Beyond the Ganga: A Hidden Courtyard of Culture at Namaste Dwaar

Most journeys to Haridwar begin and end with the sacred Ganga. The ghats, the aartis, the sadhus in saffron—it's a rhythm everyone expects. But 45 minutes away from the city's ritual pulse, at the edge of a sleepy village in the Bhagwanpur district, lies a retreat that feels like a portal into another time. Not a resort. Not quite a homestay. More like a warm, open-armed welcome. Namaste Dwaar.

- AYUSHI ANAND

Tucked amidst sugarcane fields and mango orchards, the property doesn't announce itself loudly. There's no giant gate or manicured lobby. Instead, guests walk through an old wooden door flanked by hand-painted murals. Inside, it's all red brick courtyards, carved wooden jharokhas, and soft Hindustani classical music playing somewhere in the distance. The kind of place that lets your shoulders drop, not because it's fancy, b