Varanasi Traveler Essentials
- Safety rating
- 5.8/10
- Best time to visit
- October to March offers comfortable temperatures, with dawn boat rides especially atmospheric in the cool months.
- Population
- 1.2M
Overview
Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, is the spiritual heart of Hinduism on the sacred Ganges. Pilgrims bathe and cremate their dead along ancient ghats amid swirling rituals and chanting. The labyrinthine old lanes pulse with timeless devotion and intensity.
Getting around
Boats, auto-rickshaws, and walking are the ways to navigate, as vehicles cannot enter the narrow old-city alleys.
Local etiquette
Dress conservatively, never photograph cremations, and remove shoes and cover your head at temples.
Safety
Generally safe but overwhelming; beware of aggressive touts, boat overcharging, and unofficial 'priests' demanding donations.