Major city
Varanasiवाराणसी
Give Varanasi two nights for the Ganges ghats and dawn boat ride; expect crowds, narrow lanes and strong sensory contrast.
Rules in force · 3
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India and a major Hindu pilgrimage site on the Ganges. Life centres on the riverfront ghats, including cremation ghats. Nearby Sarnath is a key Buddhist site.
At a glance
- Known for
- Ganges ghats · Dawn boat rides · Evening Ganga aarti · Kashi Vishwanath Temple · Sarnath
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (very hot); Jul–Sep monsoon can flood the ghats
- Nights
- 2
- Airports
- VNS Lal Bahadur Shastri International
Where to sleep
Near Assi Ghat
Quieter southern ghats with cafes.
Old city near Dashashwamedh Ghat
Central, but lanes are narrow and noisy.
Getting around
Walk the ghats and old lanes; use rickshaws or app cabs to reach other districts and Sarnath. Cars cannot enter the old lanes.
Watch out
- Photography is not welcome at the cremation ghats; follow local guidance.
- Hold-ups, touts and boat-price disputes are common: agree the price first.
- River levels rise in the monsoon and change which ghats are usable.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Varanasi. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism (official)
- Wikivoyage — Varanasi (secondary)