Pilibhit House, Haridwar

Overview

About this property

Pilibhit House is a heritage house hotel in Haridwar, run by IHCL SeleQtions. It is a restored old house on the banks of the Ganges, with rooms across three levels that face the open courtyard or the river. The hotel's own press note says the rooms are artfully made, and that the house has a quiet, old-world feel, with the Ganges close by.

The hotel is small and calm, not a big city hotel. Its own press note describes a Dining Room with vegetarian food, a River Deck, a Pool Deck by a mango tree and a Terrace, all with views of the river. There is also a Ganga Lounge a few steps from the river, and a River Room for reading, which tells you the hotel is made for slow days, not busy ones.

Pilibhit House suits couples and families who want a quiet, heritage stay near the Ganges, and older travellers who want a calm base near Har Ki Pauri. It also suits people who want a vegetarian hotel, since the Dining Room serves vegetarian food only, in line with local custom. It is not a hotel for people who want a bar or a busy nightlife, since alcohol is not served here.

If you want a restored heritage house on the Ganges in Haridwar, with a private ghat, a spa and a pool, and vegetarian food in the hotel, this is one of the most special picks in town. It is a different hotel from Hari Ganga Niwas, even though both are SeleQtions hotels in Haridwar.

Pilibhit House is a good pick for a slow, quiet stay, since the house itself is the main attraction. The courtyards, the terraces, the Ganga Lounge and the River Room all give you places to sit and rest, without leaving the hotel. That matters in Haridwar, where the ghats and bazaars are busy and loud, and a calm place to come back to is worth a lot. If you want a hotel where you can read, rest and watch the river, rather than a hotel with a busy lobby and a bar, this house will suit you well.

At a glance

What you get here

Everything above is taken from the hotel's own website. If something is not listed here, it means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Rooms

Rooms with courtyard or river views

The rooms at Pilibhit House are spread across three levels, as the hotel's own press note says. Some rooms face the open courtyard, and some offer views of the Ganges. That choice matters here: a courtyard room is quieter and more private, while a river room gives you the Ganges from your room.

The rooms are made in an old-house style, with art and craft details, but with modern comforts as well. The hotel's own press note says the rooms are artfully designed, and the house itself is the main attraction, with courtyards, terraces and river views around every corner.

If you want the river view, ask for a Ganges-facing room when you book. If you want quiet and shade, a courtyard-facing room may suit you better. The hotel's gallery shows the house, the river views and the courtyards, so look at the gallery before you choose.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the hotel's own website will have the latest list. We do not show prices here because they change often, and we do not want to show you an old price.

The hotel's own press note says the rooms and suites are spread across three levels, so the floor you stay on changes the feel of your stay. A room on a higher level may give you a better view of the river or the courtyard, while a room on a lower level may be closer to the dining room and the pool. If you have trouble with stairs, ask the hotel about the levels and the access before you book, since an old house may not have the same lifts as a modern hotel. The hotel's own website will have the latest room list.

Food & drink

Where to eat

The main restaurant at Pilibhit House is called The Dining Room. The hotel's own press note says it serves international food and the best local home recipes, and that all the food is vegetarian. The Dining Room has alfresco seating across its length, so you can eat outside with views of the Ganges.

There are other places to eat as well. The hotel's own press note names the River Deck, the Pool Deck by the mango tree and the Terrace, all with wide views of the river. That means you can eat in a different spot each day, from the main dining room to a deck by the pool.

For the latest menus and meal timings, the hotel's own website is the right place to check. If you are staying for more than one night, try at least one meal at The Dining Room and one meal on a deck, since the river view is part of the meal here.

The Dining Room is vegetarian, which fits Haridwar and the customs of the town, and the hotel's own press note says it serves both international dishes and local home recipes from the royal ancestral family. That mix is unusual: a home recipe from an old family, served next to an international dish, in the same dining room. If you eat vegetarian food, you will have a full menu to choose from, not just one or two dishes. For the latest menu, check the hotel's own website.

Things to do

A slow day in the old house

A good day at Pilibhit House starts with a dip in the Ganges at the hotel's private ghat, or a quiet hour in the Ganga Lounge near the river. The hotel's own press note says the Ganga Lounge is a few steps from the river, and that it is a good spot to sit with a book. The early morning, before the town wakes up, is the calmest time by the river.

After breakfast at The Dining Room, walk out to the lanes of Haridwar and on to Har Ki Pauri, the main ghat. The hotel is close to the ghats, so the walk is short, and the lanes are full of small shops and temples. Come back to the hotel for lunch, and then rest in the River Room or by the pool.

In the afternoon, the hotel's Jiva Spa is there if you want a quiet hour. The hotel's own press note says the spa uses natural ingredients and old Indian healing methods, and that there is a Gangetic mud bath experience by the private ghat. The infinity pool is another good afternoon spot, with views of the Ganges.

In the evening, the hotel's own press note mentions yoga and meditation with expert instructors, and early morning nature walks. The evening aarti at the hotel's private ghat, or at Har Ki Pauri nearby, is a good way to end the day, followed by dinner at The Dining Room.

If you have a second day at Pilibhit House, use it for the hotel's own activities, rather than more temple visits. The hotel's own press note mentions early morning nature walks and yoga and meditation with expert instructors, and both suit a slow second day. A nature walk in the morning, a spa hour in the afternoon, and an evening at the private ghat give you a full day without leaving the hotel grounds. That kind of day is what a heritage house stay is for.

Amenities

Most popular amenities

These are the amenities confirmed on the hotel's own website. Anything not listed here means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Location

Where it is, and what is near

Haridwar is one of the oldest living cities in India, on the banks of the Ganges where the river leaves the hills and enters the plains. The hotels on this page are in Haridwar town, near Har Ki Pauri and the main ghats. From here, the temples, the ghats and the bazaars are easy to reach on foot or by a short rickshaw ride.

If this is your first time in Haridwar, these are the places most people visit: Har Ki Pauri, the main ghat, where the evening Ganga aarti happens every day; Mansa Devi Temple on the hilltop, reached by ropeway; and Chandi Devi Temple across the river. The bazaars near Har Ki Pauri sell prayer items, sweets and brass goods, and they are worth a slow walk.

We have not written distances here on purpose. Old-town lanes and festival crowds change travel time a lot, so a fixed number would go out of date fast. Ask your driver or your hotel for the time on the day you travel.

The evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri is the heart of Haridwar. Lamps float on the river, bells ring, and the whole ghat fills with people. Reach a little early if you want a good spot, and keep your belongings close in the crowd.

Getting here

How to reach the hotel

Most guests reach Haridwar by road from Delhi or Dehradun. The drive runs on the highway through Meerut and Roorkee, and the last part is through the town's busy streets. Cheapcab runs Delhi to Haridwar taxis, and the route pages on this site show the fare.

Haridwar also has its own railway station, with trains from Delhi and other cities. From the station, a short rickshaw or taxi ride takes you to your hotel near the ghats.

Keep your hotel's name and address ready on your phone, and share it with your driver before you start. Old-town lanes can be narrow and confusing, and a phone address saves a lot of back-and-forth at the end of a long journey.

Best time

Best time to visit Haridwar

The best time to visit Haridwar is from October to March. The weather is cool and pleasant, and you can walk around the ghats and bazaars without getting tired. These are also the busiest months, so book your hotel a few weeks ahead.

April to June brings hot weather. Mornings and evenings are still good for the ghats, but the middle of the day is best spent indoors. Carry water, a hat and light clothes if you come in summer.

July to September brings rain. The river runs high and strong, and the town looks green and fresh. But rain can slow down travel, so keep some extra time in hand if you come in the monsoon.

Good to know

Before you book

Cheapcab does not book hotels. You book a hotel on its own official website, using the button on this page. Prices, room types, check-in time and cancellation rules are all on the hotel's site, and they change with the season. Always read them there before you pay.

The photos on this page are from the hotel's official website, and the source link is given under the photo gallery. We do not use photos from booking sites or stock photo sites for hotels.

If you need a taxi to reach the hotel, or to go from Delhi to Haridwar, you can book it from Cheapcab. The taxi fare and the hotel stay are separate. Your taxi driver will not charge you for the hotel, and the hotel will not charge you for the taxi.

One last practical tip for Haridwar: both Haridwar and Rishikesh are strictly vegetarian towns, and alcohol is not served. Footwear comes off at temples and on some ghat steps, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Keep some small notes handy for rickshaws and small shops.

Name note: Pilibhit House is sometimes spelled Pillibhit House in older listings. The hotel's own site calls it Pilibhit House, and that is the name used on this page.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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Hotels are not included in the taxi fare — book them directly. Hotel photos unki official websites se li gayi hain.