12 Best Hotels in Varanasi, Side Trips from Delhi

Accessed by boat from Assi Ghat, this 200-year-old palace packs the best of culture, architecture, and luxury in Varanasi, with the stay including complimentary pickings from the city such as holy water, zari-embroidered bags, and wooden toys. The Ganges is visible from the lobby, viewing deck, and all suites, but the property's stone-carved architecture and regal furnishings lining the sunlit hallways is a sight to behold in and of itself. There's ample to do within the hotel, with live music, classical dance performances, astrology sessions, and henna designing taking over the courtyard every evening. With a dining area, boutique store, and spa, this place is ideal if you're looking to savor Indian hospitality without having to leave your hotel.

This restored heritage palace provides the most luxurious accommodations in Varanasi, as it did in its heyday, when guests of the Maharaja of Benaras included Queen Elizabeth, Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the king of Persia. The rooms, evoking that bygone era, are elaborately furnished with pieces from the maharaja's private collection—voluptuous four-poster teak beds with silk canopies, Victorian-style armoires, antique bathtubs. There's a pool with ghatlike steps, a golf course, and manicured gardens amid fields of marigolds, jasmine, and mango trees. The signature spa treatment is based on the ritual purifying bath once performed on royalty for special occasions. Rooms are named after patrons who once stayed in them, so if you want to live a bit like the queen of Bhutan once did, ask for her room.

Built in the style of a traditional Nepali courtyard by the royal family of Nepal and once frequented by the king of Nepal and his guests, this boutique hotel sits directly on the banks of the Shivala Ghat. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with colonial furniture and stylish silk throws. The property features an elegant garden courtyard, a "viewing deck" with lounge chairs facing the Ganges, and a garden terrace with a gazebo. Easy road access makes sightseeing easier, and you can also ask the team to assist you for a dip in the Ganges.

With upscale amenities amid lots of greenery, Clarks makes a good option for a quiet stay, and has been the choice of Indian celebrities such as Hrithik Roshan. Rooms have lots of natural light and wood laminate floors; the best ones overlook the palm-fringed pool or lawn. The plush hotel lobby is all cool white marble and chandeliers, looking out onto a green driveway.

Located a couple of miles from Sarnath, this hotel is clean, well-lit, and welcoming with contemporary interiors. Apart from Cilantro, the in-house restaurant, there's a rooftop bar with continental offerings, as well as a swimming pool. This property feels slightly more business-like than others, but remains a good option if you're planning to spend most of your days outdoors.

A palatial 18th-century house renovated to meet new-age demands, Guleria Kothi has all the trappings of an eclectic stay. Wooden furnishings meet old sandstone walls and flooring, while views of the Ganges follow you wherever you go. There's an open-air eatery as well as a rooftop restaurant for fine dining. If you ask, the team will arrange sufi nights in the courtyard and yoga in the meditation room. Some room configurations feature four beds, ideal for families and groups.

Still the residence of a well-to-do family, this guesthouse has small, beautiful rooms with quirky charm, and classical Indian concerts are often held here. There is a great veranda overlooking the river and Assi Ghat, and inside, there is a Shaiva shrine and 14 guestrooms. Delicious dinners, served under a galaxy of lamps and chandeliers, are Brahmin-style vegetarian. Book months ahead for peak season.

Built as a palace by Nepal's King Kaiser in the 19th century, this heritage property opened as a hotel in 1982 and underwent rounds of renovations, refining its old-world interiors to suit modern travelers' needs. The hotel has a bar and great multi-cuisine restaurant, a pool, and sprawling lawns for outdoor dining. While the base category of rooms are simple and compact, all other premium rooms and suites come with ample space and balconies.

In this century-old building on Assi Ghat, rooms are styled after Indian states—Gujarat (brightly colored drapes studded with mirror work), Rajasthan (elaborately carved doors and furnishings), and Assam (lots of bamboo). All delivering modern comforts, rooms at the front have a great view of the ghat, while others are quieter. The long, airy lobby is a great place to relax with tea, while the multi-cuisine rooftop restaurant has live classical music in the evenings (not during summer) and a good view of the Ganges.

Plush and always lively, this hotel in the relatively noise-free Cantonment is a favorite for its luxurious settings and well-maintained and upscale amenities. The bright and spacious rooms feature green marble and dark wood floors, pale green and cream silk throws, flat-screen TVs, and upscale bath products. The deep red and gold lobby is always bustling with activity—and large groups. The Great Kebab Factory, the hotel's specialty restaurant, is a big draw for its authentic Uttar Pradesh cuisine.

This hotel stands close to popular sights like Ramnagar Fort and the PT Deen Dayal Upadhyay railway station, but about 8 km (5 miles) away from the ghats---which makes it the ideal base if you want to cover the city beyond the Ganges. The offerings are modest but fulfilling, with a pool, a multi-cuisine restaurant called Masala Root, and Jacuzzis in the suites.

Previously known as Taj Gateway, this hotel has modern rooms done in soft colors with brass-accented furniture and eclectic Indian art. The upper-story rooms are cozy and quiet, with great garden views. Dine at the specialty Varuna restaurant for a posh Indian meal, or at Chowk for continental flavors.