Where to Stay in Varanasi

Varanasi, the ancient pilgrimage city of Northern India attracts multitude of devout Hindus for that blessed divine abode in heaven. It is a must-see destination for the Western tourist seeking that divine blessing and spiritual enlightenment. The ancient city is on the itinerary of most of the travelers to India for many a reason. The erstwhile focus on handicrafts and agrarian economy is now turning towards the tourism sector. The hotel industry in India has realized the importance of Varanasi and today there are hotels available for every budget and class. Five Star Hotels: Varanasi has a number of five star hotels. All of them are located within the city roughly two to three miles from the main railway station and about 12-14 miles from the airport. The Hotel Clarks, Varanasi boasts an impressive array of facilities including a mini golf course and 113 heritage designer rooms. The Hotel Taj Ganges with its 130 room accommodation is the largest of the Five Star hotels in Varanasi. The basic facilities like swimming pool, shopping arcade, tennis and other business facilities are available. Hotel Radisson Varanasi of the world renowned Radisson Chain of Hotels is the latest addition to the Five Star category. All hotels have air-conditioned single, double and deluxe accommodation. They also cater for the discerning traveler with an eye for the comfort of the Deluxe Suites. You may need to plan your travel well in advance for that lap of luxury. Three and Four Star Hotels: Varanasi has a number of three and four star hotels. These are mainly located within a mile or two of the railway station. The prominent among them are Hotel Hindustan International, Hotel Varanasi Ashok, Hotel Western Kashika and Hotel India. The Hotel Varanasi Ashok belongs to the Indian Government owned chain of Ashok hotels. You may end up saving almost fifty percent of the boarding charges by opting for three or four star hotels instead of the five star luxuries. Heritage Hotels: The Hotel Pallavi International, a fine quality heritage hotel, has been carved out of the old home for the 19th century ruler of Bihar. It has 5 luxury suites and 34 double room accommodation, with all the royal accessories. Fine Avadh paintings, ancient wooden carvings and sculptures display the pinnacle of Indian art. You must plan to visit this heritage site during your stay in Varanasi, if not planning a stay here. Other Accommodations. There are a number of lower category hotels in Varanasi with only limited availability of air-conditioned accommodation. You may find a nicely laid out room in many of these hotels too. Good to remember for those impromptu visits to this holy city. The tour operators may also arrange bookings in various hotels for you as per your budget and comfort demands, and the best course of action if you can not plan it yourself. Varanasi has a number of lodges and inexpensive guest houses for a shoe-string budget travel. But be warned that in this bustling holy city, the crime rate is on the rise and reportedly considerably higher than the state average. The Indian Government owned guesthouses can be hired with proper approval through a longish procedure.