BreakfastKachori-sabzi & jalebi
The real Banarasi breakfast: crisp kachori, spicy potato curry, and hot jalebi on top.
काशी
Dev Deepawali 2026 · Tuesday, 24 NovemberBest ghats, boat booking, traffic rules and a one-day planRead the guide
- 100+
- Ghats along the Ganga
- 3,000+
- Years of history
- 5
- Daily aartis at Kashi Vishwanath
- 13
- Must-see places in our guide
Varanasi, Banaras, Kashi: one eternal city
Varanasi, also known as Banaras and Kashi, sits on the banks of the holy Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and is one of the oldest living cities in the world. It is home to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, more than 100 ghats, the famous evening Ganga Aarti and the peaceful Subah-e-Banaras at Assi Ghat.
Banaras Darshan brings together everything you need to plan your visit: temple timings, places to visit, Banarasi food, shopping for Banarasi sarees, and practical travel tips, in both English and Hindi.
Where to go
Places every traveller should see
TempleKashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The new corridor now gives a straight, wide path from the temple down to the Ganga.
- Timings: Roughly 3 AM to 11 PM (starts with Mangla Aarti)
- Entry: General darshan free; Sugam darshan and aartis are ticketed
Details
GhatDashashwamedh Ghat
The most famous ghat for the evening Ganga Aarti. Arrive well before the aarti to get a good spot.
- Timings: Open all day; Ganga Aarti around 6 PM in winter (Oct–Mar) and 6:45 PM in summer, about 45 minutes long
- Entry: Free (boat rides are paid)
Details
GhatAssi Ghat
Subah-e-Banaras, yoga and kulhad chai. The calmest mornings in the city are found here.
- Timings: Subah-e-Banaras starts around 5 AM (earlier in summer)
- Entry: Free
Details
GhatManikarnika Ghat
Kashi's great cremation ground. Please avoid taking photos and stay respectful.
- Timings: Open 24 hours
- Entry: Free
Details
TempleSankat Mochan Temple
An ancient Hanuman temple linked to Tulsidas. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest.
- Timings: Roughly 5 AM to 10 PM (closed briefly in the afternoon)
- Entry: Free
Details
TempleKaal Bhairav Temple
The 'Kotwal' (guardian) of Kashi. It's believed a Banaras trip is incomplete without his darshan.
- Timings: Roughly 5 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM
- Entry: Free
Details
Every morning at Assi Ghat
सुबह-ए-बनारसSubah-e-Banaras
'The evenings of Awadh and the mornings of Banaras' are famous across India. Since 2014, Subah-e-Banaras has welcomed each sunrise at Assi Ghat with prayer, music and yoga, and it is free and open to everyone.
- Ganga AartiPriests greet the rising sun and Mother Ganga with lamps.
- Vedic chants & havanSanskrit hymns and a fire ritual fill the ghat with calm.
- Morning raagLive Indian classical music by local artists.
- Yoga by the riverA guided yoga session that anyone can join.
Starts around 5 AM in summer and 6 AM in winter. Arrive 15 minutes early for a good spot.
Sunrise aarti
Featured guide
Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide
Everything you need for a smooth and peaceful darshan, from aarti timings to online booking.
- Darshan and aarti timings
- Step-by-step online booking
- Which gate is easiest
- Where to keep phones and bags
- When it is least crowded
- How to avoid fake pandas
What to eat
A taste of Banaras
In Banaras, food follows the clock: kachori in the morning, chaat in the evening, and malaiyo when it's cold.
Breakfast
EveningTamatar chaat
Tangy, spicy and sweet, served in a kulhad. Hard to find the real taste outside Banaras.
Winter onlyMalaiyo
Milk froth set overnight in the dew. Light, saffron-tinted and melts in your mouth.
Any time of dayKulhad lassi
Thick lassi with a heavy layer of malai. Nothing beats it after a hot walk along the ghats.
Shopping
Take a piece of Banaras home
Handwoven Banarasi silk, brocade, brass puja ware and rudraksha: the city's finest crafts and where to buy them.
Travel tips
Good to know before you go
Fix the boat fare first
Agree on the number of ghats and the fare before you step into the boat. It saves an argument later.
Ask for directions in the lanes
Google Maps often gets lost in the old city's galis. Asking a shopkeeper is quicker.
Beware the 'free' tilak
Politely decline anyone who applies a tilak uninvited or offers 'VIP darshan' for cash.