Varanasi

Photo: Das740724 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

November: best2-3 days

Ancient Ganga city of ghats, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, evening aarti and boat rides; base for Sarnath.

Spend dawn on a boat, days walking the ghats and lanes, and evening at the Dashashwamedh aarti. Sarnath is a half-day trip. October-March is the comfortable season.

November: Pleasant; peak season starts

When to go

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Things to do

Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga: Bargain to about Rs 50 per person per hour.
Watch the Dashashwamedh evening aarti: Starts just after sunset, about 45 min.
Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Opens 2:30 am; Mangala aarti 3-4 am.
Walk the ghats from Assi to Dashashwamedh
Eat kachori sabzi and drink lassi
Half-day trip to Sarnath: Auto about Rs 300-400 one way.
Evening Ganga aarti

Plan your trip

Best timeOctober-March (November-February best); April-June is very hot.

Ideal trip2-3 days

How to reachAir:

Varanasi Airport: Distance Km: 24; Notes: About 24 km from Sarnath per Wikivoyage; serves domestic routes

; Rail:

Varanasi Junction (BSB): Main station; auto to the riverfront about Rs 100
Banaras (BSBS): Second city station
Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn (DDU): Distance Km: 20; Notes: About 20 km east; taxi about Rs 500, auto Rs 250-300

; Road: State buses from Prayagraj (about 3 hrs) and Lucknow (about 8 hrs).

Getting aroundWalk the ghats and lanes (many too narrow for vehicles). Boats: bargain to about Rs 50 per person per hour. Autos/cycle rickshaws for short trips; Sarnath about Rs 300 one way by auto.

ConnectivityMobile networks and ATMs widely available in town.

SafetyLanes are dark at night and power cuts are common - carry a light · Stray dog packs can be aggressive at night · Rickshaw drivers may claim your hotel is closed - commission scam · Touts at Manikarnika asking Rs 500 for cremation wood are a scam · Do not photograph cremations · Severe air pollution in winter

Getting there

From Delhitrain · about 13 h

From Prayagrajbus · about 3 h

Top sights

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

temple

Varanasi's principal Shiva temple, one of the twelve jyotirlingas; opens 2:30 am for Mangala aarti.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

attraction

Varanasi's main ghat, site of the big evening Ganga aarti that starts just after sunset.

Kiran Center

museum

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