Must-see hotels in Varanasi

  • Nadesar Palace

    Varanasi

    Varanasi's most expensive hotel is set in the beautifully renovated former palace of the local maharaja. Its 10 rooms ooze luxury and refinement,…

  • Homestay

    Varanasi

    This homestay in a 1936 colonial home in a residential neighbourhood 1.5km from the old town is a true catch. Good-hearted host Harish, a 37-year veteran…

  • Brijrama Palace

    Varanasi

    This meticulously renovated riverfront palace, built in 1812 and known as the Darbhanga Mahal, is simply exquisite. From the period chandeliers to the…

  • Ganpati Guesthouse

    Varanasi

    This old red-brick favourite has a pleasant, shaded courtyard as well as plenty of balcony space dotted around offering fine river views. Rooms are clean,…

  • Hotel Ganges View

    Varanasi

    Simply gorgeous, this beautifully restored and maintained colonial-style haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) overlooking Assi Ghat is…

  • Stops Hostel

    Varanasi

    Varanasi's original hostel is in a four-storey residential building 2km or so from Assi Ghat. Dorms in six-, eight- and 14-bed variations are livened up…

  • Hotel Surya

    Varanasi

    Varanasi’s cheapest hotel with a swimming pool, Surya has standard three-star Indian rooms, but a modern makeover means the luxury rooms in particular…

  • Taj Gateway Hotel Ganges

    Varanasi

    The good: it's set on nearly 2 hectares of beautiful gardens with fruit trees, a tennis court, a pool and an outdoor yoga centre. The not-so-good: while…

  • Brown Bread Bakery Guesthouse

    Varanasi

    With the cleanest budget rooms in Varanasi, this simple but well-run guesthouse is one of the best deals in town, despite tiny bathrooms and iffy hot…

  • Palace on Ganges

    Varanasi

    Each room is individually themed on a regional Indian style, using antique furnishings and colourful design themes. The colonial, Rajasthan and Jodhpur…

  • Kedareswar

    Varanasi

    Housed in a brightly painted aquamarine-green building, this friendly six-room place has cramped but immaculate rooms with sparkling bathrooms. Breakfast…

  • BunkedUp Hostel

    Varanasi

    This hostel, near the ghats and next to a lovely temple, aims to please, with a couple of mixed-gender dorm rooms (with individual fans and electrical…

  • Rashmi Guest House

    Varanasi

    Incense-scented, white-tile corridors and marble staircases lead to a variety of cramped but smart rooms boasting high marks for cleanliness and style…

  • Hotel Alka

    Varanasi

    This ghat-side option could use an attentive eye on its exteriors, but the pretty-much-spotless rooms – either opening onto, or overlooking, a large,…

  • Teerth Guesthouse

    Varanasi

    This inner-courtyard guesthouse near the Vishwanath Temple is a pleasant diversion from the chaotic maze of alleyways that lead to it. For the price, it's…

  • Sahi River View Guesthouse

    Varanasi

    You'll find a huge variety of rooms at this ramshackle but friendly place, which is better than it looks from its entrance down a scruffy side alley. Most…

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