Has anyone stayed at this guest house? I know most people here stay at the "Palace on river" but they only have a room for our first night so we would have to change and I don't want to do that so I'm looking for an alternative with a river location.

I stayed in the Ganges View last year and really like it. The location is not as active as some others, but it's a lovely place (and the food is very, very good.) There's an account of it in my trip report, but it's not mentioned until an additional post near the bottom, as I was so busy describing Varanasi I kinda forgot to list my guesthouse! http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm

I have not stayed in the Ganges View, but I do prefer the Assi Ghat location. Not quite so hectic, and there are some good places to eat and shop down there.

It is great for boat rides too...you are starting at the south end of the Ghats, so can do a round trip, or take a boat up to the main ghat, then get out and go shopping/exploring and take a cycle ricksahw back to Assi Ghat for about 30 RS.

Hi, the Ganges View is an amazing guesthouse.

Here are a couple of excerpts from a letter home in 2006

"The Ganges View is very special, Shashank the owner is a
literate man who counts Rohintan Mistry as a friend and
guest, not at present unfortunately. The hotel attracts the
most amazing guests and I am not sure quite how I came to be
in such illustrious company".

And following a day of sightseeing:

"I got back as they were about to serve dinner. According to the host, "Dinner is a little different here, we eat as a family. Dinner is served in buffet style in the company of our guests (we always have fascinating guests)" .Dinner includes various vegetables, Raita, Pickles , Papa, Rice , Puri and Chapatti"

The food was outstanding. Last night I dined with a young
Italian documentary film maker from LA, a theatre director
from west London who went to Cambridge with Burmese writer
Pascal Khoo Thwe and a woman from Berkley here studying an
obscure Indian singing technique. They were awe inspiring or
as we say in Lancashire, Gob Smacking. I can hardly wait to
see whom is being served up for supper conversation tonight"

The hotel is spread over several flooor each with a terrace where you can take breakfast rather than in the dining room. Beds are hard but that is common in India.

If you can get into Ganges View, I would jump at the chance. Assi Ghat as mentioned is quiet and a little away from the hustle and bustle of the City but quite lovely in the early morning and evening.

If you have booked the Palace of the River make sure you take your email confirmation. A friend who stayed there last year took advantage of a special offer which she was denied when she came to pay, unfortunately she didn't have her confirmation and the stay cost her a lot more than she bargained for. Her own fault but upsetting all the same.

Enjoy Varanasi. Sue

Thanks everybody, hopefully they'll have rooms available.

A really homely place to stay..I enjoyed staying there