What hotel or B & B in Varanasi? Our choice, Ganges View, is full on the dates we need. Other ideas? Is it better to stay near the river/ghats or not?

Also, does anyone have any ideas on the best way to get from Varanasi to Kathmandu? I can't seem to find any direct flights -- do you have to fly back to Delhi and then to Nepal?

One more question topic (for now) -- we are looking for a car and driver to drive us from Ahmedabad to either Kathmandu or Varanasi -- does anyone have anyone who he or she would recommended? And does anyone know what would that car hire cost per day approximately?

Any and all help/advice is much appreciated!!!

Rashmi Guest House - a.k.a. A Palace on River. Do a search in here and Trip Advisor. Of course, stay on the Ganges.

Direct flight Varanasi to Kathmandu - Indian Airlines. Every second day. 50 minutes. Flew it two weeks ago.

I agree with Dogster, stay at Rashmi Guest House. E-mail Ramesh, the manager, he's wonderful to deal with. We stayed in room 303 if you can, its the room with the biggest view of the Ganges. I think the price was around $115 last December. And the food at the rooftop restaurant is safe and delicious.

Rashmi Guest is nice only if you would like to be close to the river otherwise in terms of quality it is a very simple hotel.

If you want nice accommodation than go in for graded hotels like Taj Ganges, or Ramada Plaza or Radisson etc..they are in the Cantt area of the city which is anyway not far off from the river / Ghat area.

Varanasi to Kathmandu - you can travel by air - as per the present schdule the flight is - IC 751 - 1210/1320 and it operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturday and Sunday only.

Driving from Ahmedabad to Varanasi or Kathmandu drive is not feasible. You are advised to fly Delhi from Ahmedabad - since there are flights to Varanasi as well as Kathmandu from Delhi.

All the best.

Definitely plan to stay on the river! I stayed there, although it was a very simple hotel, and am so glad I did. I think it would a very different experience staying in town.

Driving from Ahmedabad to Varanasi really doesn't look like a good idea, but you could also consider the night train. Leaves Ahmedabad at 20:50 Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat and gets to Varanasi at 09:50. See www.indianrail.gov.in for schedules and seat61.com/India.htm for info on traveling by train in India.

Ooops - forget that, turns out that train takes two nights, not one.

I wouldnt drive from Ahmedabad to Varanasi unless you wanted to take several days and see things en route. The highway up to Udaiput is quite good and goes through some scenic areas (stops at Rishabdeo to see the ancient Jain temple and longer at Dungarpur for the Juna Mahal are worth while tho they slow you down - and of course continuing on through rajasthan toward Agra there is much to see and do (roads not so good)

Ive not heard good things about the drive on to Varanasi, however.

We used Rajasthan 4WD for a pick up out of Ahmedabad into Rajasthan and they were very good - the driver had been up to Nepal a few weeks earlier. They might have some suggestions on how to manage your trip in terms of what modes of transportation are most efficient and what order you should hit your target destinations in.

good luck!


good luck!