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Varanasi

Luxury Varanasi Tours made for you

Experience the best of Varanasi with a private tour designed just for you

India's Holiest City

An ancient settlement on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital and important among numerous faiths.

Formerly known as Kashi or Benares, Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world – evocatively described by Mark Twain as “older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend” – and has been a religious centre of northern India for several thousand years.

For Hindus, it is on the original ground created by Shiva and Parvati, the holiest of the seven sacred cities, and it is thought that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism when he gave his first sermon in nearby Sarnath, and Guru Nanak Dev stayed in the city collecting writings on his path to founding Sikhism.

Varanasi’s 84 ghats – stone embankments that step down into the Ganges – are its most iconic sight. Most are crowded with pilgrims performing ritual ablutions in the river waters while a few are used solely for cremation. Sublime and sometimes shocking to visitors, the whole experience is utterly unforgettable.

The rest of city is home to some 23,000 temples, the sandstone Ramnagar Fort and numerous centres of education, philosophy, music and art. Small-scale industries and household production employ most of Varanasi’s residents and its winding alleyways are one of the best places to find fine silks, carpets and crafts.

  • Varanasi is a city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. The Ganges is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. Indian Hindus and tourists from all over the world in the boats and riverside of Ganges in early morning. Every morning Indian people are coming to riverside for praying and worship. The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus.
  • Sadhu rowing boat on the holy Ganges River in Varanasi
  • colorful main ghat in varanassi
  • A Varanasi man holding his beard in a doorway
  • Hands holding a red flower and white powder over orange marigold garlands during a traditional Hindu ritual on luxury India tours.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Varanasi specialists

Witness the evening Aarti ceremony on the Ganges

Experience the evening Aarti prayer, one of the most important and popular ceremonies of the Hindu faith

Explore a few of Varanasi's many temples

Try spotting some of the city’s 23,000 temples

Luxury accommodation in Varanasi

There are many incredible places to stay in Varanasi. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Varanasi example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

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Whatever you want from your Varanasi tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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Where else to go in India

Meet your Indian Subcontinent team

When to visit India

The best time to visit is between October and March. September and April are considered the shoulder months when it is very hot in the middle of the day but mornings and late afternoons are lovely. From the end of December until the middle of January, mornings and evenings can be foggy and nights cold, but during the day the weather is great for sightseeing.

National Parks

October - June

Trekking

October - November / February - March

When Is the Best Time to Visit India?

India Travel Guides

Plan your trip to Varanasi

Whatever you want from your adventure in India, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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