MARUTI GUEST HOUSE — Hotel in Uttar Pradesh

I see a range of reviews and I can understand where each person is coming from:||I came during low season so I got a good price (less than 500 rupees.) I ate there once: a modest breakfast that did the job, but you could get the same from nearby cafes, I brought my own towel, soap, lock, torch, map, sleeping bag and toilet paper, so I didn't need to buy anything. Bottle of water was 20 rupees, which is the cost of a bottle of mineral water so no profit is being made. Thriti is smiling and welcoming, her children lovely, and her family accommodating. As a solo traveller, I appreciated all the women (aunties!) in the family and her concern for my feeling safe - building is locked at night, great as it's on a main road! Not too noisy though for Indian standards. I had planned a Stops walking tour at 5AM but realised I was locked in! By 5:30 the working boy opened the place and I made my way to the burning Ghat and got myself a boat ride after some bargaining for 50 rupees. You really don't need any walking tours / boat tours in Varanasi, it's pretty easy to just walk around and go with the flow! Thriti was apologetic and asked why I hadn't just woken them up! This kind of kind lovely attitude is something you'll learn is rare to find in India. Ayurverdic massages were mentioned in passing as well as yoga, but I was only there for 48 hours and didn't feel pushed. Husband (or brother in law?) drew me a map detailing the ghats and other points of interest, again, it was clear I had my own plan.||Seeing as I was independent I didn't come into contact with any of the other reviewers' experiences. This was my first home stay and I liked it! I came before check-in time with no reservation, and they let me lock my stuff in a temporary room until they had the room ready for me, great! So I walked down to Assi Ghat, 5 minute walk away and watched the sunrise. The shower light was very dim and the rooms modest but clean. Limescale remover (Viakal) is hard to come by in India. Tonnes of mosquitoes, so the coil is a must- break it in half and put the other half in the bathroom! It's a water closet (with western toilet) so you will have a wet bathroom and then wet foot prints in your room. All in all, a good first experience at a guest house stay for me in India. I remember staying at one in St Tropez, 60 euros, no bedding, no heating, no possibility of food and miles away from St Tropez centre so for less than 5 euros, this was great. Assi Ghat is the quiet ghat, away from all the touts, so the...

room not clean and never cleaned although I stayed 4 nights. ||- shower is extremely dirty.||- almost no flow of water (when there is water ...).||- no hot water at all. They lie and say there is, but it's under "reparation " or "no diesel today".||- minor (10 years old) buzz boy that always asks for money. He is probably paid only with food and a roof.||- food only seems cheap, but when you receive the portions (very small ones) then it's actually very expensive. ||- there is no real wifi, just a poor rooter that almost never works.||- landlady is not nice. Always trying to sell her clothing or food. But when you ask her for breakfast or diner, be patient for at least 1 hour. And of course you have to go to her "kitchen " to take what you ordered. And you will have always the impression she does you a favor although you pay full price. Very unpleasant feeling. ||- there is a marriage house just behind the guest house. The volume is so loud that it's impossible to sleep before 2 in the night. ||- above all, it's lies, dirt and strong unpleasant feeling that you will receive if you do the mistake to go to this...

I stayed back in 1993 and again about 10 years later , "the Dr " ( master of the house) a very bright multi talented man and guru and medically trained lassi maker made my first entrance into Mother India mybfavourite memory of over 30 years of backpacking and globe trotting, the Dr and his adorable family are an absolute must for anyone wanting a real Indian family "welcome to my country experience !"

I am planning my families next trip to India, complete with 2 teenagers and will be looking to stay with at the infamous Maruti guest house , exciting times ahead.

I love India of 10'and 20 years ago , I am feeling anxiously excited about my next stay - many changes afoot , but Banaras will have the same vibe and madness that I enjoyed so much. It is so special there is nothing like it ...

See you in July Maruti guest house. I see very hot evenings await with early monsoon and many an intellectual chat about life and I can already hear the rattle of the numerous rickshaw trips to the place where Bhudda was enlightened, sharing a magical medically prepared lassi!

Best Adam from Sydney...