Palace on steps
Hotel in Varanasi
3-Star Hotel
Reasons to book
Includes essentialsAir conditioner, Internet / Wifi, Laundry and more
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About this hotel
Riverfront hotel with free breakfast and a rooftop terrace
This hotel features a restaurant, a rooftop terrace, and a conference center. Free on-the-go breakfast and free WiFi in public areas are also provided. Other amenities include a coffee shop/cafe, coffee/tea in a common area, and 24-hour room service.
Palace on steps offers 28 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary toiletries and ceiling fans. Beds feature premium bedding. LED televisions come with cable channels.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
This hotel features a restaurant, a rooftop terrace, and a conference center. Free on-the-go breakfast and free WiFi in public areas are also provided. Other amenities include a coffee shop/cafe, coffee/tea in a common area, and 24-hour room service.
Palace on steps offers 28 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary toiletries and ceiling fans. Beds feature premium bedding. LED televisions come with cable channels.
Bathrooms include showers. This Varanasi hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered daily and hair dryers can be requested.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Internet / Wifi
Laundry
Map of Varanasi
Available Rooms
Saptarishi Suites
1 King • 150 ft²
Sleeps 3
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
MILAAP SUITES
1 Double • 150 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Budget Nomad Room
1 Double • 75 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Trishul Rooms
1 Double
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Ekaant Room
1 Double
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
5.0 / 5.0
My experiences in Varanasi have always been remarkable, but my latest stay at the Palace on the Steps truly stands out as an unforgettable stay. This gem of a Haveli nestled near the main Ghat along the sacred Ganges, offers more than just a place to stay; it is a gateway to spiritual awakening. Waking up to the serene sunrise over the holy waters from my room's balcony was a daily blessing, infusing each morning with tranquility and awe.
The heart of the Palace on the Steps lies in its impeccable management and staff. Their efficiency, attentiveness, and warmth created an environment of comfort and ease. Ajay, the ever-ready and eager manager, exemplified hospitality, swiftly addressing any concerns with a personal touch.
The culinary delights at the Palace on the Steps restaurant were another highlight of my stay. Dining at the rooftop restaurant became a cherished ritual, with each meal a delightful exploration of flavors. Additionally, the prompt and thorough laundry service added a layer of convenience to my experience. Housekeeping kept my room very clean and tidy throughout my stay. Plenty of water, toiletries, and making sure everything was in its place further made me feel welcome.
0.5 / 5.0
Please check the rooms before checking in.. and paying the rooms..i have been given a room in the terrace and it is really not worth for the charges paid..
2.0 / 5.0
Great location right on The Steps within walking distance to the Aarti Ganga although the owner will arrange a boat ride. Actually he will arrange anything you’d like.
5.0 / 5.0
Prime location in the center of the Ghat Road right on Ganga. Ekant Kashi room is small but lovely with balcony overlooking the river. Rising sun shines right into the bed. Clean and wonderful service. Access to hotel by walking only, like many others in this area.
5.0 / 5.0
The service was outstanding. All of the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Definitely a unique hotel and and perfect right next to the water.
2.0 / 5.0
Location, location, location. Located on Ganges at Ghats. Hotel arranged transportation to and from airport. Hotel is a little worn but comfortable. Would stay here again.
1.0 / 5.0
Location, location, location. Located on Ganges at Ghats. Hotel arranged transportation to and from airport. Hotel is a little worn but comfortable. Would stay here again.
4.0 / 5.0
Besdide the river. About 500 m walking distance from the main road. No other vehicles can go in these lane. Though hotel staff can cooperate in bringing the luggage.
2.0 / 5.0
With Palace on Steps, it’s all about the location. Yoy will be right in the Ganges. You must accept that you are in a holy city with a lot of poverty but also a lot of soul. The people are so warm, wonderful and helpful but staying there presents many challenges. It is not for everyone. Walking back and forth to the “ main” road is treacherous and the steps down to the river are flat out dangerous. Having said that, I am in my 60s and this was one of the most memorable weeks of my life. The little restaurant has simple but good food, AND they serve beer:) I am now in a very fancy 5 Star Hotel in Delhi but I miss Palace on Steps. The little streets are not clean but I miss the cows, monkeys, parrots and the fabulous little shops in the ghats. Palace is not for everyone but if you have a sense of adventure, stay there. Ricky and others were amazingly hospitable. The Ganges will flow into your heart!!!!!
2.0 / 5.0
The location is great. Not only it takes about 2 minutes to get to the river, the property has a great terrace to relax, have dinner or drinks and watch the river and activity on the ghats. Some of the rooms have river view as well. The location could not be better.The staff is very helpful, ready to assist with information and schedule activities. We booked a sunrise boat ride and a full day walking tour and both were amazing. Now for the not so great. If you're expecting a Western style level of amenities, you will not find it here, so it depends on your expectations. The rooms have showers but Indian style, which means no cabin or curtain. There is always hot water and there is an overhead shower (which is not always the case in India). If you can deal with that, I highly recommend this hotel.
4.0 / 5.0
The location is great. Not only it takes about 2 minutes to get to the river, the property has a great terrace to relax, have dinner or drinks and watch the river and activity on the ghats. Some of the rooms have river view as well. The location could not be better.
The staff is very helpful, ready to assist with information and schedule activities. We booked a sunrise boat ride and a full day walking tour and both were amazing.
Now for the not so great. If you're expecting a Western style level of amenities, you will not find it here, so it depends on your expectations. The rooms have showers but Indian style, which means no cabin or curtain. There is always hot water and there is an overhead shower (which is not always the case in India). If you can deal with that, I highly recommend this hotel.
4.0 / 5.0
First, the reception is very friendly. The hotel, which dates from 1665 and is in a palace facing the Ganges. The best room is probably nr 305. Breakfast is fine (corn flakes, toasts, fruits, boiled eggs and the usual Indian warm dishes). The view on the river is excellent. To access the hotel (which also bears the name Elena), you can climg the stairs from south of Munshi Ghat either direction Shiva Hotel then you turn right or direction Elena Hotel then you turn left. From the city, it's longer and more complex. Take a compass and head East from a point named Lahiri Mahasaya Samadhi. It's a small lane where only pedestrians, bikes - and sacred cows - can enter. It's about 150-200m. Follow Shiva, Elena or Palace on Steps signs. Near the hotel, you'll cross an alley with a few "Western" restaurants and tourist stores. Thrre's even a cake shop in the same street, which runs N-S parallel to the river. There are monkeys that play on the hotel terraces and in a big tree (the tree is a useful landmark from the ghat). In short, a good hotel with a great view and fine service.
4.0 / 5.0
Riverside means dogs barking
But river view room and restaurant is strong reason to stay
3-day-staying varanasi is very comfortable
Except for poor hot shower
5.0 / 5.0
Super staff! They helped us by showing around the pathways and shops to taking us to a very good physician nearby. Very friendly and accommodating to our needs. Place is well located on the ghats, simple, clean. Great river views. Breakfast also good.
3.0 / 5.0
Strongest point is it's location. Not good for elderly because it's 1 km walk from main road and a steep climb of 50 steps from ghat. Food is good. Staff very helpful. AC and electricity is terribly bad. Frequent disruption of AC expected. View from rooms is great.
2.5 / 5.0
Fabulous old building overlooking the Ganges. We were given the two best rooms as hotel was quiet. Amazing views & location. Rooms & bathroom quite tired, but if improved the hotel would be much more expensive. Staff very helpful. Food fantastic & served in a prime spot overlooking the Ganges. Network of narrow lanes to get to the hotel from the main road. Help given to carry our bags to the hotel avoiding motorbikes & the odd cow on the way.
1.0 / 5.0
I paid the most expensive charge for the room during the trip in India. Because the pictures of the site were so beautiful. But the room was totally different, filthy, an electric outlet was high on a wall and broken, I had to go to the restaurant room to charge in the middle of the night. The only good thing was a location.
サイトの写真に騙されました。インドの旅行で一番高い部屋でしたが、部屋は汚い、高くてもエアコンもない、電源は壁の高いところにあり、どうやって充電できるのと言った感じで、しかも壊れている。直してと頼んでも直ってなくレストランで充電。最悪な宿でした。
2.0 / 5.0
Perfect location to take a look and get to the Ghat and River. People are very kind and helpful. Hot shower and A/C are available. River viewing room has many flying bugs and a monkey got into my room through open door to Balcony and take my foods. hahaha. Have fun with bugs gecko rizard and monkey!!! One big problem was my big baggage could not be trolled myself coz too long, narrow and dirty corridor from the circle.
2.0 / 5.0
Perfect location to take a look and get to the Ghat and River. People are very kind and helpful. Hot shower and A/C are available. River viewing room has many flying bugs and a monkey got into my room through open door to Balcony and take my foods. hahaha. Have fun with bugs gecko rizard and monkey!!! One big problem was my big baggage could not be trolled myself coz too long, narrow and dirty corridor from the circle.
2.0 / 5.0
Palace on Steps is right on the Ganges at the heart of action in Varanasi. Hotels in this region can't be accessed by vehicle and therefore it is vital to pre-book an airport pick up via the hotel. The reception staff are fantastic and try their hardest to make our stay as comfortable as possible and to help arrange tours locally. The Maharajah suite is awesome with fantastic views over the Ganges. The roof top restaurant is fairly priced with a decent menu selection
1.0 / 5.0
Palace on Steps is right on the Ganges at the heart of action in Varanasi. Hotels in this region cant be accessed by vehicle and therefore it is vital to pre-book an airport pick up via the hotel. The reception staff are fantastic and try their hardest to make our stay as comfortable as possible and to help arrange tours locally. The Maharajah suite is awesome with fantastic views over the Ganges. The roof top restaurant is fairly priced with a decent menu selection
2.0 / 5.0
I've booked the Maharajah room (called "Suite" on Hotels.com).
It was a really impressive experience : sleeping under a dome of several meters high dating back over 100 years, and resting some hours at the end of the day on a private balcony all along the room over Gange (so a 180° view, as the room is oval).
Kind staff at front desk. They offered me the classic boat ride on Gange for 200INR/hour, and a 800INR transfer to the airport (thanks again to the very nice person who carried my luggage).
Two limits : 1) In terms of equipment and comfort, this is clearly not luxury, but adequate to the price. 2) Be prepared to spend time (half an hour or so ...) to find the hotel after your rickshaw drop you, because the "street" is very small and the rickshaw can not go straight to the ghat in question. But after you find the hotel, the location is great (so indulge yourself at least 2 nights).
2.0 / 5.0
The people there were very helpfull, the location was good, quiet and close to the Gange.
0.5 / 5.0
Lets be clear, this place is definitely not a palace. It is a set of concrete rooms. We booked and received what was, absolutely, a basic room. Very basic in fact. Shabby with small beds and a small attached shower / wc room. The floor was spotless to be fair and had been disinfected just before we got there. But the paintwork in the room needed cleaning. The bathroom mould needed a ton of bleach. The room was bland and had no proper window as it was an internal room. I imagine some of the rooms are better and have great views as the establishment is literally on the bank of the Ganges. This is its strongest point. It is in a great location. Easy to get anywhere in town or on the river on foot in a couple of minutes. Dreamlike architecture nearby. A little haunting actually. The guys that work there are friendly. We found one of them, Deepak I think, particularly nice. There is a rooftop canteen surrounded by a cage to keep the monkeys out. One disturbing thing is that access to the area from the river end of town is up a very steep set of stairs which is covered and also unlit. In the daytime it is simply dark and people sleep on the steps. At night it is black and full of dogs
1.0 / 5.0
Let's be clear, this place is definitely not a palace. It is a set of concrete rooms. We booked and received what was, absolutely, a basic room. Very basic in fact. Shabby with small beds and a small attached shower / wc room. The floor was spotless to be fair and had been disinfected just before we got there. But the paintwork in the room needed cleaning. The bathroom mould needed a ton of bleach. The room was bland and had no proper window as it was an internal room. I imagine some of the rooms are better and have great views as the establishment is literally on the bank of the Ganges. This is it's strongest point. It is in a great location. Easy to get anywhere in town or on the river on foot in a couple of minutes. Dreamlike architecture nearby. A little haunting actually. The guys that work there are friendly. We found one of them, Deepak I think, particularly nice. There is a rooftop canteen surrounded by a cage to keep the monkeys out. One disturbing thing is that access to the area from the river end of town is up a very steep set of stairs which is covered and also unlit. In the daytime it is simply dark and people sleep on the steps. At night it is black and full of dogs
0.5 / 5.0
Bad complementary food.Standard rooms are worst.Only plus point is location nothing else.Bad experience.
0.5 / 5.0
Bad complementary food.
Standard rooms are worst.
Only plus point is location nothing else.
Bad experience.
1.5 / 5.0
If you have a room overlooking the river then this a place well worth staying
0.5 / 5.0
While the hotel is "Just On the Ghats" and great from a locational perspective, everything else is terrible :
a) Access : You need to walk with your luggage for at least 15 minutes
b) Cleanliness : I stayed for 2 nights, they never cleaned the room during my stay, despite repeated reminders; I received similar feedback from other inmates ( both Indian and International guests )
c) Restaurant : The food is good, but the place is infested with stray monkeys. Added to this are the pet dog and its puppy - while they are cute, looks like they are not fed, so they come and pull your plate of food when you are eating.
Overall, a horrible place to stay. Never Go there !
0.5 / 5.0
While the hotel is "Just On the Ghats" and great from a locational perspective, everything else is terrible :a) Access : You need to walk with your luggage for at least 15 minutesb) Cleanliness : I stayed for 2 nights, they never cleaned the room during my stay, despite repeated reminders; I received similar feedback from other inmates ( both Indian and International guests )c) Restaurant : The food is good, but the place is infested with stray monkeys. Added to this are the pet dog and its puppy - while they are cute, looks like they are not fed, so they come and pull your plate of food when you are eating.Overall, a horrible place to stay. Never Go there !
1.0 / 5.0
Location: great because it's on riverside. Terrible because you have to walk at least 1.5 km through narrow confusing and hopelessly dirty lanes to reach there as no transport is allowed. Service : Some staff were rude. Most of them were illiterate villagers.Esp rude to East Asian foreigners. Food quality was pathetic as the kitchen staff were not at all trained. Kitchen was very dirty. I didn't feel like eating out of the plates and glasses they served in. YET, I can say that the city that Varanasi is, this hotel would still qualify as a better one.
0.5 / 5.0
Location: great because its on riverside. Terrible because you have to walk at least 1.5 km through narrow confusing and hopelessly dirty lanes to reach there as no transport is allowed. Service : Some staff were rude. Most of them were illiterate villagers.Esp rude to East Asian foreigners. Food quality was pathetic as the kitchen staff were not at all trained. Kitchen was very dirty. I didnt feel like eating out of the plates and glasses they served in. YET, I can say that the city that Varanasi is, this hotel would still qualify as a better one.
1.0 / 5.0
On side upgrading procedure for view only. Not Expidia prices. Spiders or lizard living with you. make pick what you like. Equipment in terrible shape, heater ( was cold at night) fall apart no always hot or cold water. Dirty towels, no soup or shampoo. You have to ask for everything. Yes, great view if you upgrade nothing else.
0.8 / 5.0
About the only thing going for Palace on the Steps is its location... Mind you, rest of the places also dont look too good, so thats what you get for the price...
1.5 / 5.0
About the only thing going for "Palace on the Steps" is its location... Mind you, rest of the places also don't look too good, so that's what you get for the price...
2.5 / 5.0
Had a very experience. This hotel has a great view of the ganges..Highly recommended. Staff every good and helpful....It is a 10 minute walk from any road. So travel light or ask the hotel staff to come over and carry luggage from the dropoff point. All places on the ghat are very near...The owner is extremely helpful.
Have 2-3 mobile numbers of the hotel staff handy at all times.. u get great response and support. I traveled heavy with an extended family...But it was a great experience.
Access-related issues are a blur when u get such a great view of the Ganges !
0.8 / 5.0
They MUST put some money back into making the rooms decent and comfortable and clean. Location simply cannot be EVERYTHING!
0.8 / 5.0
Would say this is a hostel more than a hotel. Rooms are very basic although did have hot water (first Ive encountered in India) a plug in bug zapper (again, first Ive seen provided by a hotel) and free wi fi in the lobby. Got the free breakfast 3 of the 4 days. Staff were very helpful when we had a problem with flights-let us use their phones for calls.
0.8 / 5.0
Would say this is a hostel more than a hotel. Rooms are very basic although did have hot water (first I've encountered in India) a plug in bug zapper (again, first I've seen provided by a hotel) and free wi fi in the lobby. Got the free breakfast 3 of the 4 days. Staff were very helpful when we had a problem with flights-let us use their phones for calls.
0.8 / 5.0
Staff were perfectly friendly and helpful. The bed was way more comfy than beds usually are in India. The view of the Ganga from the balcony was great. However, the sheets and towels were not very clean at all. Furthermore, I would have felt slightly safer if the door were a little more secure. But overall, one goes to Varanasi not for the hotel room but for the sights, and it sufficed.
FAQs
How much does this hotel cost compared to others in Varanasi?
The average price for a rental in Varanasi is $56 per night. This rental is $23 above the average.
Is parking included with this hotel?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Palace on steps. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this hotel?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this hotel. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Palace on steps pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this hotel is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Palace on steps?
We found 3 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, internet / wifi, and laundry.
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