Varanasi (Banaras)
India's spiritual capital on the sacred Ganges
About Varanasi (Banaras)
Varanasi — also known as Banaras or Kashi — is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and the spiritual heart of India. For millennia pilgrims have come to bathe in the sacred Ganges, and life unfolds openly along its ancient riverside ghats.
A dawn boat ride past the waking ghats, the hypnotic fire-and-chant of the evening Ganga Aarti, labyrinthine old-city lanes, and the nearby Buddhist site of Sarnath make Varanasi one of the most intense and unforgettable experiences in all of India.
Top Things to Do
Sunrise on the Ganges
Take a quiet rowboat at dawn as pilgrims bathe and the ghats glow in golden light.
Evening Ganga Aarti
Watch the mesmerising fire ritual performed with lamps, bells and chanting by the river.
Explore the old city
Lose yourself in narrow alleys of temples, shops and silk, ideally with a local guide.
Day trip to Sarnath
Visit the peaceful Buddhist stupas and museum where Buddha first taught the Dharma.
Highlights
- Sunrise boat ride along the ghats
- The grand evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple and its new corridor
- Wandering the maze-like lanes of the old city
- Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon
- Banarasi silk weaving and famous street food
Know Before You Go
- The ghats are best at sunrise and during the evening aarti — both are unmissable.
- The old-city lanes are narrow and busy; a local guide makes a big difference.
- Be respectful around cremation ghats; photography there is not permitted.