Things to Do in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
A short, practical guide to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh: what is worth your time, how long it takes, and when to go.
Why Varanasi is worth the stop
Varanasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and life along its ghats is lived in public: prayer, laundry, cremation and cricket within a hundred metres of each other.
Things to do in Varanasi
- Dashashwamedh Ghat - the evening Ganga aarti, best watched from a boat.
- Sunrise boat ride - the single best hour in the city.
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple - expect security checks and long queues.
- Sarnath - where the Buddha gave his first sermon, ten kilometres out.
- Banaras Hindu University campus and its art museum.
A sensible one-day plan
- Sunrise boat ride from Assi Ghat.
- Breakfast of kachori sabzi in the lanes.
- Midday at Sarnath, away from the crowds.
- Return for the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh.
Getting around
The old lanes take no vehicles; walk and expect to get lost, which is part of it. Autos and cycle rickshaws cover the rest.
What to eat here
Kachori sabzi for breakfast, tamatar chaat, malaiyo in winter, and a thandai near the main ghats.
When to come
The comfortable window is October to March. Avoid May and June unless you handle heat or heavy rain well. Nearest airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS). A mid-range day in Varanasi, covering a room, food and local transport, runs about 2,000 to 5,000 rupees.
One thing most visitors miss
Manikarnika Ghat has kept cremation fires burning continuously for centuries. Photography there is not welcome, and the families present are grieving, not performing.
Common questions
Is Varanasi overwhelming for a first visit?
It can be. Arriving with a booked room near the ghats and starting with a dawn boat ride makes the first day far easier.
Can I photograph the cremation ghats?
No. Watch quietly from a distance and put the camera away.