The Haveli Hari Ganga (Haridwar)

The Haveli Hari Ganga is an old building known as Pilibhit House 21, right there at Ramghat. Being in Haridwar, specifically in the 249401 area, means we are always close to the river. You can hear the water and the bells from the evening prayers if you stand out on the balconies. The stone floors are cool under your feet even when it is hot outside. We have a lot of stairs because it’s an old structure, and some of the wooden doors creak a bit when the wind blows off the Ganga. Our days start very early, usually before the sun is even up, because that is when the town wakes up for the first rituals. We spend time sweeping the courtyards and making sure the tea is ready for the guests who come back from the morning dip. It is a quiet kind of place, mostly because we are away from the main highway noise, though the sound of the crowds at the ghat is always there. The walls are thick and painted in light colors to keep things feeling calm. We have some old photos of the family who used to live here hanging in the common areas. Running a haveli like this takes a lot of maintenance since the dampness from the river can be tough on the paint. We just do our best to keep it looking decent for whoever decides to stop by.