How to reach Varanasi by train, flight and road, and on to the ghatsHow to reach Varanasi by train, flight and road, and on to the ghatsवाराणसी कैसे पहुंचे: ट्रेन, फ्लाइट और सड़क से, फिर स्टेशन से घाट तक

By train: three stations, and which to choose

Varanasi Junction (code BSB), also called Varanasi Cantt, is the main station, about 4 km from Godowlia. It handles close to 300 trains a day, including the Vande Bharat trains to Delhi. Banaras station (BSBS), the former Manduadih, is about 5 km south of the Junction and is the terminus for the Shiv Ganga and Kashi Vishwanath Expresses. Both are a similar auto ride from the ghats.

• Delhi, overnight: Shiv Ganga Express 12560, New Delhi 20:05 → Banaras 06:10, daily
• Delhi, by day: Vande Bharat 22436 (06:00 → 14:00) or 22416 (15:00 → 23:05), about 8 hours
• Mumbai: Mahanagari Express 22177, CSMT 00:10 → Varanasi Jn 03:35 next day, about 27.5 hours, daily
• Kolkata: Vibhuti Express 12333, Howrah 19:55 → Varanasi Jn 09:40, about 14 hours; Rajdhanis reach DDU in about 8 hours
• Prayagraj: about 1.5 hours by Vande Bharat (125 km by rail)
• Lucknow: Varuna Express 24227/24228, about 5 hours, chair car

Sources: [1] · [2] · [3] · [4] · [5] · [6] · [7] · [8] · [9] · [10] · [11] · [12] · [13] · [14] · [37] · [39]

By air: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS)

Varanasi's airport, code VNS, is at Babatpur, about 26 km north-west of the city on the Lucknow road. It handled about 4.3 million passengers in 2025–26. Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet fly to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and other cities; a Delhi flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. International flights are few: Air India Express to Sharjah and Bangkok, and Buddha Air to Kathmandu. A new terminal and runway extension are under construction, with no opening date announced.

Sources: [15] · [16] · [41]

By road and bus

Varanasi sits on NH-19, the Delhi–Kolkata highway, and NH-31, which runs through Jaunpur and Babatpur towards Lucknow. Prayagraj is about 125 km away, 2.5–3 hours by car on the six-lane NH-19 stretch. Lucknow is about 285–315 km, 5.5–6.5 hours; the faster route uses the Purvanchal Expressway, which ends in Ghazipur district rather than in Varanasi. Bodh Gaya is about 250 km, 5–6 hours via Sasaram (approximate). The Ganga Expressway, opened on 29 April 2026, runs from Meerut to Prayagraj; drivers from western Uttar Pradesh can use it and continue on NH-19.

Sources: [14] · [15] · [20] · [21] · [22] · [23] · [24] · [25] · [26]

From the station or airport to the ghats

Vehicles stop at Godowlia Chowk. The road from Godowlia to Dashashwamedh Ghat and the lanes around the Vishwanath Dham are pedestrian zones for most of the day, so ask for Godowlia, not for the ghat. Use the prepaid auto booth at Varanasi Junction rather than touts on the forecourt. App cabs (Uber, Ola, Rapido) run on main roads; agree or check every other fare before you set off.

• Varanasi Jn (Cantt) → Godowlia: about 4 km, prepaid auto ₹100–150, 20–60 minutes depending on traffic
• Banaras station → Godowlia: about 5–7 km, auto about ₹100–150, 25–45 minutes (approximate)
• Airport → Godowlia: 25–26 km, prepaid taxi or app cab about ₹600–1,000, 45–75 minutes; auto ₹400–600 and slower
• DDU → Godowlia: 16–20 km, 45–55 minutes by car; agree the fare first
• Varanasi Jn → Sarnath: 9–10 km, 25–40 minutes; reserved auto about ₹150–400 one way, city bus 107E about ₹25
• Airport → Sarnath: 25–30 km, auto ₹300–500, 45–75 minutes

Sources: [14] · [17] · [18] · [19] · [27] · [36] · [38] · [39] · [42]

Reaching Kashi Vishwanath Dham

From Godowlia, the city-side gates of the Dham are about 500–700 m on foot, roughly 10 minutes. For Sawan 2026 the administration listed seven entry points: Gate No. 4, Kashi Dwar Marg (4B), Nandu Feria, Silco, Dhundhiraj, Saraswati Phatak, and Bhairav Dwar on the ghat side. Which gates are open changes on festival days, so follow police directions.

Sources: [28] · [29] · [30] · [31]

Getting around the old city

Inside the old city you walk. The lanes between Godowlia, Dashashwamedh and the Vishwanath Dham are too narrow for cars and most autos, and the Maidagin–Godowlia road becomes a full no-vehicle zone on big bathing days; in January 2026 only golf carts for elderly, disabled and pregnant visitors were allowed. Shared e-rickshaws run on the wider roads for ₹10–50 a seat. Autos and e-rickshaws in the central Kashi zone are meant to carry a police QR code, though an August 2026 report found many without one.

Sources: [14] · [27] · [40] · [43]

The Cantt–Godowlia ropeway: when it opens

Not officially confirmed — check before you travel

A 3.75 km urban ropeway from Varanasi Junction to Godowlia is in final trials. At an inspection on 28 September 2026 officials put the work above 94% complete and named 24 November 2026, the day of Dev Deepawali, as the target for passenger service, subject to readiness. No opening has been officially notified. The ride is planned at about 16 minutes, against 30–60 minutes by road. The administration has fixed fares at ₹10 a station and ₹50 for the full run, with a ₹40 smart-pass rate. Until it opens, plan on an auto.

Sources: [32] · [33] · [34]

Arriving at night or before dawn

Several popular trains arrive at awkward hours: Vande Bharat 22416 at 23:05, the Mahanagari Express at 03:35 and the Shiv Ganga Express at 06:10. Prepaid taxis at the airport run round the clock; at the stations, fewer autos wait late at night, so agree the fare before you set off. The old-city lanes are dark and quiet at these hours. If your guesthouse is inside the lanes, ask it to send someone to meet you at Godowlia; most drivers cannot find a lane address.

Sources: [4] · [5] · [7] · [14] · [17] · [35]