The city of Varanasi is as old as humanity itself. This makes it rank among the oldest places in India. The Ganges, known as the Ganga in India, flows through Varanasi, lending it a holy aura. Visiting Varanasi is like going on a pilgrimage to one of India’s most ancient spiritual centres. Varanasi has the oldest Jyotirlinga temple in India – Kashi Vishwanath Temple. But you will be surprised to know that Varanasi has around 2000-3000 temples. The ghats on the Ganga are places to have a holy dip. The cremation grounds on the banks are the ones where people perform the last rites of their loved ones. With such sacred vibes, it is not surprising that Varanasi is immensely holy. In fact, our Varanasi Tour Package offers you a complete experience of Varanasi tourism.
Varanasi is a city where spirituality, culture, and tradition come together in a beautiful way. Known as one of the oldest living cities in the world, Varanasi attracts travelers who want to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the Ganga River, ancient temples, and famous Ganga Aarti.
The city is full of life from early morning boat rides to the spiritual evenings at the ghats. Travelers enjoy visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, walking through old streets, tasting local food, and exploring the rich culture of the city. Every corner of Varanasi gives visitors a different experience and a special feeling.
With our Varanasi Tour Packages, travelers can enjoy comfortable travel, guided sightseeing, and smooth journey planning. From temple visits and boat rides to cultural experiences and local attractions, every part of the trip is planned carefully to make your Varanasi journey peaceful, memorable, and enjoyable.
You can visit so many places in Varanasi during your trip. The Varanasi tourist places are the ghats and temples. You can plan a Varanasi itinerary for 3 days with a Varanasi Excursion and visit these places. The museums in Varanasi are places where you can view ancient items and exhibits. The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is another popular tourist attraction in Varanasi. The places to visit in Varanasi with family are the markets and bazaars. Here you can eat Varanasi street food dishes and go shopping. We have designed our Varanasi Tour Package with sightseeing tours and exciting activities. Some of the top tourist attractions in Varanasi that you should visit are:
Looking to visit Varanasi but unsure how to book a tour? Varanasi Excursion is a government-recognized travel agency that specializes in Varanasi tourism packages. We offer Varanasi Travel Packages to tourists so they can have the best possible experience in the city. You can go for a 3 Day Varanasi sightseeing tour and visit the major ghats and temples in Varanasi. We have designed our Varanasi trip plan for you who want to experience the best of Varanasi. We have a Varanasi tour package for family where you can enjoy doing family-friendly activities in Varanasi. Participate in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Aarti or a boat ride in Varanasi. There are more things to do, like relishing the Varanasi street food and shopping for Banarasi silk sarees.
✨ Planning your trip to Varanasi in 2026?
Discover everything you need to know before visiting the spiritual capital of India. Our Varanasi Travel Guide 2026 covers the best places to visit, Ganga Aarti timings, temple information, where to stay, local transportation, travel tips, and the ideal itinerary to make your journey to Kashi truly unforgettable.
| Varanasi Tour Packages | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Days Private Enchanting Varanasi Tour | 2 Nights / 3 Days | INR 16,000 onwards |
| 6 Days Kashi Ayodhya A Journey of Enlightenment | 5 Nights / 6 Days | INR 43,000 onwards |
| 7 Days Private Buddhist Tour | 6 Nights / 7 Days | INR 65,000 onwards |
| 10 Days Buddhist Circuit with Birth to Death Place of Buddha | 9 Nights / 10 Days | INR 97,000 onwards |
| 10 Days Private Golden Triangle with Ranthambore Wildlife Safari & Varanasi | 9 Nights / 10 Days | INR 85,000 onwards |
| Taj Mahal, Rajasthan & Varanasi | 14 Nights / 15 Days | INR 1,30,000 onwards |
| Golden Triangle With Mumbai Goa & Varanasi | 13 Nights / 14 Days | INR 1,45,000 onwards |
| 10 Days Golden Triangle with Khajuraho & Varanasi | 9 Nights / 10 Days | INR 74,000 onwards |
| Varanasi Day Tour | Duration |
|---|---|
| 14 Hours Morning Ganges Tour including Sarnath and Ganga Aarti | 14 Hours |
| Mornings in Varanasi: 5-Hour Guided Tour with Boat Ride & Temple Walk | 5 Hours |
| Traditional Home Cooking Experience in Varanasi | 3-4 Hours |
| Varanasi Soul Tour: Buddhist Sarnath & Ganges Aarti Ritual | 8-10 Hours |
Before you visit Varanasi you should consider some facts about Varanasi. These facts can prepare you mentally to experience Varanasi a little more closely. You may wonder about how old is Varanasi when you visit it. The ghats and Ganga flowing through Varanasi may give you a general idea about Varanasi to you. But some facts about Varanasi may surprise you:
If there is one icon that represents Varanasi, it is none other than Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple ranks among the most visited temples in India. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is named after the old name of Varanasi, which is Kashi. The main deity of this temple is Lord Shiva, and he is regarded as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara. The temple is immensely holy as it is a Jyotirlinga temple of Lord Shiva. Kashi Vishwanath Ganga Aarti is very popular among tourists. All the Varanasi Tour Packages include this temple in their tour plan and itinerary.
🛕 Discover the Sacred Temples of Kashi!
Varanasi is home to hundreds of ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Vishnu, and many other Hindu deities. From the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple to hidden spiritual gems tucked away in the narrow lanes of the city, explore the complete List of Hindu Temples in Varanasi and uncover the rich religious heritage of one of the world’s oldest living cities.
👉 Read the Complete Temple Guide →
Ghats are as famous as the temples in Varanasi. In fact, these ghats are places where most of the temples are located. You will be surprised to know that there is a list of 84 ghats in Varanasi. These ghats have steps to climb down and have a holy dip in the Ganga. But there is more to these ghats than you can imagine. These ghats are also famous for their cremation rituals. Hindu puranas say that those who die in Varanasi get moksha or freedom from life and death. In fact, people come to Varanasi during their final days of life so that they can get cremated here. The famous ghats in Varanasi include Assi Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and others.
Varanasi is a street food paradise, and you can relish a number of exciting dishes. You will discover amazing varieties of street food in Varanasi. There are some famous eateries in Varanasi where you can eat the best street food in Varanasi. From the ghats to the bylanes and the main roads, you can find tea stalls, restaurants, halwai shops, paan bhandar, pizzerias, thali dining halls, chaat places, and others. In addition to the famous kachori bhaji, fried idlis, puri, and jalebi, you can even taste liquor tea, bhang lassi, and other such dishes in Varanasi.
The Varanasi ghat aarti is one of the very exciting things to experience in Varanasi. The entire environment turns into a religious festive occasion, and thousands join in to participate in this event. Temple priests chant religious Sanskrit hymns and sing bhajans to the beats of drums and clash of cymbals. The Kashi Vishwanath Ganga Aarti is especially thrilling. You can also participate in the Ganga aarti Varanasi from a boat. You can get complete details about Varanasi aarti booking, Varanasi ghat aarti time in our Varanasi Ganga Aarti blog.
Going on a boat ride in Varanasi is one of the must-have experiences. You can enjoy this cruise in Varanasi and view the ghats, temples, and Ganga River. The best part about this Ganga Cruise Varanasi is that you can also participate in the Ganga Aarti. You can go for a morning cruise and an evening cruise in Varanasi. The evening boat cruise in Varanasi is especially exciting as you can view the aarti taking place on the ghats in Varanasi. Book the Varanasi cruise ticket through us, Varanasi Excursion, and enjoy the boat ride.
The shopping in Varanasi is a thing you will enjoy the most. Especially, the street shopping in Varanasi is most enjoyable activity for tourists. You can shop for famous Varanasi shopping items in the bazaars and markets of Varanasi. Women love the saree shopping in Varanasi. The famous things to buy in Varanasi are the Banarasi silk sarees, rudraksha beads, perfumes, carpets, stone carvings, wooden toys and other things. You can find many markets and bazaars that have been there since decades. Most of the home décor products are found in Varanasi. Some of the top things to buy in Varanasi are shown below.
Varanasi knows how to celebrate its festivals. These Varanasi festivals are an expression of religion, culture, heritage, and spirituality. The people of Varanasi come together and celebrate these festivals with great festivities and religious fervour. You can plan your Varanasi trip at the time of these festivals and view the festival spirit of Varanasi. The festivals like Dev Deepavali are particularly joyous, and the ghats of Varanasi are illuminated with lamps and diyas. Maha Shivratri is also celebrated with devotional chanting of mantras, bhajans, and Ganga Aarti. The top festivals that are celebrated in Varanasi are shown below.
✨ Planning a trip to the spiritual capital of India?
Discover the Top 10 Places to Visit in Varanasi, including the sacred ghats, ancient temples, Sarnath, and hidden gems that make this city unforgettable. Whether you’re visiting for spirituality, history, or culture, our comprehensive guide will help you experience the very best of Kashi.
👉 Read the Complete Varanasi Travel Guide →
Most tourists, especially foreign tourists and international travellers, want to know what the unique things to do in Varanasi are. They want to do exciting things and often have questions like what to see and do in Varanasi. The top activity that you should do in Varanasi is the Varanasi ghat aarti. You should definitely go for the Ganga Cruise Varanasi. There are many things to do in Varanasi in 3 days. You can visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and other famous temples in Varanasi. Sarnath is on top of every Varanasi itinerary for 3 days. But apart from visiting ghats and temple hopping, you can certainly try to do these things in Varanasi.
You can choose from a variety of hotels, guest houses, homestays, and backpacker hostels in Varanasi. You can find luxury 5-star hotels and heritage hotels in Varanasi. For more budget choices, you can find accommodation in 3-star and 4-star hotels. We offer accommodation in Varanasi Ganges. The hotel is conveniently located near Varanasi Railway Station. So it is ideal for those who want quick accommodation after alighting at Varanasi. We offer luxury amenities with all the basic facilities for you. We can help you with Kashi Vishwanath Darshan booking and a variety of Varanasi Packages for international tourists and our Indian guests. You can comfortably stay in Varanasi on the Ganges and have an authentic experience of Varanasi.
You can enjoy Varanasi more if you know what the best time to visit Varanasi is. The peak tourist season in Varanasi starts from October and lasts till February. Daytime temperatures are cool at 25 degrees Celsius and nights are cool at 10 degrees Celsius. This time is best for sightseeing in Varanasi and doing most outdoor things. You can get to experience the festivities of Dev Deepavali during November. The sight of millions of lamps and diyas (earthen lamps) on the riverfront ghats will overwhelm you. You should book your hotel at least 3-4 months in advance if you want to have a comfortable and hassle-free trip to Varanasi during this time. Avoid the summer time (March to June) and the rainy season (July to September).
You can reach Varanasi by different modes of transport. While flight is the quickest way to reach Varanasi, you can board a train, which is economical and popular option to reach Varanasi.
Looking to book affordable Varanasi Tour Packages? Then Varanasi Excursion will help you build the ideal Varanasi trip plan. We offer a complete tour experience of Varanasi with visits to the major ghats, temples, and monuments in Varanasi. You can enjoy Ganga Cruise Varanasi and Kashi Vishwanath Aarti. Our Varanasi Tour Package for 3 days is the best option for you. You can visit Ayodhya with Varanasi with our Kashi Ayodhya Tour Package. If you want to visit Buddhist heritage places, then you can consider booking our 7-day Private Buddhist Tour Package. We cover the most famous Buddhist heritage places in our 10-day Buddhist Circuit.
All our tours are managed by tour leaders and travel experts who have years of experience leading tours. Varanasi Excursion has a diversified mix of tour packages so that it offers a choice to our guests. There are more reasons for you to choose us, and these reasons will justify your choice of Varanasi Excursion.
We do not just offer sightseeing in Varanasi but a spiritual experience of Varanasi. For us, it is essential to offer this to tourists rather than just a tour of Varanasi. All this is planned and arranged without compromising on the comforts and convenience of tourists. We also offer transportation, transfers, Ganga Aarti, temple visits, accommodation, meals, boat rides, and local guide assistance. These are the essential tour services that we offer to tourists in our Varanasi Tour Packages.
| City | Road Distance | Travel Time by Road | Travel Time by Flight/Train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 1500 km | 26 to 28 hours | 25+ hours (train) / 2 hours by flight |
| Delhi | 692 km | 11 to 13 hours | 12–14 hours (train) / 1.5 hours by flight |
| Kolkata | 680 km | 13 to 15 hours | 8–9 hours (train) / 1 hour 15 min by flight |
| Bengaluru | 1825 km | 28 to 30 hours | 35+ hours (train) / 2.5 hours by flight |
| Chennai | 1860 km | 28 to 30 hours | 35+ hours (train) / 2.5 hours by flight |
| Lucknow | 320 km | 5 to 6 hours | 5 hours (train) / drive directly to Varanasi |
| Ahmedabad | 1393 km | 23 hours | 25 hours by train / 2 hours by flight |
| Jaipur | 900 km | 14 to 15 hours | 13 to 17 hours by train / 1 hour 40 min by flight |
2 to 3 days are enough to visit Varanasi and explore its most famous tourist attractions.
Typically, a Varanasi Tour Package costs anywhere from Rs.16,000 to Rs.30,000 per person for a 2-3 day trip. However, the cost depends on the travel itinerary, duration of stay, category of hotel, inclusions, etc.
A boat ride in Varanasi can cost Rs.100 to Rs.150 per person for a shared boat. For a private boat, it is Rs.1800 to Rs.4500.
You can participate in the Ganga Aarti every day in Varanasi. In the evening, it is done at Dashashwamedh Ghat after sunset, and in the morning, it is done at Assi Ghat.
Yes, you can hire a boat ride for Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. We have partnered with private boat operators so that you can participate in the Ganga Aarti from a boat. It is an integral part of our Varanasi Tour Packages.
Assi Ghat is widely considered the best ghat in Varanasi for a boat ride.
It is a firm belief that you should first visit Kaal Bhairav Temple before visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kaal Bhairav is regarded as the guardian god of Varanasi.
For general darshan of Kashi Vishwanath, the waiting time is 1 to 3 hours, but for VIP darshan (Sugam Darshan) it is 20 to 45 minutes.
The morning Ganga Aarti in Varanasi takes place from 5:15 to 5:30 A.M in summers and from 6:30 to 7:00 in winters.
You have to wear traditional clothes and dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Men should wear full-length trousers or kurta pyjama, and women should wear salwar kameez or saree.
You should visit Kaal Bhairav Temple first in Varanasi and then start to visit other temples.
You can view all the ghats by a boat ride on the Ganga River. Otherwise, it is difficult to see all the ghats in a single day.
The Kashi Vishwanath Laser and sound show takes place daily and is a duration of 15 minutes. It takes place at Ganga Dwar/ Lalita Ghat. The first show is at 7:15 or 7:30 pm and second show is at 8:00 or 8:30 pm depending on the season.
