Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is one of India's most notable cultural and religious centres. Previously known as Kashi and Benares, Varanasi is famous for its countless ashrams, ghats, Hindu and Jain temples, and Buddhist Stupas. Every year, the city attracts Buddhist, Jain and Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.
Worshipers come by air, rail, and road in packs to see this scared place in Northern India.
One of the main reasons for Varanasi's continued existence as a major pilgrimage site is that it has had an established transportation system since ancient times. In earlier days, Varanasi was well-connected to cities like Vaishali, Pataliputra, Taxila, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Agra and Gazipur. Today, the city boasts an excellent transportation network to most of the country's big cities and metros.
Our Varanasi Transportation Guide provides you with all the information you need to know about transport in town. Every Varanasi hotel is easily accessible by following our comprehensive information offered here. Further information about the many exciting things to see and do in Varanasi can be found in our Varanasi Destination Guide and Varanasi Tour pages. For transportation options across India see our India Transportation Guide.
Varanasi Transportation Guide
Getting There
Varanasi is one of India's most visited pilgrimage sites, and it comes as no surprise that reaching Varanasi is fairly easy. The temple town is well-connected to the rest of India by air, rail and road.
By Air
Varanasi's airport lies at Babatpur, about 22 km from the city. Most of India's reputed domestic carriers operate from here. There is regular service to cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Lucknow, Bombay, Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, and Kathmandu.
Give yourself plenty of time to reach the airport; depending on the traffic, it can take as much as an hour. From the airport, you can reach the city by taxi, auto-rickshaw or bus.
By Rail
A major rail junction, Varanasi is linked to all metros and most of the major cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Lucknow, Patna, Allahabad, Khajuraho and Gorakhpur. The Varanasi Junction, located at the heart of the city, is the primary station. Most trains arrive here. Many other trains - particularly the super-fast ones like the Rajdhani Express - arrive at the Mughal Sarai Junction, about 15 km from the city.
By Road
Varanasi has a strong network of roads and road transport. You'll find that it is pretty easy to get to Varanasi from all the major towns of Uttar Pradesh as well as from surrounding areas.
Varanasi is also well-connected to some of India's largest cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. Buses run daily from and to the Nepali border at Sonauli. Buses also connect Varanasi to other points around northern India like Kanpur, Faizabad, Lucknow, Allahabad, and Gorakhpur.
Getting Around
Boats
While it is certainly not the fastest way, it is certainly one of the most charming ways to see some quarters of Varanasi, particularly the Ganga Ghats. To truly appreciate the beauty of the ghats, take an early morning boat ride from Ghat 1 to Ghat 100. Travelling at dusk is also a great idea, since you can see the lamps lit all along the ghats, definitely a splendid and unforgettable sight. Small steamers are also used to cross the Ganges.
Cycle Rickshaws
Cycle rickshaws are an extremely convenient mode of transport, being cheaper than taxis and better suited for the narrow back alleys and chaotic traffic.
Auto Rickshaws
The Varanasi Junction railway station has a pre-paid auto rickshaw stand. Faster than cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws or ‘autos' are a great mid-range budget option. However, the charges are heavier than cycle rickshaws.
Before you board an auto, it is recommended that you negotiate, bargain and agree upon a price. Also, make sure that the driver understands exactly where you want to go.
Taxis
The unruly traffic makes taxi rides rather frustrating. In addition to the fact that some of the lanes are far too narrow to accommodate a taxi. Before you get on board, make sure that the route to your destination does not include narrow lanes and back alleys.
Buses
Varanasi has a strong network of local buses plying to different regions of the town. Mini-buses are also common.
Cars
There is an increasing preference among tourists for rented cars. There are many good car rental companies; contact us or ask your hotel for a recommendation.
