Varanasi · Kashi · Banaras
Places to Visit in Varanasi Top Temples, Ghats & the Ganga Aarti
Varanasi is a city of temples and river steps. This guide brings together our visitor guides to its most popular places — what each one is, when to go, how to get there and how to behave — so you can plan your days with confidence.
The essentials
Famous Places to Visit in Varanasi
Varanasi, also called Kashi or Banaras, is often described as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and is the spiritual centre of Hindu India. Its main sights are its temples and its ghats — the stone steps that line the western bank of the Ganga for kilometres.
This guide covers five temples, six ghats and the daily Ganga Aarti. Each visitor guide explains what the place is, its timings, how to reach it, the etiquette to follow and what to see nearby.
The most comfortable season is October to March. Most of these places are free to enter, and many can be combined in a single day, as the routes below show.
Temples
Famous Temples in Varanasi
From the Jyotirlinga of Kashi Vishwanath to the guardian at Kal Bhairav and the Hanuman temple founded by Tulsidas.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines and the spiritual heart of Kashi — timings, darshan and visitor rules.
Read the guide →
Kal Bhairav Temple
The temple of Kashi’s guardian deity, traditionally visited before Kashi Vishwanath.
Read the guide →
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
The Hanuman temple traditionally founded by Tulsidas, busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Read the guide →
Durga Temple
The red 18th-century temple beside Durga Kund, known for its monkeys and Navratri crowds.
Read the guide →
Annapurna Temple
The temple of the goddess of food and nourishment, just steps from Kashi Vishwanath.
Read the guide →Ghats
Famous Ghats in Varanasi
The stone steps along the Ganga are the heart of the city — from the main aarti ghat to the two cremation ghats.
Assi Ghat
The southern end of the ghats, home of Subah-e-Banaras and a calmer evening aarti.
Read the guide →
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The main ghat and the setting for Varanasi’s best-known evening Ganga Aarti.
Read the guide →
Namo Ghat
A modern riverfront opened in November 2024, built for open space, viewing and easy access.
Read the guide →
Tulsi Ghat
The ghat linked to the poet-saint Tulsidas, who lived here while writing the Ramcharitmanas.
Read the guide →
Manikarnika Ghat
Varanasi’s main cremation ghat — what it means, and how to visit respectfully.
Read the guide →
Harishchandra Ghat
The city’s other main cremation ghat, tied to the legend of King Harishchandra.
Read the guide →Ganga Aarti
The Ganga Aarti
The daily evening ritual that brings the ghats to life.
At a glance
Varanasi Sightseeing: Quick Planner
A simple guide to when to go and how long to allow. Figures are suggestions for planning, not official times.
| Place | Type | Best time to go | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Temple | Early morning | 1.5–3 hours |
| Kal Bhairav Temple | Temple | Morning | 30–45 minutes |
| Assi Ghat | Ghat | Sunrise or evening | 1–2 hours |
| Dashashwamedh Ghat | Ghat | Evening, for the aarti | 1–2 hours |
| Namo Ghat | Ghat | Evening | About 1 hour |
| Tulsi Ghat | Ghat | Sunrise or sunset | 30–45 minutes |
| Manikarnika Ghat | Ghat | Daytime, from a boat | 20–30 minutes |
| Harishchandra Ghat | Ghat | Daytime, from a boat | 15–20 minutes |
| Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple | Temple | Morning; Tuesdays and Saturdays are busy | 30–45 minutes |
| Durga Temple | Temple | Morning; avoid Navratri crowds | About 30 minutes |
| Annapurna Temple | Temple | Morning, with Kashi Vishwanath | 20–30 minutes |
| Ganga Aarti | Experience | Every evening at dusk | About 1.5 hours including arrival |
Plan your days
Suggested Sightseeing Routes
Places that sit close together make natural pairs. These three routes cover the main sights.
Old-city temple morning
Start early at Kal Bhairav, then Kashi Vishwanath and the Annapurna Temple beside it. All three are in the old city, and the traditional order is Kal Bhairav first.
Southern ghats and temples
Begin at sunrise with Subah-e-Banaras at Assi Ghat, walk to Tulsi Ghat, then visit Sankat Mochan and the Durga Temple, about 700 metres apart.
Central ghats at dusk
Arrive early at Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti, or take a boat to watch from the river and to see Manikarnika Ghat respectfully from the water.
Visiting on Kartik Purnima? Read our Dev Diwali guide — that night changes how the whole city moves.
Quick answers
Places to Visit in Varanasi: Frequently Asked Questions
The best-known places are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the ghats — especially Dashashwamedh and Assi — and the evening Ganga Aarti. Also popular are the Kal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan, Durga and Annapurna temples, and Tulsi Ghat.
Timings, rules and fees at temples and ghats can change with the season and on festival days. Details in these guides were last checked in September 2026 — please confirm on the day.
Plan your trip
Make the Most of Your Varanasi Trip
Ganga Boat Ride
See the ghats and the aarti from the river with our local team.
Learn more →Stay Near the Ghats
A budget AC hotel in Shivala, close to Assi Ghat, run by the same team.
Learn more →Dev Diwali 2026 Guide
Dates, timings and how to watch all 84 ghats light up.
Learn more →Varanasi Tour Packages
Let us plan temples, ghats and aarti into one easy itinerary.
Learn more →Planning a Trip to Varanasi?
Message us for real local advice on timings, routes and where to stay — from a team based in the city.