{"id":1305681,"date":"2026-10-02T10:07:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1305681"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:08:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:08:49","slug":"varanasi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","title":{"rendered":"Varanasi"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302835,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"","hw_hub_country_faqs":"","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_country_hub_term":"","hw_hub_country_parent_hub":"","hw_hub_country_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_city_hero_eyebrow":"Varanasi city guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Things To Do In Varanasi","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"The holiest city in India, on the Ganges, where pilgrims bathe at dawn, cremations burn day and night on the ghats and the evening aarti fills the riverbank. Intense and unmissable.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1305797","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"medium","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"80+ | Ghats on the Ganges\r\n3,000+ years | Of history\r\n10 km | To Sarnath","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"The city of light","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"Varanasi, also called Kashi and Benares, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the holiest in Hinduism. Hindus believe that dying here brings liberation from the cycle of rebirth, and cremations take place in the open at the burning ghats.\r\n\r\nThe city is a maze of alleys running down to more than eighty ghats along the Ganges. At dawn, pilgrims bathe and pray; at dusk, priests perform the aarti with fire and bells.\r\n\r\nNearby Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Three days is right.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Getting there | Train from Delhi, about 8\u201312 hours\r\nGetting around | On foot, rickshaw and auto\r\nLanguage | Hindi\r\nTipping | 10% in restaurants\r\nTap water | Not safe to drink\r\nHow long to stay | Three days","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Stay near the ghats, around Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"13","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"Assi Ghat | First-timers | The southern ghats. | 25.2860 | 83.0060 |  | \nDashashwamedh | Atmosphere | The main ghat. | 25.3070 | 83.0100 |  | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"How long have you got?","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"Things to do in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_do_body":"Varanasi, on the Ganges, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and Hinduism's holiest, where pilgrims come to bathe and the devout come to die.\r\n\r\nTake a boat on the river at dawn, when the ghats, the stepped banks, fill with people bathing, praying, washing and doing yoga as the sun rises. Walk the ghats from Assi to Dashashwamedh, a few kilometres of temples and palaces.\r\n\r\nAt Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats, cremations take place around the clock. Watching is permitted, but photography is not; be respectful, and ignore people who offer to guide you in exchange for 'donations' for firewood.\r\n\r\nThe Ganga Aarti, every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat, is a ceremony of fire, bells and chanting by young priests; watch from the steps or a boat.\r\n\r\nThe Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the holiest Shiva temples, is reached through a new corridor to the river; phones and bags are not allowed inside. The old city's narrow lanes, galis, are full of shrines, lassi shops and silk weavers.\r\n\r\nSarnath, half an hour away, is where the Buddha gave his first teaching, with ruins, a stupa and a museum.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Dawn boat ride | On the Ganges\r\nGanga Aarti | Dashashwamedh, every evening\r\nThe ghats | Assi to Dashashwamedh\r\nSarnath | Where the Buddha first taught","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Free things to do in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_free_body":"Walking the ghats, the Ganga Aarti, and the old city's lanes are free. Watching dawn on the river from the steps costs nothing.\r\n\r\nSarnath's deer park and stupa grounds charge a small fee.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"Ghats | Free\r\nAarti | Free\r\nOld city lanes | Free\r\nDawn | From the steps","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free-things-to-do","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Eating and drinking in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Varanasi's food is vegetarian and sweet. Kachori sabzi, fried bread with potato curry, is the breakfast, followed by jalebi. Lassi in clay cups, from shops in the galis, and malaiyo, a winter saffron milk foam, are local favourites. Banarasi paan is famous.\r\n\r\nA meal is \u20ac1 to \u20ac4.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Kachori sabzi | Breakfast\r\nLassi | In clay cups\r\nBanarasi paan | Famous\r\nA meal | \u20ac1\u20134","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Varanasi","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Going out in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Varanasi has no real nightlife: the evenings are for the aarti and riverside caf\u00e9s. Alcohol is restricted near the ghats.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"No nightlife | Really\r\nAarti | Evenings\r\nRiverside caf\u00e9s | Quiet\r\nAlcohol | Restricted near the ghats","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Varanasi","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting around Varanasi","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Varanasi Airport is about 45 minutes away. Trains reach Delhi in about eight to twelve hours, Agra and Kolkata; the Vande Bharat to Delhi takes about eight.\r\n\r\nThe ghats and old city are walkable; boats link the ghats. Autos cover longer distances.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"Airport | About 45 minutes\r\nTo Delhi | Vande Bharat, about 8 h\r\nGhats | Walk or boat\r\nAutos | Longer trips","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Varanasi","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Varanasi costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Varanasi is cheap. Dorms start around \u20ac5 and a careful day is \u20ac15 to \u20ac25.\r\n\r\nA shared boat at dawn is a few euros, a private boat \u20ac5 to \u20ac15. The aarti is free.\r\n\r\nThe currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Dorm bed | From about \u20ac5\r\nDawn boat | A few euros shared\r\nA day | \u20ac15\u201325\r\nAarti | Free","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Varanasi","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"Varanasi needs patience. Touts are persistent, and at the burning ghats people may pressure you for 'donations' for firewood; decline politely. Do not photograph cremations.\r\n\r\nThe Ganges is heavily polluted; avoid swimming. The galis are crowded with people, cows and motorbikes.\r\n\r\nWomen travellers often face staring and comments, and sometimes groping in crowds; dress conservatively, use women's carriages on metros and trains, and book cabs through apps. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.\r\n\r\nMost visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.\r\n\r\nEmergency number is 112.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Burning ghats | No photos; no \"donations\"\r\nPolluted river | Do not swim\r\nTouts | Persistent\r\nEmergency | 112","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Varanasi","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Varanasi","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"Buddhist Sarnath and beyond.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Sarnath | About 30 minutes | Auto | Where the Buddha first taught. |  | 1305710\nRamnagar Fort | About 45 minutes | Auto | A fort across the river. |  | 1305716\nBodh Gaya | About 5 hours | Train | Where the Buddha found enlightenment. |  | 1305713","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Varanasi","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"October to March. Summers are very hot.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average highs. Winter mornings are foggy.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | 23 | 4 | Foggy\r\nFebruary | 27 | 4 | Shivaratri\r\nMarch | 33 | 4 | Holi\r\nApril | 39 | 2 | Hot\r\nMay | 40 | 1 | Very hot\r\nJune | 38 | 1 | Very hot\r\nJuly | 33 | 1 | Monsoon\r\nAugust | 32 | 1 | Monsoon\r\nSeptember | 32 | 2 | Humid\r\nOctober | 32 | 4 | Good\r\nNovember | 29 | 5 | Dev Deepawali\r\nDecember | 25 | 4 | Good","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"Dev Deepawali lights the ghats with a million lamps.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Dev Deepawali | October or November | The ghats | A million lamps on the river. |  | \nHoli | March | Varanasi | Wild and colourful. |  | \nMaha Shivaratri | February or March | Temples | Shiva's night. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3\r\nMiddle of the road | 12 | 8 | 4 | 8\r\nComfortable | 25 | 15 | 8 | 15","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Where to stay in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"The top-rated places to stay in Varanasi right now, live from Hostelworld.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Varanasi","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best for solo travellers |  |  | \nBest for a party |  |  | \nQuietest |  |  | ","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Varanasi travel questions","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"Can I watch the cremations? | Yes, respectfully, without photographs. Decline anyone asking for firewood \"donations\".\r\nWhen is the best boat ride? | At dawn.\r\nWhen is the Ganga Aarti? | Every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat.\r\nCan I swim in the Ganges? | The river is heavily polluted; avoid it.\r\nHow many days do you need? | Two or three.\r\nWhen is the best time to visit? | October to March.\r\nWhat should I eat? | Kachori sabzi and lassi.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Varanasi hostels \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in Varanasi | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. No filler.","hw_hub_city_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_city_hub_term":"varanasi","hw_hub_city_city_slug":"varanasi","hw_hub_city_country_slug":"india","hw_hub_city_parent_hub":"asia\/india","hw_hub_city_currency":"EUR","hw_hub_city_scope_rows":"1","hw_hub_country_states_title":"","hw_hub_country_states_intro":"","hw_hub_country_state_regions":"","hw_hub_country_states":"","hw_hub_state_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_state_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_state_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_state_hero_image":"","hw_hub_state_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_state_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_state_live_stats":"","hw_hub_state_stats":"","hw_hub_state_intro_title":"","hw_hub_state_intro_body":"","hw_hub_state_facts":"","hw_hub_state_areas_title":"","hw_hub_state_areas_intro":"","hw_hub_state_areas_zoom":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_pins":"","hw_hub_state_areas":"","hw_hub_state_itin_title":"","hw_hub_state_itin_intro":"","hw_hub_state_itin":"","hw_hub_state_do_title":"","hw_hub_state_do_body":"","hw_hub_state_do_points":"","hw_hub_state_do_tag":"","hw_hub_state_do_more":"","hw_hub_state_free_title":"","hw_hub_state_free_body":"","hw_hub_state_free_points":"","hw_hub_state_free_tag":"","hw_hub_state_free_more":"","hw_hub_state_food_title":"","hw_hub_state_food_body":"","hw_hub_state_food_points":"","hw_hub_state_food_tag":"","hw_hub_state_food_more":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_state_transport_title":"","hw_hub_state_transport_body":"","hw_hub_state_transport_points":"","hw_hub_state_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_state_transport_more":"","hw_hub_state_money_title":"","hw_hub_state_money_body":"","hw_hub_state_money_points":"","hw_hub_state_money_tag":"","hw_hub_state_money_more":"","hw_hub_state_safety_title":"","hw_hub_state_safety_body":"","hw_hub_state_safety_points":"","hw_hub_state_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_state_safety_more":"","hw_hub_state_layout":"","hw_hub_state_cities_title":"","hw_hub_state_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_state_cities_live":"","hw_hub_state_cities":"","hw_hub_state_cities_tag":"","hw_hub_state_cities_more":"","hw_hub_state_season_title":"","hw_hub_state_season_intro":"","hw_hub_state_season_note":"","hw_hub_state_season_rows":"","hw_hub_state_events_title":"","hw_hub_state_events_intro":"","hw_hub_state_events_source":"","hw_hub_state_events_count":"","hw_hub_state_events_cache":"","hw_hub_state_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_state_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_state_events":"","hw_hub_state_budget_title":"","hw_hub_state_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_state_budget_note":"","hw_hub_state_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_state_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_state_picks":"","hw_hub_state_hostels":"","hw_hub_state_faq_title":"","hw_hub_state_faq_note":"","hw_hub_state_faqs":"","hw_hub_state_cta_title":"","hw_hub_state_cta_body":"","hw_hub_state_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_state_hub_term":"","hw_hub_state_country_slug":"","hw_hub_state_parent_hub":"","hw_hub_state_currency":"","hw_hub_state_scope_rows":""},"class_list":["post-1305681","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hostelworld Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-02T10:08:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@hostelworld\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/varanasi\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/varanasi\\\/\",\"name\":\"Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-02T10:07:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-02T10:08:49+00:00\",\"description\":\"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/varanasi\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/varanasi\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/varanasi\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Travel Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Asia\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"India\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/india\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Varanasi\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Hostelworld Travel Blog\",\"description\":\"Cheap Travel and Backpacking Tips\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hostelworld\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Hostelworld\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/Hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.co.uk\\\/hostelworld\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/hostelworld\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog","description":"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog","og_description":"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","og_site_name":"Hostelworld Travel Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld","article_modified_time":"2026-10-02T10:08:49+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@hostelworld","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/","name":"Things to Do In Varanasi - Hostelworld Travel Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-10-02T10:07:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-02T10:08:49+00:00","description":"Things to do in Varanasi: a dawn boat ride on the Ganges, the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti and Sarnath, plus where to stay and what it costs.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/varanasi\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Travel Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Asia","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"India","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/india\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Varanasi"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/","name":"Hostelworld Travel Blog","description":"Cheap Travel and Backpacking Tips","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Hostelworld","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Hostelworld"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld","https:\/\/x.com\/hostelworld","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hostelworld","https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/hostelworld\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hostelworld"]}]}},"lang":"en","translations":{"en":1305681},"brizy_media":[],"pll_sync_post":{},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/200"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1305681"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1305758,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305681\/revisions\/1305758"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1302835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1305681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}