Sri Guru Gobind Singh N.r.i. Yatri Niwas (amritsar)

[jalandharsingh]

Has anyone stayed at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh N.R.I. Yatri Niwas in Amritsar?

Is it easy to get a room or is it like the usual SGPC run Niwas where they put all the half decent rooms out of bounds for ordinary people so that Akali Dal (Badal) workers can use them?

Also who is the UK contact for this Niwas, was the project undertaken by the same Trust who did the project at Hazur Sahib?

Thanks in advance.

[Genius]

Has anyone stayed at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh N.R.I. Yatri Niwas in Amritsar?

Is it easy to get a room or is it like the usual SGPC run Niwas where they put all the half decent rooms out of bounds for ordinary people so that Akali Dal (Badal) workers can use them?

Also who is the UK contact for this Niwas, was the project undertaken by the same Trust who did the project at Hazur Sahib?

Thanks in advance.

When you go there you simply show them your foreign passport to prove you are NRI. These rooms were supposed to be free but they will ask you to pay Rs300 to Rs500 per day along with a damage deposit. It is fairly new five story building with AC and hot water facilities. However, hot water system normally doesn't work. There is a five person elevator. Try getting a room on the 5^th floor facing Darbar Sahib. There are bedrooms with two large beds available at the same rate. But cleanness is almost non-existent. One more important thing, even if there are no more power cuts, they simply walk on to your floor and switch your power supply off from the main control box on your floor. And all you have to do is you open the box and flip your room switch back on and you have your power supply back. AC system is very good. There were some fire incidents due to shady electrical work. So don't get the rooms with burnt out windows on the main floor right behind the reception counter.

[jalandharsingh]

Thanks for detailed reply.

Is carrying your passport really needed or can I carry a photocopy? (I don't fancy walking around with 4-5 passports).

Is this Niwas run by SGPC or the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji NRI Trust? Is it by where Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh publishers have their shop (sort of back of Akal Takht office)

If it is not very clean then I do not think we will be staying here, got some kids accompanying me and would not like them to see how badly organised out niwas are in India.

What about the Soho Road Wale Niwas? Anyone stayed there and whats the criteria to get a room there?

If not will just stay at a hotel.

[Anand_Mangal]

the niwas is behind chtar singh jeevan singh. It is very clean, good beds, good showers etc. also if your on one of teh higher views you hav a superb view of sri harmander sahib. it is prob the best niwas in terms of cleanliness i reckon, but its lonng 2 get in fr a space. the guys can get rude sumtyms also, sayin theres no space when there is lol. you hav 2 take pass ports or the guys wont reli beleve you . its worth a try when you go. The soho road niwas i think is only for teh soho road jatha. if you ask bhai sahib etc im sure theyl get you in etc but thats a long process aswel.

[jalandharsingh]

Thanks for all the replies. Will be travelling from outside Punjab so a bit pointless carrying a passport with me. I guess a hotel will have to do then.

[khalsa_lioness]

Thanks for all the replies. Will be travelling from outside Punjab so a bit pointless carrying a passport with me. I guess a hotel will have to do then.

WJKK WJKF

Me and my husband stayed there August last year and we had no problems (other than lizards!!!) with the service. We went and asked for the room facing Darbar Sahib it was on the 5th floor and we did not need to show any proof of ID but just had to let him know which country we were from as he has 2 signing in books one for people from India and the other for people out of India. We paid 300 rupees a night for that room or if you want any other room its alot less.

The man who owns the Niwas is from Wolverhampon and he was very nice and polite. He also helped take out a lizard from the room and assured us that by next year(2009) they will have dealt with the lizard problem as the Niwas was just newly built with a few teething problems.

All in all it was a nice place to stay and we would definately stay again.

[jalandharsingh]

Thanks for all the replies. Will be travelling from outside Punjab so a bit pointless carrying a passport with me. I guess a hotel will have to do then.

WJKK WJKF

Me and my husband stayed there August last year and we had no problems (other than lizards!!!) with the service. We went and asked for the room facing Darbar Sahib it was on the 5th floor and we did not need to show any proof of ID but just had to let him know which country we were from as he has 2 signing in books one for people from India and the other for people out of India. We paid 300 rupees a night for that room or if you want any other room its alot less.

The man who owns the Niwas is from Wolverhampon and he was very nice and polite. He also helped take out a lizard from the room and assured us that by next year(2009) they will have dealt with the lizard problem as the Niwas was just newly built with a few teething problems.

All in all it was a nice place to stay and we would definately stay again.

Thanks panji. I will give it a try without passports (will take some photocopies instead and my international driving permit). Yes the guy from Wolverhampton is same guy who handled the Hazur Sahib NRI Niwas project. He is a very soft spoken guy and very helpful. Please do you have his phone number or contact details, always been meaning to donate to their trust but lost the contact details.

Lizards...you mean kerli, they are quite kewl as they munch on mosquitos, very interesting to watch them with a light on, they will go by light and slowly wait for their prey before suddenly snapping them up.

[Pehlvan]

Does anyone have the contact details (phone numbers etc) for this Niwas ? I am thinking of going in mid November, is it normally busy at that time ?

[WildCard]

The Niwas is beautiful, i was fortunate enough to stay there when i did Darshan of Darbar Sahib last year. I'll ask around and see if anybody has a contact number, one of my cousins may do.

[WildCard]

Oh by the way, the time i went they did ask to see our passports, so be on the safe side and take yours with you if possible