Varanasi

Dashashwamedh Ghat

The main and most active ghat in Varanasi. The evening Ganga Aarti — a choreographed fire ritual performed by priests at the river's edge — takes place here every evening at sunset.

Timing: Open daily. Evening Aarti — held just after sunset
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Kashi Vishwanath Temple

One of the twelve Jyotirlinga of Shiva and the most sacred temple in Varanasi. The current temple was built in 1780 by Ahilyabai Holkar. Non-Hindu visitors are not permitted inside the main sanctum.

Timing:  Open daily. 3:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Entry Fee:  ₹600 (visit the temple trust helpdesk here and pay in cash; a copy of your passport and visa is required)
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Manikarnika Ghat

The primary cremation ghat in Varanasi and one of two active burning ghats on the Ganges. Cremations take place here continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is an active and sacred site.

Timing: Open daily
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Assi Ghat

The southernmost major ghat in Varanasi. A gathering point for students, scholars, and sadhus — the atmosphere is quieter and less commercially intense than the ghats near Dashashwamedh.

Timing: Open daily. Morning Aarti — held at sunrise. Evening Aarti — held just after sunset.
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Sarnath

An archaeological site where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, circa 528 BCE. The site contains the Dhamek Stupa (3rd century CE), excavated remains, and the archeological site museum.

Timing: Archaeological sites — Open daily, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Museum — Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Fridays.
Entry Fee: Archaeological sites (3) — ₹300 (cash at counter) or ₹250 (online pay) each. Entry is free for children below 15 years. Museum — ₹5 (cash at counter or online pay). Entry is free for children below 15 years
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Ramnagar Fort

A sandstone fort built in the 18th century and the seat of the Maharaja of Varanasi. The fort contains a museum with vintage cars, palanquins, royal costumes, and astronomical instruments.

Timing: Open daily. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹200 (cash at counter)
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Bharat Mata Mandir

A temple built in 1936 dedicated not to a deity but to Mother India (Bharat Mata) — the sanctum contains a large marble relief map of undivided India instead of a religious idol.

Timing:  Open daily. 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Entry Fee:  No entry fee
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Alamgir Mosque

A 17th-century mosque built by Aurangzeb on the site of a Vishnu temple. The structure combines Mughal and Hindu architectural elements — the lower section retains the original temple stonework.

Timing: Open daily. Closed to non-worshippers during prayer times.
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Tulsi Manas Temple

A white marble temple built in 1964 on the site where the poet-saint Tulsidas is said to have composed the Ramcharitmanas — the 16th-century Hindi retelling of the Ramayana that is among the most widely read texts in India.

Timing: Open daily, 5:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Ganga River

A boat ride along the Varanasi ghats is the primary way to see the full stretch of ghats, the city's skyline, and the activity on and around the steps. Early morning (pre-sunrise) and evening (around the Aarti) are the most active periods on the river.

Entry Fee: Negotiate the fare and duration before boarding

Metro in Varanasi

Metro is not available in Varanasi.

Local buses in Varanasi

Local buses are not practical in Varanasi. Intracity buses run across the city but routes are difficult to navigate without local knowledge.

Ride-hailing apps in Varanasi

Ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber are practical and operate in Varanasi. Select the vehicle type and book through the app; fares are shown upfront before confirmation. Drivers may call to confirm the pickup point. Before getting in, verify the vehicle number and OTP shown in the app. Payment can be made by card through the app or in cash directly to the driver at the end of the trip.

Street hailed auto rickshaw in Varanasi

Street hailed auto-rickshaw is practical in Varanasi for short distances (5 km) or when apps are unavailable. Tell or show the auto driver your destination — they can refuse, in which case move to the next one. Agree on the fare (approx. ₹20—₹30 per km) before you get in. Know the distance to your destination via maps before negotiating.

Boat rides in Varanasi

Boat rides on the Ganges operate from the ghats. Boats can be hired directly at the ghat steps — agree on the fare, duration, and route before boarding.

Dev Deepawali in Varanasi

All 84 ghats shimmer with millions of earthen lamps on the night of Kartik Purnima. Priests perform Ganga Aarti simultaneously at every ghat from dusk — the view from a boat on the river is the most complete vantage point.
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Ganga Mahotsav in Varanasi

A five-day cultural festival, running alongside Dev Deepawali — classical music and dance performances, boat races, arts and crafts displays at the ghats. The celebration concludes on Dev Deepawali.
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Mahashivratri in Varanasi

Varanasi is the city of Shiva and Mahashivratri is its most significant religious occasion. A marriage procession of Lord Shiva is taken out from Mahamrityunjaya Temple to Kashi Vishwanath Temple via Chowk. All Shiva temples in the city are lit and active.
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Nag Nathaiya in Varanasi

A grand theatrical performance staged on the ghats at Tulsi Ghat, with the river serving as the stage — a child actor portraying Krishna dives into the river to defeat the serpent Kaliya. One of Varanasi's most distinctive festivals.
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Banarasi silk

The most significant textile of Varanasi — handwoven silk with gold and silver zari work in floral and geometric patterns. A GI-tagged product, each saree can take weeks to complete on a handloom. Available as full sarees, dupattas, stoles, and scarves.
Find it: Nati Imli Road (weaving centre, direct from weavers). Banaras Haat and UP Handloom (Sigra Road) for fixed-price government-certified pieces.

Gulabi Meenakari

A distinct Varanasi variant of enamel work — vivid pink and multicolor enamel on gold and silver, used for jewelery and decorative objects. Different from the Jaipur Meenakari tradition in both color palette and technique.
Find it: Vishwanath Gali and Godowlia Market.

Lacquerware wooden toys

GI-tagged wooden toys and figurines finished with bright lacquer colors — a craft specific to Varanasi and the surrounding Bhadohi region.
Find it: Vishwanath Gali and Chowk area craft shops.

Banarasi Paan

A GI-tagged product — the betel leaf preparation of Varanasi is distinct from paan found elsewhere in India. The Banarasi meetha paan uses specific local ingredients and is the traditional end to a meal in the city.
Find it: Paan shops throughout Godowlia and Vishwanath Gali.

Varanasi's food is almost entirely vegetarian — approximately 90% of street food in the old city contains no meat. The food tradition is ancient, built around the ghats and temple culture, and the defining meals here are things found nowhere else in India in quite the same form.

Local food to eat in Varanasi

Kachori sabzi · Tamatar chaat · Chena dahi vada · Baati chokha · Malaiyo · Thandai · Rabri jalebi · Launglata · Banarasi lassi · Banarasi paan

Food streets in Varanasi

• Kachori Gali — the morning food lane, kachori sabzi, lassi, chaat
• Dashashwamedh area — tamatar chaat, chaat varieties, active from afternoon
• Godowlia Crossing — thandai, sweets, lassi
• Chowk — malaiyo, old halwai shops, launglata
• Vishwanath Gali — kachori, sweets, paan shops near the temple
• Assi Ghat — cafes, traveler-facing food, rooftop restaurants

Varanasi is connected by rail, air, and road. Most international travelers arrive from Delhi. Whether arriving or departing, use the station codes, airport, and bus terminal information below.

Varanasi — Stations, Airport & Bus Stands

Rail Stations: Varanasi Junction (BSB)
Airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)
Bus Terminals: Varanasi Bus Stand

By Train
Search “Varanasi” as your origin (if departing) or destination (if arriving). Varanasi Junction (BSB) is the primary station. Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.

By Flight
Search by city name across Air India Express, Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Buddha Air, Spicejet — these cover the full domestic network from Varanasi airport.

By Bus
Buses (AC or non-AC) operate from the bus terminal — head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run (UPSRTC) and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.

All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.