Why go
Varanasi, also called Kashi and Banaras, sits on the western bank of the Ganga and is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Most people come for three things: the ghats at sunrise, darshan at Kashi Vishwanath and the evening Ganga Aarti.
When to go
October to March is the most comfortable time. Summer afternoons are very hot, and in the monsoon the river can rise over the lower ghats and stop boat rides.
Getting there
Varanasi airport is about an hour by car from the ghats. Trains from most big cities arrive at Varanasi Junction or Banaras station.
3-day plan
- Day 1 · Arrive and the evening aarti. Check in near the ghats and rest. In the evening, watch the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, from a boat if standing in the crowd is hard.
- Day 2 · Ghats at dawn and Kashi Vishwanath. A sunrise boat past the ghats, then darshan through the temple corridor before the midday rush. Rest in the afternoon.
- Day 3 · Sarnath and home. A short drive north to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, then head to the airport or station.
With parents
Pick a hotel cars can reach. Many lanes near the river are too narrow for cars.
Leave phones at the hotel. Phones and bags are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath, and the locker queue adds time.
