If you are planning to visit the beautiful tourist places of Himachal Pradesh like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Spiti, Kinnaur, Dalhousie or Jibhi, then often the huge fares of expensive hotels and resorts spoil the budget. While the prices of ordinary hotel rooms skyrocket during the season, the government rest houses of the Himachal Pradesh Government's Public Works Department (HPPWD), Forest Department (FRH) and Jal Shakti Department prove to be a boon for the tourists. Dating back to the British era, these historical and heritage properties are situated amidst dense deodar and pine forests, serene valleys and the most beautiful view points. It offers spacious airy rooms, views of the snowy mountains from the balcony, open lawns and home-style fresh Pahari food at very affordable rates. What is the rent of a government rest house? Staying in government rest houses is not at all heavy on the pocket as compared to private hotels: PWD Rest House: Room rates in PWD rest houses for non-Himachal domestic tourists usually hover around ₹1,000 per night, while for Himachal local residents the rate is fixed at around ₹500 per night. This rent for Circuit House can range from ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 2,000 depending on the location. Forest Rest House (FRH): Forest Department rest houses located amidst dense forests and sanctuaries cost tourists around ₹ 1,000 per night (plus applicable taxes). Caretaker and food arrangements: Caretakers or cooks posted in the rest house prepare and serve fresh and tasty dal, vegetables, roti or Pahari dishes as per the choice of tourists at nominal cost. Step-by-step method to book PWD rest houses online: Now online booking of many PWD rest houses has been opened for general tourists through 'Him Atithi' official portal of Himachal Pradesh Government: Step 1: First of all visit the official website himatithi.nic.in or download 'Him Atithi' mobile app from Google Play Store. Step 2: Click on 'Book Rest House (PWD)' option given on the homepage. Step 3: Select the district of your travel destination and choose your preferred property from the list of available rest houses. Step 4: Enter check-in and check-out dates (booking of maximum 2 rooms is allowed at a time). Step 5: Fill in the details of your name, mobile number, permanent address and valid government identity card (like Voter ID or passport). Step 6: Complete online payment. Once the payment is successful, a booking confirmation slip will be sent to your mobile and email, which is mandatory to be shown at the time of check-in. How to book Forest Rest House (FRH) online? If you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city amid dense forests and nature trails, forest department rest houses are best suited: Step 1: Visit the official website of Himachal Pradesh Ecotourism Society, hpecotourism.com. Step 2: Click on 'Book Online / Rest Houses' section on the portal. Step 3: Enter your preferred circuit (like Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba etc.), date and number of rooms and click on 'Check Availability'. Step 4: Select the rest house where the room is vacant and do the OTP verification by entering your basic personal details. Step 5: Make online payment of prescribed tariff and download your digital booking receipt. Offline booking and direct contact option: For rest houses in small towns or remote villages which are not listed on the online portal, the offline method can be tried: Contact at Divisional Office: Permission or booking slip can be issued by contacting the phone number of the PWD Executive Engineer (XEN) office of the concerned district or the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) office of the Forest Department. On-the-spot (Walk-in) Stay: If you are passing through an offbeat location and there are vacant rooms in the rest house, then you can directly go to the spot and talk to the caretaker and get a room by getting an official slip. While staying in a government rest house, pay special attention to these things. Advance booking is necessary: During the tourist season (summer and snowfall), the rest houses fill up rapidly, so check the booking on the portal at least 5 to 15 days before the trip. Preference to Government Officials: Since these are primarily government rest houses, official protocol may be given preference in case of a very special official visit or emergency. Carry Identity Card: It is mandatory to produce original photo identity card of the chief guest and all accompanying persons at the time of check-in. Maintain peace and cleanliness: Rest houses are peaceful and natural environments, so avoid playing loud music, littering or violating campus rules.
