BrijRama Palace, Varanasi by the Ganges

I reccomend booking the hotel car service, easy to find driver, felt safe and comfortable. You take a boat to get to the hotel which is an activity itself. When we arrived there were unexpected complimentry activities at different times of day which was such a value add. Frome henna to a flute player to a dancing couple and more. You won't find better hospitality either, every question, request or interaction was met with full attention. The breakfast is fantastic with many options of Indian breakfast, but also pancakes, eggs, fruit & pastries. Tea time was also included and included snacks. We enjoyed a beautiful roof top meal (ask about this) which was a nice change from the everyday restaurant. Basically if food a is a concern, you will never go hungry here. There are additional things that also made the stay lovely but I"ll leave those for you to discover. If we return to Varanasi we would absolutely stay here and reccomend to others.

It did not impact us, but be aware there are several stairs from the boat to the hotel entrance. It might be challenging for older travelers with knee issues but the hotel staff is FANTASTIC and take your luggage and would help you up.

Wonderful property located in the heart of the old city, on the border of the Ganges River. The staff was amazing and the signature boat check-out was particularly spectacular! The restaurant is excellent. It was my second time at this place and it did not disappoint!

No complaints to make - it is a truly remarkable hotel. Little advice: don’t take their in-house guide for the walking city tour. He shared a few conspiracy theories and didn’t advise us to bring our passports (which are necessary to visit THE famous hindu temple of the old town - we only saw it from outside.) Choose one on viator or tripadvisor.

Excellent location, brilliant experience

The facility is superbly positioned for those seeking immersion in the historical and spiritual aspects of the holy city. Brijrama skillfully integrates these elements into guest experiences. Although alcohol isn't served due to government regulations, the spiritual depth offered supersedes any need for it. The cuisine was exceptional, complemented by delightful classical music and dance performances. The hotel's fantastic location within walking distance from the aarti ghat and burning ghat enhanced the overall experience. A commendation to Mr. Shubham, whose dedication elevates the hotel's service to remarkable levels.

What I found lacking at the hotel: There were occasional miscommunications among the staff, leading to a less smooth check-in process, possibly due to some inexperienced team members. The restaurant service needs enhancement through staff training, as there were instances of audible disagreements among the staff. Despite this, the personnel were genuinely pleasant, and with proper training, their performance could significantly improve. However, the exemplary service provided by Mr. Shubham, Mr. Ujjwain, and Mr. Ravi more than compensates for any inexperienced staff members.

Great history, hotel and service Hotel provides a wonderful escape, calming presence in Varanasi. Was quite trying when my flight got postponed twice then cancelled and that after calling to confirm. Staff and managers were calm during this crisis and thank Lord,managed to find me an alternative room in hotel. Thali meal for lunch, though pricey is the best ever, breakfast buffett is complete and satisfying and creates a great start for the day! Would be good if staff introduced themselves by name (which I see in Marriot), so guests remember who to compliment at hotel and restaurant. Great stay highly recommended!

Nil

Public spaces are lovely. The staff were excellent.

The rooms are a little on the small side.

There Brijrama experience was exceptional! Great attention to detail and small touches of care.

There was a significant hidden cost ("commisssion") on the Booking.com webpage which made the overall price not clear until our check out. This seemed unnecessarily misleading. Also, we had an experience where we ordered breakfast and then all this additional food came at us. I think the gesture comes from a good place, but most people know what they want and it was uncomfortable and off-putting to have an over-abundance of food put before us when we had already ordered.

Brijrama Palace is such a truly beautiful hotel. Situated right in the banks of the Ganges, it’s an experience that will stay with you forever! Your wonderful experience starts right from your arrival. You get picked up in their boat and get taken along the Ganges to their hotel. You then enter the hotel to what can only be described as mind blowing beautiful hotel. It’s an Indian palace that transcends you back to old heritage india. The ambience of the hotel matches its surroundings from the beautiful nightly traditional Indian dancing shows, to complimentary evening boat ride on the Ganges to see the prayers (arti) and shows. But best of all was waking up to the most serene, gentle sound of live traditional flute playing outside your door - it was just heaven! As for the views, it’s nothing but breathtaking whether its sunrise or sunset, your eyes and senses will be on overdrive. Last but not least, the restaurant prepared the most exquisite food, big compliments to their chefs! The hotel is unquestionably on the high end cost wise, but if you can afford it, I promise you won’t regret the experience.

Everything. The boat ride to get you to the hotel, the friendly staff, the extra services provided, the rooms. They have an entire programme of activities to keep you busy and in the hotel. This was very useful as we arrived very tired on the first day and it was 40 C outside. The hotel very expensive for India, but it is worth every penny and is an unforgettable experience

The restaurant. I'm not very into vegetarian food, but that's all they had.

The property is one of the most beautifully done up palaces in India. It has been restored extremely well and feels like living in a palace. The rooms are comfortable and service is excellent. Location is unbeatable on one of the most beautiful ghats 15-20 min walking distance from Kashi Vishwanath temple. The complimentary boat service makes it very convenient to enjoy the old city. The kathak and music performance every evening is very good. The food is good but may not be spicy enough for Indians. A perfect stay in a perfect location.

Some requests like transport or food orders occasionally take a bit long to complete.