Varanasi (also spelled Banaras or Kashi) offers an experience like no other - its riverbanks teem with temples, ghats, and ancient chanting traditions to explore while learning more about India's cultural and historical diversity.
Watch Hindus perform rituals and cremations at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi; one of its holiest sites. Witness an eye-opening and sometimes confronting scene; Hindus believe dying here will free them from reincarnation cycles.
How to Get There
Varanasi is one of India's holiest cities and one of the oldest towns on earth with a history that goes back more than 1,000 years. At once sublime and chaotic, this city attracts Hindu pilgrims, seekers and sannyasins who flock here from across India and beyond.
Varanasi can be reached from Delhi in several ways, but most travelers opt for an overnight train journey that costs approximately 1000 INR per person and lasts an entire night. You can book tickets online or visit any railway station to purchase them immediately.
Varanasi is best visited between November and March when temperatures are cool and dry - perfect for exploring its many ghats and attending ceremonies. These magical structures become even more captivating during Diwali when illuminated and filled with devotees.
If you want a hotel near the ghats, consider staying in Assi: an inviting neighborhood filled with charming guesthouses and midrange hotels that line the Ganges riverfront and provide tranquil respite from bustle. Top-floor rooms often provide better value - particularly those on higher floors offering views and more light. Don't be surprised to discover that locals don't tend to sit down for meals: stick to streets for delicious street fare such as tikki ke chaat (deep-fried potato cutlets topped with chutney and yoghurt), or kachori sabzi (fried bread with steaming curries); more expensive dining options tend to disappoint
Getting Around
Varanasi offers various ways of transportation. Buses, taxis and rickshaws all operate efficiently and at relatively reasonable costs compared to traveling elsewhere. Bikes and scooters may also be rented if desired for exploring its streets - however it would be wiser to book a tour with local guides so as to avoid scams.
Varanasi draws people in for one purpose only - to spend some time along the River Ganges. Hindus believe bathing in this sacred river helps cleanse away their sins. At sunrise, cruise along and watch as pilgrims make pilgrimages up the Ganges as you can also head out of town to Sarnath where Buddha first taught his followers the principles of Buddhism.
Varanasi is best visited between October and March when temperatures are milder and it's less crowded, plus flights tend to be cheaper during this time frame and many religious festivals take place during this period. Flying is the fastest route, although overland travel (either train to Kathmandu or bus all the way from Delhi) may also be possible; just plan for extra travel time when taking these approaches.
Things to Do
Varanasi is one of the oldest cities on Earth and offers an unforgettable experience. A crumbling, poetic, eccentric city where goats wear sweaters and boys fly kites by the Ganga river; one of the holiest sites for Hindus and Jains and pilgrims flocking here for spiritual renewal; there are 88 ghats on its waters where locals bathe to cleanse away sins; Muslims also worship here and view its waters as having curative properties; but, unfortunately, its waters have become extremely polluted with everything from chemical waste to human remains!
Ghats are also where people cremate their dead relatives, which can be an extremely upsetting experience when you see piles of bodies being scattered among mourning families. If possible, try to avoid burning ghats during summer when temperatures can soar to 50 degrees Celsius and things become hot, humid and chaotic.
Banarasis are known for their silk sarees and brocade textiles, so shopping in their markets will provide you with an opportunity to pick up these treasures as well as glass beads, colourful wooden toys and undercut stone work. You can also experience its history at Benaras Hindu University's Bharat Kala Bhavan museum that holds over 12,000 paintings dating back to 11th century.
Things to Avoid
Varanasi, an ancient city of streets and ghats, can best be explored on foot and by boat. A town filled with streets and ghats, it makes an entrancing journey both visually and aurally; ancient and modern coexist here, spirituality meets chaos as young girls soak their feet in the Ganges River or families construct funeral pyres for loved ones; kids dive for coins in its waters while diving for coins themselves! Varanasi boasts culture and beauty: Hindu mythological accounts claim Lord Shiva himself walked here whilst Tulsidas wrote the Ramayana while Yoga began here too.
Be mindful that the river is heavily polluted and its ghats contain cow poo, rubbish, hair and human remains; the Indian government strongly urges against entering its waters - I think you'd agree!
Stay away from snake charmers who may attempt to take your photo or offer you a free show, as they could try and take advantage of you and offer photos or free shows in exchange for money donated towards crematorium fees for poor people's burials - this should never be involved with.
For an unforgettable ghat walk experience, make sure that your hotel arranges for a guided ghat walk tour. Though this might cost more, the return will make the cost worthwhile; not only will you gain insights into Varanasi and its religious traditions and history but you won't want to miss the sunset Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat - it is one of the most important rituals in Hindu faith!