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Varanasi Travel Guide: Ganges Ghats, Ganga Aarti and Tips for International Travellers

Varanasi, also called Banaras or Kashi, is one of the oldest living cities in the world and the spiritual heart of India. Life here unfolds on the ghats, the stone steps that lead down to the River Ganges. For many international travellers, Varanasi is the most powerful experience of their India trip — intense, moving, and unlike anywhere else.

Location Varanasi (Kashi), UP
Nearest Airport Varanasi Airport (VNS)
Top Attraction Ganga Aarti & Boat Ride
Best Months October to March

Varanasi at a glance

Detail / Information
Essential Travel Overview
Location
Uttar Pradesh, on the River Ganges
Nearest airport
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)
Ideal stay
2 nights
Best months
October to March
Languages
Hindi, Bhojpuri, English
Known for
Ganges ghats, Ganga Aarti, silk weaving, Sarnath
WHY TRAVEL HERE

Why visit Varanasi

The Ganges at sunrise: a boat ride past pilgrims, priests and temples.

Ganga Aarti: a fire ceremony held on the river every evening.

Sarnath: where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

Living traditions: music, silk weaving and rituals unchanged for centuries.

MUST-SEE SIGHTS

Top attractions in Varanasi

01

Dashashwamedh Ghat: the main ghat and the setting for the evening Ganga Aarti.

02

Assi Ghat: a calmer ghat known for its sunrise ceremony and yoga.

03

Manikarnika Ghat: the main cremation ghat. Observe respectfully and do not take photographs.

04

Kashi Vishwanath Temple: the city's most sacred Shiva temple. Entry rules for foreign visitors vary, so check with your guide.

05

Old city lanes: a maze of shrines, shops and food stalls.

06

Sarnath: the Dhamek Stupa, ruins and museum, about 10 km away. The museum is closed on Fridays.

07

Ramnagar Fort: an 18th century fort across the river.

08

Banaras Hindu University: a green campus with the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum.

Unique experiences in Varanasi

Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
Evening Ganga Aarti viewed from a private boat
Heritage walk through the old city lanes
Visit to a silk weaving workshop
Classical music evening
Street food walk
PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Season, Access & Stay Guide

Best time to visit Varanasi

  • October to March is the best time. December and January mornings can be cold and misty.
  • April to June is very hot. During July to September the river runs high and boat rides may be limited.
  • Dev Diwali, in November, lights the ghats with over a million lamps and is the most spectacular time to visit. Book early.

How to reach Varanasi

  • By air: direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other cities. The airport is about 25 km from the ghats.
  • By train: overnight and fast trains from Delhi and Agra.
  • Within the city: cars cannot enter the old city. The last stretch to the ghats is on foot or by rickshaw.

How many days to spend in Varanasi

  • 1 day: sunrise boat ride, old city walk and evening Ganga Aarti.
  • 2 days: add Sarnath, a silk workshop and Assi Ghat.

Where to stay in Varanasi

  • Stay in a heritage hotel on the ghats for atmosphere, or in a modern hotel in the Cantonment area for space and comfort. Riverside hotels often include a boat transfer.
  • Hotel choices depend on your dates and style of travel. Please check with our team for the best options and rates.

Food to try in Varanasi

Try kachori sabzi for breakfast, tamatar chaat, lassi, Banarasi paan and, in winter, the saffron milk froth called malaiyo.

Shopping in Varanasi

Banarasi silk saris and scarves, brassware, wooden toys and glass beads. Buy silk from trusted weavers, as synthetic fabric is often sold as silk.

MUST-KNOW INFORMATION

Practical tips for international travellers

Cremation ghats

Cremation ghats: photography is not allowed. Keep a respectful distance.

Dress modestly

Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.

Walking

Walking: expect narrow, crowded lanes and uneven steps. Wear comfortable shoes.

Touts

Touts: ignore offers of unofficial boats, guides and wood donations at the cremation ghats.

The Ganges

The Ganges: we do not advise swimming or drinking the river water.

Money

Money: carry some cash in Indian rupees for small shops and tips. Cards are accepted at hotels and larger stores.

Water

Water: drink only bottled or filtered water.

Staying connected

Staying connected: an Indian SIM or eSIM is useful for maps and messages. Our team can guide you on arrival.

Nearby places to combine with Varanasi

Sarnath (10 km), Bodh Gaya (about 250 km), Prayagraj (120 km) and Ayodhya (about 200 km). Varanasi combines well with the Golden Triangle by a short flight.

Dream Day Tours favourites in Varanasi

These are the experiences our own team loves most and recommends to our guests.

  • A private boat at sunrise, when the ghats are at their most peaceful
  • Watching the Ganga Aarti from the river, away from the crowd
  • A morning in the old lanes with a local storyteller guide
  • Dev Diwali night on the ghats

Why travel with Dream Day Tours

  • Government-approved company, founded in 2019 and based in Jaipur.
  • Every tour is private and customised to your dates, interests and budget.
  • Expert local guides and trusted company drivers.
  • A dedicated manager reachable by phone, message or email from your arrival to your departure.
  • Secure payment by credit card, bank transfer or Revolut.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about Varanasi

How many days are enough for Varanasi?
Two nights are ideal. This allows a sunrise boat ride, the Ganga Aarti and a visit to Sarnath.
What is the Ganga Aarti?
It is a daily evening ceremony of fire, chanting and bells offered to the River Ganges at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Can I take photos at the cremation ghats?
No. Photography is not allowed at the cremation ghats.
Is Varanasi safe for international travellers?
Yes. It is busy and intense, so a guide makes the visit easier and more meaningful.
How do I reach Varanasi from Delhi?
The easiest way is a direct flight of about 1.5 hours. There are also fast and overnight trains.
Can Varanasi be combined with the Golden Triangle?
Yes. We offer Varanasi combined with the Golden Triangle and as a separate Varanasi-only tour.

Related Varanasi tours

Each tour below is private and can be booked as it is or customised to your dates, hotels and interests.

Varanasi 2 day private tour
Varanasi and Sarnath spiritual tour
Golden Triangle with Varanasi
Dev Diwali in Varanasi tour
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore and Varanasi

Book now or customise this tour: send us your dates and number of travellers and we will reply with a tailor-made plan.

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Tiffany P
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An absolutely wonderful experience from start to finish! We couldn’t be happier with the trip organized by Dreamday Tours. The service was impeccable, and we felt supported and well taken care of from the very beginning to the very end. Ashfaq was extremely responsive, helpful, and always available whenever we had a question or needed anything. The hotel he booked for us was perfect, and the restaurant at the hotel was also excellent. Everything was very well organized, which allowed us to simply relax and enjoy the experience without having to worry about the logistics. The two safaris were absolutely incredible and were definitely highlights of our trip. Of course, when it comes to wildlife, there is always an element of luck involved — something no agency can control or guarantee. But in terms of organization, communication, and overall service, Dreamday Tours was outstanding. We felt that we could completely trust them throughout the whole trip, and that made the experience even more enjoyable. It’s clear that they genuinely care about their clients and want everything to go smoothly. We highly recommend Dreamday Tours to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and attentive agency. We are extremely happy with everything they organized for us and would absolutely book with them again!
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Shyam S
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Udaipur trip Had an amazing experience on my Udaipur trip! Everything was well organized and the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. Udaipur is absolutely beautiful, with stunning lakes, palaces, and scenic views. The trip was memorable, relaxing, and full of wonderful moments. Really happy with the overall arrangements and service. Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip to Udaipur! ❤️
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John C
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Dream Day Tours Golden Triangle and Tiger Safari Tour is definitely worth booking! Review of Dream Day Tours - Golden Triangle plus Tiger Safari Tour This past June my wife and I traveled to India with one of my wife’s colleagues to visit her husband’s hometown in Assam, India. It was great seeing a part of India from the perspective of a family that lived there, but since this was my wife’s first time to India, we decided to book a tour to show her some other beautiful sites. And so, we booked a lovely tour through Dream Day Tours, which is based in Jaipur. It was called the Golden Triangle Tour with Tiger Safari. It was just the two of us on the tour, so Dream Day Tours catered everything to our needs and desires. To begin, we flew into Delhi and Dream Day arranged for a driver to bring us from the airport to the Welcomehotel by ITC in Dwarka. Excellent hotel with very good food. The next day, we started our tour with the driver that was assigned to us, Jeetu Singh. Jeetu was great and transported us to our various destinations for the entire tour. We were also provided with a local guide for Delhi, Aarif Sheikh. Aarif was an excellent guide. He gave us a lot of historical and cultural information and took us to Jama Masjid, which was a spectacular mosque built in the time of the Mughals in the 1600’s, and still used for prayer today. We also got a bicycle rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk, which is a lively and colorful market nearby. We were also taken to a grand Sikh Temple and learned of the generosity of the Sikh’s to their pilgrims and temple visitors. We appreciated the visits to the monuments and museums that were made around the life and death of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi. The next morning Jeetu brought us to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. We were met there by our guide Vipin. The Taj is spectacular, and basically was the only site we visited in Agra. Vipin brought us to various places to see the Taj under different views and at sunrise and sunset. We had total access to the Taj and its grounds, and Vipin, an amateur photographer took many beautiful and romantic photos of us with the Taj as a background. In fact, he took such a beautiful photo of us that we both use it as our most recent FB profile page. He definitely has talent as a photographer! On our way from Agra to Jaipur, Jeetu had us visit Fatehpur Sikri, which was the capital of the Mughal empire under Emperor Akbar in the 1500’s. This was certainly worth the visit. And we also stopped at a step well, which was a structure that was used historically to provide water to the inhabitants of the area. It was really different, fascinating, and ingenious! In Jaipur, the Pink City, we were again provided with a guide that was very versed in Indian culture and history, Mr. Raghuveer. He immediately brought us the Hawa Mahal, or Wind Palace, which is an incredibly beautiful structure overlooking a large busy square. We were again brought there by the Dream Day Tours owner, Ashfaq, in the evening, to see its beauty at night. Phenomenal! We had stressed that, besides seeing traditional tourist sites, we wanted to get an experience that showed us some of what really goes on in Jaipur streets, so Mr. Raghuveer took us to the flower market, where we were showered with flowers. This seemed especially appropriate for us since we had just celebrated our 40th anniversary. It was wild, and the flowers were beautiful, and an Indian friend of ours said it was like we were getting married! Then we visited the extraordinarily ornate and expansive Amber Fort, which was built in the 1500s by a Hindu Raj that had a political alliance with the Muslim Moghul Emperor Akbar. Beyond beautiful! Didn’t think that could be topped, but then we were brought to the City Palace, which was unbelievable in its majesty! Other things that made the trip a super experience were seeing a real snake charmer and having a hands-on interaction with an elephant, which was very weird, very exciting, and a little unnerving! We were definitely in India, far from home! And since we were so far, my wife wanted to go on a tiger safari, which we did at the Ranthambore National Park. We were lucky enough to spot some tigers in their natural environment, and we also saw other wildlife like bears, crocodiles, wild boars, a slew of peacocks and peahens, and other big birds and wildlife! It was all good, and Ashfaq at Dream Day Tours made it all possible for us by coordinating our itinerary, providing us with excellent guides, great hotels (with dinners and breakfasts included most days), and providing us with our beloved driver, Jeetu, who got us to every site and more, and then to the airport in ample time to catch our flight home! Thank you, Dream Day Tours!
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Menager S
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Tour Safari This agency helped me organize a safari tour in Ranthambore; they are very professional and accommodating. I highly recommend them!
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Elena T
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An experience made possible only by them, fantastic in every way! I am truly happy to recommend this tour operator who has been incredibly accommodating towards me from the very beginning. They made the impossible possible, in the sense that I had little time but wanted to see too many things. With them, it was possible. Transfers and guides all for me, as I was traveling alone, and they were super friendly and efficient. They had breakfast ready for me in the car after a visit, they accommodated me in every way, and I arrived at the airport more punctual than ever despite the traffic to catch my return flight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially to Ashfaq who personally welcomed me and was so, so patient. If you want to travel without worries and safely, choose this tour operator. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for my unforgettable experience. ❤️
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thomas b
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Better than we could have imagined! This was the most well organised trip we could have asked for! Ashfaq and the team couldn't have done more to make the trip better - hotel was stunning, lifts to and from Safari on time (and aircon!) and the best Safari, 2 groups and 1 private ( we saw 7 Tigers). This was a trip tailored to us, made very special! Highly recommend Dream Day Tours if you want the best trip of a life time at a great price!
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Julius H
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Good Experience We had a great experience. My friend and I booked the trip just two weeks before arriving in India, and they responded quickly and made everything possible. We shared what we wanted to see, and they created a plan around it. We also had a fantastic driver who was very kind and always made sure we had everything we needed, including water, soda, and beer.
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William M
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Saw Tigers and Crocodiles! We did 3 safaris, on the first two we saw lots of wildlife including monkeys, deer, hyenas, peacocks and other birds, but no tigers… And then on the third, we were lucky enough to see on four separate occasions a tiger casually strolling through its natural habitat. We got close enough to take good photos and one even walked straight past the Jeep! We also saw a couple of crocodiles by the lake which topped it off. Very enjoyable experience!
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Esmeralda M
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FANTA Hola!! Hi!! My husband and I went to India for 9 days and we couldn't have made a better choice than Day Dream Tours! They put together an incredible tour for us, with a guide in our language at each location, and they made sure everything was perfect! The safari in Rathambore was amazing and we even saw tigers! If you're planning a trip to India, don't hesitate to book with them. Besides having an incredible experience, you'll make some lifelong friends! Thank you!!!!!
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Daniel N
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Incredible India Our organized round trip through India with Ahmed was absolutely perfect and exceeded all our expectations! The itinerary including Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, and Agra was perfectly designed. We were able to experience India’s fascinating culture, impressive architecture, and breathtaking wildlife to the fullest. Every stop was a highlight in its own way! The hotels selected for us were excellent – very comfortable, clean, and thoughtfully chosen. It was clear that Ahmed places great value on quality and guest satisfaction. A very special thank you also goes to our driver, Malik. He was always punctual, professional, friendly, and drove very safely. We felt comfortable and well taken care of at all times. Ahmed was always available and responded immediately to all of our wishes. Even last-minute requests or spontaneous changes were arranged quickly and smoothly. This outstanding level of service truly made our journey extra special. Thanks to Ahmed and his team, we had a wonderful and unforgettable time in India. We are incredibly grateful for the perfect organization and can highly recommend this tour to anyone. Thank you so much for everything!
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