Varanasi

Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the spiritual heart of the Kashi pilgrimage circuit. Set on the western bank of the Ganga, it is regarded as the city of Lord Shiva, and its narrow lanes and stone ghats have drawn pilgrims for millennia.

Life in Varanasi is built around the river. Mornings begin with ritual bathing at the ghats; evenings close with the Ganga Aarti, a fire ceremony performed by priests facing the water. Between the two, the city holds temples, cremation ghats, and markets that have changed little in centuries.

Key Sites

Kashi Vishwanath Temple The jyotirlinga at the heart of Kashi, one of the twelve most sacred Shiva shrines in India.
Dashashwamedh Ghat The city's most prominent ghat, host to the nightly Ganga Aarti.
Manikarnika Ghat The principal cremation ghat, considered a place where moksha (liberation) is attained.
Sankat Mochan & Durga Temple A Hanuman temple and the nearby "Monkey Temple" dedicated to Durga, both popular local pilgrimage stops.
New Vishwanath Temple, BHU A modern marble temple inside the Banaras Hindu University campus.

Best Time to Visit

October to March offers cool, comfortable weather for ghat walks and darshan. Dev Deepawali in November, when the ghats are lit with thousands of lamps, is the single most spectacular time to visit.

Visiting Tips

Reach the ghats before sunrise for the quietest, most atmospheric boat rides.
Dress modestly at temples; phones and cameras are restricted inside Kashi Vishwanath.
Vishwanath Gali is the place for Banarasi silk and brassware.

View Packages Including Varanasi