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

All fees above apply to foreign nationals only.

Varanasi has four ways to get around by road and water — metro service isn't available here.

Metro in Varanasi

Metro is not available in Varanasi.

Local buses in Varanasi

Local buses are not practical for most first-time foreign travelers. Intracity buses run across the city, but routes are difficult to navigate without local knowledge.

Approx. Fare: Low (between ₹10-₹50 per trip), based on distance (non-negotiable)
Use for: Not practical for independent travelers

Ride-hailing apps in Varanasi

Ride-hailing apps are practical and widely used in Varanasi.

1. Open Ola or Uber and enter your destination.
2. Select a vehicle type — the fare is shown upfront before you confirm.
3. Confirm the booking; the driver may call to confirm your pickup point.
4. Verify the vehicle number and OTP shown in the app before getting in.
5. Pay by card in-app, or in cash directly to the driver at trip end.

Approx. Fare: Dynamic, demand-based
Use for: Door-to-door travel to/from the airport and railway station

Street-hailed auto-rickshaws in Varanasi

Street-hailed auto-rickshaws are practical for short distances (under 5 km) or when apps aren't available.

1. Tell or show the driver your destination — they can refuse; if so, move to the next one.
2. Check the approximate distance on a map app before negotiating.
3. Agree on the fare before getting in.
4. Pay in cash at the end of the trip.

Approx. Fare: ₹20–₹30 per km, negotiated
Use for: Short hops in the city, last-mile connections near the ghats

Boat rides in Varanasi

Boat rides on the Ganges are a Varanasi-specific way to see the ghats, not just a way to get around.

1. Walk down to any ghat and approach a boatman directly.
2. Agree on the fare, duration, and route before boarding.
3. Confirm whether the price is per person or for the whole boat.

Approx. Fare: Negotiated — varies by duration and route
Use for: Ghat-to-ghat sightseeing, sunrise and sunset views on the river

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.
2026 Dates: 24 November

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.
2026 Dates: 6-8 November

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.
2027 Dates: 6 March

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.
2026 Dates: 13 November

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 — roughly 90% of street food in the old city contains no meat. The tradition is ancient, built around the ghats and temple culture, and several dishes here exist in a form found nowhere else in India.

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 via Delhi first. 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.
New to Indian trains? See how train and classes work.

By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet for domestic connections.

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.
New to Indian buses? See how buses work.

Continue your India trip

• Rishikesh — yoga capital of the world
• Amritsar — a spiritual city in Punjab
• India Basics — vaccinations, customs, SIM cards, and more about India travel