Mrs Bhandari's Guesthouse Cantonment, Amritsar Punjab Guesthouse Hotels and Resorts in Amritsar Punjab, Hotels and Resorts in Amritsar Punjab Hotels in Amritsar Best Hotels in Amritsar Hotels in Amritsar

Mrs. Bhandari's Guesthouse

Amritsar, Punjab

"Legacy of the much-loved Mrs Bhandari (1906 - 2007), this earthy, eco-conscious guest house is set on spacious green grounds. The unfussy, comfy rooms bring back memories of grandma's place and will appeal to those seeking a calm, uncommercial atmosphere. Overlanders with their own tents can camp here for a modest charge. The main house is filled with charming old treasures like the century-old wood stove. Ask about past celebrity guests. "LONELY PLANET

There are two good reasons to visit Amritsar. One is to see the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs; the other is to stay at Mrs. Bhandari's. This perfectly preserved late-Raj family residence is situated off a leafy road in Amritsar's Cantonment area. It's presiding spirit, Mrs. Bhandari, is now aged 91. She has been living in the house since 1930 and takes pride in the fact that "nothing has changed" -apart from such newfangled additions as air-conditioning in some of the guest rooms, and a fax machine in the office. It is true: to go through the red brick gatehouse marked No.10 is to enter a time warp. The main house is in colonial style with Art-Deco touches, softened by climbing bougainvillea. It is surrounded by an English garden with brick paths, pergolas and arches, the whole screened off from the hubbub of the outside world by mature trees. The guest wing is a long single-story affair, with a verandah looking onto lawns. The layout of the rooms is similar to "chummeries" - the bachelor quarters allocated to junior Raj officials and box wallahs.

Accommodation

We have 12 double rooms with baths attached, running hot and cold water. Extra beds are available.

These rooms have INDIVIDUAL AIRCONDITIONING units which function on the main power supply. This also applies to HEATERS. In case of a power-cut or general breakdown the GENERATOR is switched on for FANS AND LIGHTS.

All rooms have functioning FIREPLACES. There will be an EXTRA CHARGE for their use.

Amenities

The outdoor SWIMMING POOL HAS A FILTER. It is open from MARCH to NOVEMBER for RESIDENTS ONLY. There is a well-maintained CHILDREN'S PARK. The rooms DO NOT have TELEPHONES or TELEVISIONS. FAX and TELEPHONE/INTERNET facilities are available in the Office. NO COLLECT CALLS POSSIBLE. General viewing of CABLE TELEVISION is possible. LAUNDRY services are available.

Amenities

Furnishings are simple, almost Spartan, with colonial-style furniture and faded prints. Dinner was served in the parlor. With its Army & Navy Stores stoneware water filter, its orderly piles of patterned crockery (including Mabel Lucy Attwell children's plates, circa 1945) and vast soup tureens, this room would have made an impeccable set for The Jewel in the Crown. And the menu was pure Anglo-Indian; cream of vegetable soup, butter chicken and roast potatoes with three veg, followed by creme caramel.

visit Amritsar

It is true: to go through the red brick gatehouse marked No.10 is to enter a time warp. The main house is in colonial style with Art-Deco touches, softened by climbing bougainvillea. It is surrounded by an English garden with brick paths, pergolas and arches, the whole screened off from the hubbub of the outside world by mature trees. The guest wing is a long single-story affair, with a verandah looking onto lawns. The layout of the rooms is similar to chummeries the bachelor quarters allocated to junior Raj officials and box wallahs.

Places of Interest

SHRI HARIMANDIR SAHIB also known as the GOLDEN TEMPLE Visit the holiest of temples dedicated to the SIKH faith. Do not forget to look inside the LANGAR or kitchen where food is prepared for distribution free of cost to all visitors to the temple.
There is an impressive ceremony every evening (summer and winter timings vary) when the GURU GRANTH SAHIB the holy book of the Sikhs, is carried over the bridge to the high seat of learning SHRI AKAL TAKHT SAHIB. In the early hours of the morning it returns to the main shrine.

Places of Interest

Right next door to the temple is the JALLIANWALA BAGH renowed for the massacre that took place in 1919.
DURGIANA TEMPLE is also called MATA SITALA MANDIR. It is dedicated to HINDU gods and goddesses.
RAM BAGH also known as COMPANY BAGH is where MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH built his summer residence. The palace is now a quaint museum (closed on Mondays).

Places of Interest

MATA LAL DEVI TEMPLE is sometimes referred to as the MOTHER INDIA TEMPLE. It has been recently constructed in honor of a lady. SHRIMATI LAL DEVI, who is remembered for her charitable works.
The border between India and Pakistan has been named WAGAH.

Places of Interest

The FLAG CEREMONY or the beating of the retreat can be witnessed there at sundown daily. The border is at a distance of about 35 kilometers. The time required should be calculated roughly 2 hours for the return journey. The city and these places mentioned above (except for the Flag Ceremony) can be visited by pedal or scooter rickshaw or by tonga (horse-carriage). For the journey to the border it is advisable to hire a taxi.

Rooms

Rooms

Rooms

Wash Room

Restaurant

Restaurant

Open Lawn

Swimming Pool