Dwivedi Hotels Palace On Steps

The staff couldn't do enough to help. We arranged ahead of time to be met outside the old town. Three guys turned up and carried our bags through a rabbit warren of lanes and alleyways to get us to the hotel. There was no way we could have found the place ourselves. The restaurant served a very good breakfast and there was an option of sitting inside or out. During the morning it was safer to be inside unless you wanted to share your food with the monkeys. The view of the Ganges river from the balcony was spectacular. Perfect for watching the sunrise with a cuppa.

I can't speak for all of the rooms but mine could've done with some serious attention as it was very rundown. The bathroom could've also done with a complete refit. It was also very small. The room my other 2 family members shared was somewhat better than mine. Having said that the bed was comfortable, the AC worked great and the shower had plenty of hot water. The Ganges river can be very busy at night due to so many boats so be prepared for some noise until quite late. I had a room with a balcony so that was a trade off for the view.

Fantastic views of the Ganga from my bedroom window overlooking the riverbank. Very close to the main ghat where all the action is. Lots of boat trips within minutes of leaving the hotel. Unforgettable sunsets. See the real India. Really lovely staff who go out of their way to help you. Lovely rooftop restaurant with good food at reasonable prices.

Could be easy to get lost in and around the hotel in the very narrow alleyways.

The Kashi Suite was remarkable - like staying in a palace from another era. From the domed bedroom with circular bed and multiple windows giving direct views of the Ganges - it was our air conditioned sanctuary from the chaos below! Highly recommended. We ate several times at the in-house restaurant and loved every meal. Butter chicken and paneer with peas both stand outs. Buffet breakfast was substantial with good variety each day with both Indian and continental options. Staff were friendly, very well informed and made organising boat trips and taxis a breeze. We loved our stay. Varanasi is the most amazing city and the Kashi suite was an integral of our enjoyment of this unique experience.

Other rooms booked by family were quite plain but renovations are clearly under way to better suit the palace history of this building. Monkeys can get a little too close for comfort.

Best view and good staff

It would have helped if there were toilet paper. We felt some weird electric shock every single time we turned on the shower tap.