Varanasi.
Ghats, evening aarti and the oldest lanes in India.
- Best time to go
- October to March
- Ideal trip length
- 2–3 days
Holiday package
Takes a minute. A travel planner calls you back within working hours (10 am – 7 pm).
About Varanasi
One of the world's oldest living cities, on the Ganga. Days start with a sunrise boat ride past the ghats and end at the Ganga aarti. Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, is a short drive away.
- Families
- Pilgrimage
- Solo
Sunrise boat ride
Drift past Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika and Assi ghats at first light.
Ganga aarti
The evening ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Kashi Vishwanath
The Kashi Vishwanath temple and the corridor to the river.
Sarnath
Dhamek Stupa and the museum, about 10 km from the city.
When to go
Best: October to March
- January — good
- February — good
- March — good
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October — good
- November — good
- December — good
Getting there
Fly to Varanasi (Lal Bahadur Shastri airport) or arrive by train; the ghats are a 45-minute drive from the airport.
Planner's notes
- Sunrise boat ride and the evening Ganga Aarti are the two fixed points.
- Sarnath is a half-day trip.
- Old-city lanes are narrow — stay near the ghats if you want to walk.
A shape for 2–3 days
One way to lay out the days, built from the places above. Your planner reshapes it around your dates, pace and budget.
Day 1
Arrive and settle in
Reach Varanasi, check in, and keep the evening easy.
Day 2
Head home
A last breakfast, then the transfer back.
