Varanasi Travel Facts

The Basics

City Name: Varanasi

Where is it located?: Varanasi is in northern India on the Ganges River.

Why do people go there?: Mark Twain once wrote, “Benaras (Veranasi) is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” Varanasi is the holiest city in India, where Hindus come to the banks of the Ganges river.

How do travelers get there?: Varanasi is on the travelers circuit and most people arrive by bus.

Currency: Rupee

City Code: 0542

Population: 3.1 million


Travel Information

Neighborhoods: Chunar, Jaunpur, Sarnath, Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Attractions: Alamgir Mosque, Durga Temple, Vishwanat Temple, Bharat Mata Temple

Accommodations: Varanasi Hostels

Tourist Office: India Tourism Office

Off-the-beaten-path: Sarnath, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar


Tips for Visiting


Common Phrases: hello = na-ma-skar; goodbye = ach-ha; please = krip-ya; thank you = dhan-ya-vad; it is nice to meet you = aap se mil ke khu-shi hui; where’s the phone = phone ka-haan hain; what time is it = kya sa-may hai; how much does this cost = yeh kit-ne ka hai; how are you = kya haal hain

City Specific Events: Shivaratri, Buddha Purnima Festival, Ram Lila

How to get around?: Local transport runs the gamet of the experience. It all depends upon how much money you want to pay and how much of the experience you want controlled, although it seems like nothing works in India.

Good to know: Varanasi is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus.

Cheapest airport to fly into: The cheapest airport to fly into Varanasi is the Babatpur Airport.

Need more information?: Check out the Varanasi travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.

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