Review: AC Waiting Lounge at Haridwar Junction Railway Station

• • Haridwar, Uttarakhand

AC Waiting Lounge at Haridwar Junction Railway Station is on Platform No. 1.

I reached Haridwar Junction Railway Station from Rishikesh to travel via HW BDTS EXP (19020) to Mumbai.

As there was approx. 1 hour for the train to start the journey I started searching the waiting room and I found AC Waiting Lounge.

I decided to enter the AC Waiting Lounge but first I was requested to submit the train ticket PNR number to the booking counter.

Below are the details of the AC Waiting Lounge:
Seating Charges per Person per Hour
For an Adult – Rs. 30
For a Child (5 to 12 years) – Rs. 20
For a Child (below 5 years) – Nil

Note: Passengers sitting in the AC waiting hall are requested to keep track of their check-out time otherwise a charge of Rs. 30 per person for 0 to 60 minutes will be charged.

I registered my name and PNR number and paid Rs. 60 (2 travelers) to avail the seating facilities of the AC Waiting Lounge.

After entering the AC Waiting Lounge I saw a massage/relaxation chair and the charge to avail the services was Rs. 50 for a 10-minute massage and Rs. 80 for a 20-minute massage.

Not only the massage/relaxation chair there is a locker facility available too and the charges were:
Per-Locker 0-24 Hrs – Rs. 50
Every Subsequent 24 Hrs – Rs. 70

Other than above said facilities there is a small canteen where packed foods & drinks are available on M.R.P.

Tea (150 ml.) for Rs. 10, Coffee (150 ml.) for Rs. 10, Rail Neer (1 ltr.) Packaged Drinking Water for Rs. 15, Cold Drinks on MRP., Veg. Sandwich (125 gm.) 2 Slices Bread with Veg. + Tomato Sauce for Rs. 18 and ice cream on MRP.

I had a cup of hot coffee.

In short, I found the AC Waiting Lounge comfortable – the best for resting and relaxing, safe, less crowded, cool, clean, and excellent for waiting before catching the train for individual destinations.

The toilet I did not use. Can’t say about its cleanliness still one must visit the AC Waiting Lounge at least once.

The experience was amazing. I loved the idea of having such an AC waiting lounge at a railway station.

In short: Affordable prices, hygiene, and cleanliness at par, all under one roof – open 24×7. It’s worth all the money.

Any bona fide railway passenger with a PNR or Aadhaar Card can rest at the AC Waiting Lounge.

These lounges enhanced passenger’s rail travel experience. A hidden gem.

A great initiative by the railways.

Review: Omkarananda Ganga Sadan – Guest House in Rishikesh

• • Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

Omkarananda Ganga Sadan – Guest House in Rishikesh since 1985 is sparkling clean & beautiful, right on the banks of the picturesque holy river Ganga with a view of the Himalayas especially from the 2nd-floor balcony is amazing.

This serene setting provides the perfect lodging for yoga students or tourists visiting Rishikesh.

The guesthouse – an ashram, and a yoga studio is the best location in Rishikesh within walking distance from the Ram Jhula suspension bridge.

Check-in time: 00:00
Check-out time: 12:00 Noon
The market and transport facilities including taxis, sharing autos, and two-wheeler hire are very close within walking distance.
The rooms are extremely clean, spacious, and with basic facilities. In winter season quilt will be provided.
They have a generator facility too in case there is a power breakdown.

A small garden is there where you can sit and do Yoga & Pranayama. It is a Divine experience.

Hygienic and delicious food (breakfast, lunch & dinner) is available at Annakshetra. You have to order in advance.

Meals Timings

Breakfast: 8 am – 10 am

Lunch: 1 pm – 2 pm (order before 10:30 am)

Dinner: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm (order before 5:30 pm)

(Order all meals at the reception)

FYI: Annakshetra closes a little early at 5 pm every Sunday. There is no dinner availability on Sundays.

The best way to contact the center is via email. You may walk in and request a room if they have any vacant rooms.

They have 23 rooms (single/double/triple bed – with/without toilet) reasonably priced starting from Rs. 800 till Rs. 3000 (air-conditioned).

The bathroom had a shower, and a geyser for hot water, and the toilet (with jet spray) is Western-style with handwash liquid soap available.

Wifi, Charging Points, and a water purifier are available.

You can request room cleaning every day.

Note: The staff is receptive but strict. They close the gates at 10 pm, thus you can’t roam around Rishikesh.

I have been visiting Omkarananda Ganga Sadan – Guest House in Rishikesh for the past 10 years. This time I stayed with my mother. Definitely will choose Omkarananda Ganga Sadan again to stay if get a chance to visit Rishikesh again.

Every morning I could admire the Sunrise over the hills and see the Ganga and its rushing sound. Loved it.

If you wish to learn authentic Iyengar Yoga, you may join Yoga classes too conducted by Usha Devi. It is an ashram to practice the Iyengar style of yoga in Rishikesh. Highly recommended guest house.

You may contact Shailendra or Vinod at the reception for more details.

Ram Jhula, Rishikesh to Haridwar Junction Railway Station via Shared Auto-Rickshaw – How much fare I Paid?

• • Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

Ram Jhula, Rishikesh to Haridwar Junction Railway Station via Shared Auto-Rickshaw I paid Rs. 80 per person (including luggage) but as per local friend the fare they pay is Rs. 70 only.

The distance between Ram Jhula, Rishikesh to Haridwar Junction Railway Station is 30+ km.

Anyway, sharing an auto rickshaw is one of the cheapest ways to reach Haridwar Junction Railway Station from Ram Jhula, Rishikesh.

The auto-rickshaw in Rishikesh is known as Vikram – larger and can accommodate 10 passengers instead of 8 comfortably.

Many times one is sandwiched between passengers inside auto-rickshaws.

During the season (October-June) the shared autos are very crowded and traveling via shared auto rickshaw might be an issue.

Then booking an entire auto rickshaw is the best.

Booking an entire auto rickshaw costs Rs. 700 (10 passengers x Rs. 70) – You have to bargain.

After years I visited Rishikesh and found the road route between Rishikesh and Haridwar Junction Railway station has improved a lot but the journey time between Ram Jhula, Rishikesh to Haridwar Junction Railway Station is still approx. 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Please Note: In 2013, from Tapovan, Rishikesh to  Haridwar Junction Railway Station I paid Rs. 400 as auto fare.

Clean Shave in Rishikesh – How much I Paid?

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

I was walking via Swarg Ashram and saw Ganga Hair Dresser Salon.

I thought of a clean shave in Rishikesh and I entered the barbershop.

I was welcomed by Arjun – the barber.

How much for a clean shave? – I question.

Rs. 50 with shaving foam and Rs. 40 with shaving cream.

Ok. Shaving foam – said I.

Though I have always used Gillette Shaving Foam for clean shaves, this time the barber applied Adigo Man Shaving Foam – a product by Stanvac Prime which was a new experience.

I also saw Q-Man Lather Shaving Cream – a product of Kali Kripa Industries, which was a new experience too.

Though Gillette suggests the best way to get a clean shave is to shave it twice, I always prefer once only.

Anyway, the barbershop was non-ac having only 4/5 people seating arrangement.

Arjun did the shaving smoothly. I was happy.

Now till-date I have experienced four types of shaving foam during my visit to various cities/towns – Gillette, Brooks, Cimelle, and Adigo.

The difference?

No idea. All I can say, the clean shave was as good as in any barbershop but yes, Gillette Shaving Foam fragrance lasts for a longer time.

I thought of having a head/shoulders/arms/back massage but it was costly so I skipped it.

Anyway, for a clean shave in Rishikesh, I paid Rs. 50 only.

Head/Shoulders/Arms/Back Massage maybe next time.

Rate List of Salon Services in Rishikesh

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:
Rate List of Salon Services in Rishikesh

Rate List of Salon Services in Rishikesh – This photo was taken at Ganga Hair Dresser Salon near Ram Jhula in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand).

(in Rupees)

Hair Cutting – 50/80, Shaving – 40/50, Face Massage – 150/300, Hair Color – 150, Hair Dry – 50, Head Massage – 200/300, Body Massage – 700, Armpit Hair – 30, Moustache Setting – 10, Hair Color Labour Charge – 70, Clean Head Hair – 50, Threading – 40/70, Hair Shampoo – 70, Tonsure – 1100

Ramphal – A Famous Fruit of Rishikesh

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:
Ramphal – A Famous Fruit of Rishikesh

Ramphal – A Famous Fruit of Rishikesh – This photo was taken at Swarg Ashram near Gita Bhawan in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)

Ramphal is sweet, sour, tasty and is good for digestion, beneficial for diabetes patients, and fulfills the deficiency of blood in the body.

Here in Rishikesh, you will get 5 pieces of this fruit for 20 rupees.

It is believed that in Treta Yuga when Lord Rama killed Ravana – a Brahmin, he was accused of Brahmahatya, for which he came for removal to Rishikesh. Lord Rama tasted this fruit here. Due to this reason, this fruit came to be called Ramphal.

You will get this fruit almost 12 months a year.

Do try this delicious fruit if you happen to visit Rishikesh.

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