Varanasi, India: travel guide
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and Hinduism's holiest, where ancient ghats line the sacred Ganges for ritual bathing and cremation.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- VNS
Top places to visit in Varanasi
Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 300
Massive 5th-century Buddhist stupa marking the spot where the Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment; the spiritual heart of the Sarnath complex.
Ramnagar Fort
Fort · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 200
18th-century sandstone fort and palace of the Maharaja of Banaras on the eastern bank of the Ganges, with a quirky museum of vintage cars, palanquins and an astronomical clock.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and Hinduism's holiest Shiva shrine, recently expanded with the grand Kashi Vishwanath Corridor connecting it to the Ganges.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
The most famous and central ghat of Varanasi on the Ganges, site of the spectacular nightly Ganga Aarti — a fire-and-chant ceremony performed by priests at dusk.
Assi Ghat
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
The southernmost main ghat, popular with students and travellers for its relaxed vibe, morning Subah-e-Banaras aarti, yoga and riverside cafes.
Manikarnika Ghat
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h
The principal cremation ghat of Varanasi, burning around the clock; a profound and solemn place where Hindus believe cremation brings moksha (liberation).
Durga Kund Temple (Durga Mata)
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
18th-century red-ochre temple to goddess Durga beside a sacred tank (kund), famous for its resident monkeys and intense Navratri celebrations.
New Vishwanath Temple (BHU)
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Serene modern marble Shiva temple inside the leafy Banaras Hindu University campus, built by the Birla family and open to people of all faiths.
Tulsi Manas Mandir
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h
White-marble temple dedicated to Rama, built on the spot where the poet Tulsidas is said to have composed the Ramcharitmanas, whose verses adorn the walls.
Vishwanath Gali Market
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
The bustling lane leading to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, packed with shops selling Banarasi silk, rudraksha, brassware, sweets and pooja offerings.
Sarnath Archaeological Museum
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry INR 5
India's oldest site museum, home to the original Lion Capital of Ashoka — the national emblem of India — and exquisite Mauryan and Gupta-era Buddhist sculpture.
Man Mandir Ghat & Observatory
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 0.7 h · entry INR 300
A historic ghat with the Man Singh palace and an 18th-century Jantar Mantar observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, offering fine views over the riverfront.
Things to do
- Sunrise Boat Ride on the Ganges Boat · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
- Evening Ganga Aarti Boat Experience Cultural · 1.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Varanasi Street Food Evening Walk Food Tour · 3 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Old Varanasi Heritage & Temple Walk Walking Tour · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
- Sarnath Buddhist Heritage Half-Day Tour Sightseeing Tour · 4 h · from INR 1,800 per person
- Sunrise Yoga & Meditation at Assi Ghat Wellness · 1 h · from INR 500 per person
- Banarasi Silk Weaving Workshop Visit Arts Crafts · 2 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Banaras Classical Music Evening Show · 1.5 h · from INR 800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Evening Ganga Aarti & Boat Tour 3 h · from INR 1,200
- Sunrise Boat Ride & Old City Heritage Walk 4 h · from INR 1,500
- Full-Day Varanasi & Sarnath Tour 8 h · from INR 2,800
Where to stay in Varanasi
- Dasaswamedh Ghat about INR 1,500 per night
Spiritual heart with view of the iconic ghat, budget guest houses
- Godowlia about INR 2,500 per night
Central market area with mid-range hotels and access to main attractions
Hotels
- The Girdhari Varanasi 3-star · INR 1,584 to INR 2,400 per night
- BrijRama Palace 5-star · INR 18,000 to INR 42,000 per night
- Kapoor Sahab Homestay 3-star · INR 1,721 to INR 2,600 per night
- TEMPLE TOWN HOMES Assi Ghat Varanasi 3-star · INR 1,499 to INR 2,200 per night
- Taj Ganges Varanasi 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 18,000 per night
- Suryauday Haveli 4-star · INR 7,000 to INR 14,000 per night
Where to eat
- Kashi Chat Bhandar Street Food, Chaat, North Indian · about INR 120 per person
- Baati Chokha North Indian, Awadhi, Bihari · about INR 450 per person
- Blue Lassi Shop Cafe, Desserts, Beverages · about INR 100 per person
- Keshari Restaurant North Indian, South Indian, Chinese · about INR 400 per person
- Deena Chaat Bhandar Street Food, Chaat · about INR 120 per person
- Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe Italian, Continental, Cafe · about INR 500 per person
- Tadka Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Continental · about INR 300 per person
- Canton Royale North Indian, Continental, Chinese · about INR 700 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Cycle Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.
Fake "free" funeral wood donation
Manikarnika & Harishchandra cremation ghats
Touts pose as helpers or "Dom" workers, guide tourists to a viewpoint, then aggressively demand large "donations" for wood to cremate the poor — money rarely reaches anyone.
How to avoid it: Cremation ghats are not tourist attractions; observe respectfully from a distance, never photograph, and refuse organised "donation" pitches.
Overpriced boat rides
Dashashwamedh & main ghats
Boatmen quote a low price then demand far more mid-river, or pack extra passengers; sunrise/aarti rates are inflated for tourists.
How to avoid it: Agree the total price, duration and per-boat (not per-person) terms in writing before boarding; use UP Tourism or hotel-arranged boats.
Banarasi silk "factory" commission shops
Old city & on the way from station
Rickshaw/guides take you to "government" or "weaver direct" silk emporiums selling power-loom or synthetic silk as pure handloom Banarasi at 3-5x prices.
How to avoid it: Buy from reputed fixed-price showrooms or certified weaver co-ops; real handloom Banarasi has a GI tag and a higher, consistent price.
Bhang / "special" lassi spiking
Godowlia & ghat-side lassi shops
Some shops serve bhang (cannabis) lassi to unsuspecting tourists, leading to disorientation and vulnerability to theft.
How to avoid it: Ask explicitly whether a lassi/thandai contains bhang; avoid "special" drinks from unknown vendors.
Pushy self-appointed temple "guides"
Kashi Vishwanath & temple lanes
Strangers offer to "help" skip queues or store shoes/phones near the temple, then demand payment or disappear with belongings.
How to avoid it: Use only official cloakrooms and queues; phones/leather are banned inside Kashi Vishwanath — leave them at your hotel.