Varanasi — one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities — is a profound, overwhelming, utterly unforgettable experience. Here is your complete guide to planning a cab trip.
Varanasi (also called Kashi or Benares) has been a living city for at least 3,000 years. The 84 ghats along the Ganga, the ancient Kashi Vishwanath temple, and the evening Ganga Aarti create an experience that transforms every visitor.
Getting There by Cab
Bareilly to Varanasi: 535 km, approximately 9 hours via NH-730. Lucknow to Varanasi: 320 km, 5.5 hours. Allahabad (Prayagraj) to Varanasi: 130 km, 2.5 hours.
The Ghats
A sunrise boat ride on the Ganga, watching the city wake up to morning prayers and rituals, is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Start at Assi Ghat (southernmost) and take a rowboat north past Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat (the cremation ghat), and beyond.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The new Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (2021) has transformed access — clean, spacious, and deeply moving. Go early morning for darshan to avoid the longest queues.
Evening Ganga Aarti
Every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat, 7 priests perform a 45-minute fire aarti that must be seen to be believed. Arrive by 6:30 PM and watch from the ghats (free) or from a boat (boat operators charge ₹200–500).