Indian Hotels Company Limited has strengthened its footprint in India’s spiritual heartland with the opening of Avantika by the Ganges, an IHCL SeleQtions hotel in Varanasi.

Announced on December 15, 2025, the new 43-key property brings the curated, character-led SeleQtions brand to one of the world’s oldest living cities, marrying riverside serenity with contemporary comfort for pilgrims and leisure travelers alike.

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New Boutique Landmark on the Ganges

Avantika by the Ganges joins IHCL’s growing portfolio of distinctive SeleQtions hotels, positioned as a boutique luxury address on the banks of the river that defines Varanasi’s spiritual identity. With just 43 keys, the hotel is designed to feel intimate and residential, appealing to guests seeking a quieter, more contemplative stay while still enjoying full-service amenities.

IHCL has described the property as a sanctuary that blends timeless traditions with modern sensibilities, an approach that aligns closely with the SeleQtions philosophy of spotlighting one-of-a-kind hotels rooted deeply in their local context. The opening also extends the group’s long association with Varanasi, where it already operates under the Taj and other brands.

The hotel’s scale positions it as a niche alternative to larger riverfront properties, likely targeting high-value domestic travelers, overseas pilgrims, and experience-driven international tourists who increasingly look for smaller, design-forward stays near the ghats.

Strategic Expansion in India’s Spiritual Circuit

The debut of an IHCL SeleQtions hotel in Varanasi reflects the company’s broader push into India’s spiritual and cultural destinations. In recent years IHCL has expanded aggressively in temple and pilgrimage hubs such as Ayodhya, Puri, Rishikesh, Haridwar and other centers across the Ganges basin, aligning hospitality growth with a surge in domestic religious tourism.

Varanasi sits at the heart of this strategy. The city has seen significant infrastructure upgrades in the past decade, including better air connectivity, improved riverfront access, and enhanced facilities at the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex. These developments have spurred steady growth in visitor numbers and a clear demand for higher-end hotels that can cater to both traditional pilgrims and a younger, more experience-oriented traveler segment.

IHCL has publicly underscored its intent to build interconnected spiritual circuits, encouraging guests to combine destinations such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and other sacred towns in single itineraries. A SeleQtions-branded hotel on the Ganges strengthens that proposition by adding a distinctive, story-driven product to the group’s mix in Uttar Pradesh.

Design, Atmosphere and Guest Experience

While full design details have yet to be extensively profiled, Avantika by the Ganges is positioned as a contemporary boutique hotel that pays careful homage to Varanasi’s layered heritage. The exterior and common areas are expected to draw on local materials, muted palettes, and subtle references to the ghats and temple architecture, avoiding overt pastiche in favor of understated luxury.

Inside, the focus is on comfort and calm. The 43 rooms are likely to offer a mix of river-facing and city-facing categories, with an emphasis on large windows, soft lighting, and functional layouts that encourage guests to unwind after long walks through the old city or early-morning boat rides. Thoughtful touches such as handcrafted textiles, local artworks and brass accents would be in line with the SeleQtions brand’s usual design signatures.

Public spaces are expected to serve as social hubs for in-house guests, from a relaxed lobby lounge to dining areas that open out toward the river. The hotel’s compact scale should allow staff to deliver highly personalized service, something IHCL frequently highlights as a differentiator in its upper-upscale and luxury segments.

Culinary Focus and Riverfront Rituals

Cuisine is set to play a central role in the Avantika by the Ganges experience. Although IHCL has not shared an exhaustive list of venues, the hotel is expected to feature at least one signature all-day dining restaurant along with a bar or lounge concept, in keeping with SeleQtions norms. Menus are likely to celebrate regional specialties such as Banarasi chaat, kachori-sabzi, traditional sweets and seasonal vegetarian thalis, balanced with contemporary Indian and international dishes for global travelers.

Given its riverside setting, the hotel is also well-placed to curate sunrise and sunset rituals, private aarti-viewing experiences, and bespoke boat rides that begin or end at nearby ghats. Many higher-end properties in Varanasi now build their guest programming around these moments on the river, and a SeleQtions hotel is expected to do the same while layering in storytelling about the city’s mythology, music, and craft traditions.

There is also scope for collaborations with local musicians, priests, yoga practitioners and artisans, turning the hotel into a small cultural gateway where guests can discover classical music recitals, weaving demonstrations, or guided walks through the old lanes before returning to the quiet of the riverfront.

Boost to Varanasi’s Evolving Hospitality Landscape

The opening of Avantika by the Ganges comes at a time when Varanasi’s hotel market is diversifying rapidly. Long known for budget lodges and simple guesthouses clustered around the ghats, the city now supports a growing mix of luxury, upscale and branded midscale properties as both religious and leisure travel expand.

IHCL is among the most active players in this transformation, operating multiple brands in the city and preparing to add a Ginger hotel as well. The new SeleQtions property strengthens the group’s spread across price points and travel styles, from business-ready hotels to destination-focused riverfront stays.

For Varanasi, each addition at the upper end of the market not only increases room inventory but also enhances its positioning as a year-round destination for small conferences, spiritual retreats, and high-spend cultural tourism. Boutique hotels such as Avantika by the Ganges can help anchor longer stays, with guests using the city as a base for excursions to Sarnath and other nearby heritage sites.

IHCL’s SeleQtions Brand and Growth Momentum

SeleQtions was created as a collection brand within IHCL to bring together hotels with strong individual character, sense of place and often, a legacy narrative. Properties under this flag range from heritage palaces and hill retreats to city boutique hotels, each retaining a distinct identity while benefiting from IHCL’s distribution, loyalty program and service standards.

In recent financial years, SeleQtions has been one of the levers in IHCL’s expansion strategy, particularly in leisure and emerging markets where conversion and partnership opportunities allow relatively quick scale-up. Avantika by the Ganges joins a portfolio that has also seen signings in cities like Kolkata, Kanpur and Kumbalgarh, underscoring the brand’s pan-India ambition.

The addition of a SeleQtions hotel in Varanasi signals confidence in sustained demand for differentiated, story-rich properties in spiritual destinations. It also underscores IHCL’s broader trajectory, with the company steadily adding new hotels across all its brands as it works toward long-term portfolio targets under its Accelerate 2030 roadmap.

Opportunities for Pilgrims, Leisure Travelers and International Tourists

For travelers, the opening of Avantika by the Ganges expands the range of stay options in Varanasi, especially for those seeking a quiet, design-led hotel that still feels connected to the river and old city. Pilgrims looking for comfortable, full-service accommodation close to the Ganges now have another branded choice alongside existing luxury and upscale properties.

Leisure travelers and international visitors, many of whom treat Varanasi as a highlight of longer India itineraries, stand to benefit from the hotel’s curated experiences and concierge support in navigating the city’s often intense street life. A smaller property with strong service and local connections can help guests access less commercialized rituals, crafts and neighborhoods without feeling overwhelmed.

At the same time, the hotel strengthens Varanasi’s appeal for short-break travelers from within India, including younger couples, wellness-focused guests and small groups who may combine a spiritual visit with yoga, Ayurveda or culinary exploration. SeleQtions as a brand often resonates with this audience, which values individuality, design and authenticity over conventional cookie-cutter luxury.

FAQ

Q1. What is the name of the new IHCL SeleQtions hotel in Varanasi?
The new hotel is called Avantika by the Ganges, and it operates under the IHCL SeleQtions brand in Varanasi.

Q2. When did Avantika by the Ganges officially open?
IHCL announced the opening of Avantika by the Ganges on December 15, 2025, marking its latest addition to the SeleQtions portfolio.

Q3. Where is the hotel located within Varanasi?
The hotel is situated along the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, offering guests convenient access to the riverfront and the city’s key ghats and temple areas.

Q4. How many rooms does Avantika by the Ganges have?
The property offers 43 keys, positioning it as an intimate, boutique-style hotel rather than a large-scale resort.

Q5. What category of travelers is the hotel targeting?
Avantika by the Ganges primarily targets pilgrims, leisure travelers and international tourists seeking a curated, riverside stay that combines spiritual immersion with contemporary comfort.

Q6. How does this hotel fit into IHCL’s broader strategy?
The opening supports IHCL’s strategy of strengthening its presence in spiritual and cultural destinations across India, building circuits that link cities such as Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj and other sacred centers.

Q7. What kind of dining experience can guests expect?
Guests can expect at least one full-service restaurant and lounge concept focused on regional Banarasi specialties, Indian favorites and international options, with an emphasis on fresh, locally inspired menus.

Q8. Does the hotel offer river-based or spiritual experiences?
Given its Ganges-side location, the hotel is positioned to organize sunrise and sunset boat rides, aarti-viewing, guided walks through the old city and other curated spiritual or cultural experiences.

Q9. How does Avantika by the Ganges differ from other IHCL brands in the city?
Unlike more standardized upscale or business-focused brands, SeleQtions properties are individually styled and narrative-driven, so Avantika by the Ganges emphasizes boutique scale, design character and a strong sense of place on the riverfront.

Q10. What does this opening mean for Varanasi’s hospitality scene?
The launch adds a new upper-upscale, boutique option to Varanasi’s growing mix of branded hotels, supporting the city’s evolution into a more diversified spiritual, cultural and leisure destination for domestic and international travelers.