BrijRama Palace is a 5-star heritage hotel on Darbhanga Ghat by the Ganges in Varanasi, with 32 rooms, river views and boat access, ~25 km from the airport.
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BrijRama Palace is a 5-star restored heritage hotel on Darbhanga Ghat directly on the Ganges in Varanasi, with 32 rooms, river views and boat access, about 25 km from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport.
Live rates and availability confirmed at booking. All prices indicative — updated June 2026.
BrijRama Palace stands on Darbhanga Ghat, directly on the bank of the Ganges in the heart of Varanasi's old quarter. The building dates from 1812, was acquired by the royal house of Darbhanga in the early 20th century, and was restored over several years before opening as a heritage hotel in 2016. It is a compact property with 32 rooms and suites set across the floors of the old palace, reached by what is said to be one of the city's oldest lifts. The carved stone façade rises straight from the river, so the hotel sits among the working ghats rather than behind them.
This is a heritage stay defined by its location on the river. Rooms, terraces and dining areas look out over the Ganges and the ghats, and the daily rhythm of pilgrims, boats and evening aarti is part of the experience. The hotel is fully vegetarian and does not serve alcohol, in keeping with the sanctity of the riverfront setting.
Because it sits within the pedestrian ghat area, the palace is reached on foot through the lanes or, more easily, by the hotel's complimentary boat from a nearby access point. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur is about 25 km away, a drive of around 60 minutes through the city to the riverfront, after which guests transfer the final stretch by boat or on foot. Varanasi Junction railway station is roughly 5 to 6 km away. The location places guests in the middle of the old city, within walking distance of the main ghats and the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Accommodation runs from Heritage Rooms within the old palace to river-view rooms and suites. Heritage Rooms keep the restored detailing of the 19th-century building, with views over the courtyards or lanes. River View Rooms are positioned to look across the Ganges and the ghats. The Heritage Suite and the flagship Maharaja Suite add separate sitting areas, more space and direct river outlooks. Because this is a restored palace, room sizes and layouts vary, and the river-facing categories are the ones to ask for if the Ganges view is the priority.
Dining is entirely vegetarian and alcohol-free. Darbhanga, the rooftop restaurant, serves multi-cuisine vegetarian menus with open views across the river and is the main venue, particularly at sunrise and for the evening. Chota Aangan, meaning small courtyard, is the fusion restaurant set in the inner courtyard. Live classical music is performed in the courtyard, adding to the heritage atmosphere of meals. The kitchen focuses on regional and international vegetarian dishes prepared to suit the spiritual setting.
The hotel has a heritage spa offering massages and treatments, a library and lounge, and quiet courtyards and terraces overlooking the river. Service includes a complimentary boat transfer to and from the ghat, room service and concierge assistance. There is no swimming pool, which is typical of restored riverfront havelis in the old city, where the appeal is the architecture, the river views and the proximity to the ghats rather than resort facilities.
The hotel arranges sunrise boat rides on the Ganges and guided walks through the ghats and old-city lanes. Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the evening Ganga aarti takes place, is a few minutes away, as is the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Manikarnika Ghat and Assi Ghat are within reach along the riverfront. Slightly further out, Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, is about 12 km away, and Banaras Hindu University with its temple and museum is around 5 km. The concierge can organise temple visits, classical music evenings and excursions.
BrijRama Palace suits travellers who want to stay directly on the Ganges in a restored heritage palace, within walking distance of the ghats and the spiritual heart of Varanasi. It is well suited to couples and culture-focused visitors who value architecture, river views and the daily life of the ghats over resort facilities. Guests should be comfortable with the vegetarian, alcohol-free policy and with access through the old-city lanes or by boat, which are part of staying in this part of the city.
| Room | What you get |
|---|---|
| Heritage Room | Restored rooms within the 19th-century palace, with period detailing and views over the courtyards or lanes. |
| River View Room | Rooms positioned for views across the Ganges and the ghats. |
| Heritage Suite | Larger suite with a separate sitting area and restored architectural features. |
| Maharaja Suite | The flagship suite with the most space and direct river outlook over the Ganges. |
| Outlet | Cuisine / type |
|---|---|
| Darbhanga | Rooftop multi-cuisine vegetarian dining with river views |
| Chota Aangan | Courtyard fusion restaurant (vegetarian) |
| Landmark | Distance | Approx. on foot |
|---|---|---|
| Dashashwamedh Ghat | 0.5 km | ~6 min walk |
| Kashi Vishwanath Temple | 1 km | ~12 min walk |
| Manikarnika Ghat | 1 km | ~12 min walk |
| Assi Ghat | 3 km | short taxi/auto |
| Sarnath | 12 km | short taxi/auto |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | 5 km | short taxi/auto |
Distances are straight-line estimates; walking times assume roughly 12 minutes per km. Confirm routes locally.
The palace sits within the pedestrian ghat area on the Ganges, so it is reached on foot through the lanes or by the hotel's complimentary boat transfer from a nearby access point.
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur is about 25 km away, roughly a 60-minute drive to the riverfront, followed by a short boat or walking transfer.
No. The hotel is fully vegetarian and does not serve alcohol, in keeping with its riverfront setting on the ghats of Varanasi.
The building dates from 1812 and was later held by the royal house of Darbhanga. It was restored over several years and opened as a heritage hotel in 2016.
It has 32 rooms and suites set across the floors of the restored palace, including heritage and river-view categories.
Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the evening Ganga aarti takes place, is a few minutes away, and the hotel arranges sunrise boat rides and guided ghat walks.