Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
There are two options in Varanasi: you can stay near the water, where most of the lodgings are smaller and right in the midst of the action; or you can stay in the Cantonment area, about a 20-minute rickshaw ride away, where the more established, larger hotels are located. The latter area has less character, but it's definitely quieter and less chaotic.
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.
