Haridwar or Hardwar, its very name suggests that it is the gateway to most religious CHARDHAM YATRA of BADRINATH, KEDARNATH, GANGOTRI AND YAMUNOTRI in the HIMALAYA. People coming to Haridwar for the holy yatra feel very happy if they get cheap and clean accommodation to stay. This thought came to an old retired couple staying at Haridwar, Shri Karsandas Dwarkadas Joshi and Smt. Sakerbai Joshi. Shri Jamnadas Kothari, an founder Trustees of this Trust had gone to Haridwar in 1950 to fulfill the desire of his mother Smt. Kesarbai to hear Shree Bhagwat Katha on the banks of the river Ganges. Smt. Sakerbai Joshi and Smt. Kesharbai were old friends and during the stay , this topic of having good dharamshala for the yatris was mooted. Luckily Shri Chhaganlal Karamshi Parekh, popularly known as Chaganbapa came to Haridwar and he wholeheartedly supported this idea. immediately he drew the scheme, land was purchased and plan prepared. Shri Chhaganbapa approached few well wishers and friends and appealed for donation. There was good response and construction work soon started.
The building with 26 rooms was ready for the yatris on 3rd March 1952. After the death of Shri Chhaganbapa in 1968, this building was named as "PUJYA CHHAGANBAPA SMARAK BHAWAN".
Every institution has to undergo trouble and face difficulties. Ours was not an exception. The first Board of Trustees consisted of (1) SHRI CHHAGANLAL K. PAREKH (2) SHRI NANJI KALIDAS MEHTA (3)SHRI KARSANDAS D. JOSHI (4) SHRI HANSRAJ LAXMIDAS CHANDARAMJI AND (5) SHRI JAMNADAS KHIMJI KOTHARI.
After 4 years, in 1956 Shri Nanji Kalidas Mehta donated a plot of land adjoining to the DHARAMSHALA and another building was built in 1956/57 and this building was named as SMT. JAMNABAI NARSEE BHAWAN.
Thereafter the Trustees thought that people desire good accommodation and would prefer Blocks rather then ordinary Dharamshala rooms.
In 1963 Shri S.K. THAKKER of Dhanbad donated his plot of land and on this building with self contained 8 blocks of 800 sq. ft. each were built. This building was ready for occupation in May 1964, and 8 blocks were named after the donors.
There blocks were very popular and there was demand for more such blocks. Donors were also there to help and hence two more plots of land were purchased on 1968 and 1970 and two similar buildings were built and completed in 1971 and 1972. In all 24 blocks were ready. These buildings were names as SHRI KARAMSI DAMJI AROGYA BHUVAN AND SHRI TULSIDAS BHAWAN in memory of Late SHRI TULSIDAS KILACHAND.
With this type of accommodation being available for a small safai charge of Rs 12/- per day Gujarat Bhawan as our Trust is known there became popular and there was heavy demand for the accommodation specially during summer and Diwali vacations. It was therefore decided to add some more rooms on the existing buildings viz. Chhaganbapa Smarak Bhawan and Smt. Jamnabai Bhawan where the extra F.S.I. was available. These 20 deluxe rooms with bath attached were completed in 1979 and 1982.
In spite of this demand for more accommodation still persisted and hence it was decided to purchase a nearby situated plot of land and plans of 27 more deluxe rooms were prepared. There was such a rush from the donors that few were to be disappointed. This building named as SHRI RADHA MOHAN CHOKSI BHAWAN was completed in 1984. Shri Mohanlal Karsandas Choksi donated a good amount for naming the building.
The Trustees are always ready to add more facilities when funds are available and accordingly we are providing L.P.Gas Cylinders, Pressure Cookers on nominal charges and supply hot water in the bath rooms by installing Solar Heaters in all the buildings.
All past Trustees have served the institution well and have major share of bringing the Trust to its present level and we pay our humble tribute to them who are no longer with us.
