I spent a day at the Gateway Varanasi and boy, was it a throwback to the 70s. The hotel lifts were old wood and they still used keys for the rooms, not what I was expecting at a Taj. The rooms are spacious but they show their age. My toilet door even had some cracks on it. However, what makes up for this is attentive service and some really good food.

The staff were attentive, the room was large, well appointed and clean. We enjoyed the restaurant; we arrived for an early lunch and they didn't have a dish we wanted at the buffet. The hostess spoke to the chef, and they brought a large bowl of the dish for us at no additional cost. We also enjoyed breakfasts at the hotel.

Initially I didn't like the hotel. I compared it to a beautiful hotel I had just stayed at in Mumbai. When I first entered the room and drew the curtains, I was disappointed to see that I overlooked the parking lot. And the windows were dirty. The room had a sort of shabbiness to it. But then I began to experience the helpfulness of the excellent staff. And had very good breakfasts and a lunch buffet. One night I ate dinner at their restaurant, which is considered among the best in Varanasi. It was much higher quality than other hotel restaurants I ate in during my trip. So when all is said and done, I liked this hotel just fine. It was also nice to have gardens to walk around it -- such a big contrast to the noisy crowded city of Varanasi.

The Gateway at Varanasi isn't the most impressive Taj hotel in India. It's a 1970s style building updated in part. The rooms are a good size, the beds ok and the decor etc is average. The in house Indian restaurant is good if not spectacular and there are some nice gardens and a good sized pool. Where this hotel excels though is in the friendliness and willingness of the staff. There's none of the stuffiness and formality found in so many other Indian hotels. Staff were flexible, helpful and willing to exchange a joke. Recommended.