After our six-hour plus train ride (the train left Delhi on time but certainly didn't arrive in Amritsar on time), we were met by our tour guides and two vans to take us to our lodging for the night. . . Mrs. Bhandari's Guest House. Definitely a guest house along the lines of a bed and breakfast, so if you are more into the Marriott, Hyatt, or Hilton type of lodging, this place might not be for you. Having said that, it is very clean, quiet and homey atmosphere with lots of well kept gardens to explore. We were told by our guests that people are even allowed to set up tents and camp in the large garden. Historically, Mrs. B's was primarily soldiers' quarters (the chummery) during the Raj, the British occupation of India.
Quickly settling into our rooms, we made our way back over to the garden pavilion where our meals would be served. Breakfast was included, but all other meals, snacks and drinks went on your personal tab. Buying bottled water or a soda was on the honor system: you went into the room next to the eating area, opened up the cooler, took out what you wanted to drink. Next on a spreadsheet attached to a clipboard with a pencil hanging on the clipboard by a string, you would write your name, room number and check off what you took. When it came time to check out the next afternoon, the manager had tabulated all the drinks and meals giving each of us a final bill to be reconciled. Before we set off for our evening of sightseeing, we all ordered a late lunch and relaxed a bit surrounding with good friends and beautiful bougainvillea.
If given the opportunity to visit Amritsar again, I would definitely spend a night or two at Mrs. Bhandari's!
Here's another great website that explains a little more about Mrs. B's!
Quickly settling into our rooms, we made our way back over to the garden pavilion where our meals would be served. Breakfast was included, but all other meals, snacks and drinks went on your personal tab. Buying bottled water or a soda was on the honor system: you went into the room next to the eating area, opened up the cooler, took out what you wanted to drink. Next on a spreadsheet attached to a clipboard with a pencil hanging on the clipboard by a string, you would write your name, room number and check off what you took. When it came time to check out the next afternoon, the manager had tabulated all the drinks and meals giving each of us a final bill to be reconciled. Before we set off for our evening of sightseeing, we all ordered a late lunch and relaxed a bit surrounding with good friends and beautiful bougainvillea.
If given the opportunity to visit Amritsar again, I would definitely spend a night or two at Mrs. Bhandari's!
Here's another great website that explains a little more about Mrs. B's!
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