Top 15 Famous Things to Do in Varanasi: Ghats, Temples & Trails

Discovering the Eternal City: The Definitive Guide to Varanasi's Top 15 Experiences

Varanasi, affectionately known as Banaras or Kashi, is not merely a geographic coordinate on a map; it is a profound philosophical statement carved in Chunar stone along the sacred arc of the River Ganga. Recognized by historians and archaeologists as one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centers on Earth, Kashi has stood witness to the rise and fall of great empires, the teachings of the Buddha, the hymns of Adi Shankara, the devotional poetry of Kabir and Tulsidas, and the timeless melodies of the Banaras music gharana. For millennia, pilgrims and spiritual seekers have journeyed here in search of Moksha—liberation from the eternal cycle of death and rebirth.

Yet, for the contemporary traveler, Varanasi can initially present itself as a whirlwind of sensory extremes. The hypnotic resonance of brass bells and conch shells competes with the frantic honking of auto-rickshaws; the sweet fragrance of crushed marigolds and burning sandalwood mingles with woodsmoke from eternal funeral pyres; and ancient havelis hide behind a dizzying labyrinth of narrow alleys barely wide enough for two people to pass. To help you navigate this sacred maze and extract the true, authentic soul of Banaras, we have compiled the definitive top 15 experiences every traveler must undertake, complete with practical local secrets, ground timings, and real costs.

Top 15 Varanasi Experiences at a Glance

The following master matrix summarizes the essential experiences, ideal times of day, recommended locations, and expected expenses across the holy city:

Deep Dive: The Top 15 Must-Do Experiences in Detail

1. Witness the Grand Maha Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat

Every single evening as twilight descends over the eastern horizon, thousands of pilgrims, travelers, sadhus, and locals gather along the stepped amphitheater of Dashashwamedh Ghat to witness the Maha Ganga Aarti. Performed continuously without interruption through monsoons, floods, and historical upheavals, this elaborate devotional liturgy is an offering of profound reverence to the sacred river that sustains northern India.

Seven young Hindu priests from the Ganga Seva Nidhi, dressed in lustrous saffron dhotis and ornate stoles, ascend elevated wooden platforms covered with red carpets and marigold garlands. To the rhythmic, thunderous tolling of heavy brass temple bells, the sounding of conch shells (Shankhanaad), and the deep reverberation of gongs, the priests perform synchronized choreography with multi-tiered brass oil lamps (Deepams) carrying 108 flaming wicks fed with pure camphor and desi ghee. Heavy brass incense holders send swirling clouds of fragrant loban, dhoop, and sandalwood smoke billowing into the evening breeze.

Insider Guidance: For the most immersive acoustic experience, sit directly on the stone steps by arriving 45 to 60 minutes before the ceremony begins (05:15 PM in winter, 06:15 PM in summer). If you prefer an unobstructed photographic vantage point, hire a seat aboard a wooden spectator boat moored in the river facing the ghat (₹150 to ₹250 per seat). At the conclusion of the ceremony, buy a leaf bowl filled with marigold petals and a lighted oil wick (₹20), make a prayer, and release it onto the river currents to watch it float among hundreds of twinkling floating flames.

2. Experience the Mystical Dawn Rowboat Ride Across the 84 Ghats

Varanasi's riverfront is an architectural masterpiece stretching over nearly seven kilometers in a graceful crescent. Because the river curves toward the north here, all 84 ghats face due east. As the morning sun rises above the sandy horizon across the water, the ancient stone facades of grand palaces built by the Holkars, Scindias, Bhonsles, and Rajputs are illuminated with a deep, radiant golden hue.

To experience this magic, board a traditional wooden rowboat (avoid loud diesel motorboats) at Assi Ghat at approximately 05:15 AM. Glide slowly past Tulsi Ghat, the imposing fortified river walls of Chet Singh Fort, Harishchandra Ghat, and the striking terracotta spires of Kedar Ghat, all the way to Dashashwamedh and Manikarnika. You will observe the timeless rhythms of morning Kashi: pilgrims taking their sacred ritual dip (Snan), ascetics meditating in the lotus posture, Brahmin priests performing Surya Namaskar, and washermen slapping fabric on stone slabs. Expect to pay between ₹400 and ₹700 for a 90-minute private rowboat accommodating up to 4 passengers.

3. Sacred Darshan at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham

At the spiritual nucleus of Kashi stands the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, enshrining one of the twelve divine Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Believed to have been consecrated by the deity himself, this sacred ground has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history, most notably restored to its current glory by the Maratha queen Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780. In 1839, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab donated one ton of pure gold to plate its two soaring spires.

The recently unveiled Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has unified the sacred riverbank at Lalita Ghat directly with the inner sanctum through a sprawling pedestrian complex constructed from Chunar sandstone. Before entering, remember that mobile phones, electronic devices, leather belts, and bags must be deposited in the official locker counters located near Gate 4 (Godowlia side) or Lalita Ghat. To bypass general queues that often stretch several kilometers on Mondays and festival days, book a Sugam Darshan ticket online via the temple trust portal (shrikashivishwanath.org) for ₹300 per person, ensuring seamless entry within 30 to 45 minutes.

4. Get Lost in the Labyrinthine Heritage Galis (Old City Alleys)

Varanasi's true character resides not on modern arterial roads, but within its ancient Galiyam—a dense network of medieval alleys winding behind the ghats. Narrow, cool, and paved with worn stone slabs, these galis were intentionally engineered to keep out the blistering summer heat and protect the city from invading cavalry.

Spend a morning wandering through Bangali Tola, Thatheri Bazar, and Vishwanath Gali. You will encounter hidden stepwells, centuries-old terracotta shrines nestled into building corners, sweetmakers frying kachoris over open flames, brass-workers hammering metal ornaments, and friendly stray bulls lazily chewing marigold garlands. The secret to enjoying the galis is to abandon your smartphone map: the alleys inevitably lead downward toward the river or outward toward Godowlia and Chowk. The river always serves as your compass.

5. Embark on the Legendary Banarasi Street Food & Chaat Trail

Banarasi cuisine is an art form rooted in ancient vegetarian Ayurvedic principles and the lavish culinary indulgences of royal courts. Street food here avoids pungent onion and garlic in favor of sweet-tangy tomatoes, roasted cumin, asafoetida (hing), and desi ghee.

Your culinary journey must include the following unmissable stops:

• Tamatar Chaat at Deena Chaat Bhandar (Golghar): Ripe spiced tomatoes slow-cooked with boiled potatoes, cashews, raisins, and a secret garam masala, ladled piping hot into a clay bowl and doused with a splash of sweet cumin syrup.
• Palak Patta Chaat at Kashi Chaat Bhandar (Godowlia): Fresh spinach leaves dipped in chickpea batter, fried golden crisp, and smothered in creamy chilled curd, tamarind chutney, mint sauce, and pomegranate seeds.
• Khasta Kachori & Jalebi at Ram Bhandar (Thatheri Bazar): The definitive Banarasi breakfast: flaky, urad dal-stuffed puris served with a peppery, hing-scented potato-pumpkin gravy and hot, crispy jalebis.
• Malaiyyo (Winter Season Only: Nov–Feb): A delicate, cloud-like dessert made by whipping raw milk infused with saffron, cardamom, and pistachios, left overnight under the open winter sky to absorb morning dew. The finest varieties are served around Chaukhamba and Thatheri Bazar.
• Blue Lassi Shop (Bangali Tola / Kunj Gali): Operating since 1925, this shop hand-churns rich buffalo milk curd with wooden whisks, offering over 50 fruit-topped variations served in clay kulhads with a thick dollop of clotted malai and rabri.

6. Explore Ancient Buddhist History at Sarnath

Located just 10 kilometers northeast of Varanasi lies Sarnath, one of Buddhism's four primary pilgrimage sites alongside Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar. It was here in the ancient Deer Park that Gautama Buddha delivered his first discourse after attaining enlightenment, setting the Dharmachakra (Wheel of the Law) in motion.

Marvel at the massive Dhamek Stupa, a towering 43.6-meter stone cylinder built during the Gupta dynasty over earlier Mauryan foundations, adorned with delicate 5th-century floral and geometric stone carvings. Across the road, visit the Archaeological Museum Sarnath, which houses the original 3rd-century BCE polished sandstone Lion Capital of Ashoka, adopted as the official National Emblem of India. Sarnath's manicured gardens, serene prayer bells, and international monasteries built by Thai, Tibetan, Japanese, and Burmese Buddhist communities offer a soothing counterpoint to the vibrant energy of Varanasi's ghats.

7. Start Your Day with Subah-e-Banaras at Assi Ghat

If Dashashwamedh Ghat is famous for its dramatic evening spectacle, Assi Ghat is revered for Subah-e-Banaras—a serene morning cultural initiative designed to reconnect visitors with the spiritual tranquility of ancient Kashi. Beginning at 05:30 AM, Vedic scholars perform an authentic havan fire ceremony chanting Vedic mantras from the Rigveda, accompanied by conch shells and sacred oblations.

This is followed by live recitals of classical Indian morning ragas (Bhairav, Todi) performed by accomplished vocalists, sitarists, and shehnai masters, framed against the sunrise over the water. The morning concludes with a free community yoga and pranayama session conducted on the broad steps. Afterward, head to Pappu Chai Stall near Assi Crossing for a glass of freshly brewed lemon-ginger chai and engage in the lively morning philosophical discussions with local scholars.

8. Discover the Art of Handwoven Banarasi Silk in Madanpura

Varanasi has been a premier hub of textile weaving since the Vedic period, mentioned in ancient Buddhist texts and the Mahabharata. The city's famous Banarasi silk sarees, woven with fine Katan silk and authentic gold and silver metallic threads (Zari), are coveted worldwide as bridal heirlooms.

Take an afternoon walking tour through the traditional Muslim weaver neighborhoods of Madanpura or Lallapura. Here, in ground-floor workshops of ancestral brick homes, master bunkars operate traditional wooden pit looms. You can watch two weavers work in synchronized harmony: one operating foot treadles and shuttles while another manipulates the punch cards of the Jacquard mechanism to create intricate floral jal, paisley motifs, and kalga patterns. An authentic handloom saree takes anywhere from three weeks to several months to complete.

9. Contemplate the Cycle of Life at Manikarnika Ghat

Known across India as the Mahashamshana (The Great Cremation Ground), Manikarnika Ghat is where mortal remains are cremated around the clock, year after year, century after century. In Hindu belief, Lord Shiva himself whispers the sacred Taraka mantra into the ear of anyone who passes away here, liberating their soul directly from the karmic cycle of rebirth into eternal Moksha.

Visiting Manikarnika is not an act of morbid curiosity; it is a profound, humbling spiritual experience that forces visitors to confront the inescapable reality of human impermanence. Watch from a respectful distance as mourners chant "Ram Naam Satya Hai" (The Name of God is the Ultimate Truth) as funeral pyres burn along the water's edge. Crucial Etiquette: Absolutely no photography or videography is permitted anywhere near the cremation pyres. Keep your camera and phone put away, dress modestly, maintain solemn silence, and politely ignore touts attempting to solicit donations for "sandalwood fuel."

10. Tour Banaras Hindu University (BHU) & Bharat Kala Bhavan

Founded in 1916 by great nationalist leader Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya with the assistance of Dr. Annie Besant, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, sprawling across 1,300 verdant acres in southern Varanasi.

Within its tranquil campus stands the Shri Vishwanath Mandir (New VT), built by the industrialist Birla family. Constructed from pristine white Makrana marble, its central tower rises to an impressive 77 meters, making it one of the tallest temple towers in the world. Its inner walls are engraved with all 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita. Afterward, visit the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum on campus, which houses over 100,000 priceless artifacts, including rare Chola bronzes, Mauryan terracottas, and Mughal miniature paintings from the reign of Akbar and Jahangir.

11. Taste the Iconic Banarasi Paan

The preparation and consumption of Banarasi Paan is a refined cultural ritual immortalized in Indian folklore and cinema. Betel leaf preparation in Kashi is treated with the precision of an artisanal perfumery.

Visit Keshav Tambul Bhandar near Godowlia or Gopal Paan Bhandar at Chowk. The paan-wallah selects a delicate, heart-shaped Magahi betel leaf (cultivated in the shade in southern Bihar, renowned for its soft texture and absence of bitter fibrous veins). The leaf is lightly smeared with limestone paste (chuna) and catechu (kattha), then filled with betel nut shavings, sweet gulkand (sun-preserved damask rose petals), menthol crystals, fennel seeds, cardamom powder, and drops of edible attar. The packet is folded into a triangular parcel (gilouri) and pinned with a single clove. Pop the entire parcel into your mouth at once: the leaf dissolves instantly across your palate in a burst of cooling, aromatic sweetness.

12. Cross the River to Ramnagar Fort & Museum

Standing opposite Tulsi Ghat on the eastern bank of the Ganga, Ramnagar Fort was constructed in the mid-18th century from warm yellow Chunar sandstone by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh. The fort features carved balconies, open courtyards, and massive fortified ramparts rising directly out of the river.

The fort houses the Saraswati Bhawan Museum, showcasing an eccentric collection of royal heirlooms: vintage horse-drawn coaches, palanquins carved from ivory, ceremonial silver thrones, medieval weapons (matchlocks, curved tulwars, and jewel-inlaid daggers), and an extraordinary astronomical clock built in 1852 by the royal court astronomer that displays planetary movements alongside standard hours. After touring the fort, watch the sun set over the Varanasi ghats across the water and stop by Shiv Prasad Lassi Bhandar outside the main gate for a kulhad of dense, rabri-topped buffalo milk lassi.

13. Seek Blessings at Sankat Mochan & Durga Mandir

In southern Varanasi near Lanka lies the revered Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, established in the 16th century by the saint-poet Goswami Tulsidas, author of the Ramcharitmanas. Millions of devotees visit this shrine on Tuesdays and Saturdays to seek freedom from worldly anxieties (Sankat). The temple serves delicious warm besan laddoos as prasadam and hosts the famous Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh classical music festival every spring.

A short walk away stands the 18th-century Durga Kund Mandir, constructed in the Nagara architectural style by Rani Bhabani of Natore. Built from vivid red ochre sandstone, the temple features an adjacent stepped masonry tank (Durga Kund) and is crowned by a multi-tiered spire. Devotees offer red hibiscus flowers and marigold garlands to the fierce goddess Durga.

14. Witness Traditional Indian Mud Wrestling at Tulsi Akhara

Centuries before modern fitness centers, Varanasi nurtured the ancient martial tradition of Mallavidya (Indian mud wrestling). Near Tulsi Ghat, hidden behind ancient banyan trees, lies the historic Tulsi Akhara, where wrestlers have trained for hundreds of years.

Visit early in the morning between 06:00 AM and 07:30 AM to watch pehelwans (wrestlers) begin their grueling daily routine. The wrestling pit is filled with soft earth treated with mustard oil, turmeric, buttermilk, and red ochre. Wrestlers swing heavy wooden clubs (Gadas), lift stone rings (Jori), and grapple in the sacred soil under the watchful eye of a master guru. The discipline, camaraderie, and ascetic lifestyle of these athletes offer an authentic glimpse into Varanasi's physical heritage.

15. Spend a Night in Contemplation on the Quiet Northern Ghats

While Dashashwamedh and Assi Ghats buzz with energy, the northern stretch of the riverfront between Scindia Ghat and Rajghat remains remarkably peaceful, introspective, and serene. After 09:00 PM, when the day's crowds disperse, take a quiet walk along these stone flagstones.

Sit at Panchganga Ghat, where five mythological sacred rivers converge beneath the imposing stone minarets of the 17th-century Alamgir Mosque (Dharahara). Listen to the gentle lapping of river waves against ancient stone steps, watch the distant flickering lights reflected on the water, and feel the gentle nocturnal breeze of the Ganga. In this profound stillness, you will discover the timeless spiritual serenity that has drawn seekers, saints, and wanderers to Kashi for over three thousand years.

Practical Tips for Exploring Varanasi

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many days do I need to cover all 15 top things to do in Varanasi?

To comfortably experience all 15 highlights without feeling rushed, plan for a 3-day or 4-day stay. A 2-day visit allows you to cover roughly 10 of the primary attractions (Ganga Aarti, boat ride, Vishwanath Temple, street food, Sarnath, and BHU), while an extra day gives you time for Ramnagar Fort, weaver colonies, wrestling akharas, and quiet ghat walks.

What is the cost of attending the Dashashwamedh Ganga Aarti?

Attending the Ganga Aarti from the stone steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat or Rajendra Prasad Ghat is completely free of charge. If you choose to sit on a moored wooden spectator boat on the river, charges range between ₹150 and ₹250 per seat. Private wooden rowboats can be hired for ₹1,000 to ₹1,800 for the duration of the ceremony.

Can I take photographs at Manikarnika Ghat?

No. Photography and videography of funeral pyres and mourning families at Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are strictly prohibited by both local custom and authorities. Respect the privacy of grieving families and keep cameras and phones stored in your bag.

What is the dress code for Kashi Vishwanath Temple?

For general darshan through the corridor, modest everyday clothing (jeans, shirts, kurtas) that covers the shoulders and knees is acceptable. However, for specialized Sparsh Darshan (where devotees enter the inner sanctum to physically touch the Shivalinga), men must wear an unstitched traditional dhoti and kurta, while women must wear a traditional saree or salwar kameez.

How do I travel to Sarnath from Varanasi?

Sarnath is located 10 km northeast of Varanasi city center. An auto-rickshaw round-trip with waiting time costs between ₹400 and ₹600. Alternatively, app-based cabs (Uber/Ola) are available for approximately ₹350 each way. The drive takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Is it safe to walk around the Varanasi ghats at night?

Yes, Varanasi's ghats are generally very safe to walk until 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM, especially between Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat, where local families, pilgrims, and police patrols are present. Avoid isolated northern ghats late past midnight, and always carry a flashlight or use your phone torch when navigating dim alleys.

What are the must-try dishes in Varanasi for vegetarians?

The top vegetarian culinary staples are Tamatar Chaat (spiced tomato ragout in clay bowls), Khasta Kachori with peppery subzi (breakfast staple), Desi Ghee Jalebi, Palak Patta Chaat, Malaiyyo (frothy saffron milk dessert available in winter), Baati Chokha, and artisanal Meetha Banarasi Paan.