my next stop

Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi

Ancient Ganges ghats, India's chaotic spiritual heart

SpiritualHeritageCulture

Best time to visit Varanasi

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to February
  • Shoulder: March and July to September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember

Varanasi season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season: cool mornings for sunrise boat rides, and Dev Deepawali in November is unmissable

Summer March to May Shoulder

Brutal 45C+ heat with high humidity by May-June; the ghats are near-empty for good reason

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

The Ganges rises and can submerge lower ghat steps; muggy but atmospheric if you handle the heat

Autumn October to November Prime time

Pleasant temperatures return by late October, building to the spectacular Dev Deepawali festival

What Varanasi is actually like

Long-term travelers linger for weeks on the ghats; boat-sharing makes solo mixing easy

Things to do in Varanasi

The local places worth your time in and around Varanasi, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Dashashwamedh Ghat

    Ghat · in town

    The main ghat and the 7 pm Ganga aarti; arrive by 6 for a step, or hire a boat and watch from the water for less crush

  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Shiva's jyotirlinga at the end of the new corridor; phones and bags go into lockers, the queue is shortest before 6 am

  • Manikarnika Ghat

    Ghat · 1 km out

    The main burning ghat, fires going day and night; watch quietly from the upper steps, no photos, ignore the wood touts

  • Sarnath

    Heritage · 10 km out

    Where the Buddha first taught, Dhamek Stupa in lawns and the museum holding the Ashokan lion capital; museum shut Fridays

  • Assi Ghat

    Ghat · 3 km out

    Southern ghat with the 5.30 am Subah e Banaras aarti and yoga on the steps; cafes behind it, easiest place to sit alone

  • Kachori Gali

    Food · 1 km out

    Lane behind the Vishwanath corridor for kachori sabzi and jalebi from 7 am; gone by 11, eat standing, cash only

  • Ramnagar Fort

    Fort · 14 km out

    The Kashi Naresh's crumbling 18th century fort across the river, vintage cars and clocks inside; last entry about 5 pm

  • Banaras Hindu University

    Heritage · 6 km out

    Vast campus with the marble New Vishwanath temple and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum; rickshaws inside, museum shut Sunday

Getting to Varanasi

Flights/trains from Delhi 12h; airport 25km from the ghats

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
81 m
State
Uttar Pradesh
Coordinates
25.3176, 82.9739

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Varanasi?

October to February is peak season in Varanasi. March and July to September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Pleasant temperatures return by late October, building to the spectacular Dev Deepawali festival.

How many days do you need in Varanasi?

2 days is the usual stay. Long-term travelers linger for weeks on the ghats; boat-sharing makes solo mixing easy.

How do you get to Varanasi?

Flights/trains from Delhi 12h; airport 25km from the ghats. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Varanasi expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Varanasi?

Nov: Dev Deepawali. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Varanasi?

Dashashwamedh Ghat, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Manikarnika Ghat, Sarnath, Assi Ghat and Kachori Gali, and more. The main ghat and the 7 pm Ganga aarti; arrive by 6 for a step, or hire a boat and watch from the water for less crush.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Uttar Pradesh

All 31 destinations in Uttar Pradesh