Are you planning a trip to Sarnath, the land of Gautama Buddha? Sarnath is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Located very close to Varanasi, Sarnath is often visited as a half-day or one-day trip by pilgrims, tourists, and international visitors. If you are planning a visit to Sarnath, this detailed guide will help you understand how to reach Sarnath comfortably, safely, and efficiently.
This verified Sarnath travel guide explains all major Sarnath travel options, including train, flight, bus, and taxi routes, with a special focus on first-time visitors, families, senior citizens, and foreign tourists. If you have already gone through our How to Reach Kashi/Varanasi: Citywise travel guide, reaching Sarnath becomes extremely simple. Sarnath is not a standalone destination in terms of long-distance connectivity. Instead, all routes to Sarnath are routed through Banaras, which acts as the main gateway. Hence, you need to reach Kashi before you reach Sarnath in any way.
How to Reach Sarnath
Dial 844-844-5504 and book a reliable taxi to Sarnath from anywhere in Kashi, or any nearby city like Bodh Gaya, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Patna, Gaya and Delhi with Chiku Cab.
How to reach Sarnath from anywhere in the world?
Located approximately 15 Km north/northeast of Varanasi, Sarnath can be reached by air, road or rail networks, however, through Kashi. This guide is a continuation and extension of the Kashi travel guide, so that the visitors and pilgrims can comfortably reach Sarnath from anywhere in India or the world!
| How to Reach Sarnath from Anywhere – Any City, State or Country | ||
| Step 1: | Read the Guide to reach Varanasi using flights, trains, buses, or taxis to reach Varanasi so that you can commence on your Sarnath journey | |
| Step 2: | For Indians | For Foreign Tourists |
| Reach Kashi from any major Indian city like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai or Bengaluru:By AirBy RailBy Road | Fly from any International Airport abroad, from countries like the UK, USA, Australia and more to Banaras by direct/connecting flights. | |
| Step 3: | Smoothly travel from Kashi to Sarnath using local transport options, such as Buses, Auto-Rickshaws, or cabs, with this guide – most preferably with Chiku Cab for guaranteed comfort, safety and convenience. | |
How to Travel from Varanasi to Sarnath?
Once you reach Kashi, it is a matter of an hour to reach Sarnath from anywhere, thanks to the well-connected and organised road networks in Kashi. We have considered your possibility of reaching Varanasi by flight, train, buses or taxis, and the following describes your later journey to Sarnath directly from these hubs.
1. How to travel from Varanasi Airport to Sarnath?
Get an airport transfer with Chiku Cab to reach Sarnath from the Babatpur Airport.
- Distance from Varanasi airport to Sarnath: 25–27 km
- Avg Travel time: 40–60 minutes
This route (Varanasi Airport to Sarnath) is ideal for:
- Travellers with luggage
- Early-morning arrivals
- Foreign tourists
- Travellers from major Indian metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata)
Public transport from the airport is limited and time-consuming, making taxis the safest and most reliable choice. Take a flight to Varanasi from anywhere in the world and enjoy a comfortable airport transfer directly from the Varanasi Airport to Sarnath with Chiku Cab. Dial 844-844-5504 to book a luxury cab.
2. How to Reach Sarnath from Varanasi’s Railway Stations?
Major railway stations near Sarnath:
- Varanasi Junction (BSB)
- Banaras Railway Station, Manduadih (BNRS)
- Varanasi City (BCY)
- Kashi (KEI)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Mughalsarai (DDU)
From all these stations:
- Avg Distance to Sarnath: 10 to 15 Km
- Travel Time: 30 to 50 minutes
- A taxi is the most convenient option
- Auto-rickshaws are available but less comfortable, overcharging and hectic
Because the distance is short, road travel is the only practical Sarnath travel option. Although Sarnath has its dedicated railway stations, not many trains operate from Banaras or other neighbouring cities. Hence, travellers arriving from Delhi, Bodh Gaya, Gaya, Lucknow, or Patna usually combine train + taxi for a smooth Sarnath journey.
3. How to Reach Sarnath by Bus from Varanasi?
Local buses connect Banaras city areas to Sarnath, but this option is suitable only if:
- You are a budget traveller
- You are familiar with local routes
- You are not on a tight schedule
Buses are often crowded and may require walking from drop points. Hence, buses are the cheapest but least comfortable Sarnath travel option.
4. How to Reach Sarnath from Varanasi by Taxi?
Taxi is the best travel option to Sarnath, especially for:
- First-time visitors
- Families
- Senior citizens
- International tourists
- Buddhist pilgrims with limited time
Advantages/Benefits of taxi travel from Varanasi to Sarnath
- Direct door-to-door pickup from the hotel, airport, or stations
- No route confusion
- Comfortable seating
- Flexible timing for sightseeing
- Safe and reliable transport
For travellers who reached Varanasi by flight or train, booking a trusted taxi from Varanasi to Sarnath ensures the smoothest transition. Dial 844-844-5504 to hire Chiku Cab for all your travel needs in Kashi and Sarnath.
Best Way to Reach Sarnath from Varanasi – Comparison
From the above analysis, it can be concluded that there are different ways to reach Sarnath from Banaras.
- Cheapest way: Local bus from Banaras
- Most comfortable way: Taxi from the hotel, airport, or railway station
- Best for first-time visitors: Taxi via Kashi
- Best for a one-day trip from Banaras: Round-Trip/Local Taxi
Why choose Chiku Cab to reach Sarnath?
Who We Are
Established in 2018, Chiku Cab offers the lowest cab fares for car rentals covering 1000+ routes across 250+ cities in India. We offer a range of well-maintained sedans, SUVs and Tempo Travellers for pilgrimages, family trips, city sightseeing, outstation road trips and airport transfers for all your travel needs.
Why are we the most preferred taxi for Sarnath Trips?
Chiku Cab offers the following services for all your local, outstation and airport travel needs.
- A well-maintained fleet of sedans, SUVs and Tempo Travellers
- 24×7 Support and Bookings over phone call, website and a dedicated mobile app
- 100% Transparent Billing with no additional/hidden charges
- GPS-tracking, emergency SOS and other measures for your safety
- We are a verified cab operator with three local offices in Banaras
- Get up to 20% discounts on Senior Citizens’ pilgrimage trips only with Chiku Cab
- An easy Call Booking Feature for your convenience.
- A dedicated Chiku Cab mobile app with a 4.1 Star Rating on Google Play Store and 10,000+ Downloads
- Police-verified Chauffeurs with 10+ years of driving experience in and around Kashi and Sarnath
Download the Chiku Cab today and get ₹250 cashback after your registration and on each referral. For more information, dial 844-844-5504.
Our Services for Sarnath
We offer comfortable local, outstation and airport trips to Sarnath for your convenience.
- Reach Sarnath from Varanasi with a local taxi from Chiku Cab
You can also hire Chiku Cab’s affordable Banaras to Sarnath cabs to comfortably reach Sarnath from Varanasi after reaching here.
- Reach Sarnath from Varanasi Airport with Chiku Cab
If you want to travel to Sarnath directly from the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, you can hire a Varanasi Airport to Sarnath taxi with Chiku Cab over a phone call.
- Reach Sarnath from Nearby Cities with an outstation taxi from Chiku Cab
Whether you are travelling from nearby cities like Bodh Gaya, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur or Patna, you can hire Chiku Cab for a seamless outstation/intercity trip to Sarnath.
So what are you waiting for? Dial 844-844-5504 and book a cab to Sarnath from anywhere with Chiku Cab.
Best Travel Tips to Explore Sarnath
Here are some of the best tips to make your Sarnath expedition comfortable and memorable.
- Visit Sarnath early morning or late afternoon
- Combine Sarnath with Kashi Vishwanath and Ganga Ghats
- Keep at least 3–4 hours for Sarnath sightseeing
- Avoid relying on last-minute local transport
- Always plan return travel to Banaras in advance
- Many travellers visit Sarnath on Day 2 after completing Kashi darshan on Day 1.
Why is Sarnath always visited via Varanasi?
Sarnath is a major Buddhist pilgrimage city located just 10-15 Km north of Kashi, and is within the Banaras district. Hence, it is more viable to reach Sarnath from Varanasi than from any neighbouring major cities, such as Lucknow, Prayagraj, or Gorakhpur, which are hundreds of kilometres away.
Moreover, you cannot reach Sarnath directly because:
- No Dedicated Airport in Sarnath – Shared with Banaras
- Nearest airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Babatpur, Banaras
- Distance from Sarnath: 25.8 Km
- Travel Time: 40 minutes, depending on traffic and other factors
- Travel options: Airport Cabs
- No major railway station in Sarnath – Tourists and Pilgrims travel to Sarnath mostly by road from Banaras
- No dedicated intercity bus terminal in Sarnath – Tourists who visit Sarnath by Bus also reach Banaras first.
Because of this, Banaras is the compulsory transit city for reaching Sarnath from anywhere in India or abroad.
Once you reach Banaras using the detailed routes explained in the Kashi guide (by air, train, road, or taxi), Sarnath is just a short and comfortable road journey away.
People Often Ask
How to reach Sarnath from Bodh Gaya?
You can reach Sarnath from Bodh Gaya by connecting flights (18 to 24 hours), trains (3 to 4 hours), or road (bus/taxi – 255 km, 5 to 6 hours). However, the most comfortable option is by a cab, as finding a direct bus/train is difficult. Get a Bodhgaya to Sarnath cab directly with Chiku Cab at the lowest taxi fare.
Is Sarnath Connected Directly by Train or Flight?
No. Sarnath is not directly connected by train or flight. However, since it is under the Varanasi district with a mere distance of 10-15 Km from the city, all the travellers are required to reach Varanasi first and then continue their short-distance intercity journey by road. This is why Sarnath is best planned as an extension of a Banaras trip, not as an isolated destination.
How to reach Sarnath from Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
You can hire a Toto/Auto-rickshaw if you are low on budget. However, a cab is the only comfortable travel option. Sarnath distance from Kashi Vishwanath Temple to Sarnath: 8.1 km, Avg Travel Time: 30–40 minutes.
How do I reach Sarnath after reaching Banaras?
You can travel by taxi, auto, or local bus. A taxi is the most reliable option. Get a half-day, full-day or multiple-day taxi service with Chiku Cab for a seamless travel experience in Sarnath.
Which is the nearest airport to Sarnath?
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), Varanasi, is the closest airport to Sarnath. Located around 25.8 km away, you can reach Sarnath within an hour from the airport.
How far is Sarnath from Banaras city?
Sarnath is located approximately 10–12 km from Banaras. Hire Chiku Cab for a comfortable travel experience around the best places in Sarnath, starting at just Rs. 9 per km.
Can Sarnath be covered in one day from Varanasi?
Yes. Sarnath is ideal for a half-day or one-day trip from Varanasi. Dial 844-844-5504 to book a Varanasi to Sarnath round-trip cab at the most affordable rates.
Is taxi travel safe for Sarnath?
Yes. Taxi travel is considered the safest and most comfortable way to reach Sarnath. Chiku Cab offers 24/7 Support, live GPS-tracking and Emergency SOS in a well-maintained fleet of Sedans, SUVs and Tempo Travellers with Professional, police-verified and experienced local drivers for your safety.
With 7+ years of experience as a professional content writer, I specialise in blog and academic content writing. For me, writing is simply more than my profession—it’s a journey of self-discovery through spiritual exploration and soulful expression, often inspired by music and mindfulness.
