Ganga Dwar, the riverside gateway of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor

Guides to Kashi

New Year in Varanasi 2027: Kashi Vishwanath crowd, rules, ghatsबनारस में न्यू ईयर 2027: नए साल पर काशी विश्वनाथ भीड़, नियम, घाट

By Kashidwar · Updated 4 November 2026

DatesThu 31 Dec 2026 – Fri 1 Jan 2027; rush from about 24 Dec
Crowd last year20 lakh+ darshans in the week to 31 Dec 2025 (temple CEO)
Special darshanVIP, protocol, sparsh paused 24 Dec–2/3 Jan in 2025-26
TrafficOnly two-wheelers near the temple in 2025-26; walk in
BoatsNo boating after 8:30 pm; fix the fare first
FogTrains and flights run hours late; keep a buffer day

New Year has become one of the busiest times of the year in Varanasi. In the week before 1 January 2026 more than 20 lakh people had darshan at Kashi Vishwanath, special darshan was suspended and cars were kept out of the old city. This guide covers what happened around the last two New Years, the temple and traffic rules to expect for 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027, the ghats and boats at night, the cold and fog, and what is and is not known about parties and events.

How crowded is Varanasi at New Year?

Very. Over the past few years New Year has become one of the busiest weeks of the year at Kashi Vishwanath, and the rush now starts around Christmas, not on 31 December. In 2025-26 the temple's chief executive officer, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said the crowd had been building since 24 December. More than 11 lakh people had darshan in three days, and more than 20 lakh in the week up to 31 December. The administration switched on a crowd plan meant for days with more than 3 lakh visitors. News reports put arrivals in the city at about 4 lakh a day.

Day-by-day figures from the year before show how it builds. Amar Ujala reported 1.8 lakh darshans on 21 December 2024, then 2.7 lakh on 27 December and more than 3.25 lakh on 28 December. That day the queue for Kaal Bhairav ran about 3 km through the lanes. On 1 January 2025 PTI reported devotees queuing from 3 am, with 6 to 8 lakh darshans by 8 pm (the two figures came from the temple). Earlier New Years drew more than 5 lakh (2022) and 6 lakh (2023).

For 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027, a Thursday and a Friday, plan on similar numbers. No crowd forecast or arrangements for this New Year had been announced by 4 November 2026.

Sources: [4] · [5] · [10] · [11] · [15]

Kashi Vishwanath darshan rules around New Year

In 2025-26 the temple administration suspended VIP, protocol and sparsh (touch) darshan from 24 December. Everyone joined the same queue for jhanki darshan, a view of the jyotirlinga from outside the sanctum, through zig-zag barricades. Reports differ on the end date: the Free Press Journal said 3 January 2026 and ABP said 2 January. The CEO said the suspension would be reviewed after that. On 1 January Amar Ujala reported special and touch darshan still barred and heavy crowds at Ganga Dwar and the other gates.

In 2024-25 the restrictions came later and were narrower. Touch darshan was stopped on 31 December and 1 January. The temple took no new bookings from 31 December to 2 January, according to Amar Ujala; Millennium Post said 4 January. Sugam Darshan, abhishek and most aarti tickets were already sold out online into January.

What this means for 2026-27: Sugam Darshan or aarti tickets bought in advance may not run, and touch darshan is unlikely. Expect a single general queue. The temple trust usually announces its New Year arrangements in the last week of December, so check shrikashivishwanath.org and local news before you travel.

Sources: [1] · [2] · [3] · [6] · [10] · [11] · [12]

When to go to the temple

The surest way to avoid the worst of it is to move your darshan away from 31 December and 1 January. Go a week or more earlier, or after the first few days of January. In both recent years the numbers rose steadily from about 21 to 24 December and peaked at the turn of the year.

If you must go on New Year's Day, expect the queue to start before dawn and to stretch through the lanes into the evening. On 28 December 2024 the line ran past Godowlia and, by 6 pm, reached Bansphatak. Leave your phone, bags and footwear at your hotel or in the lockers, carry water, and eat before you join the queue. In 2025-26 the temple handed out ORS and water and posted extra medical teams along the line. Kaal Bhairav and Sankat Mochan are also crowded and have their own police deployment.

Sources: [4] · [10] · [11]

Traffic, no-vehicle zones and getting around

Plan to walk the last stretch to the temple. In 2025-26 Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said only two-wheelers would be allowed around the temple, with pedestrian-only routes and barricading across the city. Aaj Tak reported the main routes to the temple declared a no-vehicle zone, e-rickshaws included, and long jams at Godowlia and Cantt. In 2024-25 vehicles were barred from the Maidagin–Godowlia road, and police set 36 barriers to keep vehicles away from the main temples and ghats.

Namo Ghat also draws big crowds on New Year's Day. On 1 January 2026 police closed the Rajghat bridge to four-wheelers from 4 to 6 pm and diverted them at Padav. At Varanasi Cantt station the railway set up a heated holding area and medical teams for the rush. Diversion orders change every year and usually come out on 30 or 31 December.

Sources: [5] · [7] · [8] · [9] · [10] · [11]

Ghats, Ganga Aarti and boats on 31 December

Many visitors spend New Year's Eve on the ghats. The evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh starts at about 6 pm in winter, an hour earlier than in summer, and the morning aarti moves to about 5:30 am. Assi Ghat holds its dawn aarti on 1 January as usual; in 2024-25 its organisers planned a larger one for the day, and ANI reported a big crowd there on 1 January 2026.

Boats are the pressure point. The Water Police ban on boating after 8:30 pm, in force since May 2024, still applies, so there is no midnight boat ride. In 2025-26 police warned boatmen not to overload, and NDRF, Water Police and PAC teams patrolled the ghats the year before. Fix the fare before you step in: on 31 December 2024 Amar Ujala found boatmen charging about ₹1,000 for a ride that normally costs about ₹200. E-rickshaw fares from Godowlia to Kaal Bhairav jumped from ₹30–40 to ₹100 a person.

Sources: [17] · [13] · [20] · [16] · [7] · [11] · [14]

New Year parties, events and hotels

Not officially confirmed — check before you travel

Varanasi has no official New Year's Eve event, and no city-run countdown or fireworks show was reported in the years checked. For most visitors the celebration is the evening aarti, a walk along the ghats and darshan the next morning. Hotels, restaurants and cruise operators do sell New Year's Eve dinners and packages, but these are commercial and change every year. We found no news report of 2026-27 events or their prices, so we list none here. Confirm anything you book directly with the venue.

Book your room early. On 31 December 2024 ETV Bharat reported all hotels full and rooms that usually cost about ₹1,000 a night going for ₹4,000–5,000. These are reported figures, not an official rate. As early as New Year 2023, OYO's founder said Varanasi was overtaking Goa in New Year's Eve bookings.

Kashi is a pilgrimage city first. In 2019 the municipal corporation's executive committee approved a proposal to ban liquor and non-vegetarian food within 250 metres of temples and heritage sites, but we could not confirm it is in force. Whatever the rule, drinking on the ghats or near temples is unwelcome, and police check vehicles and crowds closely on these nights.

Sources: [13] · [23] · [22]

Cold, fog and late trains

Late December is cold. IMD normals for Varanasi give average lows of about 10 °C in December and 9 °C in January, with daytime highs of 22–24 °C. Before dawn on the ghats it feels colder. In 2025-26 news reports described a severe cold wave and dense fog over the city, and people waiting for hours in queues in the cold. Bring warm layers, a cap and warm socks.

Fog disrupts travel. On 28 December 2025 more than four dozen trains across north India ran late, some by 4 to 9 hours, and airlines warned of poor visibility at Varanasi airport. On 6 January 2026, 26 flights at Babatpur were affected. Keep a buffer day before any onward train or flight and check its status before you leave for the station.

Sources: [21] · [5] · [18] · [19]

Quick checklist

A short list for 31 December and 1 January:

Confirm your hotel before you travel; rooms sell out
Check the temple trust's New Year notice in the last week of December
Don't count on Sugam Darshan, aarti tickets or touch darshan on peak days
Walk the last stretch; expect no cars or e-rickshaws near the temple
Agree boat and e-rickshaw fares first; no boating after 8:30 pm
Leave phones and bags behind or use lockers; carry water
Allow for fog: keep a buffer day before trains and flights
Emergency: dial 112

Sources: [1] · [5] · [7] · [13] · [14] · [16]

Frequently asked questions

How crowded is Kashi Vishwanath on New Year?

Extremely. In 2025-26 the temple CEO reported more than 20 lakh darshans in the week up to 31 December, and on 1 January 2025 PTI reported 6 to 8 lakh by 8 pm. Queues start before dawn.

Is Sugam Darshan or sparsh darshan available at New Year?

Usually not on the peak days. In 2025-26 VIP, protocol and sparsh darshan were suspended from 24 December to 2 or 3 January (reports differ). In 2024-25 touch darshan stopped on 31 December and 1 January and no bookings were taken for those days. The 2026-27 notice is usually out in late December.

What is the best time to visit Kashi Vishwanath around New Year?

Avoid 31 December and 1 January if you can. The crowd builds from about 21–24 December and peaks at the turn of the year, so visit well before Christmas or after the first days of January.

Are there New Year parties or events in Varanasi?

There is no official city event. Hotels, restaurants and cruise operators sell New Year's Eve dinners and packages, but they change every year and we found no reported 2026-27 listings. Most visitors spend the evening at the Ganga Aarti and the ghats.

Can I take a boat on the Ganga on New Year's Eve?

Yes, in the evening, but not late at night: boating has been banned after 8:30 pm since May 2024. Agree the fare first, as reported New Year prices have been several times the normal fare, and don't board an overloaded boat.

Can I drive to Kashi Vishwanath on 1 January?

Not to the temple. In 2025-26 only two-wheelers were allowed around the temple and the main routes were no-vehicle zones, e-rickshaws included. Park away from the old city and walk.

What is the weather in Varanasi at New Year?

Cold and often foggy: average lows of about 9–10 °C and highs of 22–24 °C (IMD normals). Dense fog delays trains and flights in late December and early January, so keep a buffer day.