Visit the 30 famous places in Varanasi
Posted on February 28, 2024 by Anees Ahmad in Travel Guide- Introduction
- The top 8 famous Ghats in Kashi-
- Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Manikarnika Ghat
- Assi Ghat
- Harishchandra Ghat
- Manmandir Ghat
- Panchganga Ghat
- Darbhanga Ghat
- Tulsi Ghat
- The top 7 famous temples to explore in Varanasi
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Durga Temple
- Tulsi Manas Temple
- Bharat Mata Temple
- New Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple)
- Annapurna Temple
- Top local and outstation sightseeing places in Varanasi
- Sarnath
- Ramnagar fort
- Chunar fort
- Bharat kala bhavan
- Banaras Hindu University
- The Banaras silk emporium
- Lotus Lounge
- The best places to eat in Varanasi
- Kashi chats with Bhandar.
- Open-hand shop and café
- Brown Bread Bakery
- The best marketplaces in Varanasi for shopping
- Vishwanath Gali
- Thatheri Bazaar
- Godowlia market
- When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
- Luxurious and budget-friendly places to stay in Varanasi
- Luxurious places
- Budget-friendly places
- How to reach Varanasi by air, train, and road
- By air
- By train
- By road
- Conclusion: The final thought on the Varanasi tour
Introduction
Varanasi is an ancient city that is famous for its spiritual significance in India. There are a total of 84 Ghats in Varanasi, hundreds of temples, and the sacred Ganges. Each evening around 7 p.m. the famous Ganga Aarti is held, which creates a divine vibe. You can start your Varanasi visit by visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple. People here take boats to go from one Ghat to the next. This place is very unique because, on the one hand, this city has fun and worship, and on the other hand, you will see corpses being cremated on the Harishchandra and Manikarnika Ghats. This will remind you of your real self and force you to think about life. Visiting the Ghats, and temples, and meeting with local people and saints, you will find yourself spiritually awakened and more aware.
The top 8 famous Ghats in Kashi
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most attractive and captivating Ghat among all the other 84 Ghats in Varanasi. This Ghat is on the banks of the Ganges and a one of the loveliest sightseeing places in Varanasi. The Ganga Aarti of this Ghat is a treat to watch. On the Dashaswamedh Ghat, there are a total of 5 Ghats, and this is known as the PanchTirth. The distance from the railway station to the Ghat is almost 7km. You can take a taxi with a Chiku cab to come here. It is said that once Brahma did ten Ashwamedh yajna. This was built by the Maratha king, Peshwa Bajirao.
Address: 7km away from Cantt station, near Godowlia
Timings: open 24/7
Famous for: Ganga Aarti, worshipping, boating
Built-in: 1988
Built by: Maratha King BajiraoManikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is a very strange and unique Ghat from all the other Ghats in Varanasi. This Ghat is popular because the dead bodies are cremated. On the stairs of this Ghat, the cremation is done, and then the ashes are poured into the sacred Ganges. This Ghat is called Mahashmashan, where the bodies are burned 24/7. This is one of the unique Banaras places that make people aware of the very truth of our lives, which is death. You will find a temple that is bent, and it is more bent than the Pisa Minar. It is said that people who come to this place or are burned get Moksha.
Address: Near Rajendra Ghat
Timings: open 24/7
Famous for: cremation, worshipBuilt-in: 1730
Built by: Maratha KingAssi Ghat
Assi Ghat is one of the Ghats in ancient Kashi city. This is on the left side of the Ganges and amid all the Ghats in Varanasi; it is the most southern Ghat. The name of this Ghat is on the Assi River, which used to flow in Kashi. On the Assi Ghat at 7 p.m., the Ganga aarti is performed. You will see many tourists coming to this Ghat to worship the Devi Ganges and enjoy the views of the river and other Ghats.
[Also Read: Exploring the Great Thar Desert: The Glory of Jaisalmer]
Address: 2 km away from Lanka, Varanasi
Timings: open 24/7
Famous for: Ganga Aarti, events
Built-in: 1988
Built by: GovtHarishchandra Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat is famous because once King Raja Harishchandra performed the cremation of his son when he was on duty to A Dom. You will also see the temples of Baba Mashan Nath and Manikarnika Mandir. You can worship at this strange place to visit Banaras at the famous Kalidevi Mandir pith for the sake of your life. This Ghat takes people to their rear end, and here people play Holi with the ashes of dead bodies.
Address: Bangali Tola, Varanasi
Timing: open 24/7
Famous for: cremation, temples
Built by: Raja Harish Chandra
Manmandir Ghat
Car attachment in the company near me
Manmandir Ghat was built in 1585, and this Ghat was built by the Ajmer king Sawai Raja Man Singh. This is the reason why this Ghat is known as the Manmandir Ghat. Earlier, this Ghat was known as the Someshwar Ghat. Maharaj Jay Singh installed an observatory on this Ghat in 1734. In this observatory, the windows are made of beautiful wood, with many celestial instruments. It is a good tourist spot in Varanasi.
Address: near the Bangali Tola, Shivala, Varanasi
Timings: open 24/7
Famous for: Palace, Observatory, Boating
Built-in: 1600
Built by: Ajmer King Sawai Raja Man SinghPanchganga Ghat
Pnchaganga Ghat is nearly 8km away from the Varanasi railway station. This Ghat was built by Raghunath Tanda in 1580. It is said that on this Ghat, Ganga, Yamuna, Krishna, and other rivers meet each other in invisible form. This is the Sangam of the Five Rivers, which is why it is called Panchganaga Ghat. The famous Guru Ramanadacharya used to live on this Ghat, and this Ghat is the witness to Kabir’s spiritual growth too. It is one of the most spiritually rich Varanasi places.
Address: Sonarpura, near Bangali Tola, Varanasi
Timings: Open 24/7
Famous for: the Sangam of five rivers, temples, and worship
Built-in: 1580
Built by: Raghunath TandaDarbhanga Ghat
The historians of Varanasi believe that in 1812, the minister of Nagpur, Shridhar Munshi, built the palace on the Ghat. Earliar the Darbhanga Ghat was a part of this palace, but in 1920, the king of Darbhanga bought the parts of this Ghat and built it in a grand style. This is the reason why this Ghat is known as the Darbhaga Ghat. The sandstones of Chunar are used in the construction of this Ghat. Now this palace is known as the Brijramam Hotel Palace.
[Also Read: Exploring the wonderful tourist places in Bangalore: a memorable experience]
Address: near the Man sigh palace, Shivala, Varanasi
Built-in: 1812
Built by: the king of Darbhanga, Bihar
Tulsi Ghat
You will see temples of Hanuman and Lord Shiva, which were made by Tulsi Das. You can see the house where Tulsi Das used to live. There is a ground known as Tulsi Akhadas where Tulsidas used to exercise. The views from the top of this Ghat will provide you with divine vibes. This hat was reconstructed by the industrialist Birla. In the evening, people come to bathe, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Tulsi Ghat is the best Varanasi tourist attraction.
Address: near Shivala, Varanasi
Built by: Tulsi Das
Famous for: the residence of Tulsi Das, spiritual vibe, amazing sunset view
The top 7 famous temples to explore in Varanasi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanth Temple is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is on the banks of the Ganges and is one of the most religious places to visit in Kashi Varanasi. Recently, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was built, which has made the worship of Lord Shiva very easy for the devotees, and the distance between the temple and Lalita Ghat has also been reduced. You can take a bath in the Dashashvavmedh Ghat and then go for the Darshan of Lord Shiva. This temple remains open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. After taking the blessing from Lord Shiva, you can eat the jalebi and puri-kachori on the streets of Varanasi.
Address: 1km from Gadowlia Chowk, Varanasi
Timings: from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.Famous for: Ganga Aarti, the Jyotriling
Built-in: 1777
Built by: Ahilyabai HolkarSankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Sankat Mochan Temple is a temple that is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, or Bajarang Bali. It is said that this temple was established due to the influence of Tulsi Das and one of the famous places in Varanasi. Devotees from all the places come here to worship Lord Hanuman. This temple is nearly 6km away from the Varanasi junction railway station, from which you can come by taking a taxi with a Chiku cab. You can also visit the Shree Ram Janaki temple, which is very near. The idol of Lord Hanuman is made up of soil, which is very unique. Tuesday and Saturday are the ideal worship days at the temple.
Address: Bhogabeer, Varanasi
Timings: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Famous for: Lord Hanuman idol, Tulsi Das memoriesDurga Temple
Durag Temple is one of the three most ancient temples: Shree Kashi Vaishavnath Temple, Devi Annapurna Temple, and Durga Temple. Devi Durga is worshipped in the form of Goddess Kushmanda. This temple is nearly 5 kilometers away from the Varanasi Cantt junction. This temple is made of red stones, and on the other side of it, there is a kund named Durga Kund. Tanta Puja is also practiced in this temple. Inside the temple, there are the idols of Devi Sarasvati and Bhairo Baba. This temple was made by the queen of Bengal, whose name was Bhavani. This temple is built in the Nagar style of architecture.
[Also Read: Ayodhya Ram Mandir- Travel Guide to City of Ram & Ramayana]
Address: 5 km away from the railway station, Anandbagh, Bhelupur
Timings: 5 a.m.–11 p.m.
Famous for: Durga Devi worship, Aarti, KundBuilt by: Queen of Bengal, Bhavani
Tulsi Manas Temple
The Tulsi Manas Temple is one of the most captivating temples in Varanasi. This temple was built by a rich merchant from Calcutta, whose name was Seth Ratan Lal. The temple is near the Durga temple and 6 km away from the Varanasi Junction railway station. This temple is fully made of marble and was inaugurated by Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishanan. It is said that Tulsi Das wrote the Ramcharit Manas here. The pillars and walls of this temple are full of the Dohas and Chaupai of Shri Ram Charit Manas. On the first floor of this temple, the Rama and Shree Krishna levels are shown. After completing the writing of Tulsi Das, he came to Varanasi, and in this temple, he offered the verses of the Ramcharit Manas to people.
Address: Sankat Mochan Rd., Varanasi
Timings: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Famous for: Tulsidas written Ram Charitman’s Path
built-in: 1964
Built by: Seth Ratan LalBharat Mata Temple
Bharat Mata Temple is one of the most unique temples in India. In this temple, there is no idol of any god or goddess. People worship the map of Akhand Bharat here. This temple is nearly 2 km away from the Varanasi junction. The father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, inaugurated this temple. There you will find the portrait of Bharat Mata made on the floor and in the middle of this temple. This temple has two floors. You will find the poem written by the top poet, Vande Mataram, and the map of India on the walls. The architectural style of the Bharat Mata temple was developed by Babu Shivprasad Gupta.
Address: Near Vidyapeeth, Guru Nanak Nagar Colony, Chetganj, Varanasi
Timings: 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Famous for: Map of Bharat Mata
Built-in: 1936
Built by: Shiv Prasad GuptaNew Vishwanath Temple
The New Vishwanath Temple, popularly known as Birla Temple, is in the middle of the BHU campus. Madan Mohan Malaviya and the Birla group made this temple. This temple is made in the classical style of architecture, and the top of this temple is very beautiful and grand. At the entrance, you will see the statue of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya. You will find many sketches, and you can pay 200 rupees for making yours. The look of this temple is a divine one. People come with their friends and family to worship Lord Shiva. Swami Krishnan laid the first stone in this temple. On each wall and corner of this temple, you will find Vedic verses and paintings. The industrial Jugal Kishore Birla promised to support the making of this temple economically.
Address: BHU campus, Varanasi
Timing: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Built by: Birla Group
Annapurna Temple
In Moksha Nagari, you will find the temple of Devi Annapurna, which is near the Shree Kashi Vishwanath temple. It is said that Devi Annapurna once gave food to Lord Shiva. At the entrance, you will find the idol of Lord Ganesha. Inside the temple, you will find 500-year-old idols and the idol of Lord Shiva with a khappar asking for food from Annapurna Devi. Adi Shankacharcharya wrote the Annapurna strata in this temple, which sends the message of knowledge and awareness. You can take the Prasad of Annapurna, and it is said that if you take the blessings of Annapurna Devi, then you will have no shortage of food in your life. If you do the 17-day Vrat, then your wish will be fulfilled, and you will get the blessings of Devi.
[Also Read: Things to do Dehradun to Nainital Road Trip – Distance, Time, and Useful Travel Information]
Address: Rathyatra, Varaansi
Famous for: Devi Annapurna
Top local and outstation sightseeing places in Varanasi
Sarnath
Sarnath is a Buddhist site that is 10km away from the Varanasi Cantt station. In Sarnath Gautam, Buddha gave the first sermon after the enlightenment to five disciples. Dhamek Stupa is a round pilgrim site that is made of soil bricks. There is no window or door in the stupa. It is a nice tourist destination in Varanasi. The archeological museum of Sarnath has rare remains of ancient India. The famous Buddhist memories are preserved in this museum. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva named Sara Nath Temple. Dear Park is a beautiful park to which you can go with your kids. Ashoka Stambha was built in 250 BC by King Asoka. There are many Tibetan temples: Chuakhandi stupa, Thai temple, Sarnath zoo, etc.
Address: 10 km away from the railway station, Varanasi
Timings: 24/7
Famous for: historical museums, zoos, stupas
Built-in: 250 BC
Built by: AshokaRamnagar fort
Ramnagar Fort was built by the king of Kashi Balwant Singh in 1750. This fort was built with Chunar sandstones, and the present king of Varanasi, Raja Anant Singh, lives in this palace. There is a museum in the fort where you will find ancient vehicles that were used in the 18th and 19th centuries. There, you will find a collection of vintage cars. Different kinds of dresses, the dresses that were used during the war, swords, skulls of lions, a collection of guns, knives, axes, paintings, etc. Daggers, coins, a clock, and many more things are in the fort, which you can see with your family members or friends.
Address: Ram Nagar, Varanasi,
Timings: 10 a.m.–05:30 p.m.
Famous for: museum, palace
Built-in: 1750
Built by: Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant SinghChunar fort
Chunar Fort is almost 35 kilometers away from Mirzapur, one of the places to visit near Kashi and on the banks of the Ganges. King Vikramaditya built this fort, and many Muslim rulers as well as Hindu kings ruled here. The structure of this fort is like the human foot. This is the reason it is known as Chandrani Garh. This is the fort on which the famous writer Devakinanadan Khatri wrote Chandrakanta. In British rule, this was used as a barracks for the soldiers. There are many doors in the fort, and the western door was made in the Mughal period.
Address: Chunar Road, Mirzapur
Built by: Raja Vikramaditya
Bharat kala bhavan
Bharat Kala Bhavan is on the Banaras Hindu University campus. This is near the arts faculty of BHU. This is a museum where you will find the most ancient artifacts. This museum was made by Shri Krishna Ray. Earlier, this museum was on the Godowlia Chowk. In this museum, one of the most amazing places to see in Varanasi, you will find idols of gods and goddesses, ancient scriptures, paintings, sketches, and many more things. You can also see the Conies, domestic things, different kinds of Indian maps, war material, etc.
Address: Banaras Hindu University, Semi Circle Road No. 3, Opp Institute of Mgmt Studies, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005.
Timings: 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Famous for: museums, art, and culture
Built-in: 1920
Built by: NABanaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is 8 km away from the Varanasi CTT railway station. On the main gate of BHU, you will see the statue of the founder of BHU, Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya. This is a very unique university in India that was made on the money collected by Madan Mohan Malviya from different people. You will see both modern and ancient kinds of education being imparted at this university. IIT BHU is the leading institute in the science and technology field and one of the best educational kashi visiting places.
Address: Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005
Timings: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Famous for: Religious Purposes, Architecture
Built-in: 1916
Built by: Pandit Madan Mohan MalaviyaThe Banaras silk emporium
The sarees of Varanasi are very famous in India and around the world. You will get the pure silk sarees here, which are made with different stings and beautifully made by the handicrafts of Varanasi. The sarees here are available in the range of 500 to 3 lakh rupees. You will get sarees of Chanderi, silk, Banarasi cotton, Organza sarees, Tanchoi, pure cotton, and other varieties. In these sarees, the finest handicraft is used, which gives them an amazing look and comfort for the woman.
Address: cantonment, near JHV, Varanasi
Famous for: Banarasi sarees
Lotus Lounge
This is an Indian railway lounge, where you will find all the amenities of a five-star hotel. This is on railway platform No. 1. To explore this place, you will have to buy a ticket for 85 rupees. You can enjoy dining, a spa, business meetings, a shower, and many more things. This waiting hall, but the luxury of this hall, is full of all the facilities that a five-star hotel has. These are the best places to visit in Varanasi. You can enjoy eating with your friends South Indian foods, sweets, Chinese beverages, and North Indian foods while waiting for your train.
Address: Near Hotel Varuna, Gulab Bagh, Varanasi
Famous for: five-star facility
The best places to eat in Varanasi
Kashi chats with Bhandar.
If you are on a trip to Varanasi and you want to eat something Chatpata, then you can come to Chat Bhandar. This is one of the top famous places to visit in Varanasi and the best chats in Hindustan. You will find a menu of chats in which you can try the Tamatar chat, Palak Patta chat, Papdi chat, Bhalla papdi, Samosa chat, Dahi puri, Pani puri, etc.
Brown Bread Bakery
You can go to one of the most ideal places to visit in Varanasi for couples with your loved ones. In this safe, you will enjoy cold coffee, strawberry coffee, paludal, lassi, special tea, and many more things to eat. You will also find space for romantic leisure time in this café. You join one of the groups to sing with your partner and dance. This place is one of the greatest places to visit in Varanasi for couples.
Open-hand shop and café
If you want a place for your breakfast, then you can come to the open-hand shop and café, where you can try the pancakes, chocolate truffles, pastry, pizza, sandwiches, cappuccino coffee, etc. You can come to this place if you are traveling in Varanasi with your family and you want to eat something special. This is one of the important places to visit in Varanasi for couples.
The best marketplaces in Varanasi for shopping
Vishwanath Gali
Vishwanath Gali is considered the best market in Varanasi places to go for street shopping in Varanasi. You can find different kinds of items at cheap prices here. Here in this gallery, you will find traditional or modern dresses, domestic items, dipoles of gods and goddesses made of brass, beauty items for women, etc. Banarasi sarees, designer shawls, jewelry, and classical items are the most popular items in this market. You will also get the writing material.
Thatheri Bazaar
This market is famous for metal works, and you will find different items that are made of various metals, especially brass. Earlier, this place was a great trade center for the iron merchants. In this market, you will find the Alamgir mosque, which is a great place. This looks very beautiful when the rays fall on the walls of this monument. You can explore Ram Bhadar, Panch Agnaga Ghat, Mangal Gauri Temple, etc., which are in the Thatheri market. Idols, utensils, and other hardware materials made of different metals, such as brass, steel, iron, silver, etc., are the most popular items in this market.
Godowlia market
Godowlia Market is 8km away from the Varanasi Central Railway Station and one of the prominent tourist attractions in Varanasi. This is a crossing place where you will find the ways that lead to Vishwanath Temple, Assi Ghat, Rathyatra, etc. This is a very big marketplace, and the significance of this place is very big because here you will find the Lord Shiva temple, PDR mall, places for shopping, street food, Ghats, etc. In this market, you will find a variety of shopping items at the most reliable prices. You can come with your family to shop for domestic items, books, chat, plan, etc.
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best time to come to Varanasi will be during the winter season because the summer season is too hot in this city. And also, the rainy season will not be so convenient for taking a trip to Varanasi. So you can come between October and February, which will be the most ideal time to come to the Varanasi sightseeing places.
Luxurious and budget-friendly places to stay in Varanasi
Luxurious places
People who can afford the luxurious and expensive places to stay in Varanasi can book rooms in hotels such as Taj Nadesar Palace, Bajirama Palace, Hotel Radisson, etc.
Budget-friendly places
For people who need a budget-friendly hotel and can afford budget-friendly places in Varanasi, they can book rooms at Ganpati Guest House, Shanti Guest House, and the Dharamshala.
How to reach Varanasi by air, train, and road
By air
If you want to come to Varanasi by taking a flight, then you can take the flight from your city to the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. This is an international airport, and the major airports are connected to it.
By train
Varanasi Cantt and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Railway Station is the two railway stations from which you can get a train ticket from your city.
By road
If you want to travel to Varanasi by road, then you can take a minibus or taxi with a Chiku cab from your city to come to Varanasi.
Conclusion: The final thought on the Varanasi tour
Among the chants of Har Har Mahadev and spiritual vibes, visiting Varanasi will make you a spiritual person, and you will be forced to think about the meaning of life. Here, people live life to the fullest. People here don’t care much about the material luxuries in life; they work, earn, and enjoy life. The principle of life here is simple living and high thinking. You find people here in shabby and tidy clothes, living like poor people, but the ideology and knowledge of these people are of the highest level. You must come to Varanasi at least once in your life to see a very different kind of lifestyle and significance. This is the place where people want to die and be cremated. This place is so sacred that it is said that Lord Shiva lives in it, and when the whole world ends, Kashi will remain as it is.
