Banaras Ghats
Banaras Ghats
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
One of the oldest cities of India, Banaras acts as an important religious center. The numerous bathing ghats (steps) along the bank of the Ganges attract huge crowds of pilgrims.
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,854 reviews
Excellent
1,202
Very good
496
Average
109
Poor
28
Terrible
19

ANAND
Kochi (Cochin), India4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
It's a unbelievable place in uttar pardesh.
Visit with girlfriend.did full fun and all.
Will see soon......🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💞
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Juliusvh
Hilversum, The Netherlands10 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Disapointing, not very spectaculair, for Hindu maybe fantastic, but just sone dirty stone steps for a foreigner. The traffic in varanasi and the small streets is horrific and makes the place unlivible. No shops for tourists, not a nice city to visit. Bad and overpriced restaurants. Worst place in my north india roundtrip. Not worth the trip if you are visiting Rajastan.
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gautam D
Mumbai, India64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Friends
Very serene and spiritual. The ghats were very clean. For Ganga Aarti, the ghats can get crowded so reach early. One can see aarti from noat but it is far to see. So best option is to be at ghat.
Written 5 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joshina g
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
I enjoyed a lot at Varanasi Ghats. very spiritual feeling was there, it was solace in chaos. nice experience
Written 13 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tubby
New Delhi, India94 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
This review is for those planning a trip to Varanasi/ Banaras/ Kashi - many names for one place thats beyond imagination...of course you can imagine the traffic, honking, pollution, overcrowded streets...what you cant imagine is the magnetism of the place and its unique ghats..one after another...a row of 84 ghats..

I traveled to Banaras/ Varanasi with a group of frnds. For us it was a road trip from Gurgaon. The highways are excellent - first its the Lucknow expressway and then Poorvanchal expressway. However, the journey would be for about 13 hours including breaks. I suggest take a break at Lucknow and then carry on to Varansi the next day. Food at lucknow is better than what you would get at Varanasi (i think street food at Varanasi is highly overrated except one to which I will describe in a while; go by your palette and what your eyes like). So spend your evening at Hazratganj, Lucknow if you are taking a break journey (eating joints next to Hazratganj metro station) and try food here. If you want to shop, go over to Ada. Its right across the street. This area also has authorized multi level parking space for your vehicle. If you want do clubbing, the place has clubs like Farzi cafe, etc.

Start for Varanasi the next morning - Poorvanchal expressway + Lucknow expressway dont have too many fuel stations so please keep topping up wherever you see a decent station.

At Varanasi, stay in the cantonment area, clean wide roads, less traffic, no driving hassles. Park your cars at the hotel and pick e-rickshaws. Its the coolest and safest bet though incessant honking can make you go mad.

Must visit places are - Kashi Vishwanath, Kaal Bhairav, Sarnath, and for shopping, Peeli kothi and Gadaulia chowk. This can be done in the first half of the day (well, shopping is a bit dicey :)). Avoid going on a Friday as the museum at Sarnath has its weekly off on Friday and if you dont get to see the museum, 60% of Sarnath history would go undiscovered by you. Please do get a guide. Sarnath deserves that attention and only through a guide you cna know about the place the best. However, You may want to start your day a bit early by by going for sunrise at Namo Ghat (inaugurated by Narendra Modiji 2 years back)

Have lunch and then go for boat ride. Boat ride is most exciting and overwhelming part as it takes you to the 84 ghats including Manikarnika, and Assi ghat. I would leave a bit of suspense here by not talking about the Manikarnika ghat. This ride includes the "sandhya aarti" at Dashshwamedh Ghat but better check the deal with the boat guy before boarding one. It costs about Rs 200 to Rs 250 per person. Aarti is beyond words. I have shared some pictures here; though they dont really do any justice to the real thing but would give you an idea.

Do plan one meal at Baati Chokha near Cantontment - the only good food joint at Banaras. Street food like Aloo kachori, malai paan..etc etc are definitely overrated and if you are someone who has been to Chandni Chowk and its streets or even Karol Bagh or CP, you may not enjoy the food.

If you are satisfied with these key places, you would be done with Banaras in one and a half day. But if you want to do more, then do visit BHU (Banaras Hindu University), Moksha Dhaam, Sankatmochan temple, and Vishalakshi temple.

2 days are enough for Varanasi, plus you get the evening you arrived at Varanasi. We planned our way again via Lucknow and this time we ate street food on the gomti river bridge. Near to this you have CM Yogi's residence. Roads in the area are wide and its very well lit - at least when we went it was. You can start your journey back to GGN/ Delhi the next morning.

I prefer relaxed holidays and like to enoy my drive hence thought of not driving straight to Kashi in one go. You may want to do Banaras directly from Ggn and it will save you 2 nights.
Written 1 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jude
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Solo
Most peoples can't speak English and 100%of the shop keepers are cheaters!even official Air Tel shop dealer not giving any receipt of purchase and I paid Rs360 for a package but nothing loaded on the sim just sold empty sim!
Frustrating and 100 %of peoples are fir money hunters! Bno respect to others! But I went to Sri Lanka,
A country higher than European standards!!!please visit to Sri Lanka!
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

seema60
Toronto, Canada947 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Friends
It is an incredible experience to visit the ghats on foot or by boat. Each ghat has its own characteristic building built by the various kings of the time. Some amazing architecture and beautiful buildings can be seen. The new NAMO ghat and the corridor has also improved the look.
Written 24 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karansingh
Mumbai, India80 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Varanasi is known for it's ghats.. Built by different kings at different times, these ghats are clear art work of our culture, architecture and spiritual belief. Though many of these building have been modified into hotels, the charm still lies... one must visit the ghats early morning during sunrise..
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandeep
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
The Ghats present the best Varanasi can offer - architecture, beautiful sunrise, calm waters of the Ganga, temples, history and more. The best way to explore the ghats is to walk accross from the fist to the last ghat. While the distance may seem daunting, the trick is to do it in two installments - From Assi to Dashashwamedh and then from Dashashwamedh to Brahma Ghats or beyond till Raj Ghat. The best experience one can experience is the walk along the ghats of Banaras at sunsrise. As the sun rises the golden hues colour the Ganga waters. It is also the time when ghats seem less crowded and offer a calming and satisfying experience.
Written 27 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DipuKV
Pune, India2,656 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Solo
As you pass by the various ghats during the boat ride, you cannot help admiring the dedication with which various kings, queens and others built these ghats over the years to facilitate human interaction with the sacred river!
Written 15 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Banaras Ghats, Varanasi

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