01DAWN · ON THE WATER
First Light on the Ganga
Watch the city wake up from the river, then come ashore for a walk along the ghats.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
Varanasi,
up close.
From first light on the Ganga to the last lamps of the evening aarti. Find your own way into the city.
Explore experiences25.3° N 83.0° E ON THE BANKS OF THE GANGA
01 / EXPERIENCES
One city. Three ways in.
Start with one experience or put together a full day in Varanasi.
01
02DAYTIME · ON FOOT
Through the Old City
Follow the winding galis past temple courtyards, neighbourhood shops and street-food stalls.
03DUSK · BY THE GHATS
An Evening of Aarti
Make your way to Dashashwamedh Ghat as the lamps are lit for the evening Ganga Aarti.
Sample itineraries for our Varanasi launch.
TRAVEL WITH GALI & GHATS
Why travel with Gorakh Tour and Travels?
We focus on Varanasi, so you can shape your visit around the side of the city you most want to see.
Go deeper into Kashi
Pair the ghats and evening aarti with a temple trail, a walk through Kabir Chaura, or a visit to Buddhist Sarnath.
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Review your trip plan02 / VARANASI CITY GUIDE
Find your way through Kashi.
Explore 256 places, from major temples to pilgrimage circuits and tucked-away heritage sites.
Start with the city’s best-known places of worship, from the old city to Banaras Hindu University.
15 places · 8 map points
Major temples
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Vishwanath Gali · Kashi Vishwanath Dham
The old city’s Shiva Jyotirlinga. Check the official darshan schedule and entry instructions before heading to the corridor.
Published map point · confirm the entrance and opening hours
0 places in your trip
Scroll the page or use the map’s + and − controls.
Circuits follow the cited traditions. Small shrines may share a temple precinct, and map points may mark a nearby landmark. Check locally for access, festival closures and opening times.
Guide references
- Varanasi district temple directory
- Kashi official religious places directory
- Cultural Heritage of Varanasi field survey for Bhairav and Vinayak
- Rana P. B. Singh’s Kashi shrine survey, including Devi, Vishnu and Bhairav inventories
- Navadurga shrine addresses
- Navagauri and other Kashi Shakti traditions
- Local Vishnu temple directory
- Chappan Vinayak tradition and the seven rings
- Kashi Shiva Linga and Ekadash Maha Rudra yatra guide
SACRED HERITAGE
Saints of Varanasi.
Meet the saints, spiritual teachers and religious founders associated with Kashi. Find the ghats, temples, ashrams and shrines that keep their stories alive.
27 figures
Bhakti
Sant Kabir
The poet-saint is remembered for dohas that question empty ritual and speak of devotion and the unity of human beings. Kabir’s followers preserve his memory at several sites in Banaras.
Kabir Chaura Math
Sant Kabir Road, Kabir Chaura
Start at the Kabir Panth monastery, then explore the neighbourhood’s lanes on foot.
Kabir Prakatya Sthal
Lahartara
This memorial by Lahartara Talab marks the place where Kabir is said in local tradition to have appeared.
Bhakti
Sant Ravidas
Ravidas was a Bhakti poet and teacher whose hymns speak of devotion, dignity and equality. Seer Govardhanpur is revered by his followers as his birthplace.
Shri Guru Ravidas Janm Sthan Mandir
Seer Govardhanpur
The birthplace shrine is a major pilgrimage stop, especially around Ravidas Jayanti.
Bhakti
Goswami Tulsidas
Tulsidas retold Rama’s story in the Awadhi Ramcharitmanas. Banaras remembers him in its riverfront shrines, literary tradition and worship of Hanuman.
Tulsi Ghat
Assi riverfront
The ghat is associated with his residence and devotional work. Ask locally about access to the smaller shrines above the steps.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Sankat Mochan Road
Temple tradition connects its foundation with Tulsidas’s vision of Hanuman.
Tulsi Manas Temple
Durgakund Road
Read verses of the Ramcharitmanas inscribed on the temple walls.
Buddhist
Gautama Buddha
Buddhist tradition places the Buddha’s first sermon after enlightenment at the Deer Park in Sarnath. This teaching is known as turning the Wheel of Dharma.
Dhamek Stupa
Sarnath archaeological site
Visit the stupa and excavated monasteries associated with the first sermon. Plan Sarnath as a road trip from the old city.
Sikh
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
The founder of Sikhism travelled widely to share his teachings. Local Sikh tradition commemorates his visit to Kashi at the gurudwara in Gurubagh.
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurudwara
Gurubagh, Varanasi
Ask for Gurudwara Guru Ka Bagh. Cover your head and follow the gurudwara’s directions when entering.
Sikh
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji
The ninth Sikh Guru’s visit to Kashi is commemorated in the old city at Nichibagh. Sikh tradition associates the site with his stay.
Gurudwara Badi Sangat
Nichibagh, near Bulanala
Ask for the Nichibagh gurudwara dedicated to Guru Tegh Bahadur and follow its visitor customs.
Bhakti
Acharya Ramananda
Ramananda is remembered as an influential teacher of Rama devotion in North India. Shree Math preserves his lineage at Panchganga Ghat.
Shree Math Kashi
Panchganga Ghat
Ask for Ramanandacharya’s Shree Math in the lanes above the ghat and check access before entering.
Hindu teachers
Adi Shankaracharya
Shankara is associated with Advaita Vedanta and with teaching in Kashi. The Sringeri lineage maintains a math at Kedar Ghat.
Sringeri Shankara Math
Kedar Ghat, Sonarpura side
Visit the present-day Sringeri institution to explore the lineage’s connection with Kashi. Ask locally for the lane entrance.
Bhakti
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
The Bengali devotional teacher spread congregational chanting and devotion to Krishna. The Caitanya-caritamrita describes his stay and teachings in Varanasi.
Bindu Madhav Temple
Panchganga Ghat, Ghasi Tola
The devotional text describes Chaitanya visiting Bindu Madhava at Panchanada. The present shrine continues that worship above the ghat.
Bhakti
Vallabhacharya
Vallabhacharya founded Pushtimarg, a Krishna devotional tradition. Its baithaks commemorate places associated with his visits and teachings.
Vallabhacharya Baithakji
Hanuman Ghat precinct
Ask locally for Mahaprabhuji’s baithak at Hanuman Ghat, since the pilgrimage directory also lists a separate Manikarnika stop.
Hindu teachers
Baba Kinaram
Baba Kinaram is a central figure in the Aghor lineage. The ashram’s tradition says he established the Krim Kund centre after receiving darshan of Dattatreya.
Baba Kinaram Ashram and Krim Kund
B 3/335, Shivala
Visit the living ashram and sacred tank. Ask which parts of the precinct are open to visitors.
Hindu teachers
Trailanga Swami
The ascetic and yogi is remembered for his long association with the ghats of Kashi. His followers preserve his memory at a small math above Panchganga.
Trailanga Swami Math
Panchganga Ghat
Ask for Telang Swami Math in the upper ghat lanes. Confirm entry locally before taking the steps.
Hindu teachers
Lahiri Mahasaya
Shyama Charan Lahiri lived and taught in Banaras. He is remembered for teaching Kriya Yoga while living as a householder.
Satyalok, Lahiri family shrine
Hathi Phatak, Bengali Tola
The family lineage holds observances at this shrine. Confirm access in advance, since visitor arrangements follow the family’s schedule.
Yogoda Satsanga Varanasi Meditation Centre
Varanasi
This is a present-day centre for the Kriya Yoga lineage. Check the centre’s location and arrangements for attending a session.
Hindu teachers
Sri Ramakrishna
The Bengali mystic visited Kashi on pilgrimage. The Ramakrishna Order’s account recalls a vision he associated with Manikarnika Ghat.
Manikarnika Ghat
Old city riverfront
This is the riverfront site named in the Order’s account. View from public areas and respect the privacy of funeral rites.
Hindu teachers
Sri Sarada Devi
Known in the Ramakrishna tradition as the Holy Mother, Sarada Devi visited Varanasi several times. The local Ramakrishna institutions preserve accounts of her stays.
Lakshmi Nivas
Luxa, near the Ramakrishna institutions
The Mission identifies this house with her 1912 stay. Ask at the Mission about the house and current visitor access.
Hindu teachers
Swami Vivekananda
Vivekananda visited Varanasi more than once, including in 1902. His encouragement led to the founding of a local centre for Advaita Vedanta that year.
Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama
D 45/6, Luxa
Swami Shivananda started the centre in 1902 at Vivekananda’s request. Ask at the ashram about visiting the shrine.
Hindu teachers
Anandamayi Ma
The twentieth-century spiritual teacher is remembered in Banaras through her ashram and the riverfront ghat that bears her name.
Shree Shree Ma Anandamayi Ashram
Bhadaini
Use the Sangha’s ashram listing to confirm the approach and visiting arrangements.
Hindu teachers
Swami Karpatri
The Sanskrit scholar and renunciant taught in Kashi and founded the Dharm Sangh. His Kedar Ghat institution preserves his connection to the city.
Shri Swami Karpatri Dham
Kedar Ghat
Ask for Karpatri Dham or the Karpatri ashram in the Kedar lanes, and confirm visitor arrangements with the institution.
Hindu teachers
Swami Dayananda Saraswati
The founder of the Arya Samaj took part in the 1869 Kashi Shastrarth, a formal debate with Banaras scholars about Vedic authority and worship.
Anand Bagh
Near Durga Kund, Bhelupur
The garden is remembered as the setting of the debate. Use Durga Kund as the landmark and check access locally.
Hindu teachers
Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati
The nineteenth-century ascetic settled at Anand Bagh in Kashi. The Ramakrishna Order records that Vivekananda met him during a visit to Banaras.
Swami Bhaskarananda Samadhi Mandir
Anand Bagh, near Durga Kund
Ask near Durga Kund for the samadhi shrine in the garden precinct and confirm access before entering.
Jain
Parshvanatha
The 23rd Jain Tirthankara is traditionally said to have been born in Varanasi. Bhelupur is the centre of pilgrimage associated with his birth.
Parshvanath Janmasthali Jain Temple
Bhelupur
Ask for the birth shrine and specify the Digambara or Shwetambara temple if you have a particular one in mind.
Jain
Suparshvanatha
Jain tradition connects the seventh Tirthankara with Bhadaini. The Jain shrines beside the river commemorate milestones in his life.
Shri Bhadaini Tirth
Bhadaini, Jain Ghat
The Digambara and Shwetambara shrines house marble images. Ask about the upper-lane approach if the steps are difficult.
Jain
Shreyansanatha
The 11th Jain Tirthankara is traditionally associated with Singhpur near Sarnath, where his birthplace is commemorated.
Shri Digambar Jain Temple, Sarnath
Singhpur, Sarnath
Ask for the Shreyansnath shrine near the Sarnath archaeological site. It is a separate place of worship from the Buddhist enclosure.
Jain
Chandraprabha
The eighth Jain Tirthankara is traditionally associated with Chandravati on the Ganga near Varanasi.
Chandraprabhu Jain Janm Kalyanak Sthal
Chandravati village, outside central Varanasi
Plan a separate road stop and confirm the temple approach before setting out.
Sufi
Hazrat Chandan Shahid
The Banaras shrine survey records Chandan Shahid as a disciple of the Chishti teacher Maqdum Shah Tayyab. His tomb is an established pilgrimage site near the river confluence.
Chandan Shahid Dargah
Rajghat, near Adi Keshava and the Varuna–Ganga confluence
Use the confluence area as your landmark and ask locally for the dargah’s entrance.
Sufi
Hazrat Maqdum Shah Tayyab
The Chishti teacher lived in Manduadih and in the Rajghat area. The city’s shrine survey records his local following and the gatherings held in his memory.
Maqdum Shah Tayyab Dargah
Manduadih, Varanasi
Ask for Maqdum Shah Tayyab by his full name in Manduadih and confirm the entrance with the shrine keeper.
Sufi
Hazrat Yakub Shahid
The Banaras shrine survey remembers Yakub Shahid alongside Chandan Shahid. His mazar in Nagwa has its own history of devotional gatherings.
Yakub Shahid Mazar
Nagwa, southern Varanasi
Ask for the mazar in Nagwa near the Assi drain. Confirm the approach and entry at the shrine.
VISITING TIPS
Before you go.
The ghats are riverfront steps. The galis are the narrow lanes behind them. Give yourself time to explore both.
Varanasi visitor information ↗Where should I start?
Assi Ghat is a good starting point for a morning by the river. Dashashwamedh Ghat is the setting for the evening Ganga Aarti.
What should I wear?
Wear shoes with grip for the steps and lanes. Bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for visits to places of worship, and follow signs about removing shoes.
Can I take photos at the ghats?
Ask before photographing people or rituals. Keep your camera away at cremation ghats and follow any posted restrictions.
03 / PLAN A VISIT
Make it your Varanasi.
Start with a suggested itinerary or build your own with experiences and places from the City Guide.
Starter itineraries
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YOUR DRAFT ITINERARY
Varanasi visit
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04 / CONTACT
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