What Are the Best Places to See in Varanasi? Complete Spiritual Travel Guide

Varanasi — also called Kashi or Banaras — is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and Hinduism's most sacred destination. Sitting on the western bank of the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi has been a centre of learning, spirituality, music, and silk weaving for at least 3,000 years. Mark Twain called it "older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend." A visit here is unlike anything else in India — or the world.

Getting to Varanasi from Delhi: 820 km via NH19 — a 12–14 hour drive. Most visitors combine this with an overnight train or flight. EZPZ Taxi offers Delhi to Varanasi long-distance cabs with experienced highway drivers — call +91-9871121217 or book at ezpztaxi.com. Alternatively: Vande Bharat Express (8 hours) or overnight trains from New Delhi to Varanasi — book at www.irctc.co.in.

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1. Ganga Ghats — The Soul of Varanasi

Along the western bank of the Ganga | Always open | Free

Varanasi has 88 ghats (stone steps leading down to the Ganga) stretching over 7 km along the river. These ghats are where the entire spiritual, social, and physical life of the city plays out simultaneously.

The must-see ghats:

Dashashwamedh Ghat — the most important and most beautiful ghat, where the evening Ganga Aarti takes place. According to mythology, Lord Brahma performed a ten-horse sacrifice (dasha = ten, ashwa = horse, medha = sacrifice) here. The ghat is flanked by temples and towers.

Manikarnika Ghat — the most sacred cremation ghat in Hinduism. Bodies burn here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hindus believe dying in Kashi and being cremated at Manikarnika grants moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth). The ghat has a raw, powerful, unvarnished atmosphere. Photography is absolutely forbidden and respectful silence is essential. Several hundred cremations happen here daily.

Assi Ghat — at the southernmost end, this is where the Assi River meets the Ganga. A popular gathering spot with less commercial activity than central ghats.

Scindia Ghat — the partially submerged Shiva temple here (sunk into the river due to the ghat's gradual tilting) is one of Varanasi's most photogenic images.

Harishchandra Ghat — the second cremation ghat, smaller and quieter than Manikarnika.

Panchganga Ghat — where five rivers are believed to meet the Ganga; a beautiful medieval stepped ghat with a large mosque above.

Sunrise boat ride: The most essential Varanasi experience — hire a wooden rowboat at Assi Ghat before dawn and float north along the river as the sun rises. You see the entire ghat line, the ritual bathers, the sadhus meditating, the washermen, the yoga practitioners — all of Varanasi's life happening simultaneously. Cost: ₹300–600 per boat (negotiate, compare 2–3 operators).



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2. Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat — A Spectacle of Light

Every evening at sunset | Dashashwamedh Ghat | Free

The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of India's most spectacular rituals — more theatrical and elaborate than the Haridwar aarti. Seven young priests stand on elevated platforms, each performing a perfectly synchronised fire ritual with massive multi-tiered brass lamps, incense, conch shells, fans, and flywhisks — all to live music and chanting.

Timings: 6:00–7:15 PM in winter, 7:00–8:15 PM in summer. The ritual lasts about 45–60 minutes.

Where to watch:
- On the ghat itself: Standing on the steps gives a close-up view — arrive 1 hour early for a good spot
- From a boat: Hire a boat to watch from the river — you see the entire ghat illuminated, the fire reflections in the water, the crowd. This is actually the most impressive viewpoint. Cost: ₹200–400 per person added to your boat fare.
- From the bridge platforms on either side of the main ghat

Floating diyas: Release small oil-lamp boats on the Ganga during the aarti — ₹20–30 for a set. Watching your diya float downstream with hundreds of others is deeply moving.

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3. Kashi Vishwanath Temple — One of the 12 Jyotirlingas

Vishwanath Gali, near Dashashwamedh Ghat | Open: 2:30 AM – 11 PM | Entry: Free

Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — the most sacred Shiva shrines in India — and arguably the most important Hindu temple in the country. The current temple was built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780 after the original was destroyed by Aurangzeb. The gold plating on the spires (donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh) gives it the "Golden Temple" name.

Security: Very strict security — no cameras, phones, or electronics allowed inside. Lockers are available at the entrance.

New Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (2021): Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a major renovation in 2021 that connected the temple directly to the Ganga ghat with a grand walkway. The new complex is much more organised than before.

Best time: Mangala Aarti at 3 AM is for the most devoted. Normal darshan begins at dawn. Avoid Mondays (Shiva's day) when queues can be 2–4 hours long.

Kashi Vishwanath official: shrikashivishwanath.in

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4. Sarnath — Where the Buddha Began

10 km from Varanasi | Open: Sunrise to sunset | Entry: ₹15 Indians, ₹200 foreigners

Sarnath is where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon (the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" — Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion") to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. This makes Sarnath one of Buddhism's four holiest sites.

What to see:

Dhamek Stupa (3rd century BCE) — a massive 28m cylindrical stone stupa marking the exact spot where Buddha gave his first discourse. The stupa is covered in intricate stone carvings of birds and flowers in a beautiful Gupta-period style. Walking around it clockwise (circumambulation) is the traditional practice.

Ashoka Pillar remains — Emperor Ashoka erected a magnificent polished sandstone pillar here in the 3rd century BCE. The pillar's capital (the famous Lion Capital with four lions back-to-back) was excavated here and is now at the Sarnath Museum — it became India's national emblem.

Sarnath Archaeological Museum (on site) — houses the original Lion Capital, Ashoka's inscribed pillar fragments, beautiful Gupta-period Buddha statues, and a comprehensive collection from the excavations.

Mulagandha Kuti Vihara — a 1931 Japanese-funded temple with beautiful murals of Buddha's life painted by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. The bodhi tree here was grown from a sapling of the original tree at Bodh Gaya.

Chinese Temple, Thai Temple, Japanese Temple — various Buddhist nations have built temples at Sarnath. The Tibetan monastery has excellent thangka paintings.

Entry tickets: Buy combined tickets for the Archaeological Park and Museum at the gate.

Official: asi.nic.in



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5. Ramnagar Fort — The Living Museum Across the River

Across the Ganga from Varanasi | Open: 10 AM – 5 PM | Entry: ₹15 Indians, ₹100 foreigners for museum

Ramnagar Fort is the ancestral palace of the Maharajas of Varanasi, built in 1750 of cream-coloured chunar sandstone. While the fort itself is partially dilapidated, the Ramnagar Fort Museum inside is genuinely excellent — housing vintage royal cars (including a 1928 Cadillac), antique weapons, palanquins, astronomical clocks, and royal memorabilia.

Reaching Ramnagar: Take a boat across the Ganga from any central ghat (₹50–100) — arriving by river is the proper way. Or take a road bridge (3 km from the nearest bridge).

Ramnagar Ramlila: The annual Ramnagar Ramlila is the world's most famous Ramlila performance — held for 31 days during Navratri (October). Different episodes of the Ramayan are performed in different locations around Ramnagar, and the audience moves between locations. Over 100,000 people attend nightly.

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6. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — The City of Learning

South Varanasi | Open campus | Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum: 10 AM – 4:30 PM | Entry: ₹10

BHU is one of Asia's largest universities — founded in 1916, it is a city within a city with 14 faculties, 140 departments, and 30,000 students. The campus is a beautiful place to walk — wide roads, ancient buildings, a large central park.

Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum on campus: One of India's finest art museums with miniature paintings from the Mughal, Rajput, and Pahari schools, rare textiles, sculptures, and a remarkable collection of Banaras silk brocades through history.

New Vishwanath Temple on BHU campus: Built in 1966 by the Birla family — an elegant white marble temple and a peaceful alternative to the crowded original Kashi Vishwanath.

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7. Varanasi Silk Weaving — The City's Living Craft

Varanasi is the world capital of silk brocade weaving — Banarasi silk is one of India's most treasured textile traditions, woven on traditional handlooms using real gold and silver zari thread. The patterns are intricate Mughal-derived floral and geometric designs.

Where to shop:
- Mehrotra Silk Factory (Lahurabir) — fixed price, trustworthy
- Government Silk Weaving Centre (Chowk area) — authentic, fixed prices
- Avoid: Random touts near Dashashwamedh Ghat who promise to take you to "factories" (usually overpriced tourist traps)

Workshop visits: Several workshops in the Madanpura and Peeli Kothi weaving neighbourhoods allow visitors to watch the handloom weaving process — a remarkable craft to witness.

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Varanasi Food — The City's Famous Culinary Heritage

- Kashi Chat Bhandar (Godaulia) — legendary for tamatar chaat (Banaras specialty, a unique sweet-sour chaat unlike anything in Delhi)
- Blue Lassi Shop (near Kashi Vishwanath) — thick, creamy lassi in 70+ flavours. The queue is worth it.
- Deena Chat Bhandar — oldest chaat shop in Varanasi
- Shree Café (Assi Ghat) — popular with backpackers for South Indian breakfast
- Malaiyo (winter only, October–February) — a unique Varanasi sweet made of whipped cream and dew, incredibly light and delicate. Only available in the early morning.
- Banarasi Paan — the finale of any Varanasi food experience. Paan (betel leaf with various fillings) is an art form here.

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Practical Information

Best time to visit:
- October–February: Cool, clear, festivals. Diwali in Varanasi (Dev Deepawali — river lit with 100,000 lamps) is extraordinary.
- March–June: Hot but manageable with AC accommodation
- July–September: Monsoon — Ganga floods some lower ghats

Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima): The full moon 15 days after Diwali — Varanasi lights 100,000 clay lamps along all 88 ghats. One of India's most beautiful visual spectacles.

Where to stay:
- Budget: Hotel Ganges View (Assi Ghat), BrijRama Palace budget rooms (₹1,000–3,000)
- Mid-range: The Gateway Hotel Ganges, Ramada Plaza (₹4,000–8,000)
- Luxury: BrijRama Palace (₹12,000–25,000), Taj Nadesar Palace (₹15,000–30,000)

UP Tourism: www.uptourism.gov.in

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EZPZ Taxi for Varanasi

Delhi to Varanasi long-distance taxi with highway-experienced drivers. Fixed fares, no surge, 24/7 support.

Call: +91-9871121217 | Book: ezpztaxi.com

What moved you most in Varanasi — the aarti, the ghats, or something completely unexpected? Share your story below.