Sightseeing in Varanasi

Standing close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple is dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, worshipped as the provider of food and nourishment. Its gold-plated deity is normally kept covered and is displayed to the public only once a year during the Annapurna Jayanti festival, drawing large crowds of devotees. Annapurna Temple sits at an elevation of 92 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Hanuman Temple, Ganga Jal Kund, and Annapurna Devi Temple Main Shrine. Other notable highlights include golden idol of Goddess Annapurna with ladle, morning aarti with food offerings to deity, and annakut festival on fifth day of Diwali. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Varanasi, Varanasi district, and Uttar Pradesh, India.

Assi Ghat marks the point where the small Assi river meets the Ganga, and legend holds it is where Goddess Durga discarded her sword after slaying the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Today it is one of the liveliest ghats, popular with early risers for the daily Subah-e-Banaras cultural programme of music and yoga at dawn, and a favourite spot for boat rides at sunrise. It is also a hub for students and travellers thanks to the many cafes lining the lanes behind it. Assi Ghat sits at an elevation of 84 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Assi Ghat Main Steps, Shivala Ghat, and Assi Ghat Temple of Assi Sangameshwara. Other notable highlights include subah-e-Banaras cultural show at dawn, morning yoga session on the ghat steps, and boat ride to see Assi river confluence. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Varanasi, Varanasi district, and Uttar Pradesh, India.

Founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of Asia’s largest residential universities, spread across a sprawling, tree-lined campus. It is home to the Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum of art, archaeology and history with an outstanding miniature-painting collection, as well as the New Vishwanath Temple. The campus is a popular half-day excursion for visitors wanting a quieter, greener side of Varanasi. Banaras Hindu University sits at an elevation of 84 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include BHU Botanical Garden, Malaviya Bhavan, and Bharat Kala Bhavan's Archaeological Gallery. Other notable highlights include bharat Kala Bhavan's miniature painting collection, new Vishwanath Temple's modern marble architecture, and leafy 1,300-acre campus walk under old trees. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, Bharat Mata Temple is unlike any other in Varanasi: rather than a traditional deity, it houses a large marble relief map of undivided India, showing mountains, rivers and plains in painstaking topographical detail. Conceived as a tribute to the idea of the nation as mother (Bharat Mata), it remains a striking stop for visitors interested in the freedom movement’s cultural legacy. Bharat Mata Temple sits at an elevation of 81 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Floor of the Saints, Floor of the Freedom Fighters, and Panoramic View of the Ganges. Other notable highlights include view India's topography from elevated gallery, spot Himalayan ranges carved in stone, and trace Ganges river route on floor map. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Chauk Market is one of the old city’s oldest and most storied trading lanes, long associated with Banarasi silk sarees and brocade woven by generations of local weavers. Beyond textiles, its narrow lanes are known for musical instruments like the sitar and tabla, brassware, and Varanasi’s famous paan (betel leaf preparations), making it a favourite stop for shoppers exploring the old city. Chauk Market sits at an elevation of 87 m and is typically explored in about 1-2 hours. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and Godowlia Chauraha. Other notable highlights include watch saree weavers at handloom looms, shop for pure zari brocade borders, and taste fresh kachori with spicy aloo. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Fronted by an imposing fort-like structure, Chet Singh Ghat is named after Raja Chet Singh of Varanasi, who in 1781 led a short-lived but famous uprising against Warren Hastings and the East India Company from this stronghold. The dramatic riverside facade makes it one of the more visually commanding ghats along the Varanasi waterfront. Chet Singh Ghat sits at an elevation of 80 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Boat Ride Viewpoint, Submerged Shiva Temple, and Chet Singh Fort. Other notable highlights include imposing 18th-century fortress walls rising from river, sunset views over Ganges from stone ramparts, and boat ride past hidden escape tunnel entrance. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Chunar Fort stands on a rocky spur overlooking the Ganga, roughly an hour from Varanasi. Believed to date back over two thousand years, it passed through the hands of local rulers, Sher Shah Suri, the Mughals and finally the British, who used it as a garrison and sanatorium. The fort offers sweeping views of the river and countryside and is a favoured day trip from Varanasi for travellers interested in history. Chunar Fort sits at an elevation of 84 m. The most favourable months to visit are November, February, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Sonwa Mandap, Shah Qasim's Tomb, and British Cemetery and St. John's Church Ruins. Other notable highlights include over 2,000 years of layered history — Hindu, Mughal and British rule, panoramic views of the Ganga from the fort ramparts, and once used as a British garrison and sanatorium. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Chunar Railway Station. It falls within Mirzapur district and Uttar Pradesh, India.

Dashashwamedh Ghat is Varanasi’s most famous riverfront steps, believed in legend to be where Lord Brahma performed a ten-horse sacrifice (Dasha-ashwamedha) to welcome Shiva. Framed by temples and pilgrim lodges, it comes alive every evening with the Ganga Aarti — a synchronised fire-worship ritual performed by a row of priests with multi-tiered brass lamps, drawing large crowds on the steps and in boats on the river. By day, it is equally busy with bathers, boatmen and pandas (priests) offering rituals for pilgrims. Dashashwamedh Ghat sits at an elevation of 60 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Dashashwamedh Ghat Main Steps, Siddharth Art Gallery, and Boat Ride from Dashashwamedh Ghat. Other notable highlights include evening Ganga Aarti with fire and chanting, boat ride at sunrise along the ghats, and watching priests perform synchronized rituals. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Painted in a distinctive deep ochre-red, Durga Kund Temple dates to the 18th century and stands beside a large rectangular sacred tank that was once connected to the Ganga. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, it is an important stop on Varanasi’s pilgrimage circuit and draws especially large crowds during Navratri. Durga Kund Temple sits at an elevation of 80 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Durga Bari Courtyard, Temple Bell Tower, and Ancient Banyan Tree. Other notable highlights include red sandstone Durga idol with ten arms, sacred kund steps for ritual bathing, and monkey troops on temple ramparts. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Ganga Aarti is Varanasi’s most iconic ritual: every evening at sunset, a row of young priests at Dashashwamedh Ghat perform a synchronised fire ceremony with multi-tiered brass lamps, conch shells, bells and incense, offered in worship to the river Ganga. Hundreds gather on the ghat steps and in boats on the water to watch, making it one of the most atmospheric experiences in the city and a must-see for every visitor to Varanasi. Ganga Aarti sits at an elevation of 60 m and is typically explored in about 45-60 minutes (evening). The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Harishchandra Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Assi Ghat. Other notable highlights include five priests synchronized fire rituals on raised platforms, brass lamps circling clockwise with incense and bells, and flower diyas floating downstream from the ghat steps. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Godowlia is the beating commercial heart of Varanasi, a dense maze of lanes packed with street food stalls, sweet shops, clothing and religious souvenir vendors. It also serves as the main pedestrian gateway to Dashashwamedh Ghat, so most visitors pass through its crowded, colourful chowk on their way to the evening Ganga Aarti. Godowlia Market sits at an elevation of 84 m and is typically explored in about 1-2 hours. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Manikarnika Ghat, Annapurna Temple, and Godowlia Chowk and Main Market Street. Other notable highlights include silk sarees and brocade at Shri Sumangal Silks, kachori sabzi at Kashi Chat Bhandar, and wooden toys and trinkets at lane stalls. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Harishchandra Ghat is Varanasi’s second cremation ghat, smaller and quieter than Manikarnika. It takes its name from the legendary King Harishchandra, who — according to Hindu mythology — sacrificed his kingdom, wife and son in the name of truth, and was reduced to working here as a cremation-ground keeper before the gods restored his fortunes. It remains an active cremation site today, and one of Varanasi’s oldest continuously used ghats. Harishchandra Ghat sits at an elevation of 80 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Harishchandra Temple, Manikarnika Ghat Viewing Point, and Ganga Mata Temple. Other notable highlights include king Harishchandra’s legendary truth-testing stone platform, daily wood pyre stacking rituals before dawn, and ghat steps with 18th-century Raja’s palace ruins. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is among the holiest of Hindu temples, enshrining Lord Shiva as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The current structure was built in 1780 by the Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar, with its distinctive gold-plated spire donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1839. The temple now sits at the heart of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, a landscaped pedestrian route connecting it directly to the ghats of the Ganga, and draws millions of pilgrims through the year, especially during Maha Shivratri and the month of Shravan. Kashi Vishwanath Temple sits at an elevation of 95 m and is typically explored in about 1-2 hours. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Annapurna Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, and Gyanvapi Well. Other notable highlights include dawn Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, gold-plated spire and sanctum dome viewing, and corridor walk to Gyanvapi well's sacred water. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Varanasi, Varanasi district, and Uttar Pradesh, India.

Manikarnika Ghat is considered the most auspicious cremation site in India — Hindus believe that being cremated here breaks the cycle of birth and death. Named after a legendary earring (Manikarnika) said to have fallen into the sacred well beside it, the ghat’s funeral pyres are said to have burned continuously for centuries, tended by a hereditary community of cremation workers. Visitors are welcome to observe respectfully from a distance, and it remains one of the most powerful sights along the Varanasi riverfront. Manikarnika Ghat sits at an elevation of 95 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Manikarnika Ghat Main Cremation Area, The Eternal Flame, and Siddhartha Ghat. Other notable highlights include observing the eternal sacred flames of the main cremation pyres, watching priests perform the ritual of Agni Prajwalana at dawn, and spotting the ancient well, Manikarnika Kund, near the ghat steps. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Also known as the Birla Temple, the New Vishwanath Temple stands within the leafy campus of Banaras Hindu University. Built entirely of white marble by the Birla family, it was conceived as a temple open to people of every caste, creed and faith, with its walls inscribed with verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Its tallest of all Shiva temples in India, and its calm campus setting offers a peaceful contrast to the busier temples of the old city. New Vishwanath Temple (BHU) sits at an elevation of 84 m and is typically explored in about 1 hour. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Main Corridor & Pillared Hall, Seven Temples Complex, and Nandi Bull Statue. Other notable highlights include gleaming white marble exterior with intricate carvings, peaceful prayer hall with continuous Shiva chants, and close-up view of the towering 5-spire shikhara. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Varanasi, Varanasi district, and Uttar Pradesh.

Panchganga Ghat takes its name from the belief that five rivers — the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana and Dhutapapa — converge here, though only the Ganga is visible today. The ghat is dominated by the towering Alamgir Mosque (Beni Madhav ka Darera), built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on the site of an earlier Vishnu temple, making it one of the more striking examples of Varanasi’s layered religious history. Panchganga Ghat sits at an elevation of 89 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Markandeya Mahadev Temple, Siddheshwar Temple, and Bade Hanuman Ji Temple. Other notable highlights include five sacred river confluence steps at dawn, alamgir Mosque's towering minarets overhead, and boat ride to view ghat from river. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Raj Ghat sits at the northern edge of Varanasi’s riverfront, close to the Malviya Bridge (formerly the Dufferin Bridge), historically the point where the old road from Delhi first met the Ganga. Quieter than the central ghats, it offers a good vantage point of the bridge and the sweep of the river, and marks a natural starting or end point for a boat ride along the full stretch of ghats. Raj Ghat sits at an elevation of 85 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Vijay Ghat, Raj Ghat Memorial Wall, and National Gandhi Museum. Other notable highlights include views of Malviya Bridge’s iron lattice arches, quiet morning boat ride to see ghat’s stone steps, and spotting the old pipal tree near the waterline. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, founded by Goswami Tulsidas, is one of Varanasi’s most visited temples, particularly thronged on Tuesdays and Saturdays — days considered auspicious for worshipping Hanuman. The temple complex is also home to resident monkeys and hosts the annual Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, a five-night classical music and dance festival that draws performers from across India. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple sits at an elevation of 80 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Sankat Mochan Aarti Platform, Ram Darbar, and Ancient Banyan Tree. Other notable highlights include morning aarti amidst ringing bells and chants, tulsidas’s original idol of Lord Hanuman, and tuesdays and Saturdays draw long, vibrant queues. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Founded by the poet-saint Tulsidas, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of Varanasi’s most visited shrines, especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and known for the free community meals served in its dining hall. The best time to visit is October to March. Nearby points of interest include Main Hanuman Shrine and Community Dining Hall. Other notable highlights include significant Pilgrimage destination in Varanasi, rich historical and cultural heritage, and important spiritual or architectural significance. It falls within Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sarnath is one of the four most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, marking the spot where Buddha first taught the Dharma after attaining enlightenment. The Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of the Ashoka Pillar with its famous four-lion capital (India’s national emblem), and the Sarnath Archaeological Museum draw pilgrims and history lovers alike. It sits a short drive from Varanasi and is often visited as a half-day trip alongside the ghats and temples of Kashi. Sarnath sits at an elevation of 84 m. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, Thai Temple, and Chaukhandi Stupa. Other notable highlights include one of Buddhism’s four most sacred pilgrimage sites, site of Buddha’s first sermon after attaining enlightenment, and home to the Dhamek Stupa and the Ashoka Pillar, source of India’s national emblem. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (~10 km) and the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi (~20 km). It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Built in the 19th century by the Scindia rulers of Gwalior, this ghat is instantly recognisable for the Shiva temple standing at its edge — its own weight caused it to slowly tilt and sink partially into the riverbed, now appearing to lean dramatically into the Ganga. The surrounding lanes are packed with old havelis and temples, making it one of the most photographed stretches of the Varanasi riverfront. Scindia Ghat sits at an elevation of 94 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Nepali Temple– view from Scindia Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Ganga Aarti at Scindia Ghat. Other notable highlights include significant Heritage destination in Varanasi, rich historical and cultural heritage, and important spiritual or architectural significance. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Uttar Pradesh.

Tulsi Ghat is named after the 16th-century poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas, author of the Ramcharitmanas — the definitive Hindi retelling of the Ramayana — who is believed to have lived and composed part of his work at this site. A small akhara (traditional wrestling ground) and a temple in his memory still stand nearby, and the ghat remains a quiet, contemplative stretch of the riverfront popular with scholars and pilgrims. Tulsi Ghat sits at an elevation of 81 m and is typically explored in about 30-60 minutes. The most favourable months to visit are February, November, December, and January, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Tulsidas Temple, Nepali Templeat Lalita Ghat, and Assi Ghat. Other notable highlights include stone steps where Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas verses, dawn Ganga aarti with oil lamps and bells, and view of Assi Ghat from riverside promenade. For travellers planning the trip, the nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt), the closest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, and local buses run via Kashi Gate Bus Stand. It falls within Varanasi, Varanasi district, and Uttar Pradesh, India.