Palace On Steps

India , Varanasi
VARANASI, D 2111 Rana Mahal Ghat Bangoli Tola Varanasi 2
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

12 Oct 2024

devesh

Good place to stay

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2023

DAVID

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.

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

26 Jun 2023

Panneerselvam

A big disappointment of stay..

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..

Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Feb 2023

Sheila

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

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.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2022

Renate

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.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

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.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2019

Russell

Heart of City

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.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Sep 2019

Sumantra

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.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 Mar 2019

Judith

Adventure on the Ganges

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!!!!!

8/10

Excellent

24 Feb 2019

Marta

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.

Business_and_leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

09 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

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.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

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.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

05 Oct 2017

Subir

Great river view

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.

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2017

marian

Recommend for its location.

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.

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Mar 2017

Very good to see The Ghat and Ganges River.

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.

8/10

Excellent

23 Feb 2017

KARUNAKARAN

Great location / Great staff

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

Family

6/10

Pleasant

17 Mar 2016

Rajvir

To reach Hotel cld be a bit of an Effort,But,if u aren't Budgeted,plz dont choose standard room as they hv no View.i was in room 505 which was da Biggest but despite having an Balcony,u really cant sit there as its more useful for Gtg natural light in da Room.Staff is very helpful & courteous.

Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

The people there were very helpfull, the location was good, quiet and close to the Gange.

4/10

Poor

31 Oct 2014

Verified traveler

Interesting experience

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

Partner

2/10

Poor

17 Oct 2014

jayant

Worst hotel stay

Bad complementary food.
Standard rooms are worst.
Only plus point is location nothing else.
Bad experience.

6/10

Pleasant

24 Jun 2014

Steve

Fantastic view from my room

If you have a room overlooking the river then this a place well worth staying

2/10

Poor

03 Mar 2014

Shyam

Proximity to Ghats : 10/10, Cleanliness : 0/10

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 !

4/10

Poor

27 Feb 2014

shubham

shoddy beds, few rude staff

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.

4/10

Poor

09 Feb 2014

Verified traveler

great location with the surprises .

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.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jan 2014

Ebs

Location is key

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...

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2014

Verified traveler

Excelllent experience..

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 !

6/10

Pleasant

15 Dec 2013

World Traveller

Great Location & Service, But Entirely Run Down!

They MUST put some money back into making the rooms decent and comfortable and clean. Location simply cannot be EVERYTHING!

6/10

Pleasant

20 Nov 2013

paul

I was talked into upgrading my room on arrival to a heritage room, laughably I was quoted 25% higher than it was on expedia. I mentioned this and the price miraculously dropped to the correct rate, so not a good start slightly underhanded. You have to walk about a kilometre on foot to get there it can be quite daunting, the touts que up to ask if you need a room. even though I had a booking I was followed by some all the way to the door I guess in the hopes of a commission.
The room was fresh and clean with a nice view over the ganges. The restaurant has a disappointing cage over it where the monkeys come to look at the captive humans, had a curry there that took ages but it was delicious. Also they do beers which is quite rare in varanasi.
The whole experience is an average one, maybe good for a night or two. It is hugely over priced. I went exploring in the old city and found a much more reasonable room so moved after a couple of nights

6/10

Pleasant

13 Nov 2013

Wendy

not a hotel but a very nice hostel

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.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

10 Nov 2013

chazmandu

Friendly staff, not the cleanest

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.

6/10

Pleasant

11 Aug 2013

Tapati Das

Location not good, hotel average

The entry to the hotel is not at all good. The food is average. The rooms are average. Overall an average experience. Probably the name should have been a \"house on step\" rather than \"palace on step\". the rate should have been much lower. An old house modified into hotel, hence not at all a very pleasant stay.

Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Aug 2013

Sunny1220

Prakash was best tour guide, excellent location

The room was mediocre but let's face it- you're not going to Varanasi to stay in the room. Our room had a beautiful view of the Ganga, and the staff was very helpful. Our tour guides were Prakash and Laleet who both spoke solid English and were very knowledgable about the history of the city. They were also very sweet and fun, I highly recommend them!

Family

2/10

Poor

02 Mar 2013

naresh

Bakvas

Very small and uncomforted room
Poor service
Too remote from road

6/10

Pleasant

25 Feb 2013

Verified traveler

Nice location

Getting to the hotel can be very daunting task as there is no clear marking or signs and local understanding of the location is also very weak. The make matters worse, the property is known by 3 different entities, i.e. Palace on Steps, Ajay Guest House and Elanor Hotel (or I think it is that) which gets everyone confused. What is goofed up by getting to the hotel is made by the location of the hotel as it is very close to Dashashwamegh Ghat, which is where every wants to come for sure. The rooms and bathrooms are clean and the staff is friendly. Overall it has been a decent experience and would recommend it to fellow unpicky travellers.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2019

MURIEL

Vue magnifique sur le Gange de la chambre

Une localisation parfaite. Accès direct sur les Chats. Idéal pour admirer le Gange et son environnement. Très proche du centre. Les chambres avec balcon permettent d'avoir une vue incroyable. Terrasse sur le toit protégée des singes! Attention les Rickshaw be peuvent pas aller jusqu'à l'hôtel. Les employés sont très disponibles.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

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

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

주요 가트에서 매우 가까운 위치에 자리해서 관광하는데 있어서 굉장히 큰 이점이 있습니다
또한 한국분들은 본 호텔 주변으로 보편적으로 이용하시는 철수카페, 선재카페 등이 위치하고 있으니 참고하시면 좋을 듯 합니다
루프탑 레스토랑 또한 훌륭합니다
온수 등 전반적인 시설 이용 또한 불편함이 없었으며 직원들 또한 친절합니다
허나 일부 예민하신 분들은 객실 상태에 따라 조금 불편함을 느낄 수도 있겠으나 큰 문제는 느끼지 못 했습니다

4/10

Poor

19 Dec 2017

nayoung

갠지즈강

강변바로옆에 위치해있어서 전망은 좋았는데
골목에서 찾아가기는 어디든 강변이면
모두 찾기어려울듯합니다.
오토릭샤에서 내려서
맵스미로 약15분정도 걸어가야
찾을수있읍니다.
철수네분식점에서 가까워서
철수네집에서 한식을 먹었습니다.
보트투어시 아주 좋은위치였지만
전망빼고는 그주변은 다 그렇듯이
상태는 그닥 좋지않습니다.

2/10

Poor

07 Apr 2017

Lala

Not worth paying the room charge.\n宿泊費の値全くなし

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。

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2017

Kensuke

ホテルはガンジス川にそってあります。川側の部屋ですと眺めが最高に素晴らしいと思います。しかし、ホテルの場所は自動車、リキシャなど通れる道には面しておりません。ホテルを見つけるのは初めての人にはまず不可能です。ホテルに迎えに来てもらうことを強く勧めます。

6/10

Pleasant

09 Nov 2016

Volker

Individuelles Hotel mit grosser Preisspanne

Palace on the Step liegt direkt an den Ghats. Die Aussicht auf Ganges und Ufer ist großartig, allerdings nur für Zimmer mit Fenster zum Fluss. Mein Zimmer war sauber Dank Guti. Strom fällt gelegentlich aus (ganzes Viertel). Bis zum Haupt-Ghat und Aarties sind es nur wenige Schritte. Erreichbar ist das Hotel nur zu Fuss. 5 Minuten von der Straße. Hotel hilft mit \"Führer\", der auch Gepäck trägt. Personal ist sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit, Dachrestaurant serviert gutes Essen zu günstigen Preisen. Restaurant auf der Dachterasse ist zweigeteilt, entweder geschüzter \"Käfig\" oder im Freien mit Möglichkeit der Bekanntschaft mit Affen. Personal hilft auch hier. (Gilt für alle Unterkünfte an der gesamten Ghat-Front).

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2016

Steffen

Helt klart den bedste placering i byen.

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2016

Verified traveler

Buen hotel

Buen hotel

Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Mar 2016

roma

Cuidada y respetada

Buena estancia. Staff muy amigable y servicial. Acompañan sin pedir nada a templos y cualquier lugar. Las habitaciones no tienen buena señal pero es un lugar al que volvería. Excelente vista del Ganga desde el resto.

8/10

Excellent

08 Jan 2016

Olof

Ett bra och prisvärt hotel

Ett mycket prisvärt hotel för de som är beredda på enkel standard. Sannolikt ett av de absolut bästa alternativen av alla Ghats-hotel.

Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2016

Vincent

Great experience

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).

8/10

Excellent

29 Dec 2014

Verified traveler

vue superbe

vue sur les ghats de la chambre, accès direct au gange,
personnel agréable et disponible

8/10

Excellent

26 Dec 2014

Ingalill

Hotell vid gahten

Bra hotell med rent rum. Utsikt över Ganges fick vi mot pristillägg. Sonen hade ett billigare rum o det var lite fuktigt. Bra service. Fixade små tjänster vi bad om. Området inte jättefräscht. Men så ser det ju ut i Varanasi. Härlig takterrass för fika o mat. Rekommenderas.

Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Nov 2014

Yi Hsun

Good location, friendly staff

交通方便

Family

4/10

Poor

07 Jul 2014

rafa

Mon ennemi le client!

Gérants détestables qui ne pensent qu'à empocher leur argent et ne vous disent même pas m... Quand ils passent devant vous. Aucun respect pour le repos des clients, parlent très fort jusqu'à
Tard ds la nuit! Regrettable car le personnel est à votre service! Vue superbe mais hotel plus que médiocre! A éviter!