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Palace on steps

3.5 star property

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January 2025

Photo gallery for Palace on steps

Ekaant Suites | Terrace/patio
LED TV
Business center
View from property
Saptarishi Suites | Water view

Reviews

6.8 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Room service
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

Map
Rana Mahal Ghat, Banagali Tola, Near Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221001
  • Dasaswamedh ghat
    2 min walk
  • Vishalakshi Temple
    8 min walk
  • Harishchandra Ghat
    10 min walk
  • Varanasi (VNS-Lal Bahadur Shastri)
    25 min drive

Room options

View all photos for Ekaant Kashi

Ekaant Kashi | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Ekaant Kashi

  • 50 sq ft
  • River view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Solo Budget Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Milaap Room

Milaap Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Milaap Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Kashi Suite

Kashi Suite | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Kashi Suite

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Trishul Rooms

Terrace/patio

Trishul Rooms

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Saptarishi Suites

Saptarishi Suites | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Saptarishi Suites

  • 150 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for MILAAP SUITES

Terrace/patio

MILAAP SUITES

  • 150 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Ekaant Suites

Ekaant Suites | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Ekaant Suites

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Ekaant Room

Ekaant Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Ekaant Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Budget Nomad Room

Budget Nomad Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Budget Nomad Room

  • 75 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Similar properties

Beach

Dwivedi Hotels Hotel Elena

Breakfast included
Free WiFi
Restaurant
Air conditioning
3.4 out of 5, (20)
The price is $118
per night
$163 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 14 - Dec 15
Dwivedi Hotels Hotel Elena

About this property

Palace on steps

3.5-star Varanasi hotel steps from Dasaswamedh ghat
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.
Dining options at the hotel include a restaurant and a coffee shop/cafe. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. A computer station is located on site and wireless Internet access is complimentary. A business center is on site at this 3.5-star property. For a surcharge, an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is offered to guests. This Varanasi hotel also offers a rooftop terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and coffee/tea in a common area. Parking is available onsite for a surcharge.
A complimentary on-the-go breakfast is served each morning between 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
Sunrise Restaurant - This restaurant specializes in Indian cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Happy hour is offered.
24-hour room service is available.

Languages

English, Hindi, Japanese

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle at scheduled times and on request for a surcharge
  • Self parking on site (INR 393 per night)

Food and drink

  • Free on-the-go breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Sunrise Restaurant

Things to do

  • Shopping
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Business center
  • Computer station
  • Conference center

Outdoors

  • On a river
  • Rooftop terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 2 floors
  • Reception hall

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LED TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1 PM; Check-in end time: noon
Late check-in subject to availability
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 3 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
To register at this property, guests who are Indian citizens must provide a valid photo identity card issued by the Government of India; travelers who are not citizens of India must present a valid passport and visa.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for INR 1000.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Christmas Day (25 December) Gala Dinner per adult: INR 1000
  • Christmas Day (25 December) Gala Dinner per child: INR 500 (from 5 to 18 years old)
  • Gala Dinner on 31 May per adult: INR 1000
  • Gala Dinner on 31 May per child: INR 500 (from 5 to 18 years old)

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: INR 1000 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)
  • Self parking fee: INR 393 per night
  • Rollaway bed fee: INR 1000.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Reservations are required for spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Palace Step
Palace Step Hotel
Palace Step Hotel Varanasi
Palace Step Varanasi
Palace On Steps Hotel Varanasi
Palace On Stepss Varanasi
Palace steps Hotel Varanasi
Palace steps Hotel
Palace steps Varanasi
Palace steps
Palace On Step
Palace on steps Hotel
Palace on steps Varanasi
Palace on steps Hotel Varanasi

Palace on steps Reviews

Reviews

6.8
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 23 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 16 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 6 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 67 reviews" "

6.4/10

Cleanliness

7.2/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Amenities

6.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

DAVID

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

2/10 Terrible

Panneerselvam

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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..
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Sheila

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renate, Santa Cruz

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Russell

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
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.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

8/10 Good

Sumantra

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
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.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Judith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
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!!!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Marta, Seattle, US

Traveled with group, Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

6/10 Okay

Subir, Kolkata

Liked: Staff & service
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

marian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
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.

8/10 Good

YS, Seoul. Korea.

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
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 Good

KARUNAKARAN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The people there were very helpfull, the location was good, quiet and close to the Gange.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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

2/10 Terrible

jayant, lucknow

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst hotel stay
Bad complementary food. Standard rooms are worst. Only plus point is location nothing else. Bad experience.

6/10 Okay

Steve, England

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Fantastic view from my room
If you have a room overlooking the river then this a place well worth staying

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service

2/10 Terrible

Shyam, New Delhi

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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

shubham, Mumbai

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.