Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Amritsar - nice places to splurge on?

johngradycole

Hi there,

Any advice much appreciated from anyone who can recommend nice places to stay in any of the above towns. My fiancee and I are travelling in Northern India over the next few weeks and we're trying to intersperse the typical backpacker hotels with some nicer, more expensive places. We just finished a 5-day stay at Clarke's in Shimla, which was lovely, and would like to have another nice hotel to look forward to while we're on the road over the next little while. Can anyone recommend anywhere? Price range I guess about $100 or thereabouts, but we're easy!

I've checked out the forums but a lot of the advice there on Northern India seems a little dated, so if anyone has stayed anywhere they'd recommend more recently, we'd be very grateful.

Thanks very much!

Jason and Annie

dreamer

Hi Jason and Annie

I stayed in the Hotel Orange in Chandigarh and found it to be one of the better ones in the area. All of the ones recommended in LP I found to be pretty grim. There are some other quite nice hotels in Sector 35 as well ( the next sector down from the bus station) Prices aren't cheap in Chandigarh but I negotiated a 20%discount.

In Amritsar I stayed at Mrs Bhandari's Guesthouse but I have to say I wouldn't recommend it despite it's great write up in LP.

Sarah

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johngradycole

Thanks for the recommendation Sarah! The places recommended in LP often are pretty grim, we find. Do you have any contact details for the Hotel Orange?

Jason & Annie

dreamer

Found this on the net - if I find my receipt I will post these details too in case they have changed. The hotel is at the end of the block nearest to S17. The restuarant is really good too.

Hotel Orange, Sector 35-B, Chandigarh, India 0172 5003333, 5052233,

gautam

About chandigarh
Jason : There are lots of hotels right in front of the ISBT. The ISBT is in sec 17 & just opposite that you have sec 22 which has lots of hotels in one straight lane. To name a few we have picaddily & sunbeam there.

Hotel AROMA near sec 22 red light is one of the oldest hotels in the city. Just get down at bus-stand & ask for hotel aroma. Its a 2 min drive [ approx 2 km from ISBT ].

Sec 35 also has lots of hotels forgot their names though.

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himadventures

depends on your budget. If you can spend 1400/ 1500 for a room then Sector 22 which is opposite to bus stand has some hotels. AROMA will be expesnsive and so are hotels in Sector 35.
Negotiations can work as this is off season and yes...do not get help of any auto or rickshaw...if he walks with you...he has his comission coming right from YOUR pocket !!

LP: This is problem with LP....so leave LP and search like a backpacker !!

SANJAY_DEL

Hotel Mount View, Chandigarh

See: http://www.citcochandigarh.com/mountview/index.php

SANJAY_DEL

Mcleodganj Dharmshala
You can book a room in Om and Green Hotel for Rs 200 per day; Rs 500 – 990 for Friends Corner, Kareri Lodge, Hotel Tibet and Pema Thang and Rs 1200 – 1800, and above, for The Club House, Chinar Lodge, Hotel Bhagsu, Surya Resorts and Him Queen Annexe.
From: http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/Mcleod-Ganj.asp

johngradycole

Many thanks, Sanjay - you are our guardian angel! Do come to Scotland sometime: we will make sure you are well looked after.

The place in Chandigarh looks lovely: unfortunately all booked for the period we would be interested alas. Oh well. If anyone has experience of any similar sorts of place we'd be delighted to hear.

Budget around 100USD of thereabouts, just for the occasional splurge and backpacking-break.

Jason

johngradycole

Thanks very much, Gautam! Would you recommend Piccadilly, Sunbeam or Aroma?

All the best,

Jason

SANJAY_DEL

If you are thinking of a sector 22 hotel, don't book online. Just walk across the road from the bus stand, All these hotels are in one block, you can see the rooms for yourself and then check in.

SANJAY_DEL

Shivalik view is a hotel run by the same management as Park View, in the government sector. Its a tall building you can see from the bus stand (towards the local bus stand).
Website, for online reservation: http://www.citcochandigarh.com/index.php

Park View is situated a few Km away in sector 24.

HOTEL MOUNTVIEW
Sector 10
Chandigarh-160011
Tel. : 2740544, 2740444,2740233, 2740234, 2740235, 2740604 - 606,
4644400-4644429

Fax : 2742220, 2742565
e-mail : mountview@citcochandigarh.com, hmv10@glide.net.in

HOTEL SHIVALIK VIEW
Sector 17
Chandigarh - 160 017
Tel. : 2700001, 2700722, 2700733, 2700744, 4641888,4642888,4643888 4644888
4644451-4644454

Fax : 2701094
e-mail : shivalikview@citcochandigarh.c om

HOTEL PARK VIEW
Sector 24
Chandigarh - 160 024
Tel. : 2700050, 2728115, 4644488, 4644490, 92,95-97
TeleFax : 2714061
e-mail : parkview@citcochandigarh.com

shere

I would avoid Sunbeam, I visited in July 2006 and the rooms smelt heavily of bleach. The people on the reception desk were also in no hurry to help me.

In the end I went to Shivalik View. It is also owned by CITCO but the service standards are a lot better. It costs a bit more than Sunbeam.

johngradycole

Thanks people for the outstanding assistance! I'm starting to look forward to Chandigarh. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Best wishes,

Jason

dzibead

For Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj, actually), Chonor House is the nicest place to stay. It's run by the Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to preserving traditional Tibetan crafts and culture. Check the link on the left side of the following webpage: http://www.norbulingka.org/visitors/...t_visitors.htm

If you want to visit the Norbulingka Institute itself (it's well worth it), it's about 20 minutes' drive from McLeod Ganj and it also has a very nice guest house, which is also described in a link on the above webpage.