Aashray

Aashray

10 Gangapuri Near Laxmi Cinema, Mehmoorganj, Varanasi 221010 India
Early morning boat ride on the Ganges
Traveller (46)
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Room & Suite (19)
Dining (6)

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About

5.0
#2 of 74 lodges in Varanasi
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.9 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.9 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
Aashray is in the heart of city, yet away from crowd. It's in a colony, but the main road linking the entire city is less than 100 meters away. Railway or bus station, temples, Ghats, shopping centers, mall, craft centers, restaurants, boats, hospitals and eatables, are all available within the radius of three kilometers of the house. Your Hosts: The Kapurs, are mixture of traditional and modern values. Mr Kapur, although a chartered accountant by profession is an avid reader of Hindi literature and devotes a lot of his time in keeping alive the beautiful culture of Varanasi. Mrs Kapur, with a graduation in Indian Classical music, is known more for her warmth and the magic she creates with the Indian veggies (you might almost forget your meats and fish for a while)! They have not forgotten their traditional customs and values but at the same time modern customs and values have been accepted whole-heartedly. Thanks to their interest in Yoga, history of India, local culture and traditions, they are able to share a lot and invite you to be a part of their lives for the moments that you are with them!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Airport transportation
Baggage storage
Laundry service
Ironing service
Breakfast available
Car hire
Taxi service
Room features
Housekeeping
Safe
Flatscreen TV
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
1.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Modern
Languages Spoken
Hindi

Location

10 Gangapuri Near Laxmi Cinema, Mehmoorganj, Varanasi 221010 India
228Reviews5Q+A16Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Meera K wrote a review Apr 2021
Chennai (Madras), India
4.0 of 5 bubbles
This is in a residential locality , quiet and peaceful .Clean and pleasant rooms ( one was a bit congested and one bathroom a bit smelly)one common balcony overlooking a pretty park visited by lovely local birds and a few monkeys. If you don’t mind walking a lot or spending on autos it’s nice to stay here. Mr and Mrs Kapur are very friendly and knowledgable people and extremely hospitable . Mr Kapur can give perfect tips on sightseeing and it’s good to follow his advice on what to see and where to eat .The food made by Mrs Kapur is extraordinary and everything is homemade. However it turned out to be quite expensive for us since we only wanted very simple food and for just two meals we ended up paying a lot. It’s best to eat your meals outside unless you’re willing to pay more. But if planned well you can enjoy Mrs Kapur’s meals . Overall a very pleasant stay.
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunaina G wrote a review Feb 2020
India
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Traveled alone on an official trip to Varanasi for 1 day.
Highlights of Aashray:
1. Cleanliness: room, bathroom, linen etc.
2. Extremely warm hosts
3. Great fresh and healthy food in all meals by Mrs. Kapoor.
4. Mrs. Kapoor was kind enough to give me company till late while I ate dinner. She even shared her recipes which I tried at home for family.
5. Mr. Kapoor knows all the famous local foods and joints in Banaras

Low point:
Flow/speed of water in taps and jet is very slow. While I or my parents would be ok using a clean mug and bucket for taking bath, but for men and children in the family, a high power shower is a basic requirement.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Priyamvada S wrote a review Jan 2020
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I stayed at Aashrey for four nights with my husband and 4 year old daughter and I must tell that it was one of the warmest and most welcoming place we have ever stayed in. We were welcomed by Mrs and Mr Kapoor with garlands and taken to our room. The room was beautifully done with clean bathroom. The bedding was just so comfortable and the surroundings are quite for a good night's sleep.
Mrs and Mr Kapoor are just so gracious guests. we had such interesting conversations with them. Mrs Kapoor is so motherly and makes the most delicious food and serves wholeheartedly. It was our best decision to stay there during our trip to Varanasi as we were with our little child. The hosts took that into consideration and always provided kid's meals and milk for her.
I also would like to mention that our train back to Delhi was running late and it was very cold that day, Mr Kapoor very generously asked us to stay way past check out time. Mr Kapoor is an encyclopedia on Varanasi and he always suggested us on where to go and how to go along with nice information about all the places there.
In summery, the place is extremely comfortable, clean and most importantly like a home. I recommend this place 100%.
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Date of stay: December 2019
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aashray-Homestay, Owner at Aashray
Responded 17 Feb 2020
Thanks a lot for such kind words which keeps us encouraging.
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Sue D wrote a review Feb 2020
Byron Bay, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I highly recommend staying with Mr and Mrs Kapur....., Kamal and Manju in their peaceful sanctuary right in the mix of the bustling Varanasi life. I truly felt welcomed in this lovely home and their generous hospitality included delicious vegetarian dishes for breakfast, a willing sharing of local points of interest and what to expect price wise etc and lengthy and informative discussions on history and religion of the Hindu culture. Equally, I was given all the privacy I needed and spent many hours wandering alone in the fascinating lanes and markets starting right from their front door down the 3.5 kms to the main ghat and beyond. A rich, rewarding and wonderful experience. Thank you
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Date of stay: December 2019
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Kapur, General Manager at Aashray
Responded 28 Feb 2020
Thanks Sue for such nice words used for us. We both miss your presence,
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Sakshi Diwan wrote a review Mar 2022
Bengaluru, India
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Our stay was wonderful with the Kapoors. We hit it off instantly with them due to their very friendly and accommodating nature. They looked after us like their own family and also helped us with all the helpful tips to eat in the city and the places to visit at the right time. The breakfast was really sumptuous. We really like to visit again ans stay with them again.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keanajardine wrote a review Nov 2022
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Really friendly couple run this beautiful guest house that is just off the main street for heading into the centre of Varanasi and to the ghats. Arranged airport pick up and drop off for us and even packaged up a delicious breakfast for us on our final day as we had an early flight. Room was spacious and had everything you could need for a couple nights!
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Inspire48967079336 wrote a review Nov 2023
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Family welcome, cleanliness and attention to detail, excellent and refined breakfast. They treated us very well and talking to them opens your heart, kind and professional.
The couple who hosted us made us feel at home
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Google
Date of stay: November 2023
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chetanshalini wrote a review Jan 2020
Bengaluru, India
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Rooms are very small. Found it congested.. the rooms are basic for the money they charge.

The house is in a residential area- did not find anything great . However it is in a prime area and closer to ghats.

Food served was good.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aashray-Homestay, Owner at Aashray
Responded 8 Jan 2020
Dear Chetan, Thank you for your review. This is the first if its kind review where even though you found some aspects of our place good, you gave a 1 star in your review. Sadly it reflects a biased approach which stems from the fact that even though you booked the place with full information and awareness with a small, non refundable deposit, you wanted a complete refund at the time of check in as you had found an alternative place to stay, and chose not to stay with us. Even though we suffered a considerable loss of earnings for 5 nights when we booked the room for you that you did not take, we gave you a complimentary meal for 4 persons, a complimentary airport pick up by car and other services at no cost (whose total value consumed most of your deposit anyway) as a hospitality gesture as we did not want a guest to leave unhappy from our homestay. For the record, the room in question, the Emerald room, is 224 sq ft which is larger than most standard size rooms, and is also larger than a standard size of a room in a 5 star hotel in India which is 200 sq ft. You booked the room for 3 persons (with an extra bed) and when you came you were 3 adults and a child, and you insisted all 4 of you stay in the same one room. We always share all the details about our location, environment and the fact that we are a homestay and not a hotel, before we accept a booking, as we feel its important to communicate the difference between booking a room and booking an experience. We are a boutique, personal, 4 guestroom homestay, where we welcome guests who are looking for a human and cultural experience, and not just a room.
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Natalie M wrote a review Jan 2015
Boston, Massachusetts
2.0 of 5 bubbles
As a solo female Traver to Varanasi, staying at Aashray was a very mixed experience with some positive parts and significant negatives/disappointments.

Positives:
- Mrs. Kapur is wonderful. She is kind, open and caring and I debated for a week before writing this review simply because she is such a great lady

- Mrs. Kapur's food was simply delicious, probably the best I had in India, and very ample.

- My room (the new room upstairs) was very clean, full of light and comfortable. That said, I paid 4,000 INR for it which is abit high compared to similar accommodations in other cities

Negatives:
- I felt a difficulty in communicating with Mr. Kapur and getting my needs met since arriving at the homestay. As a solo traveler to Varanasi (whereas I was traveling with my family throughout India) and being aware of Varanasi's reputation for chaos, mayhem and non stop touts (all true!), I had emailed Mr. Kapur several times staring over a month before my arrival letting him know that I wanted to be accompanied by a guide to the aarti ceremony when I got there. To my surprise, I was told shortly after my arrival that by Mr. Kapur that I didn't need a guide because a driver would take me there and help me negotiate a boat. When I asked how much I should pay, he responded with "Whatever you can negotiate." Wow! Thanks! The reason I chose to stay at Aashray, a homestay, is that at all other homestays across India, our hosts have been wonderful, taking us under their wing, telling us the truth about what was worthwhile and what things cost, basically being a respite from the chaos outside.

Anyway, to sum up this first part of the experience, the driver left me about 10 minutes walking from the main ghat and tried to get me to take a very expensive boat. I made my way to the boats myself through the chaos and nonstop touts (worse than anywhere - have seen in India) and got a boat for less that half the cost without bargaining too hard.

- after the experience above, I really wanted a good guide for my visit to Saranath the next day and for walking the ghats in the afternoon. Again, I had written Mr. Kapur two months in advance several times letting him know that if he wasn't able to accompany me I wanted to find a good guide. He told me that would be no problem yet the next day, I was again sent to Saranath with a different driver who was going to get me a good guide at Saranath. You are probably getting the idea by now what happened next. The driver who spoke no English got me as a guide his buddy, who spoke limited English and couldn't even go into the archeological site because he wasn't licensed. This guide was useless and after all that, the driver spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how much I paid this guide to get his cut. Totally unprofessional! I should also mention here that Aashray charges higher fees for their drivers, who drive Mr. Kapul's car, than anywhere else in India, including Delhi and Mumbai so they should have drivers who provide respectable service.

- after the Sarnath fiasco, the driver took me to meet the guide that Mr. Kapul arranged with to walk with me around the ghats and old city. I should mention that the night before I asked Mr. Kapur point blank if he knew of good guides who spoke good English or if I should call an agency and he told me that I was free to do as I wish but that I would be paying double for nothing because all the guides are the same and he could find me a good guide. So I guess you can guess what is coming... the afternoon guide that Mr. Kapul arranged wasn't even a guide. He was a very nice 22 year old University student who worked as a boatman to pay for school and spoke limited English. He did manage to keep touts from constantly bothering me but that was about it.

Needless to say, I was extremely fed up with Mr. Kapul's services by this point. He kept saying how everyone in the tourist business cheats the tourists and I couldn't help but feel that he was talking about himself.

The most amazing thing is that when I got back to Aashray and Mr. Kapul asked me if I wanted the same guide for the next day, I told him what happened with his drivers and guides throughout the day and he did not say anything, no apology, nothing, like this is normal.

As an aside, I did finally book my own guide on my last day through Groovy Tours, who was just amazing (read their reviews!) and made me fall in love with Varanasi despite ny experiences at Aashray. Interestingly, when I told Mr. Kapur about it, he didn't even ask which company provided the good tour. He really didn't seem to care about me as a guest having a good time, just about utilizing his overpriced services.

- speaking of overpriced services, Mr. Kapur accompanied myself and another guest on a morning boat ride telling us that he was not a guide and would not be charging for his services. He then charged us 800INR each (1600INR Total) plus a 200INR tip the boat driver for a 1 hour boat ride telling us that the cost was to cover the boat charges. I only paid 250INR for two and a half hours for a whole boat exactly like the one we were on.
- all the other reviews mentioned Mr. Kapur's great knowledge. I found that he was only willing to answer the male guest's questions and talk to him. I did not get to partake in Mr. Kapul's great knowledge.
- another downside for me about Aashray was it's location, about a 20 minute rickshaw ride from the ghats. As a solo traveler, I had to take rickshaws down poorly lit streets at night which was uncomfortable. Also, when I wanted to get to Assi Ghat for sunrise, I couldn't get a rickshaw that early and had to pay Mr. Kapul's driver 600INR for the ride.
- I should finally mention that When the Kapur's tried to charge me 1500INR for the guide who didn't speak much English, I told them everything that it in this review and they finally apologized (with the usual excuses of "it wasn't our usual driver" and "the agency sent the guide, etc." and took the amount off the bill. I appreciated that but I did feel that I wasted a precious day and a half in Varanasi, a place I really wanted to explore in depth given its culture and spirituality and left my family and invested in a plane ticket to come to, and also experienced a lot of stress in the process. I expected this from an impersonal cheap hotel but not from a homestay which was rated so highly on Tripadvisor!
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Date of stay: January 2015
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aashray-Homestay, Owner at Aashray
Responded 23 Jan 2015
Dear Natalie, Thanks for your feedback and your words of appreciation. My wife is grateful for all the kind things you have said about her. But we are sorry to hear that we did not match your expectation although we tried our very best. We do wish to mention a few points here though: 1. The Pearl room that you stayed was a complimentary upgrade for you for 3 nights priced at INR 6000 a night (and not INR 4,000 a night what you paid). Its made with a lot of painstaking care, some of which is rare of homestays anywhere, like the use of the Makrana or Sang e marmar white marble, arguably one of the finest in the world, Udaipur green marble, period furniture which is representative of the indo-english style prevalent a century ago, and a lot of other things. 2. We are primarily an accommodation provider, a homestay and our offering is a home where you can stay with an Indian family. Everything else, whether its meals, car service (the car offered is a taxi number car licensed to carry tourists, covering unlimited insurance liability of the tourist), assistance with guides or any other recommendations which we believe worthy, are completely optional and a prerogative of the guest. These are offered to facilitate our guests as we kept receiving requests for the same from our other esteemed guests. 3. Your expressed disappointment during your stay with us as I couldnot accompany you everywhere you went as that seemed like your requirement. Iam a practising Chartered Accountant and I take pleasure in helping my guests as much as he can. I did accompany you for your boat ride, and although I tried my best, unfortunately failed to meet your expectations in terms of sharing of knowledge, as expressed by you. 4. Boats as well as other services are available for all costs and durations on the river and we desist from commenting upon them. What we offer is a standardised experience where in the costs include transportation to the river, a complete ride across the river and a walk through the lanes. In retrospect, I may have misunderstood your request for a guide as a full time escort, to monument guides as most of our other guests have been opting for so far, and in doing so we were only trying to keep your best interests in mind by reducing your expenses or saving your money, as admitted by yourself in your feedback. As such, although we paid ourselves to the waking tour guide, but did not collect the same from you as you expressed your unhappiness about it. We will certainly try and improve our communication regarding the availability, standard and costs of these facilities to better apprise our guests of these options, as we have little control over them and experiences vary from person to person. Solo female travellers have been exceptionally kind to us in the past and we would continue to do our very best to make them as well as all our guests as comfortable as possible. Its unfortunate that we couldnot meet your expectations even though we went out of our way to do so. Wishing you all the very best, Kamal Kapur
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easyrider_9 wrote a review Feb 2015
Belgaum, India
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My wife and I stayed with the Kapurs for two nights earlier this month,a wonderful experience!!! The house is tucked away in a quite neighbourhood(in the heart of Varanasi).Our room on the first flr.overlooking a small balcony was beautifully decorated.Very comfortable bed with clean super soft linen.
the Kapurs are very friendly and hospitable,Mrs. Kapur can cook up a storm preparing the most delicious breakfast one could imagine. Mr. Kapur, a proud Varanasian is a walking encyclopaedia on a host of subjects. Will surely stay with them again in the future.

don't bother waiting for Autorickshaws, Varanasi has Ola cabs now!!!
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aashray-Homestay, Owner at Aashray
Responded 22 Jun 2015
Thankyou for the lovely words. It was a pleasure to have you! Warm regards, Kapurs
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…
SusanCl asked a question Nov 2018
Melbourne, Australia52 contributions8 helpful votes
How far is it to walk to the main ghat on the river?
Answer from Kamal K
Three kms.
Rex O asked a question Nov 2016
Palm Springs, California8 contributions9 helpful votes
Do the rooms have private bathrooms and toilets?
Answer from Kamal K
Yes please
Answer from Kamal K
You can write to them on their address or go through airbnb.
Answer from Kamal K
Dear Guest, Greetings, Thanks for taking interest in our homestay. Yes, we arrange transfers from/to the airport/train station on requests besides sight-seeing with or without guides and veg. lunch or dinner. These are all optional. Our all the rooms are fitted with A.C./T.V./hot water and wi-fi besides necessary accessories and white linen. With warm wishes - KK
Answer from Kamal K
1.The main ghat of the river, where most of the activities like Aarti or boating is done, is only 3 kms. away. 2. Aashray is surrounded by most of ATMs, market, restaurants and is in the centre of the city. 3.Yes, veg. & non-veg. both. 4. Continental & Indian both as per the choice. Almost all our guests prefer veg. Indian dishes than the continental one. Generally almost all guests also like to have at least one veg. meal (lunch or dinner) cooked at our home.
Anant Mehra wrote a tip Jan 2020
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Take the Emerald Room!"
Read full review
Quizzinefy wrote a tip Nov 2018
New Jersey1 contribution1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Get Emerald room if you can!"
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Mick L wrote a tip Feb 2017
1 contribution1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"A fantastic base for Varanasi, enhanced by delightful hosts"
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Kedar Gupta wrote a tip Dec 2016
Kolkata (Calcutta), India118 contributions8 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Try the rooms with the attached balcony,"
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Kendra T wrote a tip Aug 2016
Gold Coast, Australia6 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"This place is a complete gem. We enjoyed the room on the second floor facing the road. Very spacious and light."
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PRICE RANGE
₹5,550 - ₹6,139 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaUttar PradeshVaranasi DistrictVaranasi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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AASHRAY (Varanasi) - Lodge Reviews, Photos, Rate Comparison - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Aashray
Which popular attractions are close to Aashray?
Nearby attractions include Kriti Gallery (0.6 km), Vandana Sarees (0.9 km), and Pratibha Art Gallery (1.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Aashray?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Aashray?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Aashray?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Aashray?
Conveniently located restaurants include Behind Yellow Doors Diner, Punjab Di Truck, and Cherryblossom Cafe And Restaurant.
Does Aashray have airport transportation?
Yes, Aashray offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to Aashray?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Batuk Bhairav Mandir (1.6 km), Chet Singh Ghat (3.3 km), and Ramnagar Fort (6.4 km).
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