Varanasi And The Ganges trips

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Understand Varanasi And The Ganges

The Story of Varanasi And The Ganges

Known historically as Kashi and Banaras, Varanasi grew where pilgrimage, river commerce and scholarship met. Sarnath adds the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon around the 5th century BCE.

Chapter 01 · ORIGIN

From Kashi to Varanasi

Rajghat excavations indicate urban settlement by about 800 BCE, when Kashi benefited from the Ganges and regional trade. By the 6th century BCE, Kashi was counted among northern India’s mahajanapadas. Nearby Sarnath then gave the region wider religious significance when the Buddha taught his first sermon around the 5th century BCE.

Fact The ancient name Kashi appears in Sanskrit traditions long before Banaras became the common medieval name.

Chapter 02 · PEOPLE

Poets, Pilgrims and Weavers

Varanasi’s identity was shaped by pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars and artisan communities rather than one court. The 15th-century poet Kabir challenged religious divisions, while 16th-century Tulsidas became associated with Tulsi Ghat. Muslim Ansari weavers developed Banarasi brocades under Mughal-era demand, linking sacred Kashi to imperial markets.

Fact Kabir Chaura is associated with the 15th-century poet Kabir and remains an active religious institution.

Chapter 03 · FOOD

Pilgrimage Food and River-Plain Produce

The fertile Gangetic plain supplies wheat, lentils, milk and seasonal vegetables, while Kashi’s pilgrimage economy favoured widely available vegetarian food. Kachori-sabzi, tamatar chaat and milk sweets suit crowded lanes and early temple schedules. Banarasi paan reflects older trade networks that brought prepared betel leaves into the city’s ceremonial and social life.

Fact Banarasi paan received an Indian geographical indication registration in 2023.

Chapter 04 · ARCHITECTURE

A Riverfront Built by Rival Patrons

Varanasi’s skyline records changing power after the Mughal period. Maratha rulers and merchant families financed many stone ghats, while Ahilyabai Holkar rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1780. Across the Ganges, Balwant Singh began Ramnagar Fort around 1750, establishing a royal seat outside the dense sacred core.

Fact Kashi Vishwanath Temple’s present principal structure dates to Ahilyabai Holkar’s 1780 reconstruction.

Chapter 05 · NATURE

The Northward Bend of the Ganges

At Varanasi, the Ganges curves northward past a high western bank, allowing long flights of steps to face the rising sun. The Varuna and Assi waterways helped frame the city’s later name. Monsoon rainfall between June and September raises the river dramatically, sometimes covering lower ghats and interrupting boat services.

Fact The Ganges flows for more than 2,500 kilometres before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

Turning points

c. 800 BCE
Rajghat settlement

Archaeology indicates an established settlement beside the Ganges.
c. 500 BCE
First sermon at Sarnath

The Buddha teaches the Dharma to five former companions.
1194
Ghurid conquest

Ghurid forces defeat the Gahadavala kingdom controlling Varanasi.
1669
Vishwanath temple destroyed

Aurangzeb orders demolition; Gyanvapi Mosque rises beside the former site.
1780
Temple rebuilt

Ahilyabai Holkar reconstructs Kashi Vishwanath near Gyanvapi.
1916
Banaras Hindu University founded

Madan Mohan Malaviya establishes a major residential university.
2021
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor opens

A new pedestrian complex links the temple precinct with the Ganges.

Discover

Experience Varanasi And The Ganges

Days begin on the Ganges before sunrise, continue through Chowk’s lanes and weaving quarters, then close with evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Sarnath and Ramnagar provide quieter historical counterpoints.

Dashashwamedh

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Priests conduct the Ganga Aarti beside the river here each evening.

Vishwanath Gali

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

The present temple was commissioned by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780.

Manikarnika

Manikarnika Ghat

Varanasi’s principal cremation ghat operates continuously beside the Ganges.

Assi

Assi Ghat

This southern ghat hosts the Subah-e-Banaras dawn ceremony with music and yoga.

Sarnath

Dhamek Stupa

The 43.6-metre stupa marks the area where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.

Ramnagar

Ramnagar Fort

Kashi Naresh Balwant Singh built this sandstone riverside fort in the 18th century.

Banaras Hindu University

Bharat Kala Bhavan

The university museum holds miniature paintings, sculpture, textiles and archaeological material.

Lanka

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Poet Tulsidas is traditionally credited with founding this Hanuman temple in the 16th century.

On the table

Food & culture

Kachori sabzi

Kachori Gali

Crisp lentil-filled breads arrive with spiced potato curry, usually at breakfast.

Tamatar chaat

Godowlia

Mashed tomatoes, potatoes and spices are served hot in leaf bowls.

Banarasi paan

Chowk

Betel leaf wraps are filled with areca nut, lime and sweet aromatics.

Malaiyyo

Old Varanasi

Winter milk foam flavoured with saffron and cardamom appears during cool mornings.

Thandai

Godowlia

Chilled milk is blended with nuts, fennel, pepper and rose flavours.

Launglata

Vishwanath Gali

This syrup-soaked pastry contains sweetened khoya and is sealed with a clove.

Remove shoes before entering temples and follow photography restrictions.
Dress with shoulders and knees covered at temples and ritual sites.
Keep well back from cremations and never photograph mourners without permission.
Ask before photographing priests, pilgrims, sadhus or private ceremonies.

Plan

Plan Your Journey

Things to do

Take a sunrise rowing boat along the central and southern ghats
Attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Walk the old lanes between Godowlia and Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Join a guided Buddhist heritage circuit through Sarnath
Listen to a Hindustani classical music performance
Watch silk weaving in a traditional Banarasi workshop

Getting there and how long to stay

three or four nights is what the place is worth — not how long our trips happen to run.

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport receives flights from major Indian hubs. Varanasi Junction and Banaras railway station handle long-distance trains, while Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction provides additional connections. NH19 approaches from Prayagraj and the Delhi–Kolkata corridor; road services from Lucknow commonly use the Purvanchal Expressway connection.

Getting around

Walk through Chowk and the riverfront lanes, where cars cannot reach many entrances. E-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws serve Godowlia, Assi, Lanka and Sarnath; app taxis suit airport and Ramnagar journeys. Rowboats and motorboats connect ghats when river conditions permit. Varanasi has no operational metro.

Who it suits

Travellers interested in living religion Daily Ganges rituals, cremation grounds and Kashi Vishwanath reveal practices embedded in ordinary city life.
Buddhist heritage travellers Sarnath preserves Dhamek Stupa and the site associated with the Buddha’s first sermon.
Photographers Rowboats, stepped ghats, monsoon light and crowded ritual spaces produce distinctive scenes from dawn onward.
Textile and craft enthusiasts Banarasi silk workshops preserve supplementary-weft brocade traditions shaped by Mughal patronage and Ansari weavers.

Currency

INR

Dialling code

+91

Emergency numbers

112 Integrated emergency response

100 Police

101 Fire

108 Ambulance

1363 Tourist helpline

1091 Women’s helpline

Your trip manager confirms embassy contacts and local numbers for your own route before you travel — these change by state and city.

Visa and entry rules depend on your passport. Ask us what you'll need.

Questions, answered

When is the best time to visit Varanasi and the Ganges?

October to March brings cooler weather and easier walking. December and January can be foggy, disrupting flights, trains and sunrise boats.

Do Indian passport holders need a visa?

No. Varanasi is domestic travel within India. Carry an accepted government-issued photo ID for flights, hotels and security checks.

Which languages are useful in Varanasi?

Hindi and Bhojpuri are heard most often. English is generally understood at established hotels, airports, major attractions and tour operators.

Is Varanasi safe for travellers?

Main visitor areas are generally safe, but crowds, traffic and petty theft require care. Avoid isolated riverbanks after dark and use licensed boats.

What clothing and footwear work best?

Choose modest, breathable clothing and shoes that handle uneven lanes, steps and dust. Pack warm layers from December through February.

What should travellers do in an emergency?

Call 112 for integrated emergency assistance. Police, ambulance, fire and the national tourist helpline also retain separate numbers.

Get ready

Take this

Modest, breathable clothing covering shoulders and knees
Grippy walking shoes for lanes and ghat steps
Government-issued photo ID and digital copies
Regular medicines in labelled packaging
Reusable water bottle and sun protection
Phone charger and Type D-compatible adapter

You may need this

Warm layers for December through February
Light rain jacket during the monsoon
Oral rehydration salts for hot weather
Face covering for dust, smoke or poor air
Waterproof pouch for boat rides
Slip-on footwear for temple visits

Don't forget

Power bank packed in cabin baggage
Small cash for boats, offerings and e-rickshaws
Prescription copies for essential medicines
Hotel address written in Hindi
Offline maps for the old-city lanes
Travel insurance details and emergency contacts

Check before flying

Baggage allowances, liquids, power banks and battery rules differ by airline and by route, and they change. We publish them here only once we have checked them against the airline's own page — until then, check your airline directly, and your trip manager will confirm anything unusual on your route.

Practical reference

Your time

7:11 PM

Asia/Kolkata

In Varanasi And The Ganges

7:11 PM

Asia/Kolkata

Currency: INR (₹)
Official languages: Hindi, English
Time zone: Asia/Kolkata

Plugs, SIM cards, tipping and embassy contacts are not here yet — we will not publish those until each one is verified against an official source. Your trip manager has them for your route in the meantime.

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