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Kanpur Ki Kahaani

Nearby city · ~330 km from Kanpur

Varanasi

वाराणसी

The eternal city on the Ganga

Plan from KanpurSee the itinerary
Distance from Kanpur
~330 km · 5–6 hrs
Fastest way there
Train to Varanasi Jn / Banaras
Nearest airport
Lal Bahadur Shastri Intl (VNS)
Best time to visit
October – March (Dev Deepawali in Nov)

About Varanasi

The eternal city on the Ganga

Older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend — Mark Twain's line still fits Varanasi. Kashi, Banaras, Varanasi: by any name it's one of the world's oldest living cities, its ghats stepping down to the Ganga in an unbroken arc of temples, palaces, bathers and boats.

Give it at least two days from Kanpur. Catch the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, rise early for Subah-e-Banaras at Assi and a boat ride along the ghats, queue for darshan at Kashi Vishwanath, then escape to Sarnath where the Buddha first taught. Dev Deepawali, on Kartik Purnima, is the year's headline night.

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Sights

Top Places to Visit

The essential Varanasi sights — filter by what you love.

Showing 6 places

  • temple

    Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti

    Every evening, priests in saffron swing tiered brass lamps in unison as bells and chants roll across the river. Arrive early for a spot.

    • Dashashwamedh
    • 1.5 hrs

  • temple

    Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham

    One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, now reached by a broad corridor straight from the ghats. Phones and bags go in lockers outside.

    • Vishwanath Gali
    • 1–2 hrs

  • nature

    Assi Ghat Sunrise

    Subah-e-Banaras: a dawn aarti, music and yoga on the southernmost ghat, followed by chai as the city wakes.

    • Assi
    • 1.5 hrs

  • nature

    Boat Ride Along the Ghats

    Glide past 80-plus ghats — from Assi to Manikarnika — and see the city's whole cycle of life from the water.

    • Ganga riverfront
    • 1–2 hrs

  • heritage

    Sarnath

    Where the Buddha gave his first sermon: the great Dhamek Stupa, monastery ruins and a museum holding the Ashokan lion capital.

    • Sarnath (10 km)
    • Half day

  • museum

    Banaras Hindu University

    A leafy 1,300-acre campus with the New Vishwanath Temple and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum of miniature paintings and textiles.

    • Lanka
    • 2 hrs

Taste

Must-Try Food

What to eat in Varanasi, and where locals go for it.

  • Breakfast

    Kachori-Sabzi

    Small, puffed kachoris with a tangy pumpkin-potato sabzi in the lanes behind the ghats.

    • Vishwanath Gali
    • ₹30–80

  • Winter only

    Malaiyo

    A saffron-flecked milk foam set by the winter dew overnight — light as a cloud, sold only on cold mornings.

    • Chowk & Godowlia
    • ₹40–80

  • After-meal

    Banarasi Paan

    Betel leaf folded around gulkand, saunf and secrets — the city's most famous mouthful.

    • Godowlia
    • ₹20–150

  • Drinks

    Banarasi Lassi

    Hand-churned lassi in a kulhad, crowned with malai and dry fruit.

    • Godowlia & Assi
    • ₹50–120

Shopping

What to Buy in Varanasi

Souvenirs worth the suitcase space — and where to find them.

  • Peeli Kothi & Madanpura

    Banarasi Silk Sarees

    Zari-woven silk from weaver clusters — ask for the Silk Mark tag.

    • Best time: Mornings

  • Vishwanath Gali

    Vishwanath Gali

    Rudraksha, brass idols, wooden toys and puja items in a narrow temple lane.

    • Best time: Afternoons

  • Godowlia

    Godowlia Market

    Everything at once: fabric, bangles, paan and sweets near the main ghats.

    • Best time: Before aarti

Getting there

Kanpur to Varanasi

About 330 km — here's how to make the journey.

  • By Train

    Many trains run Kanpur Central → Varanasi Junction (BSB) or Banaras (BSBS); the fastest take about 4 hours, most 5–6.

  • By Road

    About 330 km via Prayagraj on NH-19 — 5–6 hours. Break the drive at the Sangam for a two-city trip.

  • By Air

    Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur is about 25 km from the ghats.

Itinerary

Suggested Itinerary

A one-day dash or a relaxed two-day stay — both starting from Kanpur.

1 day

  1. Sunrise

    Assi Ghat & boat ride

    Arrive on an overnight train; Subah-e-Banaras at dawn.

  2. Morning

    Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham

    Lockers for phones near the gates.

  3. Afternoon

    Sarnath

    Dhamek Stupa and the Archaeological Museum.

  4. Evening

    Dashashwamedh Ganga Aarti

    Watch from the steps or a boat, then the night train home.

2 days

  1. Day 1 · Afternoon

    Walk the ghats

    From Assi north towards Dashashwamedh, with chai stops.

  2. Day 1 · Evening

    Dashashwamedh Ganga Aarti

    Reach by 6 pm for a good spot.

  3. Day 1 · Night

    Kachori-sabzi & lassi

    Old-city food lanes near Godowlia.

  4. Day 2 · Sunrise

    Boat ride along the ghats

    The softest light of the day.

  5. Day 2 · Morning

    Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham

    Then a walk through the galis.

  6. Day 2 · Afternoon

    Sarnath

    Buddhist ruins and museum.

  7. Day 2 · Evening

    Banarasi silk shopping

    Buy from reputed weavers' showrooms.

Live weather

Varanasi Right Now

Best time to visit: October – March (Dev Deepawali in Nov).

Map

Find Varanasi

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