It's basic but it's clean. The biggest reason to book this guest house is the view. If you can afford it, spend a little more money to get a room with a balcony. If you can't, you can still see the river from their dining area.

At Scindia Guesthouse you are on top of it and you still have peace and distance. From your balcony you look out on the Scindia Ghat and the adjacent Manikarnika Ghat - the most important place for Hindu cremations - and through the door on the Ganges side you are directly in the hectic ghats. You cannot wish for a nicer place to be in this extreme, intriguing city. The rooms and restaurant are basic but adequate, the people are extremely friendly and helpful and the food is well prepared and hygienic. A great location as a base to explore the unlikely world of Varansi. And after a few days you’ll even find the way to the guesthouse in the labyrinth of alleyways ...

Staying at the Scindhia House you are right in the center of the truly amazing Varanasi. Basic needs are met with a smile. Our rooms were overlooking the Ganges with balconies. Many stairs to the rooms but there are porters to assist. You can arrive either by boat or from the main street with porters I arranged with our guide prior at Streetwise Varanasi Tours. 7 minute walk through the narrow passageways you arrive right into the center of the Manikarnika Ghat and then another block walk along the Ganges you will see the hotel. Right in front is the famous must-see sinking Shiva temple. Entrance to the property is a bit discerning as you walk up the side of what looks like a bombed out shelter and in reality is an active temple facing a hole in the wall with dirt flowing out of it. Our porters who were in front of us disappeared and I thought they walked through that hole entrance but there are steps continuing to the right and there is the entrance to the guest house. Being a travel consultant and organizer I thought"oh no I might be finding another hotel to stay in when I first looked at my group of friends faces {all females} but the Scindhia Guest House was great for what we expected...clean and basic and the staff welcoming. I chose to stay right at the ghats as we were doing two sunrise boat tours, one in each direction and one sunset boat tour. With the traffic above so horrific staying at a more westernized property away from the ghats our time would have been very inefficient. Watched the bathers in the Ganges from our balconies. Baboons at night ended up sleeping on our balcony so make sure balcony door is locked. Walked to the Aerti Ceremony and all along the ghat area including the burning ghats very easily. Fascinating seeing all the rituals performed by individuals in and out of the Ganges. Lots of walking in and outside of the hotel with steps so you do have to be able to navigate up and down stairs. We had hot water and they do have a sign saying they use machines and not like a lot of hotels have the laundry done in the Ganges. A remarkable scene as you boat up the Ganges. I expect to come back to this city again as it is a photographers paradise and look forward to staying at this guesthouse again. Management was very interesting and helpful.