Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi.

Built in 1782 and later a residence of the Maharaja of Benares, Taj Nadesar Palace is a rare preserved fragment of Varanasi’s royal history. Located away from the crowded riverfront within mango orchards and jasmine gardens, this neoclassical estate offers an intimacy rarely found in palace hotels, with only 10 suites available. The interiors are a tangible link to the past, featuring original art from the Maharaja’s collection, four-poster beds, and claw-foot tubs. Outside, peacocks roam the grounds where guests can play croquet or take a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride. Dining is an opulent affair, with menus drawing from local royal recipes, while the J Wellness Circle focuses on Ayurvedic healing. It is a quiet, aristocratic sanctuary that feels more like a lived-in private estate than a conventional city hotel.