Varanasi Travel Guide: Ghats, Ganga and the Eternal City

Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Sleepless

Updated September 2026: Scroll to the end for 2026 prices for Kashi Vishwanath darshan, Ganga Aarti boat rides, hotels and food, plus how to get to Varanasi and the best time to go.

Any honest Varanasi travel guide has to start with this: no other Indian city feels quite like it. So some days ago I had a chance to spend a few days in the holy city of Varanasi or Benares…
The Varanasi airport is not very far away from the city and the road is good we reached the hotel in 35 minutes or so.

I had chosen the Taj Ganges for my stay this time and I am glad I did, it really was like an oasis in the middle of a chaotic city. Varanasi hotels along the river tend to book up quickly in peak season, so it’s worth reserving well ahead if you want a room with a ghat view.

Assi Ghat and the Ganga Aarti: A Varanasi Travel Guide Highlight

After resting for some time and a sumptuous lunch in the magnificent restaurant of the hotel we headed out towards Assi Ghat for taking an evening boat cruise over the river and seeing the famous Ganga Arti …

While there were many sharing boats we decided to folk out a few thousand rupees and took a boat for ourselves.. it was nearing dusk and the views from the boat were truly magnificent..

If you visit the Ganga Arti from the land side it can become a bit crowded and chaotic so I would suggest you view it from one of the boats and that will make the experience much more enjoyable…

Also, don’t forget to have the famous chaat / kachori in Kashi Chaat, Dina Chaat or Kachori Gali etc.

Here are some of the pictures I took on the river cruise.. Between the boat rides, the temples and the ghats, a couple of days is enough to get a real feel for the city, though many visitors end up wishing they had booked a day or two more.

Do let me know in the comments Section What you think..

Why Varanasi Belongs in Every India Travel Guide

Varanasi is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and it has been the spiritual capital of Hinduism for thousands of years. Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi and being cremated on its ghats grants moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which is why the city’s riverfront is so different from anywhere else in India — part pilgrimage site, part everyday neighbourhood, part cremation ground, all within a few hundred metres of the Ganges.

Practical Tips for Planning Your Varanasi Travel Guide

The cooler months between October and March are the most comfortable time to visit, since Varanasi’s summers get extremely hot and humid. Most visitors base themselves near the ghats so they can walk down for both the sunrise boat ride and the evening Ganga Aarti without needing transport. A short walk or rickshaw ride also gets you to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the holiest Shiva temples in India, and Sarnath, the deer park a short drive away where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon, makes for an easy half-day trip. You can find more on visiting the region on the Incredible India tourism site.

One of the best-known ghats besides Assi Ghat is Manikarnika Ghat, the main cremation ghat where funeral pyres burn around the clock. It is one of the most striking things to witness in the city, and guides along the ghats can explain the rituals respectfully if you’d rather not just wander in unannounced.

If you enjoyed this Varanasi travel guide and want to see how it compares with the marble and Mughal history of Agra, our Taj Mahal hidden symbols guide is a good next stop.

10 Places to Eat in Varanasi

Varanasi is a city for grazing through its lanes. Try the classic breakfast of kachori or poori with sabzi, then make room for tamatar chaat, a clay-cup lassi and chai. These are popular stops; small vendors can sell out or keep changing hours, so check locally before making a special trip.

1. Ram Bhandar, Thatheri Bazaar — Go early for the famous kachori-sabzi (often described as Banarasi poori-bhaji) and jalebi.
2. Prasidh Chachi Ki Dukaan, Lanka — A much-loved breakfast counter near Ravidas Gate for crisp kachori or poori with sabzi and hot jalebi.
3. Kashi Chaat Bhandar, Godowlia/Dashashwamedh Road — Order the signature tamatar chaat, traditionally served hot in a kulhad.
4. Deena Chaat Bhandar, Godowlia — Another old-city favourite for tamatar chaat and other tangy, potato-based chaats.
5. Blue Lassi Shop, Kachauri Gali — Choose a fruit lassi for a filling pause while exploring the lanes near the Vishwanath temple.
6. Pahalwan Lassi Bhandar, Lanka — Try a rich, malai-topped Banarasi lassi; it is a handy stop around the university and Assi side of town.
7. Lakshmi Chai Wala, Chowk — Stop for a small glass of local chai while wandering the old market streets.
8. Gauri Shankar Kachori Wale, Godowlia Road — A simple, satisfying kachori-sabzi breakfast with the familiar Banarasi mix of spice and tang.
9. Baati Chokha — Sit down for a regional meal of litti/baati with chokha, dal and chutneys.
10. Pizzeria Vaatika Café, Assi Ghat — A relaxed café by the river for pizza and its well-known seasonal mango cheesecake.

Street-food recipes and stalls are part of the city’s food culture; the Incredible India guide to Varanasi food experiences highlights tamatar chaat, kachori-sabzi, lassi and more.

7 Places to Stay in Varanasi: Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury

For sunrise walks and evening aarti, staying around Assi, Meer or Dashashwamedh ghats saves travel time. Rates vary by season and room type, so compare dates directly before booking.

1. Budget — Zostel Varanasi (Dashashwamedh): Dorm beds and private rooms a short walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat.
2. Budget — Moustache Hostel Varanasi: A hostel-style base for travellers seeking shared spaces and lower-cost beds; check the current location and room inventory.
3. Budget — goSTOPS Varanasi: Another backpacker-friendly option; confirm which property and room type is available for your dates.
4. Mid-range — Ganpati Guest House, Meer Ghat: A heritage haveli with Ganga-view rooms, close to the old-city riverfront.
5. Mid-range — Hotel Ganges View, Assi Ghat: A heritage hotel right by Assi Ghat, with a quieter southern-ghat setting and riverfront access.
6. Luxury — Taj Ganges, Nadesar: A five-star city hotel set in landscaped gardens, with several restaurants, a pool and spa.
7. Luxury — BrijRama Palace, Darbhanga Ghat: A historic riverside palace hotel offering a heritage stay directly above the ghats.

7 Sacred Places to Visit in Varanasi

1. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple — One of the city’s most revered Shiva temples; check the temple trust’s current entry and darshan guidance before visiting.
2. Maa Annapurna Temple — A beloved shrine near the Kashi Vishwanath complex, associated with nourishment and abundance.
3. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple — A major Hanuman temple in the southern part of the city, close to Assi and BHU.
4. Durga Kund Temple — A distinctive red temple dedicated to Goddess Durga, in the Durgakund area.
5. Tulsi Manas Mandir — A marble temple dedicated to Lord Rama, traditionally linked with poet Tulsidas and the Ramcharitmanas.
6. Assi Ghat — The southern riverfront landmark known for Subah-e-Banaras, sunrise rituals and boat rides.
7. Dashashwamedh Ghat — The lively central ghat best known for its evening Ganga Aarti; arrive early if you want a place along the steps.

Temple schedules and access rules can change, especially on festival days. Please dress respectfully and follow local instructions at places of worship.

Varanasi Prices and Practical Info – September 2026

Here are current approximate prices (September 2026) and practical tips to go with the eating, staying and sightseeing lists above. Prices change with festivals and season, so confirm before booking.

Temples, Aarti and Boats

• Kashi Vishwanath Temple: General darshan is free, though the queues can take hours. Sugam (quick) darshan costs about ₹250–300 per person, and you should book it on the official Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust website. Phones and bags aren’t allowed, so use the lockers.
• Ganga Aarti boat rides: A shared boat costs about ₹300–500 per person. A private hand-rowed boat is from about ₹1,500, and a private motorboat or bajra for a group is about ₹3,000–4,500+. The aarti is at Dashashwamedh Ghat (about 6:30–7 pm in winter and 7–7:30 pm in summer), with a smaller one at Assi Ghat.
• Morning boat ride at sunrise: A magical time for photos, and much quieter. It’s about the same price as an evening ride.
• Sarnath (10 km away): The ruins and museum have small entry fees (under ₹50 for Indians). Allow half a day.

Approx. Hotel and Food Costs

• Taj Ganges (where I stayed): About ₹9,000–14,000 a night. Ghat-side heritage hotels (BrijRama Palace and similar): About ₹12,000–30,000. Mid-range: ₹3,000–7,000. Budget guesthouses near the ghats: ₹1,000–2,500.
• Street food (Kashi Chaat Bhandar, Deena Chaat, Kachori Gali, lassi and malaiyyo in winter): About ₹50–150 per dish.
• Mid-range restaurants: About ₹400–800 per person. Hotel restaurants: About ₹1,500–3,000 per person.

Getting There and Best Time

• By air: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is about 25 km away (35–45 min). A taxi costs roughly ₹800–1,200.
• By train: The Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi takes about 8 hours, and there are many overnight trains.
• Best time: October to March. Dev Deepawali, on the full moon of Kartik in November, lights the ghats with a million diyas, but book months ahead. Summer (April to June) is very hot, and during the monsoon the river rises and boats may be restricted.

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