Hotel Vatika

Running a place like Hotel Vatika on Chinchwad Railway Station Marg means there is never a quiet moment. Since we are right by the station, we get people coming in at all hours. Some are tired from long train rides and just want to sit down, while others are rushing to catch the next departure. I spend a lot of my time at the front desk or checking on the rooms. The noise of the trains is something you eventually stop hearing, but the traffic on the Marg is always there. It’s a simple building. We don’t have gold-plated faucets or anything like that. We just provide a place to stay and something to eat. The kitchen stays busy because travelers are always hungry. I’ve seen thousands of people pass through these doors over the years. Some stay for a night, some just for a few hours. We keep the linens clean and the floors swept, which is a full-time job in itself with all the dust from the road. The staff is just a few local guys who know the area well. If someone asks for directions to the station or a nearby shop, we can tell them exactly where to go. It’s a busy life here in Chinchwad, but we’re used to the pace. We just keep the doors open and the lights on for whoever shows up.