Taj Nadesar Palace is a luxurious new hotel in the holy Hindu city of Varanasi in India. Built in the late 18th-century by the East India Company, it was bought by the Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh to offer sumptuous accommodation to visiting dignitaries. After the Maharajah died, the two-storey, yellow plastered palace went into grand decay, until it was spectacularly restored by the Taj Group and converted into an intimate, boutique palace chic hotel.
Surrounded by jasmine-scented grounds, Taj Nadesar Palace now painted egg-white, has been fitted out with four guest rooms and six suites. All are extravagantly sized, with high ceilings, magnificent four-poster beds, bathrooms with cascade shower and claw-foot bath and antiques-strewn living room. Elegant public spaces have marble floors and on the walls, hang photographs of the Maharajah in full ceremonial robes with guests like Mountbatten, Nehru and the Queen in 1961.
Dining at the Taj Nadesar Palace is equally regal in style, where ‘spiritually inspired plated meals’ are served in the elegant dining room or in a romantic setting in the garden, reached by lantern-it paths. Guests come here to explore the ancient city of Varanasi, either by boat or foot-it-out through a maze of narrow lanes. Some stay back for the Grand Aarti ceremony at Ganges River while others prefer to relax in its Jiva Spa, which uses ‘purified Ganges water’ for its many therapies.
Amenities
24hr Room ServiceBanquet FacilitiesBar/PubBusiness CentreConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableDisabled FacilitiesFitness CentreGardenGolf Onsite Or NearbyMeeting/Conference FacilitiesMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolPets AllowedRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaTennis CourtWi-Fi AvailableStay Taj Nadesar Palace offers just 10rooms and suites. All rooms are spacious in size and are individually decorated with antique furnishings including dark-wood furniture, headboards, gilded mirrors, chandeliers and four poster beds. High doors open out onto colonial style arched veranda overlooking the gardens, often visited by peacocks and other birds. Polished floors are covered with period style hand-knitted floral carpets and ensuite marbled bathrooms have stand-alone bathtubs.
ChildCare Families with children are very welcome to stay at Nadesar Palace but there are no specific facilities available for children. Babysitting can be arranged upon request.
Dine Dining at the Nadesar Palace is a gourmet affair starting with breakfast on the shaded veranda. Lunch is in the elegant dining room with décor typical of the Raj era; black and white marble chequered floor, tables with antique chairs and quality silver. Dinner is by candle light or a barbeque by the poolside. Menu is a mix of Indian and global cuisine and prepared with fresh locally sourced ingredients.
Relax Facilities at the Nadesar Palace include a private 4-hole golf course but the highlight here is the Taj Jiva Spa offering signature treatments, Indian therapies, and yoga and meditation classes. There are also expansive gardens with walkways that house a grandiose marble edifice.
Experience The highlight of visiting Varanasi is the boat ride on the Ganges River, best taken at dawn or dusk. Your concierge at Nadesar Palace will happily arrange ‘Temples of Varanasi’ tour, many of which are ancient and associated with legends of Hindu mythology. Take a side tour to Sarai Mohana, the weavers’ village known for its silk weaving or visit Thateri Bazaar to shop for Varanasi silk and ornate jewels. One day explore the nearby site of Sarnath, one of the four holy Buddhist sites.
Location Located in the Nadesar Gardens close to the Gateway Hotel about a 20 minute drive from the Ganges. Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities of the world, on the banks of the river Ganges.
Getting there Fly to one of India’s International airports followed by a domestic flight to Varanasi Airport. Nadesar Palace is a 40-minute drive away.
When to go The best season to visit Varanasi is between October and March when the temperatures are in a comfortable range of 5-15 degrees Celsius. The winter months are also when festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm in Varanasi. Dussehra and Bharat Milap are celebrated in quick succession in September/October followed by the festival of lights, Diwali. The Ganga Festival takes place in November. The summer and the monsoon months of April to September/October can be very hot.
Destination
Northern, India
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