Hotel Royal Inn

Amritsar is not exactly flush with better hotel accommodations. There are only a few higher star hotels but they are 10-15 minute drive to the Golden Temple. There are several budget accommodations very close to the temple, which was why we selected the Hotel Royal Inn.

Overall I would say it rates somewhere between a 2 and 3 star. Our room had 2 queen size beds, a refrigerator, desk & chair, wardrobe, couch, AC, flat screen TV, bathroom with shower. It was pretty clean but white towels were a little grungy and sheets had holes in them.

There was no continental breakfast as advertised. (We actually drove to 2 other hotels for breakfast during our stay.) There was a limited veg menu (room service only - no dining room), which was ordered from some place outside so you may as well go out. The only internet available was at the front desk which you could use briefly - not as advertised or as we were led to believe. (This is a work issue for us, so we would have chosen someplace else based on this.)

The best thing about the hotel was the proximity to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh - within a few minutes walk of each place. Our room also had a decent view of part of the Temple Complex.

We used the airport pickup service from the hotel and the charge was twice as much as it should have been. We also used the hotel car and driver on several other occasions. (Normally we would not do this but with a 4 month old and my elderly mother-in-law, it was the easiest way to travel.) There are plenty of cycle-rickshaws to get where you can't walk.

Room rates run from RS 1150 for a basic deluxe room to Rs 3550 for a Royal Executive room.

There are so many of this type of hotel within 5 minutes walk of the temple that I think I'd shop around.

Directions: From the Golden Temple Clock Tower - walk to first street, make right, go down about 2 blocks.

So close to the main attraction -- the Golden Temple. The place was basic and clean. Outside the streets were chaotic as everywhere in India tends to be. I was not once acccosted by beggers in Amritsar.

Unique Quality: The staff were great, bringing me beers as needed in this heat. Large rooms, cable TV, fridge and restaurant recommendations.

Directions: Address : 49, Brahm Butta Market, Near Sarai Guru Ram Das, Opp. Punjab National Bank