Pallavi International Hotel, Varanasi

Advantages: Large and comfortable room, quite good breakfast
Disadvantages: Very poor Reception, dull dinner, boring bar

...The ancient city of Varanasi is located on the banks of the River Ganges is north eastern India. Also known as Benaras, it is over 3000 years old, one of the oldest continually inhanbited cities in the world. It is also one of the holiest sites for Hindus as it is believed that Varanasi was the home to the God, Krishna. The River Ganges, which flows through the city, is believed to have the power to wash away all sin and it is said that those who pass away and are cremated here will be able to break the cycle of birth and rebirth. Varanasi is also one of the four major pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, as the suburb of Sarnath is said to be the place where Buddha gave his first sermon about the principles of Buddhism. Attracting millions of pilgrims every year, it is also draws over a million international tourists every year... Read review

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Advantages: Professional People
Disadvantages: Nothing

...Namaste everybody, I just come back of 8 weeks in India. For this trip I was in Calcutta, Assam ( Kaziranga N.P. ), Uttaranchal ( Corbett N.P. ), Rajasthan ( Keoladeo & Ranthambhor N.P. ), Madhya Pradesh ( Bandhavgardh N.P. ), Varanasi, Udaipur and Jaipur. I was using for second time the services of Real India Tours for reserving my hotels and Guest Houses ( I choose them myself ), a car with driver ( An Ambassador with a great driver speaking really good english and driving really safelly ), booking the jeepsys, guides and routes for the differents National Parks, Planes and trains tickets. Everythings were perfect, no commission men , no visits of Shops, only what I previous; that was really great. Many thanks to Raju... Read review

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Advantages: A fascinating insight into Indian beliefs
Disadvantages: Poverty is all around you

...We visited Varanasi as part of a package tour of Northern India. We had heard lots about it before we went, but experiencing it first hand was much more than we imagined it to be. The Ganges is the holiest river in India and runs through Varanasi. It is believed that a dip in the river purifies the sins of the living and ensures the salvation of the dead. A bath in the Ganges has sacred and cultural connotations that go back centuries. Early morning is seen as the best time for bathing in the holy water, as the first rays of the sun break through the clouds. Most of the tourists head down for the river before dawn. Your senses are immediately assaulted by a wide variety of sights, sounds and smells. A boat trip on the Ganges at dawn is an unforgettable experience. Not only do you see the bathers, but you experience... Read review

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