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How to Reach Varanasi

Varanasi is one of India's best-connected heritage cities — by air, rail, or road. Discover the easiest ways to arrive in Kashi and navigate its timeless lanes.

At a Glance

26 kmAirport to Ghats

300+Daily Trains at BSB

3Railway Stations

45 minAirport to City

8 hrsDelhi by Vande Bharat

Ways to Reach Kashi

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By Air

VNS · Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur, 26 km northwest — 45–60 min to ghats by taxi. Direct flights: Delhi (1h 20m), Mumbai (2h), Bengaluru (2h 30m), Kolkata (1h 15m). Carriers: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara, Akasa Air. Seasonal international routes via Colombo & Bangkok.

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By Train

3 stations · 300+ daily trains. Varanasi Junction (BSB / Cantt) — main hub, 5–6 km from ghats. Banaras Station (BSBS) — closer to Assi Ghat, far less crowded. DDU Junction — 17 km away, key hub for East & South India trains. Vande Bharat Express from Delhi: premium, 8 hours flat. Also: Kashi Vishwanath Express (Delhi), Vibhuti Express (Howrah).

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By Road

NH-2 · NH-7 · Deluxe Buses. NH-2 from Delhi, Agra & Allahabad; NH-7 from the South via Nagpur. Deluxe buses: Lucknow (3h), Allahabad (2h), Patna (4h). Overnight Volvo from Delhi (~9h) — comfortable and economical. UP State Roadways connects all major UP cities to Varanasi. Self-drive via Agra–Lucknow–Varanasi Expressway from Delhi.

Choosing Your Railway Station

Three stations serve Varanasi — picking the right one can save you 30+ minutes.

Station	Details	Best For
BSB Varanasi Junction (Cantt)	Main terminus. 300+ trains daily. 5–6 km to ghats. Well-serviced by prepaid autos.	Trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru. Main Station.
BSBS Banaras (Manduadih)	Closest station to Assi Ghat — short auto ride away. Much less crowded. Growing list of major trains.	If you're staying in the ghat area. 🌟 Best for Ghat Stay.
DDU Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn.	17 km away in Chandauli district (formerly Mughal Sarai). Major junction for eastern & southern India. Hire a taxi from here — takes 40+ min.	Regional Junction.

Getting Around Once You're Here

Auto-rickshaws can't enter the ghat lanes — here's every way to move around Kashi.

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E-Rickshaw

₹10–20/person. Shared routes between Assi, Lanka, Godowlia & Cantt. The cheapest city option.

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Ola / Uber

Metered. Available at airport & stations. Expect surge pricing during major festivals.

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On Foot

Free. Last 500–800 m through galis to any ghat. Half the magic happens in these lanes.

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Boat

₹100–800. Sunrise / sunset rides between ghats. Non-negotiable Varanasi experience.

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Cycle Rickshaw

₹50–150. Perfect pace for the old city lanes. Negotiate price before boarding.

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Bike Rental

₹300–600/day. Great for Sarnath day trips. Shops near Lanka & Assi Ghat.

Insider Tips Before You Arrive

✅ Book prepaid taxi at airport arrivals counter — fixed rates, zero negotiation

✅ Dev Deepawali, Mahashivratri and Oct–Feb season: book trains & hotels weeks ahead

✅ Late-night arrival? Arrange hotel pickup in advance — safer and simpler

Navigating the Old City

✅ Google Maps doesn't work in the narrow galis — ask any chai-wallah for directions

✅ Download offline Google Maps before entering the old city lanes

✅ Every lane eventually leads to a ghat or a main road — keep walking confidently

Quick Summary

✈ By Air

VNS Airport, Babatpur — 26 km. Prepaid taxi ~₹600–800

🚂 By Train

BSB (Cantt), BSBS (Banaras), DDU Jn. Book Vande Bharat from Delhi.

🚌 By Road

NH-2 from Delhi/Kolkata; NH-7 from South India

📅 Best Time

October to March — book ahead during festival season

🪔 Tip: Use prepaid taxi counter inside arrivals — fixed rates, no haggling

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