Savour the flavour

Rethink if you think that Haridwar is only for washing away your sins, says Neha Bhatia

For ages Haridwar has been better known as a place where billions take a dip of redemption and recently concluded Kumbh bears testimony of the same. However, my recent visit to the city of temples and Ganga made me believe that it is also a spot were varieties of food is available as well. And ubiquitous hotels, dhabas or dharamshalas are adding more cuisine to their menu card. Here one can have anything from traditional vegetarian thali to continental to chinese to regional delicacies. But somehow Gujarati food simply tickled my taste buds.

For those, who are fed up of the daily ordeal of having ghar ka khana, and wanna provide a respite to your taste buds, head straight to Shravan Nath Marg where on the banks of Ganges you will be welcomed to have a scrumptious meal of traditional Gujarati food. The moment you enter the Arya Niwas, you are greeted by typical Gujarati Dharamshala. Though people from outside are not allowed to stay here but the access to its canteen is free for all. Once down the stairs you have the option of sitting near the window and watching the magnificent river Ganga or sit inside the room in cosy surroundings. Once seated, the instant service starts and you find in front of you a huge steel plate, accommodating five or more bowls. But the real magic starts once the food is served. With great variety of choice one gets perplexed as to where to start from. A look at the plate itself makes you feel quite full, as the thali, once filled with all varieties of dishes, looks scrumptious. The best part is no matter how much appetite you have, the waiters will serve in a manner that will force you to over eat. However, worry not; the best part about this food is that it is easily digested. Or else you have a choice to go for a walk along the river Ganges. The unlimited thali seems to be a favourite with young and old alike. The delicacies that are served include varied vegetables, hot gujarati kadhi, dal, rice, khichdi, papad, chutney and pickles. The dishes are served in a rhythmic manner which make having the food here an experience in itself. What is happily surprising is that all this is for just Rs. 35.

The restaurant is open from early morning to almost midnight so you can head there for a bite almost round the clock. The delectable taste is owed to the fact that the spices used in the food here are from Gujarat and those cooking the food too are hard-core Gujaratis, thus making the much-mattered difference. "Whenever I come to Haridwar, I never forget to visit this place. There are very few places like this where you get this kind of traditional Gujarati food. What further enhances the fun of having food here is their excellent service," says PK Aggarwal, who comes to Haridwar quite often. During your next visit to this holy place, don't forget a quick bite at the Gujarati delicacies here.