Nadesar Palace, Varanasi

Set amongst lovely gardens in Varanasi, Nadesar Palace is an intimate and quiet oasis in an otherwise overwhelming part of India. Come here to escape the crowds and the ceremonies and enjoy lovely tranquil surroundings and excellent service while you’re at it.

In the holy city of Varanasi on the sacred River Ganges, hordes of visitors reflect on life and death. The ceremonies can be quite confronting, but they are certainly unforgettable. In the mornings, you’ll see cleansing ceremonies, cremations, and meditation, and in the evenings, the aartis bring chants, prayers, and music. There’s a beautiful pool at the resort and a private four-hole golf course, as well as a great Jiva Spa facility – leave some time for a purifying Abhisheka treatment.

Nadesar Palace has ten rooms, all of them opulently decorated and suitably spacious. The suites are enormous and full of tasteful antique furniture. Plenty of rich detail has gone into the design here, and it’s beautifully old-fashioned and regal.

If sleek modern luxury is what you need, you might find this small palace’s old-fashioned feel a bit rough around the edges. But it’s undoubtedly the best place to stay in Varanasi, and an excellent reason to stay an extra day or two.