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Character: 90%
Security: 90%
Location: 90%
Staff: 90%
Fun: 70%
Cleanliness: 80%
66%
A shame overall. Many things just didn't happen. The guy working here is totally and utterly useless and shouldn't be near guests. Location ok as Sarnath has things to look at, hour away from the river but you see a lot on way. I got bitten to pieces in the night as the bed is built into the walls so insects can get up. The owners are very nice and deserve a better review but no way for me. They\'ve really stolen defeat from the jaws of victory it seems.
90%
The staff at the Golden Buddha are some of the most wonderful and genuine human beings you will ever meet. Beware of the slick, duplicitous American owner, however.
54%
The Golden Buddha is a decent budget hotel within walking distance from the sites of Sarnath. However, it appears that there are cleaner hostels just down the road in the same price range. Also, the 40 minute trek to Varanasi is something travelers should seriously consider before booking rooms.
94%
a place for pilgrims and monks as well as the occasional westerner.staff are busy with the numbers of pilgrims and monks but when you ask they are really helpful
Read Owner Comments
86%
We booked a double(deluxe), upstairs rooms with a balcony. We didn't have much luck with hot water(& there were 2 short power outages), but having been around india this was a familiar occurrance. Having a 14hr train from Delhi, we got a taxi to the hotel from Varanasi train station(there is a 24hr prepaid desk- 210R to Sarnath)& there was a member of staff awaiting us at 4am.. swiftly set up in a room, & no tip hunting. Really, a breath of fresh air. Sarnath- 10k from Varanasi - is a tranquil town - very little hassle from touts/rickshaws etc- all took the 1st "no thank you", after Delhi/Agra/Jaipur a huge difference! The Golden Buddha has good food(best coffee in months) @good prices(.egfor 2 people = 3 days brekkis,2 dinners,5 x1 ltr bottles water,2 sets coffee was 900r.)They have a mediterranean restaurant on site- quite an array of dishes, but as the chef was at home for a recent new birth, we had to use the chinese/indian menu- much the same as you will see in other places in India. I would love to try the full menu! Some of the service can be a bit "Fawlty Towers" in terms of things lost in translation, but always polite & friendly. The owner came & chatted to us-John, & is a wealth of info -if you want it- not pushy- & his partner was a lovely, welcoming lady. Really, a great place to stay- they even set up a taxi for us to Varanasi airport- nominal price- & the taxi man arrived early & didn't drive like a lunatic!! It was great way to round off our trip. Wish we'd found more places like it elsewhere .
