Holy River Stays

This place is in the centre of the old town amongst the alleyways, shrines, and chaos. Not for everyone but for me it was a good experience and i saw the real Varanasi! It is a short walk to the road for a taxi and minutes from the Ganges and the ghats. The staff were fantastic. Kuldeep checked in on me every day, gave me recommendations on where to go, arranged transport and guides, and took me to the temples. Ankit showed me where the Aarti ceremony was, walked me to my taxi when I left and arranged my laundry. As a solo traveller I really appreciated their help and support.

Very, very bad location

Nice staff!

Location

Hot shower, comfortable bed, good air conditioning. Great location close to the ghats, roof terrace offers nice views. Might be tricky for some guests to find but if you have Google maps and take your time through the narrow lanes, you’ll be fine - just remember to pack light as taxis can’t get directly to the property

Organisation is a little chaotic in terms of staff. Upon arrival there was some attempt to move guests to another hotel (had they overbooked?). When we had departed after our stay we received notification from booking that the property were saying we hadn’t stayed there - we had to fill in a form asserting that we had stayed - very odd

Kuldeep and his team have got many great reviews from previous guests... and if their experience was half as good as ours, you can trust them all. The property is authentic in the old part of town down narrow lanes... which means it won't be for everyone. But if you want authentic, in a great location that offers simply stunning value then this is the place for you. Kuldeep is a professional that knows visitors may find getting to the place difficult... no problem... he communicates with you while you're travelling, sends a porter to retrieve you from a main square so removing any difficulties. We didn't take up his kind offer to walk us around local temples on our first night (a welcome freebie) but were thankful for food recommendations and other advice. He's a guy that just gets things organised for you if you want it... the 5am boatride so we could see the sunrise Aarti was something special. But more than friendly welcomes, great communication, being present and organising whatever you need, he properly cares about his guests. The main example of this being on check out at a godforsaken time in the morning to catch a bus out of town... yes he organised a porter, yes he organised a tuktuk, yes he was texting to ensure all was OK (despite it being 5.45am)... but he made the driver stay with us, he was concerned about the bus so rang the company, he ensured we were OK... people do that kind of thing, if you're lucky, when you stay with them... but never once you've paid and left... hopefully that shows you'll be in good hands when you stay here.

Nothing

No facilities

The host is the loveliest person ever. He was so caring and welcoming that you feel at home. All things that you need are provided. Location is in the most authentic part of the city near the river. Our group from Bulgaria had an amazing stay. 😊🙏

I booked a room at the Holy river stay at very short notice and am grateful to have got a place there. Since I spontaneously stayed longer in Varanasi, I moved to Mr. Kuldeep's other hotel after one night (see review of the Mangalamay Kashi hotel). For the one night I stayed at the Holy River, everything was perfect: friendly staff and a great location (5 minutes to the Ghats) - it's just not that easy to find in the maze of small streets in Varanasi.

Profoundly grateful! A wonderful place! I can't express my gratitude enough to Kuldeep. This is not just a hotel—it's a home. They cared for me like family, and as a woman traveling alone, that meant the world. They arranged food, a boat ride, and even a horse ride, which Kuldeep generously gifted me for my birthday! I couldn’t believe it! it was such a kind and unexpected gesture. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my final days after two months in India.m On the practical side, the location is fantastic, just a few steps down, and you're on the banks of the Ganga. The room was clean and had unlimited hot water ❤️a luxury that, if you’ve traveled in India, you’ll truly appreciate. It also had air conditioning and a heater, which is useful when it got chilly. The attention to detail was impressive, right down to a toothbrush! I didn’t need it, but it was a thoughtful touch. It’s people like Kuldeep who make me love this country. I will definitely return, and I highly recommend this place!

Nothing

The location of the homestay is just perfect. The owner and staff very lovely and caring. Recommended for a 2-3 days in Varanasi. Everything was good. It's quite unique place that can surprise you in a positive way. :)