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Voykit pocket guide · India
Roorkee
Spend a half‑day exploring IIT Roorkee campus, the wetland and canal walk; add a night only if you need a train connection.
Roorkee is a small Uttarakhand town on NH‑58, 170 km north of Delhi. Its main attractions are the IIT campus, the Bann Ganga wetland and canal walks. A few hours cover the sights; stay overnight only for convenient train timing or to rest after a long road trip.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Sep (heat, monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire/ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea/coffee at café | ₹30–₹80 |
| Street snack (samosa, pakora) | ₹20–₹50 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (per km) | ₹15–₹20 |
| Bus ticket to Haridwar | ₹120–₹180 |
| Entry to IIT Roorkee campus museum | ₹50 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DED · Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- ≈ 45 km (28 mi) north, flights from Delhi≈ 28 mi (45 km) north, flights from Delhi
- DEL · Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
- ≈ 200 km (124 mi) south, major hub≈ 124 mi (200 km) south, major hub
Typical fares
- Delhi → Roorkee by bus
- ≈ ₹300–₹400, 4–5 h (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈ ₹80–₹100 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws and cycle‑rickshaws are the usual local transport; most attractions are within walking distance in the old city area.
See and do
Known for
- IIT Roorkee campus
- Bann Ganga Wetland
- Upper Ganga Canal walk
- Railway heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Haridwar | NH‑58 bus or auto‑rickshaw, about 30 km (19 mi) northNH‑58 bus or auto‑rickshaw, about 19 mi (30 km) north | ≈ 45 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Center Point
- Budget hotel near bus stand, rooms from ₹1,400
- Hotel Krish Residency
- Air‑conditioned, 500 m from city bus stand, rooms from ₹1,400
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितने का है?yah kitne ka hai? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bas stand kahaan hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या मैं कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?kya main card se bhugtaan kar sakta hoon? |
| I need water, please | मुझे पानी चाहिएmujhe paani chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Train schedules can be early‑morning; check timings if you rely on rail.
- Summer heat can exceed 35 °C; carry water and sun protection.
Roorkee is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings in crowded bus stations and stay hydrated in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Roorkee yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- IIT Roorkee campus
- Bann Ganga Wetland
- Upper Ganga Canal walk
- Railway heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Roorkee: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Roorkee, revision 4749258 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4749258
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/roorkee). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.