I recently went to Varanasi, and this trip was actually quite random because we had not planned everything in advance. We had already decided that we wanted to visit Varanasi, but we were not sure about the transportation.
First, we went to Delhi, and from there we reached Kashmiri Gate to look for a bus to Varanasi. It was around 12 at night, but we could not find a direct bus to Varanasi. So, we decided to take a bus to Lucknow first.
From Kashmiri Gate, we booked a bus to Lucknow. We reached Lucknow in the morning, and after getting down there, we took a normal Uttar Pradesh Transport bus towards Varanasi. Finally, we reached Varanasi around 12–2 PM.
It was already afternoon, and we did not really know where to stay. We started looking for a hotel and finally booked a hotel online near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The photos of the hotel looked good, and the reviews were also quite positive, so we decided to book it. It cost us around ₹1,200.
After that, we had lunch at a restaurant that looked nice from the outside. But unfortunately, the food turned out to be quite bad.
Then we went to our hotel. After checking in and taking some rest, I was actually quite impressed with the hotel. According to me, for the price, it was a really good hotel. The interior was nice and the overall service was also very good. I will include some photos of the hotel along with this blog so you can see what it looked like.
Exploring the Varanasi Market
In the evening, we went out to explore the famous markets of Varanasi.
While walking around the market, we found Deena Chaat Bhandar, where we tried the famous Varanasi tomato chaat and a tikki. The chaat and tikki were really good. Varanasi is famous for its chaat and tikki, and after trying them ourselves, I understood why people talk about them so much.
We continued exploring the market and saw many other things. There were lassi shops, milk-based drinks and many local food options. We did not try everything, but the entire market had a very different vibe.
Since we had reached Varanasi on a Sunday and the next day was Monday, we already knew there would be a huge crowd because it was the first Monday of Sawan. Even in the evening, the market was extremely crowded.
We explored the entire market and saw Banarasi sarees, paan and many other local products. We also tried Banarasi paan and bought a saree. There were many varieties of Banarasi sarees and pure Banarasi fabrics available in the market.
After walking around the market for quite some time, we became tired and returned to our room.
Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The next morning, we woke up quite late. It was already around 10–11 AM when we got ready.
We decided to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. We started walking towards the temple, but there was heavy barricading and a huge crowd. Because it was the first Monday of Sawan, there were a lot of devotees and a large number of police personnel around the temple.
When we reached the temple area, we saw a very long queue. So instead of immediately standing in the queue, we decided to first explore the ghats and come back to the temple later, hoping that the crowd might reduce.
Exploring the Ghats of Varanasi
We walked towards the ghats, and the entire riverside looked extremely beautiful and aesthetic. There was a peaceful atmosphere, and we spent some time sitting near the Ganga.
After that, we decided to go boating.
We took a shared boat that took us around the ghats. The boat ride covered around 44 ghats. The shared boat cost us around ₹100 per person, while for a private boat they were asking around ₹1,200.
The boat ride was actually one of the best parts of the trip because the boatman explained the history and stories behind many of the ghats.
We came to know that many ghats have interesting stories behind their names. For example, Ahilyabai Ghat is associated with Ahilyabai Holkar, the famous queen of Indore, who contributed to the development of religious places in different parts of India.
We also came across several other ghats, and the boatman explained why they were famous and how they got their names. It was interesting to hear the stories behind these places instead of just seeing them from the outside.
After the boat ride, we started walking back towards the temple.
Finally Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple
By this time, we thought that maybe the crowd would be slightly less, so we decided to go towards the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Before entering, we had to submit our phones at a nearby shop because phones were not allowed inside. We took the prasad and entered the temple area.
But even around 2–3 PM, there was still a very long queue.
We waited in the crowd for almost two hours. Finally, our turn came, and we got the opportunity to have darshan of the Shivling inside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
There were also several other temples around the main temple, but after standing in the crowd for such a long time, we were completely exhausted. So we decided not to explore everything and came out.
Food in the Streets of Varanasi
After coming out of the temple, we went to have some food.
One thing we noticed during our trip was that the smaller local restaurants and street-side places often had better food than some of the expensive restaurants.
We tried chole kachori and aloo kachori, and also had lassi. The food was really delicious, and after eating and drinking, we felt much better.
After that, we continued exploring the market for some time.
We also took an e-rickshaw, but the traffic in the narrow streets was extremely heavy. There were horns and people everywhere, and after some time, we became quite irritated because of the traffic.
Finally, we reached our hotel and took some rest.
Experiencing the Evening Ganga Aarti
In the evening, we wanted to experience the famous Ganga Aarti.
We knew that we needed some energy because of how much we had walked during the day, so after resting for some time, we left the hotel in the evening.
As soon as we reached the ghat, we saw an enormous crowd. There were people everywhere who had come to watch the Ganga Aarti.
The Aarti itself lasted for around ten minutes, but those ten minutes were a completely different experience.
The entire atmosphere was peaceful and spiritual. Everyone was focused on the Aarti, and the whole crowd seemed to be moving with the same rhythm.
The priests were performing the Aarti in complete synchronization, using different items and lamps at different moments. Sometimes they were holding lamps in their hands, and at other times they were performing different rituals.
It was something we normally do not experience even at home, so watching such a large-scale Aarti in Varanasi was a completely different feeling.
Because there was so much crowd and hardly any space to sit, we also took seats for ourselves. There were people offering chairs for around ₹200 per person. We decided to take the seats because it was extremely crowded.
We also took some photos there and enjoyed the entire experience.
The sight of so many people coming together and participating in the Aarti was honestly amazing. The entire atmosphere had a very calming and peaceful vibe.
The Next Morning at Assi Ghat
There is also a morning Aarti at Assi Ghat, and we had planned to experience it.
The next morning, we wanted to wake up early and watch the Aarti at Assi Ghat, but unfortunately, we were so tired from the previous day that we could not wake up early.
We finally woke up around 11 AM, got ready and checked out from our hotel.
Although we missed the morning Aarti, we still decided to visit Assi Ghat to see the place.
We took an e-rickshaw and reached Assi Ghat.
Assi Ghat was also very lively. There was a proper setup for the programs and Aarti, and there were boats lined up along the river. From Assi Ghat, you could also take boats to explore the other ghats.
We asked some local people about the morning Aarti and how everything works. They told us that the morning Aarti is held very early, around 4 AM, so if you want to experience it, you have to wake up really early.
We spent some time sitting at Assi Ghat. It was sunny, but we still enjoyed sitting there for a while and taking in the atmosphere.
Food Near Assi Ghat
After exploring Assi Ghat, we went to a restaurant nearby and had some food.
One thing I really liked about Varanasi was that food was generally available at a very reasonable price. You do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money to eat well.
We had a good meal at a budget-friendly restaurant and then booked a Rapido to leave.
The Bus Booking Problem
I had already booked our bus for the return journey.
We took a Rapido and went to the location where our Indo-Canadian bus was supposed to arrive.
But then I faced a major problem.
By mistake, my bus booking had been made for the next day, while I actually had to travel on the same day.
Because of this, I had a serious seat and booking problem.
I contacted the Indo-Canadian bus team and explained the situation. Fortunately, they refunded my amount.
After that, I had to make another booking with a different bus operator.
There was another problem because the bus location was showing somewhere else. We initially thought the location was nearby, but it turned out to be quite far from where we were.
We finally managed to reach the correct location and got our bus.
This time, we travelled with Laxmi Travels. Their service was also quite good. We booked sleeper seats, and the ticket cost us around ₹1,000 per person.
Our Overall Varanasi Trip Cost
Overall, including our travel, hotel stay, food and other expenses, our entire Varanasi trip cost us around ₹12,000–₹14,000.
We explored quite a lot during the trip and managed to cover many important places within just two days.
However, there were also some places that we missed.
For example, we could not visit Annapurna Temple and a few other places because we were already extremely tired and did not have enough time.
We had planned this as a two-day trip, including all the travelling and sightseeing, but there was simply too much to cover.
My Experience and Tips for Varanasi
Overall, my Varanasi trip was a really memorable experience.
From exploring the local markets and trying Banarasi food to taking a boat ride across the ghats, visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple and experiencing the Ganga Aarti, there were so many different experiences packed into just two days.
If you are planning to visit Varanasi, I would personally suggest keeping at least two to three days so that you can explore the city without rushing too much.
There are many places that we could not cover because of our limited time and the amount of walking involved.
Also, be prepared for crowds, especially if you are visiting during Sawan or on an important Monday. The crowd around Kashi Vishwanath Temple can be very heavy.
And when it comes to food, do not only look for expensive restaurants. Some of the smaller local restaurants, street-food shops and dhabas can offer really good food at a much more affordable price.
Most importantly, keep some extra time in your schedule. Varanasi is not just about visiting a few tourist attractions. Walking through the old streets, sitting beside the Ganga, exploring the markets and simply experiencing the atmosphere of the city are also a big part of the trip.
For us, it was a short two-day trip, but even in those two days, we experienced a lot.
There were still several places left to explore, which gives us another reason to visit Varanasi again.
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