Varanasi Travelers Recommend

Two days in holy Varanasi give you enough time to explore the most important Hindu and Buddhist sights and visit a local silk-producing village. Here’s how to maximize your time in the sacred city.

Day 1: Spiritual Varanasi

Morning: Rise before dawn for a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River; you’ll travel past riverside ghats and observe pilgrims performing early-morning rituals. Then, take a guided walking tour of Varanasi Old Town to learn about Hindu traditions and see ancient temples.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, head out to the most important temple in Varanasi; Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath), which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The best way visit the temple as part of a walking tour, which offers a more intimate glimpse into Varanasi Old Town than you’d get from a coach or car.

Night: Make your way to Dashashwamedh Ghat before dusk to observe the evening Aarti ritual, which starts right after nightfall. During this moving evening prayer ceremony, local priests use lanterns to give fire offerings to the Ganges River, while religious music plays in the background.

Day 2: Surrounding Areas

Morning: Devote the first half of your day to visiting the villages that surround Varanasi on a half-day tour, most of which stop at the villages of Chiraigaon and Sarai Mohana, which is celebrated for its silk production. Here, you’ll have time to shop for the famous Banarasi saris.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, make your way to Sarnath, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. Tours include hassle-free transfers and shed light on significant stupas such as the Dhamek Stupa, where Buddha allegedly gave his first sermon following enlightenment.

Night: While most people associate Varanasi with religion, it's also an important center for Indian classical music. A great way to spend your last night in town is to watch a classical music and dance performance, during which you'll hear a range of local instruments.

Three days in Varanasi gives you plenty of time to tick off important spiritual attractions, learn to cook an Indian meal, and explore further afield on a visit local villages. You’ll even have time for a day trip to Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad. Here’s how:

Day 1: Essential Varanasi

Devote your first day in Varanasi to the city’s essential sights. Start with an early-morning boat ride on the Ganges River, which reveals Hindu pilgrims performing sunrise prayers and rituals. After your boat ride, take an early-morning tour of old Varanasi with a local guide, during which you’ll learn the history of Dasaswamedh Ghat and Talang Swami Ashram. Spend the afternoon visiting some of the city’s holiest spots, which include Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath); it's believed that those who make a pilgrimage here gain liberation from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth. In the evening, head down to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Aarti, an atmospheric ceremony during which priests make offerings to the Ganges River.

Day 2: Sarnath and Village Life

Dedicate your second day to exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sarnath, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India, on a half-day tour. Visit the Dhamek Stupa, where the Buddha is reputed to have giver his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, and the Sarnath Archeological Museum, which houses almost 7,000 Buddhist artifacts. In the afternoon, head out on a tour of Varanasi’s rural villages; most tours stop at the town of Sarai Mohana, a great place to shop for silk saris, and Chiraigaon, where visitors can learn about rural life. Top off your day of exploration with a cooking class and dinner in a local home before turning in for the night.

Day 3: Day trip to Prayagraj

Spend your final day in Prayagraj, a 3-hour drive from Varanasi. Formerly known as Allahabad, Prayagraj is the second-oldest inhabited city in India and an important pilgrimage site; it’s also one of four destinations for Kumbh Mela, the largest spiritual gathering in the world. Start your day with a visit to the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati Rivers, before heading to the Allahabad Fort, a 16th-century Mughal Fort with great riverside views. Other popular attractions include the Anand Bhavan, an old museum that was once the headquarters of the Indian National Congress, which is worth a stop for anyone interested in political history. Finish your day with a visit to Khusro Bagh, a beautifully-manicured Mughal garden with a number of well-preserved Mughal mausoleums.

Due to its position on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, Varanasi is considered the holiest place in India for devout Hindus. Even with just one day, you’ll have time to experience the pulse of this city and check out some of Varanasi’s top attractions. Here’s how to do it.

Morning: Sunrise on the Ganges

Wake before dawn and prepare yourself for the quintessential Varanasi experience: a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River. You’ll be paddled along the sacred river—passing pilgrims performing early-morning rituals along riverside ghats (riverside steps)—just as the sun is beginning to rise. After your boat ride, continue exploring the area around the river with a guide; walking tours help you navigate the labyrinthine lanes of Old Varanasi and lead you to some of the city’s most important temples and ghats, which include the Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath), Pillars of Ashoka, and Kedar Ghat.

Afternoon: A Journey to Sarnath

In the afternoon, head out to Sarnath, a small town that’s only 30 minutes from Varanasi by car. As one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage centers in India, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is full of beautiful old stupas and temples. Guided tours, which provide crucial historical and religious context, typically cover the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Dhamek Stupa, which commemorates where the Buddha allegedly gave his first sermon. The Sarnath Museum, home to almost 7,000 Buddhist art and artifacts, is also worth a visit.

Night: Evening Aarti

In the evening, make your way back to Varanasi in time for Aarti, an evening prayer ceremony on the banks of the Ganges River. Starting just after sunset, this hour-long ritual takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat and involves a group of traditionally-clad Hindu priests paying their respects to the holy river. Witnessing the priests play large brass lanterns to the tune of traditional religious hymns is a magical experience that’s best experienced with a guide for context. After the ceremony, grab dinner at one of the many rooftop restaurants in the area for a final glimpse of the Ganges River.