Getting Around Varanasi
Varanasi sits mostly on the west bank of the Ganges, with the Malviya Bridge to the north and the Ramnagar Bridge to the south connecting the city to the eastern parts of India. Within the city, many streets are too narrow for cycle-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and cars, so you should expect to walk at least part of the way to your destination. The sections below cover the main ways visitors move around, plus how to reach the city from its airport.
On Foot
Walking is the only way to see the waterfront and the ghats — the stepped riverbanks where pilgrims perform rituals. Come prepared to be hot, sweaty, and occasionally lost; locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. The names of ghats and signs pointing to restaurants and hotels are often painted on walls in Roman letters. For better orientation, pick up a small guide or map book from any bookstore; these list and describe the ghats.
Cycle-Rickshaws, E-Rickshaws and Auto-Rickshaws
The chaotic streets can be overwhelming on foot, so cycle-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws are often the convenient choice. A short journey of a few kilometres should cost under ₹50, while a longer trip within the city — for example between the ghats and the train station — runs about ₹100. Fares rise for outlying trips: a return journey to Sarnath with a one- to two-hour waiting period costs around ₹500, or about ₹300 one way by auto-rickshaw.
- There is a pre-paid auto-rickshaw stand at Varanasi Junction railway station.
- An auto-rickshaw between Banaras station and the Ganges riverfront costs about ₹100.
- An auto-rickshaw between Varanasi Junction and the riverfront also costs about ₹100.
- An auto-rickshaw from the bus station to the Ganges riverfront costs about ₹150.
Taxis and Cars for Hire
Taxis and cars-for-hire do exist, but they are most useful for airport, railway, and bus station transfers, and for major city tours — particularly to BHU, Sarnath, and Ramnagar. You can also travel to Varanasi by car from other cities, as it is well connected to major cities across the country.
Bicycles
Bicycle rental is available from many vendors. Inquire at your hotel.
Rail Network
Varanasi is well connected by train, with multiple daily services to cities including New Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Siliguri. The city is served by three major railway stations:
- Banaras (station code: BSBS) — an auto-rickshaw between the station and the Ganges riverfront costs about ₹100.
- Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (formerly Mughalsarai Junction) — served by Rajdhani Expresses, Vande Bharat Express, and numerous long-distance superfast and mail express trains connecting New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Siliguri, and Guwahati.
- Varanasi Junction (station code: BSB) — also called "Cantt" or Varanasi Cantt station for being situated near the cantonment. An auto-rickshaw between the station and the riverfront costs about ₹100.
Note that the source material does not describe a metro or tram network in Varanasi; rail travel here means the national railway stations listed above.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Varanasi is well connected by bus. The bus station sits east of Varanasi Junction, and an auto-rickshaw from there to the Ganges riverfront costs about ₹150. State government buses run from nearby cities, including Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Khajuraho, Kanpur, Faizabad, Bodh Gaya, and Prayagraj.
If you are arriving from Nepal, buses connect major Nepali cities to the border town of Sunauli. From the Sunauli bus station, take a rickshaw (about ₹200) to the border crossing, get your passport stamped on the Nepali side, then walk through. After roughly 100 m of no-man's land, the Indian immigration office is hidden away on the left-hand side of the road. Once through Indian immigration, walk about 300 m to find the bus stop on the right-hand side. From there, take the government bus to Gorakhpur rather than the private lines, which are far less comfortable and stop everywhere. To reach Varanasi from Gorakhpur, you can take a train from Gorakhpur Junction or a bus.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) is at Babatpur, northwest of the city centre. Air India, JetKonnect, SpiceJet, and IndiGo all operate regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Khajuraho, and Visakhapatnam. There are also flights to Sharjah on Air India Express, to Kathmandu on Buddha Air, and to Bangkok on Thai Airways.
- Taxi: a taxi to or from the airport takes about an hour and costs around ₹750.
- Auto-rickshaw: a tuk-tuk or auto-rickshaw can take twice as long and costs about ₹500.
- Allow extra time for traffic.