Overview
About Varanasi
Varanasi, also called Banaras and Kashi, is often described as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Spread along a crescent of the Ganga in eastern Uttar Pradesh, it is Hinduism's holiest city, a place where pilgrims come to bathe, pray and, for many, to end their lives in the belief that dying here brings liberation.
The city faces the river through more than eighty ghats, stone steps that run down to the water. Each has its own story and mood: some are for bathing, some for washing and yoga, and at Manikarnika and Harishchandra the funeral pyres burn day and night. Behind the ghats lies a dense maze of galis (lanes) packed with shrines, cows, sweet shops, silk weavers and music.
Varanasi is also a city of learning and the arts, home to Banaras Hindu University and to a celebrated tradition of classical music. Just outside the city lies Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, making the area important for Buddhists too. Dawn boat rides and the evening Ganga Aarti are the experiences most visitors remember long after they leave.
- Ghats of the Ganga
- Ganga Aarti
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Banarasi silk
- Sarnath
- Banarasi paan
Sightseeing
Best Places to Visit in Varanasi
Ghats
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The liveliest ghat in the city and the setting for the grand evening Ganga Aarti, performed by priests with large brass lamps, conch shells and chanting.
Assi Ghat
The southernmost major ghat, popular with students and travellers, with a morning programme of aarti, music and yoga known as Subah-e-Banaras.
Manikarnika Ghat
The main cremation ghat, where funeral pyres burn constantly. Visit respectfully, avoid photography and ignore anyone demanding money for "wood" or "tours".
Temples
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the most sacred shrine in Varanasi, now reached through the broad Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor that links the temple with the ghats.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
A much-loved temple to Lord Hanuman, associated with the poet-saint Tulsidas, which hosts a well-known annual music festival.
Durga Temple and Tulsi Manas Mandir
The red-painted Durga Temple and the white marble Tulsi Manas Mandir, whose walls carry verses of the Ramcharitmanas, stand close to each other.
Museums & Heritage
Banaras Hindu University and Bharat Kala Bhavan
One of Asia's largest residential universities, with the new Vishwanath Temple on campus and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum of paintings, textiles and sculpture.
Ramnagar Fort
The 18th-century fort of the Maharajas of Banaras on the eastern bank of the Ganga, with a museum of vintage cars, palanquins, arms and costumes.
Nearby Excursions
Sarnath
About 10 km from the city, this is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. See the Dhamek Stupa, monastery ruins and the museum that houses the Lion Capital of Ashoka.
Chunar Fort
A historic sandstone fort on the Ganga south-west of Varanasi, with layers of history from several dynasties and good river views.
Experiences
Top Things to Do in Varanasi
- 1
Take a dawn boat ride
Glide past the ghats at sunrise as pilgrims bathe, priests pray and the city wakes up. Fix the route and fare with the boatman beforehand.
- 2
Watch the Ganga Aarti
Attend the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, either from the steps or from a boat on the river. Arrive early for a good spot.
- 3
Walk the ghats
Walk from Assi Ghat towards Dashashwamedh along the riverfront, stopping at smaller ghats, temples and chai stalls on the way.
- 4
Get lost in the galis
Explore the old lanes around Vishwanath Gali and Thatheri Bazaar for temples, sweet shops and silk weavers' workshops.
- 5
Listen to classical music
Look out for concerts and music evenings; Varanasi is the home of the Banaras gharana and many celebrated musicians.
- 6
See Dev Deepawali
On Kartik Purnima, roughly a fortnight after Diwali, the ghats are lit with countless earthen lamps in one of India's most beautiful festivals.
Weather
Best Time to Visit Varanasi
The best time to visit Varanasi is October to March. Here is what each season is like.
Summer
April to June
25°C to 45°C
Extremely hot, with scorching afternoons. If you must visit, explore at dawn and after sunset.
Monsoon
July to September
25°C to 35°C
Humid with heavy rain. The Ganga rises and can submerge the lower ghats, and boat rides may be suspended when the river is in spate.
Winter
October to March
6°C to 28°C
The best season, with Dev Deepawali and pleasant days. Mornings in December and January can be foggy and cold, which may delay trains and flights.
Getting there
How to Reach Varanasi
By Air
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur, about an hour from the ghats, has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and other cities. Prepaid taxis and app cabs are available.
By Rail
Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt) is the main station, with Banaras station serving many trains as well. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, across the river, is a major junction on the Delhi–Kolkata line.
By Road
Varanasi is connected by highway to Prayagraj (about 120 km), Lucknow (about 300 km) and Patna. State and private buses run from most cities in the region. Inside the old city, the lanes are best explored on foot or by cycle-rickshaw.
Taste of the city
Famous Food of Varanasi
Kachori sabzi and jalebi
The classic Banarasi breakfast of crisp kachoris with a spicy potato curry, followed by hot jalebis.
Tamatar chaat
A tangy, spicy tomato chaat that is unique to Varanasi.
Malaiyyo
A frothy, saffron-flavoured milk dessert made only in the winter months and eaten in the early morning.
Banarasi paan
The famous betel-leaf preparation, available in many sweet and flavoured varieties.
Lassi
Thick yoghurt drinks served in clay cups, often topped with malai.
Baati chokha
Roasted wheat balls with mashed, smoky aubergine, potato and tomato, a rustic regional favourite.
What to Buy in Varanasi
- Banarasi silk sarees and brocades
- Wooden toys and lacquerware
- Brass and copper utensils
- Gulabi meenakari crafts
- Rudraksha and religious items
Travel Tips for Varanasi
- Buy Banarasi silk from reputable shops or weavers' cooperatives, as imitations are common.
- Do not photograph cremations at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats.
- Hire boats from recognised ghats and agree on the fare before boarding.
- Mobile phones and bags are not permitted inside Kashi Vishwanath; use the lockers provided.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking the ghats and lanes, which can be slippery and crowded.
FAQs
Varanasi Travel FAQs
What is the best time to visit Varanasi?
October to March is the best time to visit Varanasi, with pleasant weather and festivals such as Dev Deepawali. Summers are extremely hot, and the monsoon raises the river over the lower ghats.
How many days are enough for Varanasi?
Two to four days is ideal to see the ghats, attend the Ganga Aarti, visit Kashi Vishwanath and take a half-day trip to Sarnath.
What is Varanasi famous for?
Varanasi is famous for its ghats on the Ganga, the evening Ganga Aarti, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banarasi silk sarees and nearby Sarnath.
Where is the Ganga Aarti held in Varanasi?
The grand evening Ganga Aarti is held at Dashashwamedh Ghat, while Assi Ghat hosts a morning aarti as part of Subah-e-Banaras.
How far is Sarnath from Varanasi?
Sarnath is about 10 km from central Varanasi and can be visited in half a day by auto-rickshaw or taxi.
Is Varanasi worth visiting for first-time travellers in India?
Yes. Varanasi can be intense, but its ghats, rituals, food and history make it one of the most rewarding places in India for first-time visitors.
