Varanasi

Intimate 10-room palace near Varanasi owned by a maharaja, with butler service and a holistic spa. — Jetsetter

The upper-story rooms facing the adjacent Nadesar Palace are cozy and quiet, with great garden views. — Fodor's

Simply gorgeous, this beautifully restored and maintained colonial-style house overlooking Assi Ghat is crammed with books, artwork and antiques. — Lonely Planet

Plush and always lively, this hotel in the relatively noise-free Cantonment is a favorite for its luxurious settings, upscale amenities,and free Wi-Fi (rare in these parts). — Fodor's

This exclusive 15-room retreat is one of the Old City's few luxury options, a 700-year-old renovated haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) sitting dominion over Guleria Ghat. — Lonely Planet

This guest house has small, beautiful rooms with quirky charm—one has a jungle painting and stone shrine (with goddess) that you sleep under—and a great veranda overlooking the river and Assi Ghat. — Fodor's

The four rooms (two have private bathrooms, two have river views) here are spacious, some with interesting alcoves and built-in shelving, all with new mattresses. — Lonely Planet

With upscale amenities amid lots of greenery, Clarks makes a good choice for a quiet stay. — Fodor's

This simple Vishnu-blue guesthouse offers poky rooms that aren't the cleanest, but the atmosphere is friendly and the stone terrace overlooking the ghat is a winner. — Lonely Planet

Situated at the lobby level of Hotel Haifa, this restaurant's specialty is Middle Eastern food. — Fodor's

Varanasi’s cheapest hotel with a swimming pool, Surya has standard three-star Indian rooms, but a modern makeover in the superior and premium rooms means everything has been tightened up a bit. — Lonely Planet