The Best Boutique Places to Stay in Varanasi, India

Feel like a maharaja or maharani at this grand luxury hotels in Varanasi. BrijRama Palace is luxurious inside and out, with sweeping views of the Ganges and opulent interiors. Rooms are decked out with impressive chandeliers and antique furniture, which nod to the property’s storeyed past. Push the boat out by checking into the turreted Varuna Burj suite, which boasts some of the best panoramas of the waterway winding below. Meanwhile, a candlelit dinner at the hotel’s vegetarian restaurant, Darbhanga, to the tune of live local music, promises to be a feast to remember.

The bright white walls and big yellow doors of this independent ‘experiential’ boutique hotel in Varanasi are hard to miss. The vibe is young, modern and authentic. Expect food tours, art workshops, yoga classes and co-working spaces. The property has 12 cosy, yet minimalist rooms, each with 24-hour room service. Kick back in a hammock in the leafy courtyard before enjoying North Indian dishes at the outdoor Behind Yellow Doors Diner, washed down with delicious masala tea.

Up your holiday game by checking into this mansion – one of Varanasi’s best hotels. The eye-catching Suryauday Haveli property sits on Shivala Ghats, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and was built by the Nepalese royal family more than 100 years ago. Modern, bright rooms wrap around a quaint courtyard adorned with plants. The restaurant is run by a maharaj (Hindu cook) who rustles up an array of dishes with influences from across Indian.

It’s not unheard of to visit here expecting some spiritual awakening, and if that’s on your agenda this is one of the best places to stay in Varanasi. Take advantage of Reiki classes, morning rooftop yoga and meditation sessions, and Ayurvedic treatments. The hotel offers panoramic views of the Ganges and all of the rooms have balconies, along with air conditioning and wifi. After a day of spiritualism, tuck into delicious homemade Indian food with omelettes, curries and dals among the spread.

This is the most authentic and luxurious homestay experience you will get without actually staying with a wealthy relative in India. This gem is defined by its hosts, head honcho grannies Aruna and Asha. The two sisters are always ready to entertain with vibrant and nostalgic stories, while spoiling you with home-cooked treats. There are six peaceful and comfy rooms, and for the price of a budget hotel, you come away feeling nourished in every way.

This palace was built in 1835 and its luxury hotel in Varanasi offers a calming ambience among the city’s chaos. It’s surrounded by soothing gardens filled with mango trees and fragrant jasmine, and daily open-air yoga classes promise to further your relaxed state. Inside the grand property, you’ll find 10 elegant rooms with four-poster beds, marble-clad bathrooms and pool or garden views. In the Jiva Spa local herbs and spices are used during traditional treatments to help you get in the Varanasi frame of mind.