VaranasiIndia
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The world's oldest continuously inhabited city sits on the banks of the Ganges, where dawn boat rides reveal ancient cremation ghats, temple bells, and a spiritual intensity found nowhere else on earth.
Best Time to Visit
October to March
Daily Budget
$20-40/day
budget tier
Weather
Hot summers exceeding 45°C, pleasant winters around 10-20°C, and humid monsoons from July to September.
Top Things to Do in Varanasi
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges — watch the ghats come alive at dawn
- Dashashwamedh Ghat evening aarti — mesmerising fire ceremony at sunset
- Narrow old city lanes — labyrinthine alleys with silk weavers and temples
- Sarnath — where Buddha gave his first sermon, 10km from the city
- Manikarnika Ghat — the main cremation ghat, a profound and humbling experience
Travel Tips
- 1.Hire a boat at dawn (₹200-300) before the crowds arrive
- 2.Respect cremation ghats — don't photograph without permission
- 3.The old city lanes are best explored on foot — no vehicle can navigate them