Quick Answer
- Opening: expected around 24 November 2026, subject to operational readiness. It is not open to the public yet.
- Route: Varanasi Cantt railway station to Godowlia Chowk, about 3.8 km, with stops at Kashi Vidyapeeth and Rath Yatra.
- Fare: ₹10 for the first stop, ₹50 for the full ride. A Smart Pass brings the full ride to ₹40.
- Time: about 15 to 16 minutes, against 30 to 45 minutes by road.
- Best for: arriving by train, day-trippers, elders, and anyone heading to Kashi Vishwanath with light luggage.
- Not for: Assi Ghat, Sarnath or BHU. It does not go there.
The Varanasi ropeway, also called the Kashi ropeway, is being built as India's first ropeway used as urban public transport. It is meant to lift commuters and pilgrims over the congested roads between the railway station and the old city. This page answers the questions people actually search: when it opens, what it costs, where it stops, what it does for a visitor, and what is still unconfirmed. If you are still working out the rest of the journey, our guide on how to reach Varanasi covers the trains, flights and roads that bring you to Cantt in the first place. If you would rather have the station transfer, hotel and sightseeing sorted in one go, you can also look at our Varanasi tour packages.
Varanasi Ropeway at a Glance
| Detail | What has been reported |
|---|---|
| Status | About 94 to 95% complete as of late September 2026 |
| Expected start | Around 24 November 2026, subject to readiness |
| Length | About 3.75 to 3.85 km (sources differ slightly) |
| Stations | Five in all: Cantt, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Rath Yatra, Girja Ghar, Godowlia Chowk. Girja Ghar is reported as a non-stopping station with no passenger exchange |
| Cabins | 153 gondolas, 10 passengers each, one arriving about every 2 minutes |
| Capacity | About 3,000 passengers per hour in each direction |
| Daily hours | About 16 hours a day (exact timings not announced) |
| Ride time | About 15 to 16 minutes end to end |
| Equipment | Swiss manufacturer Bartholet Maschinenbau |
Sources for these figures are listed at the end. Two details need care. First, some reports describe four passenger stops and some five stations, which is why the Girja Ghar note matters. Second, project cost is quoted differently across sources, so we have left it out.
When Will the Varanasi Ropeway Open?
A report dated 30 September 2026 put the project at over 94% complete and said operations are expected around 24 November 2026, depending on completion and operational readiness. A separate report on the same inspection put it at 95% and aimed for a launch around Dev Deepawali, which falls on 24 November this year. If you are building a trip around that night, see our Dev Deepawali package for 2026.
Treat that date as a target. The ropeway's opening has moved before: earlier targets reported for it included May 2025 and August 2025. A trial of the Cantt to Rath Yatra stretch was reported earlier in 2026, while Godowlia Chowk station was still being finished as of June.
What this means for your travel plans
- Do not make a hotel or train booking that depends on the ropeway running on a specific day.
- If you are visiting for Dev Deepawali, plan as if the ropeway may be crowded or not yet open to everyone.
- Check again a week before travel. We update this page as soon as the public launch is announced.
Route and Stations: Where the Ropeway Goes
The line runs from the railway station side of the city into the old city core.
| Station | What it is near | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varanasi Cantt | Varanasi Junction railway station, bus connections, cloakroom |
| 2 | Kashi Vidyapeeth | Bharat Mata Mandir area |
| 3 | Rath Yatra | A major road junction between Cantt and the old city |
| 4 | Girja Ghar | Reported as a pass-through tower station with no boarding |
| 5 | Godowlia Chowk | Gateway to the old city, ghats and the temple |
Godowlia is reported to be about 700 metres from Kashi Vishwanath Temple, so the last stretch is a walk or a short e-rickshaw ride through the lanes. From there, Dashashwamedh Ghat is also within walking distance, which is why the ropeway is being described as a link between the station, the ghats and the temple.
Varanasi Ropeway Ticket Price and Fare Chart
Fares were reported in June 2026 and again in the September updates. Fares are approved but not yet charged, so confirm at the station once it opens.
| Ride | Reported fare |
|---|---|
| First stop (for example Cantt to Vidyapeeth) | ₹10 |
| Full ride, Cantt to Godowlia | ₹50 |
| Full ride with Smart Pass | ₹40 |
| Vidyapeeth to Rath Yatra with Smart Pass | ₹8 |
| Premium private gondola | ₹2,000 per trip |
| Premium gondola, advance group booking | ₹1,200 per gondola per trip |
Fares are also reported to rise 5% every year from 1 April.
Why you may see ₹40 and ₹50 quoted
Both are correct. ₹50 is the ordinary full fare. ₹40 is the Smart Pass fare for the same journey. One report also lists a monthly-pass discount of 30%, and another gives the Vidyapeeth to Rath Yatra price as ₹20 for a standard ticket. Because reports differ on the shorter hops, only the ₹10 first-stop fare and ₹50 full fare are consistent across sources.
Do children, seniors and foreign visitors get concessions?
We could not find a confirmed concession list for children, senior citizens or foreign nationals, and we do not want to guess. Ask at the ticket counter once it opens. Where the answer matters for your budget, check it before you board.
How Long Does the Ropeway Take Compared to Road?
The ride is reported as about 15 to 16 minutes. Road travel between Cantt and Godowlia is reported at 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and some reports say more than 45 minutes at busy times. The ropeway does not stop for traffic, which is where it should help most, in the evening, during festivals and on weekends.
Ropeway vs Auto vs E-Rickshaw vs Taxi
We have not listed road fares here because they are negotiated and change by season, hotel location and time of day. What can be compared reliably is time, predictability and luggage.
| Option | Time Cantt to Godowlia | Cost certainty | Luggage | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ropeway | About 15 to 16 minutes, once open | Fixed fare | Cloakroom at Cantt for small bags; bring only light bags on the gondola | No, you walk the last part |
| Auto | 30 to 45 minutes or more | Negotiated | Fine | Closer, but lanes limit access |
| E-rickshaw | Similar to auto, slower in crowds | Usually shared or negotiated | Limited space | Can enter some lanes |
| Taxi or cab | 30 to 45 minutes or more | Higher, but can be pre-booked | Best for heavy bags | Up to the lane entrance |
For airport arrivals, a taxi is still the practical choice because the ropeway starts at Cantt station. Our guide to Varanasi airport taxi fares and transfers explains what to expect to pay and how to pre-book.
Cloakroom and Luggage: What Is Reported
Cantt station is reported to have a cloakroom. Ticket holders can store bags free for two hours, after which bags up to 15 kg cost ₹50 per hour.
That is useful if you arrive by an early train and your hotel check-in is later. It is not a substitute for a hotel on a long stay, because the hourly rate adds up quickly after the first two hours. For anything heavier than a small bag, go to your hotel first.
Who Should Use the Ropeway, and Who Should Skip It
Use it if
- You arrive at Varanasi Junction and your hotel is near Godowlia, Dashashwamedh or the Vishwanath corridor.
- You are on a day trip and want to reach the temple area quickly, with a small bag.
- You are travelling with elders who find a 40-minute road crawl tiring and are comfortable boarding a moving gondola.
- Roads are choked for a festival and you want a predictable travel time.
Skip it, or plan around it, if
- Your hotel is at Assi, near BHU or at Sarnath. The ropeway does not serve those areas, and you would still need a road transfer.
- You carry large bags or travel with a big group that needs a vehicle together.
- You are afraid of heights or have mobility issues that make boarding hard. Check assistance arrangements at the station first.
- You are arriving by air and heading straight to a hotel.
How the Ropeway Fits Into a Varanasi Trip
The ropeway solves one problem, which is moving from the station to the old city. It does not change what a visit needs: early starts for darshan and the sunrise boat ride, the evening aarti, and time for the lanes. If you have three days, our 3 days Varanasi tour package covers the temple, ghats, aarti and Sarnath by road, so your plan works whether or not the ropeway is running.
If you are arriving on an early morning train, a workable plan is to store a small bag at the Cantt cloakroom, ride to Godowlia, and walk toward the temple while the lanes are still quiet. Before you queue, check what Kashi Vishwanath Temple tickets cost and work out how many days your Varanasi trip needs, since the ropeway saves minutes, not days.
Read more: Varanasi Trip Plan: How Many Days Do You Need
Planning a Varanasi Trip Around the Ropeway
If you want a trip that works whether or not the ropeway is running, tell us your train time, hotel area and group size. We will plan the station transfer and old city access so it holds up either way.
