Anand Kashi By The Ganges, Rishikesh – IHCL SeleQtions

I went with my family just before Diwali 2025, and the trip has stayed with me. The aarti, scenery and atmosphere were stunning, and our room had a lovely view. What I remember most is how warmly the staff treated us. They were polite, welcoming and thoughtful, going beyond basic professional courtesy by asking what we needed and arranging things. Since it happened to be our parents’ anniversary, they set up a beautiful dinner for the family. The location is a big part of the experience, but the hospitality from the managers, chef, reception team and everyone else is the reason I’d recommend this place so strongly. I’m visiting IHCL Dharamshala at the end of this month; making that booking reminded me I’d never written this review. I still don’t know whether the Dharamshala stay will match the staff experience here. I’ll remember this trip for years.

At check-in on 8 June, I was already paying 71200 a night for one room, so I expected the basics to be handled. Instead, requests to housekeeping took at least 30 minutes, even getting a glass of water on arrival meant waiting 10-15 minutes, and some dishes were missing from our food order. The location and natural beauty are the one real positive. They made the property seem different, but the management and staff were terrible, with no attention to detail. It felt seriously understaffed, and unable to manage guests at full occupancy. Special requests were one thing, but they couldn’t deliver the basics. This was only day one of my two-night stay, and there were already plenty of bad experiences. The hotel was Anand kashi, and the stay has spoiled the memory of the trip. I still can’t figure out what happened. None of this was what I expected from a place with such a reputation and such high prices.

The Ganga Aarti and the Forest Essentials spa were highlights for me, and the staff’s little thoughtful gestures made the stay stand out. I’d stay at least two nights, since the property draws you in and time seems to slow down. There are Ganges views from the rooms, high tea deck and infinity pool. The chefs also prepare excellent multicuisine meals, including local dishes like Swala and Lagdi made live. It was a peaceful, rejuvenating stay, and I’ll definitely come back.

The main drawback is the room view. Standard rooms are relatively reasonably priced but have no view. River-view rooms cost much more, and at 60k a night and above, the value starts to fall apart. There’s one all-day restaurant, and its food was excellent. We mostly ate the local Garhwali cuisine and loved it. Breakfast was acceptable, with a small spread of bread, cheese, fruit, juice and cereal, plus a large à la carte menu with eggs, dosas and more. In the evenings there’s high tea on a deck overlooking the river. It’s simple, but lovely when the weather cooperates. The location right by the river is fantastic, and the Forest Essentials spa is very good, though expensive, about what you’d pay at similar hotels. Taj hospitality was up to its usual high standard. The bed was comfortable, the pillows very soft, the linen lovely, and the bathroom had excellent Forest Essentials toiletries. Thanks to Pravesh, Vijay, Anjali and the rest of the staff for being attentive and welcoming.