Key hubs
Varanasi airport and railway station
- Airport
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur. The drive to the ghats usually takes around an hour, sometimes more, depending on traffic.
- Railway stations
- Varanasi Junction (often called Cantt), Banaras station (formerly Manduadih), and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (formerly Mughalsarai) across the river. Check which station your train uses, because they are far apart.
- Getting around
- Taxis and e-rickshaws for the roads, rowing or motor boats between ghats, and walking in the old-city lanes, which cars cannot enter. Hotels near the ghats often arrange porters or cycle-rickshaws to the nearest road.
How to reach Varanasi by air
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport serves Varanasi directly, with onward taxi transfers into the city; December–January fog can delay flights.
How to reach Varanasi by train
Varanasi Junction and Varanasi City stations connect the city to Delhi, Kolkata and other major hubs.
How to reach Varanasi by road
National highways link Varanasi to Prayagraj, Lucknow and beyond, with regular bus and taxi services.
Getting around Varanasi
Taxis and e-rickshaws handle the roads, boats move between the ghats, and the old-city lanes, too narrow for cars, are walked; hotels near the ghats often arrange porters or cycle-rickshaws.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Varanasi
- Choose your hotel for vehicle access first and river views second. Ask exactly where the car stops and how many steps or metres lie between it and the room.
- Carry a folding stool or cushion for the aarti, small change for rickshaws, water, and any medication in a small bag. Temples may require you to deposit bags and phones.
- Wheelchair users will find BHU, Sarnath and the Assi plaza manageable. Most other ghats and the old-city lanes are not wheelchair accessible without strong helpers.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.