa tribals have been hostile since losing their land to Indian settlers. It is not a good idea to travel alone.
There are places to stay in Rangat and Mayabunder. To stay in the APWD rest houses, visitors need permission from the APWD Chief Engineer, whose office is near the Shompen Hotel in Port Blair (30215). The APWD rest houses are good places to stay, but are sometimes full.
Permission to rent a room must be given by the local APWD officer. It pays to be respectful. It is hard to find bottled water here.
Swiftlet Nest, in Karmatang Bay has rooms for 500/700.
Rangat
The closest nice beach is in Betapur, 20km away on the road to Mayabunder, which can be reached by bus. There is good snorkeling at Amakun Beach (9km).
In Rangat there are places to stay. The Hare Krishna Lodge and the APWD Guest House (74237) are basic places with rooms for Rs 150 to 250.
Hawksbill Nest(A&N Tourism) (03192 79022) has A/C rooms for Rs 500/700 and dorm beds for Rs 125. It should be booked in advance at the A&N Tourism office in Port Blair.
Rangat can be reached by bus from Port Blair (6 hr, 3 daily) or by boat (8 hr, several weekly) from Port Blair via Havelock Island. There is a bus to Mayabunder (3 hr).
Mayabunder
Mayabunder is 70km north of Rangat (3 hr by bus) and 160km by sea from Port Blair. The beach at Karmateng is a half-hour away by bus. There are several islands in the bay with beaches for swimming. None of the places in the area are good for snorkeling.
The APWD Guest House (73214) is a good, clean place in a great location. It should be reserved in advance if possible. It is the best place to eat in town. Dhanakakshmi Lodge is not so good, but it may be the only place available.
Yatri Niwas, Karmateng Bay, 10km northeast of Mayabunder, should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair.
Mayabunder can be reached by the daily bus from Port Blair (9 hr). There are several daily buses to Rangat and Karmateng. To get to North Andaman Island, you take a ferry to Kalighat (2½ hr, daily around 9 am) or Ariel Bay, from where you can catch a bus to Diglipur. Also, private boats leave early in the morning to Kalighat (Rs 350).
North Andaman
The main place to stay here is at Diglipur, which is a nothing town. There is a sandy beach at Kalipur, to which buses travel. You can walk from there to Saddle Peak (4 hr), but you first have to have permission from the Forest Officer at Arial Bay.
There is a weekly ferry to here from Port Blair (14 hr) with bunk and deck class. For the ferry from Diglipur to Port Blair, tickets go on sale the day before departure at the office next to the Diglipur Rest House. You can also get tickets on the boat, but often only deck class is available.
There is a daily boat from Mayabunder on Middle Andaman direct to Diglipur (4½ hr). You can also take a boat from Mayabunder to Kalighat (2½ hr, daily) and then a bus to Diglipur. There are beds in the APWD Guest House (72203). The Yatri Niwas has rooms. It should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair. From Diglipur there are regular buses to Aerial Bay and Kalighat.
In Kalighat there is a APWD Guest House. Balaji is a decent place to eat near the boat jetty. From Kalighat there is a crowded ferry to Mayabunder (2½ hr) around noon and regular buses to Diglipur.
Saddle Peak National Park
To visit here visitors must obtain a permit from the Forestry Dept. in Aerial. To get to the park you take a bus to Kalipur. You then walk south on the road from where the bus stops to a path and then take the second path on the right for around a half-hour until you arrive at the Forest Dept encampment. There is a Yatri Niwas Hotel at this place. You can walk to Lamia Bay, which has a beach and camping. From Lamia Bay it is a 5km walk to Saddle Peak (720m).
Little Andaman
The last 100 persons belonging to the Onge tribe live on a reserve at the south end of the island. Foreigners are not permitted to visit the reservation. The best beach is about 20km north of the boat jetty. It is a good place to camp and swim, but is not good for snorkeling.
Basic supplies can be purchased from the village a couple of km north of the boat jetty. The APWD Guest House, 1km north of the village. Rooms are Rs 200/300 per person and Rs 90 for a dorm bed. It should be booked at A&N Tourism in Port Blair. When you arrive, you have to register at the police station a few km north of the APWD Guest House.
Boats dock at Hut Bay on the east side of the island. There are one or two boats a week between Port Blair and Hut Bay (8 hr) for Rs 18 for lower and Rs 35 for upper deck.tc
Other Islands
North Passage and Bharatang Islands are open for overnight stays.
Interview, Narcondam, Brother, and Sisters Islands can be visited only on day trips, but there are no regular boats to these islands. You can take a boat to the volcanic Barren Island, but you are not allowed to leave the boat.
The only places to stay on these islands are in Forest Rest Houses (about Rs 80 per night), or in APWD Guest Houses. Reserve in advance in Port Blair at the APWD office near the Hotel Shompen, or at the Forest Department in Haddo. Some people bring tents and hammocks and camp out on the beach. You can rent a tent from Andaman
Teal House for Rs 60 a day. Fires are not permitted, so you should bring a kerosene stove with you. It is often not possible to buy kerosene on the islands, so you should bring your own supply.
Pop: 78,000 Area Code: 03192
Port Blair is the capital and the only decent-sized town on the islands. It is a pleasant town located on the east side of South Andaman Island.
The Island Tourism Festival is a cultural event lasting ten days. It is held at the end of February.
Orientation
Port Blair is spread out over several hills, so it is difficult to walk around. Most of the hotels, boat docks, and bus stations are in the main bazaar area called Aberdeen Bazaar. The closest beach is Corbyn’s Cove, 8km south of the center of town. The airport is 3km south of Aberdeen Bazaar.
Information
The helpful Government of India Tourist Office (ITDC) (233006) is in the Super Shoppe complex, near the airport (Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm). The office provides a printout of useful practical information.
The Andaman and Nicobar Tourist Office (232747) is near the GPO (Mon to Sat 9 am to 5 pm). They have information on tours and ferry schedules.In the south part of twon opposite Indian Airlines
There is a tourist counter (03292/232414) at the airport, which provides information about accommodations and sites on South Andaman Island.
The Chief Wildlife Warden (33549, 31371) in Haddo, west of the Phoenix Bay Jetty, can give information on wildlife, and travel to places such as Chirya Tapu and Mount Harriet. Permits for various places are also issued in this office.
You can reserve rooms in APWD guesthouses at the APWD Office (30215), near the Shompen Hotel.
The Superintendent of Police, (33590) in Aberdeen Bazaar, can extend permits.
Camping equipment can be rented from Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) in Port Blair.
Reference books about the Andaman Islands are available at the State Library, near the GPO (noon to 7 pm).
Travel Agencies and Tours
Well-established travel agents are A&N Tourism (32642) at Andaman Teal House; Island Travels (21358) at Aberdeen Bazaar; and Shompen Travels (32360, 33028) in the Shompen Hotel. Sunshine Tours arranges good tours of Port Blair.
Island Travel (233358) is an agent for Indian Airlines and Thai Airways. They also do foreign exchange and rent cars.
KLM Travels (32111; fax 34255) gives good environmental freely tours of the islands.
A tour boat departs daily at 3 pm from the Phoenix Bay jetty for a 1½ hr ride around the harbor. It stops briefly at Viper Island. You book it at the Marine Dept (20725).
Money
The State Bank of India changes cash and travelers checks (9 am to 12 noon, 1pm-3pm).
Island Travels (33034), near Sampat Lodge & the clock in Aberdeen Bazaar, changes money efficiently daily except Sun 9am-1pm, 2 to 4 pm. The higher-class hotels usually change money.
ICICI Bank ATM (Moulana Azad Rd & Foreshroe Roads) accepts MaterCard, VISA and Cirrus.
Most hotels do not acceot credit cards.
Post, Internet and Faxes
The GPO is about 1km south of Aberdeen Bazaar. Next door, at the Telegraph Office (fax 21318), visitors can send and receive faxes.
Internet facilites at Holiday Resort (9am-11pm Rs 30 hr), or at Cyber Point (9am-11pm, 35 per hr) & Kembu's netJoint (9am-8pm, 35 per hr), both on Moulana Azad Rd.
Cellular Jail National Memorial
The British built this jail at the beginning of the 1900s. It once had seven wings, but only three remain. Many Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned here. It has a small museum. Open daily 9 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Admission free. There is a Sound and Light Show in English on Wed, Sat and Sun at 7 pm. (Rs 25).
Zoo
There are over 100 species of animals on the Andaman Islands found nowhere else in the world. Some of them are in this zoo, including Andaman pigs and Nicobar pigeons. They have a successful saltwater crocodile-breeding program. Open daily except Mon 8 am to 5 pm. Admission Rs 1.
Chatham Sawmill and Forest Museum
Timber is processed at the Sawmill. Open 8 am to 2.30 pm.
In the Forest Museum near the zoo, there is an exhibit of woods grown in the Andaman Islands. Open Mon to Sat, 8 am to 3 pm. Admission free.
Anthropological Museum
This small, interesting museum contains photos of indigenous tribal people, native dress, and tools. Open Mon to Sat 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm. Admission free.
Fishery Museum
This interesting museum and aquarium contains over 300 species found in the Andaman Sea, including exotic fish and coral. Open daily 9 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 to 5 pm.
Samudrika Marine Museum
In this museum there are exhibits of coral, shells, and displays on the history of the island. It is opposite Andaman Teal House. Open Tues to Sun 9 am to noon and 2 to 5.30 pm. Admission Rs 15.
Water Sports Complex
At this place, near the Fisheries Museum, visitors can hire sailboats, rowboats, and windsurfing equipment. Snorkels can be rented, but you can use them only here. Water skiing for Rs 250 for 20 minutes.
Viper Island
Viper Island, at the mouth of Port Blair Harbor, is where prisoners were kept before the Cellular Jail was built.
Where to Stay—Lower
Checkout time is often as early as 7 am in the morning, so you may want to ask about this.
The Youth Hostel (32459) has dorm beds for Rs 50 (Rs 60 for nonmembers) and a few private rooms for Rs 125.
Sampat (33752, 30752), Aberdeen Bazaar, has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 90/175 and with bath for Rs 250. The rooms with balconies are best.
Central Lodge (233632), Middle Point, is a popular, inexpensive hotel with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 100/125 and Rs 175 with bath. There is camping in the garden for Rs 75.
Hotel Jai Mathi (30836), 78 MI Rd, has rooms with bath for Rs 200/240 and up. Hot water in buckets in the morning.
Jagannath Guest House (32140. 32148), Moulana Azad Rd, has good, clean rooms with bath for Rs 100/250 and up. It is a well-managed, friendly place. It is a good value. Recommended. It is near the bus station and Phoenix Bay Jetty/
Shah and Shah (32331), near Aberdeen Bazaar & the bus stand, has large clean rooms. It is a new, nice, friendly, recommended place.
Where to Stay—Middle
Hotel Shalimar (33953), on the road to Haddo, has rooms with bath for Rs 300/325 and Rs 350 with A/C. You can ask for a discount.
Hornbill Nest Yatri Nivas (232018; fax 233161; E: hornbillresort@rediffmail.com), around 1km north of Corbyn’s Cave, has clean rooms with two/four/six beds for Rs 900 to deluxe rooms for 1300. It has a great location with good views.
Hotel Shompen (32360, 32644; fax 32425), 2 Middle Pt, Kamaraj Rdhas rooms for Rs 400 and Rs 800 with A/C.
Hotel Abhishekh (33565) has clean rooms with bath for Rs 450/500 and Rs 550/600 with A/C. It is a friendly, well-managed place.
Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) (234060), on the road to Haddo, has clean double rooms with bath for Rs 500 and Rs 700 with A/C. It has good views and is a good value. Iti is on a hill overlooking Haddo port. Off-season discounts
Hotel Dhanalaxmi (234963-4; fax: 238698), in Aberdeen Bazaar, has large rooms with bath for Rs 500/750 to Rs 850/950. The rooms in front can be noisy.
Holiday Resort (230516; fax 234231; E: holidayresort88@hotmail.com or info@aboutandamans.com), Premnagar, has clean large rooms with bath and TV for Rs 550/600 and Rs 700/900 with A/C. It is a good place. Has a good Internet cafe.
Megapode Nest (233659, 235098; fax 32702: pblanitco1@sancharnet.com), at Haddo, has spacious double rooms with bath, a TV and A/C for Rs 1100/1400 and Rs 1800 for a cottage. It is peaceful, has a good view from the terrace, and is a good value. It is on top of the hill Price includes breakfast. overlooking the bay.
Nicobari Cottages (20207), next door, has rooms with bath and a good view for Rs 1100. It is a good place and has a good restaurant.
Where to Stay—High
Sinclairs Bay View (232937 233159; fax 231824; E: sinbview@cal3.vsnl.net.in or pblsinbview@sancharnet.in), on a clifftop on the road to Corbyn’s Cove, has clean rooms with a good view of the sea for Rs 2000/2200 and Rs 2000/3000 with A/C. It has a good Indian restaurant. Located here is the Samudra Diving Centre. Has a nice garden. A good top-end choice. Has a hotel shuttle bus
Peerless Resort (233461; fax 233463; E: pblbeachinn@sancharnet.in), Corbyn’s Cove, is located in a quiet area next to the beach. It has A/C rooms for Rs 2400/3800 and A/C cottages for Rs 5000. Discounts available during the off-season. You can book this place on the mainland at their Chennai office (044-2435-3079; fax 24320605 In a great location with rooms with balconies
Andaman Beach Resort (32463), Corbyn’s Cove, is in a great location surrounded by palm trees, next to a nice beach. It has rooms with balconies and nice cottages.
Welcomgroup Bay Island Hotel (32112; fax 31555; Email: sripadshir@yahoo.com), Marine Hill, has rooms for Rs 3400/5000, which includes meals. It has a nice garden, a good view and a pool.
Fortune Resort - Bay Island (234101; fax 231555; E: sripadsudhir@yahoo.com. bombayisland@email.com) has rooms with balconies for 3600/5500 and up. Has great viences and the rooms are fairly good for the money. Has a salt-water pool. Have great service and an excellent location.
Where to Eat
Islet Restaurant serves good Chinese and Indian food.
New India Cafe, on the ground floor of the Hotel Jai Mathi, serves inexpensive thalis.
Dhanalaxmi Restaurant, in the Dhanalakshmi Hotel, is a popular place with good vegetarian food.
Delhi Cafeteria, across from Mountbatten Talkies, is a good, inexpensive place.
Ananda Restaurant, near the Hotel Dhanalaxmi, has low-priced thalis.
China Room (230759), near the Phoenix Bay Jetty, serves good Chinese food. Should be booked in advance.
Chinese Restaurant is a good outdoor place. Recommended.
Annapurna Cafe, Aberdeen Bazaar, is a popular place with great dosas and good breakfasts. Recommended.
The Waves, Corbyn’s Cove, is a good place.
Mandalay Restaurant, in the Bay Island Hotel, is a pleasant place to eat with good food.
Local Travel
Taxis wait at the west end of Gandhi Rd, across from the bus station. A taxi to Corbyn’s Cove should cost about Rs 60. There are regular buses to Wandoor (1½ hr).
Shompen Travels (32360), at the Shompen Hotel, can charter a boat for about Rs 10,000 per day.
Riding a bicycle can be difficult because of the hills. You can hire a bike at Aberdeen Bazaar for Rs 20 per day. Jagannath Guest House rents bikes.
Motorcycles can be rented from TSG Travels (232894), Babu Lane, in the center of Aberdeen Bazaar. Suzuki 150 or scooters are Rs 150 to Rs 250 per day. Jagannath Guest House and Singh Travels (33757) in Aberdeen Bazaar, rent motorcycles for Rs 200 to Rs 300 per day. GDM Tours (232999) also rents motor bikes.
There is a petrol station on the road to the airport, and also one west of the bus stand.
Ferry The Marine Department (32742) and the Phoenix Jetty Boating Office have the schedules for boats and ferries going to other islands. The daily newspaper publishes ferry schedules. Snacks are sold on board.
There are boats to Havelock, Rangat Bay, Aerial Bay and Mayabunder. The boats to Rangat Bay go on two different routes—via Neil, Havelock, and Strait Islands, and via Baratang, Kadamtala, and Long Island.
Harbor ferries go from Phoenix Jetty to Bamboo Flats, Hope Town, and Ross Island. From Chatham Jetty, boats go to Bamboo Flats and Dundas Pt about every hour. There is a car ferry at 9 am.
Travel
Air Indian Airlines (234744, 233108; Airport: 232983; fax 231483), near the GPO, has flights from Kolkata (Calcutta)) ($250 one-way) to Port Blair five days (not Wed & Fri) a week. There are flights from Chennai ($200) to Port Blair four days a week on Indian Airlines.
There are daily flights to Chennai ($200) on Jet Air (236922; Airport: 35911). Flights are often heavily booked and persons on waiting class do not usually get on. During the high-season flights can be booked out months in advance, so it is a good idea to book your return flight before coming to the islands. If your permit has almost expired, you may be able to go to the airline manager and be put on a priority waiting list. The office is open Mon to Sat 9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm.
Shompen Travels (20360), at the Shompen Hotel, books East-West flights.
The airport is 5km south of Port Blair. There is a bus run by the tourist office going to most hotels in Port Blair for Rs 20. From the airport to Aberdeen Bazaar by taxi should cost about Rs 50-60
Boat There are usually two to four boats a month between Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta) and Port Blair. Boats are operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) (233347; 233590; fax 233778). There is also a monthly boat from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair (may not depart).
The SCI office in Chennai is at Jawahar Building, Rajaji Salai (opposite the Customs House) (044 522-6873; 044 522-0841) and the SCI office in Kolkata (Calcutta) is on the first floor at 13 Strand Rd (033 248-2354; fax 033 248-0377). The SCI office in Visakhapatnam is at AV Bhanoji (0891 565-597), near the main gate of the port.
In Port Blair the SCI office for the Kolkata (Calcutta) boat is in Aberdeen Bazaar opposite the Dhanalaksmi Hotel (233-590). You may have to go to Phoenix Bay to book the Chennai boat.
To book a boat in Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta), you must have three photos and the appropriate forms. You are supposed to book the boat at least four days before the boat departs. You may be required by the SCI to have a permit to visit the islands. It is best to arrange the return ticket from Port Blair before departing from Chennai or Kolkata (Calcutta). Bookings should be reconfirmed two days before the boat’s departure.
The trip from Chennai takes three or four days; and from Kolkata (Calcutta) five days. Bunk class costs Rs 1500, but foreigners are usually not permitted to take this class. There is second class (four to six-berth) for Rs 2600, first class (two to four-berth) for Rs 4500, and deluxe (two-berth) for Rs 3600.
Meals costs about Rs 175 a day (usually a thali served three times a day). You may want to bring something extra, such as fruit and bottled water.
Bus The bus station (232-278) is in the center of town. Buses go to various places in the area.
There are buses to Rangat and Mayabunder in the morning. Tickets for these buses must be bought the day before departure at the office near the Phoenix boat jetty. Tickets go on sale at 2 pm, but you should be lined up early because the demand is heavy.
Geetanjali Travels, near the bus stand and Ananda (233-252) run luxury buses to many places.
Corbyn’s Cove
Corbyn’s Cove is the closest beach to Port Blair (8km). It is a white-sand beach surrounded by palm trees. The water is warm and the surf mild. A taxi costs about Rs 50. Taxis wait at the beach for return trips to Port Blair. It is a nice walk from Port Blair to Corbyn’s Cove. Andaman Beach Resort is a high-end hotel located near the beach.
Snake Island, nearby, has nice coral reefs. Visitors can hire a fishing boat to go to the island. To swim there can be dangerous because of the strong current.
Mt Harriet
Mt Harriet (365m) is across the bay from Port Blair. To get here you take a boat from Chatham Wharf to Bamboo Flat (7km) or from Phoenix Bay to Hope Town (4km) and then walk to Mt Harriet. You can also take a vehicle to Bamboo Flat or Hope Town. Entry foreigners/Indians/students Rs 250/25/5
There are buses to these places leaving at 6 am and 8 am. You can also take a taxi to Mt Harriet from Bamboo Flat. To take a taxi to the top cost Rs 300. There are nice walks in the area. To get permission to walk around the area, contact the Chief Wildlife Warden at the Forest Department in Haddo. He may also give permission to stay at the Forest Guest House at Mt Harriet.
North of Mt Harriet at Madhuban, elephants are trained for logging. To get there, take a boat from the Phoenix Bay Jetty (30 min) to Bamboo Flats, then a bus the rest of the way. You can also take a car from Chatham Wharf Jetty to Bamboo Flats.
Ross Island
Ross Island was once the site of the British headquarters, but it is now deserted and the buildings are in ruins. There is an interesting church on top of the hill and a museum near the boat jetty, which are worth seeing. Swimming is not allowed around the island. You may want to pack a lunch, as the island has no eating facilities other than a cold drink stand.
Boats (Rs 16 return, 20 min) depart from Phoenix Bay jetty daily except Wed 8.30 am, 10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 2 pm. From Ross Island boats depart at 9 am, 11 am, and 12.45 pm, 2.30 pm, and 5 pm. Rs 5 for entry. You are required to sign in upon arrival.
Chiriya Tapu
Chiriya Tapu is a small village, 33km south of Port Blair, with a good beach. There is another good beach a few km south of the village, with some of the best snorkeling on the island. It is a nice place for bird watching. There are good places to camp, and a few small beaches further south.
You can get a boat from this place to take you to Cinque Island. There are buses to Chiriya Tapu from Port Blair (1½ hr) every few hours. The last bus returns at around 7 pm. You can also come here by scooter.
Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park
MG National Park encompasses fifteen islands and extends about 300 sq km. It is home to fifty types of corals, exotic fish, beautiful jungles, good beaches, mangroves, and birdlife. It is a good place to snorkel. Only three of the islands can be visited—Red Skin, Jolly Buoy, and Cinque. No one is permitted to stay overnight on the islands. Collection of coral and shells is not permitted.
To get to the park, you first go to the village of Wandoor, 30km southwest of Port Blair. There is a bus from Port Blair to Wandoor (1½ hr). From the boat jetty in Wandoor, boats visit some of the islands in the park (Rs 150). Tours also go to the park.
Entry Permists are foreigner/Indian Rs 500/50.Camera is Rs 30
Red Skin & Jolly Buoy Islands
These two islands are located in MG National Park. A boat departs Tues to Sun from Wandoor village to Red Skin and Jolly Buoy islands at 10 am (1½ hr) and returns around 5 pm. The boat should be booked in advance. It can be arranged through a travel agency or your hotel.
The islands are beautiful and there are some nice coral and fish. It is a good place for beginning snorkelers because the water is shallow in places. You can take a ride on a glass bottom boat to see the coral.
The disappointing thing about this trip is that only a few hours are actually spent at the island. On Jolly Buoy Island, the best coral is to the left of the landing place. The current can be strong here, so it is a good ideal to be careful. The trip costs Rs 125; less during the off-season because then the boat goes only to Red Skin. You have to pay an extra Rs 15 as park entry.
Havelock, 55km northeast of Port Blair, is a 100 sq km island that has great white-sand beaches and clear water, which is perfect for snorkeling. There are interesting coral formations and large fish—dolphins and turtle, which make snorkeling very interesting. This is one of the few islands at which foreigners are permitted to stay overnight.
The beach at Radhnagar, 10km from the boat jetty, is one of the best beaches for swimming.
Bengali settlers inhabit the northern part of the island. Each village is numbered. The boat jetty is at village #1 and the main shopping area is in village #3, a couple of km south.
A bicycle is a good way to get around. You can bring your own or rent one in village #3 or across from the Dolphin Yatri Niwas for Rs 40 per day. You can rent a scooter for Rs 200 per day at Narayana pan shop in village #3. The villages are connected by hourly buses, which go to beach #7.
Where to Stay
Gauranga Lodge, between villages #1 and #3, has basic rooms for Rs 125.
MS VS Lodge (03192-82439, half a km from the boat jetty, has basic rooms with bath for Rs 250 and Rs 75for a dorm bed.
You have to reserve a rooms in advance with A&N Tourism in Port Blair to stay at the Tent Resort or Dolphin Yatri Niwas Complex.
Tent Resort, next to beach #7, has eight, good-sized tents for Rs 250 to 300 per person. You can only stay for four days. Well water is available for washing. There is a basic restaurant. To get here you take a bus to village #6 and then walk 4km to beach #7
There is also a Tent Resort near beach #5.
Dolphin Yatri Niwas (03192-82411, 33328), next to a secluded beach (not so nice), has a nice garden and cottages with bath for Rs 600, Rs 700 for a deluxe room and Rs 1100 to 1700 with A/C. It has a restaurant. It can be reserved in advance at the tourist office. A bus comes here from the boat jetty.
The Wild Orchid (03192-82472;; E) has rooms with A/C for Rs 2000/2500 and 2700/3200 during the high season. It is located on a beautiful beach. Rooms have beautiful tranditioanl Andamanese designs. Landscape gardens. Includes free breakfasts. Can be booked at Island Travels (03192-33358; fax 30109; E: islandtravels@yahoo.com) in Port Blair.
Some people bring their own tents and stay on the beach.
Where to Stay Radhnagar
ANIDCCO Camp have tents for Rs 150 to Rs 500.
Harmony Resort (03192-37656) has rooms for Rs 150.
Jungle Resort (03192-37656; fax: 37657; E susheeldixit@yahoo.com) has baisc huts for Rs 400 and luxury wood-thatch cottages stariting at Rs3400. It is near No 7 Beach. Rates for the cottages includes meals.
Travel
Ferry depart from Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair to here on everyday (2 hr, Rs 150).
Eco-Tourism & Adventure water sports
Islands have many attractions for adventure loving eco-tourism. There are 96 wildlife sanctuaries and 6 national parks. The island are covered with dense forest and offers variety of exotic flora and fauna. The islands have 92% forest cover, 110 species of wild orchids, 120 species of fish 179 species of corals, 246 varieties of birds etc. Island water is suitable for adventure water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, game fishing etc. Trekking through dense ever green forest , birds watching and island camping in beach are other adventure activities of the client.
Snorkeling: .Snorkeling to view corals and marine life you can visit, Northbay, Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Havelock island etc.
Scuba Diving : Underwater marine life coral can be explored through scuba diving at Rutland Island, Wandoor, Snake Island, North Point, Neil Island etc. Generally two dives including equipment, boat charges, refreshment cost about Rs.3,200/- per person in and around Port Blair.
Game Fishing : Surmai fishing organizes game fishing.
Water Sports: Water sports, skiing, speed boat ride is possible at water sport complex, Aberdeen Jetty.
Trekking: Trekking through evergreen forest is possible from Bambooflat to Mount Harriet, Mount Harriet to Madhuban etc.
Bird Watching: Bird watching is possible during early morning hours at Chidyatapu, Shippigat, Mount Harriet etc.
Island Camping: Tourism Department operates island camping at Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock.
Turtle Nesting: There are many turtle nesting grounds in these islands. Cutbertbay near Rangat can be visited for turtle nesting.
Volcano: Barren Island about 135kms from Port Blair is the only active volcano in India.
ay 1 Harbour Cruise for a panoramic view of different points around Harbour including visit to Viper island.
Sound and Light Show at Cellular Jail where freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere.
Day 2 Visit Coral island - North Bay
Day 3
City tour : Cellular Jail, Water Sports Complex, Corbyn”s Cove Beach, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum and Shopping.
Day 4 Visit Ross Island erstwhile Capital during the British regime and now in ruin
Chidiyatapu beach the sunset point
Day 5 Visit Mount Harriet, the highest peak in South Andaman with lush green forest Sphere: Related Content
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