Temples in Varanasi
- 01
Durga Kund Temple
An 18th-century temple to Goddess Durga, painted a deep red and set beside a large stepped tank. It is compact, colourful and easy to add to a south Varanasi morning.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning on a weekday; Navratri and Tuesdays or Saturdays are busier
- Tickets
- Free entry. Offerings are optional.
- 02
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the most revered temple in Varanasi. It is now reached through the redeveloped Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor that connects it to the river.
- Time needed
- 1.5–3 hours including queues and security (longer on Mondays and festivals)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Weekday mornings outside the month of Shravan and major festivals
- Tickets
- General darshan is free. The temple trust has offered paid sugam darshan and aarti bookings through its official website. Check shrikashivishwanath.org for current options and rules.
- 03
New Vishwanath Temple (BHU)
A grand white-marble Shiva temple inside the Banaras Hindu University campus, with a soaring spire, calm lawns and darshan that is usually far easier than in the old city.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon; weekends and Mondays in Shravan bring more visitors
- Tickets
- Free entry. Footwear is left at a counter near the entrance.
- 04
Sankat Mochan Temple
A much-loved Hanuman temple in a shaded, tree-filled compound in south Varanasi, traditionally associated with the poet-saint Tulsidas.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning on weekdays; Tuesdays and Saturdays are the main Hanuman days and far more crowded
- Tickets
- Free entry. Prasad is sold at stalls near the gate.
- 05
Tulsi Manas Temple
A modern white-marble temple to Rama, its walls inscribed with verses of the Ramcharitmanas, on the spot where Tulsidas is traditionally believed to have composed the epic.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Mid-morning or late afternoon; it is rarely crowded outside Ram Navami and Sawan festivities
- Tickets
- Free entry. There may be a small charge for the upper-floor displays.
Ghats in Varanasi
- 06
Assi Ghat
The southernmost of the main ghats. It is broad, relatively easy to reach by road and noticeably calmer than the old-city ghats, with its own morning and evening aarti.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Dawn for the morning programme and sunrise boats; early evening for the aarti and a relaxed walk
- Tickets
- Free to visit. Boat rides are paid. Negotiate before boarding.
- 07
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The busiest and most central of Varanasi's ghats, home to the city's best-known evening Ganga Aarti and the easiest starting point for boat rides.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours (longer if staying for the aarti)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning for calm and bathing rituals; late afternoon into the evening aarti for atmosphere
- Tickets
- Free to visit. Boat rides and any seating arranged by boatmen or vendors are paid. Agree the price and duration before you set off.
- 08
Kedar Ghat
A strikingly painted ghat with red-and-white striped steps, crowned by the Kedareshwar temple, with a strong South Indian pilgrim tradition.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning, when pilgrims bathe and the painted steps catch the first light
- Tickets
- Free to visit. Temple offerings are optional. Boat rides are paid separately.
- 09
Manikarnika Ghat
Varanasi's principal cremation ghat, where funeral pyres burn day and night. It is a place to observe quietly and respectfully, not a sightseeing stop.
- Time needed
- 15–30 minutes (from a boat or the upper edge)
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- From a boat during an early-morning ride; avoid walking in at peak times when funeral processions are frequent
- Tickets
- There is no entry fee. Ignore anyone who asks for money for 'wood', 'hospice donations' or a 'guided tour'. This is a well-known scam at this ghat.
Museums in Varanasi
- 10
Bharat Kala Bhavan
Banaras Hindu University's museum of art and archaeology, known for its Indian miniature paintings, Banarasi textiles, sculpture and decorative arts.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late morning, or the afternoon heat of summer, when an indoor visit is welcome
- Tickets
- An entry fee applies, with different rates for Indian and foreign visitors, and possibly a camera charge. Check current fees and the weekly closing day with the museum or BHU before visiting.
- 11
Sarnath Museum
The Archaeological Survey of India's site museum at Sarnath, home to the original Lion Capital of Ashoka and some of the finest Buddhist sculpture in India.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late morning after visiting the stupa, or during midday heat
- Tickets
- A small ASI entry fee applies. Bags, cameras and phones have typically had to be deposited at the counter. Check current fees, rules and the weekly closing day on the ASI website.
Day trips in Varanasi
- 12
Chunar Fort
A sandstone fort on a rocky outcrop above the Ganga in Mirzapur district, linked with Sher Shah Suri, the Mughals and British rule, and within easy reach for a half-day drive from Varanasi.
- Time needed
- Half a day including travel (1.5–2 hours at the fort)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to March, in the morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- There may be a small entry charge. Check locally, as arrangements change.
- 13
Sarnath and Dhamek Stupa
The deer park where the Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon, centred on the massive Dhamek Stupa and surrounded by monastery ruins, temples and gardens.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the museum
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning in winter; early morning or late afternoon in the hotter months
- Tickets
- The archaeological site with the Dhamek Stupa is ticketed by the ASI, with separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors. Buddhist temples nearby are usually free. Check current fees on the ASI website or at the counter.
Experiences in Varanasi
- 14
Evening Ganga Aarti
The nightly riverside ceremony of lamps, conch shells, bells and chanting performed by young priests at Dashashwamedh and Assi. It is the defining evening experience of Varanasi.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes for the ceremony, plus time to arrive early
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Around sunset every evening; timing shifts through the year
- Tickets
- Free to watch. Boats for viewing are paid. Book with a reputable operator or through your hotel, and agree the price and timing beforehand.
- 15
Sunrise Boat Ride on the Ganga
An early-morning boat along the crescent of ghats, from Assi towards Manikarnika. It is the best way to see Varanasi, and the gentlest for elderly travellers.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Starting before sunrise, from October to March; avoid high-water days in the monsoon, when boats may be restricted
- Tickets
- Prices vary by boat type, duration and season. Agree the price, route and whether it is per person or for the whole boat before you board. Hotels can arrange boats at a known rate.
Forts in Varanasi
- 16
Ramnagar Fort
The 18th-century sandstone riverside fort of the Maharajas of Banaras on the east bank of the Ganga, with a museum of palanquins, vintage cars, arms and royal belongings.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours plus travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Late morning or afternoon; during the Ramlila season (usually around Dussehra) Ramnagar takes on a very different character
- Tickets
- An entry fee is charged for the museum. Check current rates on arrival. Photography rules inside the galleries may be restricted.
