Varanasi Beyond the Ghats: 10 Must-Visit Places for Your Banaras Trip
From an early riverside walk to Sarnath and the BHU campus: a practical first-visit shortlist
Planning a Banaras trip? Explore 10 must-visit places in Varanasi, with an easy route plan, temple etiquette and real, credited landmark photographs.
Before you start
Banaras rewards a slower trip. A sunrise by the Ganga, a temple visit and a museum afternoon can feel like three different journeys in the same city. These ten picks mix the famous ghats with places that deserve more than a quick photo stop. This is an editorial shortlist, not a ranking by visitor numbers. Keep two or three days if you want to include Sarnath without rushing.
1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Begin with the Shiva temple at the heart of old Kashi. The experience includes the lanes and the movement of pilgrims, so leave room in your plan for queues rather than treating darshan as a fixed-duration stop. Check the temple’s official instructions for entry, belongings and any booked ritual before setting out.
2. Dashashwamedh Ghat
Come for the riverside atmosphere and, if it fits your day, the evening Ganga aarti. Reach before the main gathering so you can choose a sensible viewing position without pushing through the crowd. A boat view and a ghat view are different experiences; agree on any boat fare and duration before boarding.
3. Assi Ghat
Give Assi a morning rather than squeezing it into the end of a long sightseeing day. The open riverside setting is a good introduction to the city’s rhythm, with the Subah-e-Banaras tradition adding a cultural reason to linger. Afterwards, take a relaxed breakfast break instead of immediately racing to the next landmark.
4. Sarnath
Set aside a separate half-day for this Buddhist pilgrimage area outside the old city. Its monasteries, archaeological remains and the Dhamek Stupa give the Varanasi journey another perspective. The archaeological site and museum have separate arrangements, so check both before you leave; do not assume one ticket or opening schedule covers everything.
5. Ramnagar Fort
Cross to the other side of the Ganga for a change of scene. The fort and its museum connect the riverfront with the city’s royal history, making this a useful stop for travellers who enjoy objects and architecture. Allow for cross-city traffic and check the museum’s current opening arrangements before the journey.
6. New Vishwanath Temple, BHU
This is the temple on the Banaras Hindu University campus, distinct from the old-city Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Its campus setting makes it a natural partner for Bharat Kala Bhavan. Keep the afternoon flexible, and remember that you are visiting a working university as well as a place of worship.
7. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Add this Hanuman temple to a southern-city temple circuit rather than travelling back and forth across town. Let the devotional atmosphere lead the visit: keep conversation low and follow the staff’s photography and queue instructions. A short, unhurried visit is more rewarding than trying to turn every prayer space into a photo backdrop.
8. Durga Kund Temple
Look for the distinctive red temple near the kund, or tank. This stop works well with the nearby Tulsi Manas Temple, letting you explore two different temple settings without adding a long transfer. Follow local access rules and leave the water’s edge clear for the people using the space.
9. Tulsi Manas Temple
Visit for the connection with the Ramcharitmanas tradition and the temple’s inscribed walls. The appeal is in taking time to notice the text and setting, rather than checking off another exterior. Pair it with Durga Kund, and build in a drink or rest break between the southern-city sights.
10. Bharat Kala Bhavan
If your itinerary is all ghats and temples, this BHU museum adds an art-and-culture stop. It is a good choice for travellers who like looking closely at collections rather than only large landmarks. Confirm the current gallery access, weekly closure and photography rules before planning the campus part of your day.
An easy route plan
Suggested route: Day 1 — Kashi Vishwanath, the old-city lanes and Dashashwamedh Ghat. Day 2 — Assi Ghat, Sankat Mochan, Durga Kund, Tulsi Manas and the BHU stops, subject to opening hours. Day 3 or a separate half-day — Sarnath; keep Ramnagar Fort as another flexible outing. This is a route idea, not a promise that every queue and museum will fit the same timetable.
Practical planning notes
Check current temple entry rules, museum closures and river conditions close to your visit. Ghats have steps and uneven surfaces, so choose footwear accordingly and discuss access needs before booking transport. Use authorised boat services, follow local instructions and ask before photographing people. Cremation ceremonies are private moments, not sightseeing content. Carry back your litter and leave worship routes clear.
Sources and photo credits
Official references for planning:
- Varanasi district: tourist places
- Varanasi district: important temples
- Varanasi district: excursions
- Incredible India: Varanasi
- Incredible India: New Vishwanath Temple
- Incredible India: Ramnagar Fort
- Incredible India: Varanasi travel experiences
- Incredible India: Durga Temple
Cover uses a real Dashashwamedh Ghat photograph by Saaremees / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropping and typography were added in Canva. The cover design is also shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Each landmark photograph is credited and linked beside its use. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Canva design
