Top 10 Places to Visit in Varanasi You Shouldn’t Miss

aranasi, a city situated on the banks of the Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the oldest cities in the World. There are numerous beautiful tourist attractions in this region, from Ghats to temples.

If you like to visit or travel to spiritual places, Varanasi is one of these places to visit. It is also known as Kashi or Banaras. 

Whenever you visit the city, your heart will be filled with spirituality. As a result, below I present you with the list of the top 10 places to visit in Varanasi that you should not miss on your trip to the spiritual city.

List of the Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Varanasi

1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple

One of the famous and spiritual places to visit in Varanasi is the Kashi Vishwanath temple. This temple is also famous for the jyotirlinga because it is one of the twelve jyotirlingas present in India. 

In the morning, the temple is filled with devotees, and you can see the different rituals and aarti. So when you visit Varanasi you can’t miss this temple.

Opening/Closing Time: 3 am–11 pm

Duration to Explore: 2 to 3 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 6.5 Km

Things to do: 

• Take part in Aarti ceremony
• Explore temple corridor
• Darshan of Lord Shiva

2. Dashashwamedh Ghat 

Dashashwamedh Ghat is the oldest and most famous ghat of Varanasi City. It is located on the Ganges River and close to the Vishwanath temple. It is said that Brahma performed 10 Ashwamegha Yagna here, which is where its name comes from. It is also noted that Brahma created this to welcome Shiva. 

People take a dip in this ghat as they believe that by taking a dip in the river Ganga, their sins will vanish. Whenever you visit Varanasi, make sure Dashashwamedh Ghat is on your list of places to see.

Opening/Closing Time: 24 hours

Duration to Explore: 1 to 2 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 6.6 Km

Things to do:

• Take part in the Ganga Aarti (evening)
• Enjoy a sunrise or sunset boat ride
• Taking a holy dip in the Ganges

3. Assi Ghat

Praised as one of the most beautiful ghats of India is the Assi Ghat, where the Assi River confluences with the Ganges River. It is right next to the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, a place of blissful spirituality. 

This ghat is famous for the morning aarti, whose name is Shubh e banaras. The Shubh e Banaras morning aarti creates a spiritual atmosphere that every devotee wants to feel. 

The Assi Ghat conducts Subah-e-Banaras every sunrise to celebrate and welcome nature for development. They do it for two hours, free of cost, through Vedic chanting, classical music, and yoga classes. 

If you want to immerse yourself in spirituality, don’t miss Assi Ghat in Varanasi.

Opening/Closing Time: 24 hours

Duration to Explore: 2 to 3 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 6.5 Km

Things to do:

• Watch local artists’ performances
• Take part in a yoga class

4. Sarnath

Sarnath, also known as Deer Park, is another place to visit in Varanasi. In Sarnath, Gautama Buddha gave the first lecture about the Dharma. This place has a peaceful, clean, and pollution-free environment. 

In Sarnath, you can find ancient monasteries, a museum, the Dhamek Stupa, and the Ashoka Pillar, which are revered as places of peace and wisdom. There is also a light and sound show held after sunset.

People who love nature and enjoy clean and pollution-free environments should visit Sarnath in Varanasi. Additionally, Sarnath is connected to Jainism, which teaches nonviolence and reduces harm to living things.

Opening/Closing Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Duration to Explore: 3 to 4 hours

Entry fees: Rs. 5

Distance from Varanasi: 10.6 Km

Things to do:

• Discover the Sarnath Archaeological Museum
• Take a stroll through Deer Park
• Take pictures of Buddhist architecture

5. Bharat Kala Bhavan

Bharat Kala Bhavan is another excellent place to visit in Varanasi for those who enjoy history and old things. It was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru.

It imparts knowledge about Indian art and culture. Mahatma Gandhi visited this museum three times; on his third visit, he wrote, “It has a very good collection.”.

Opening/Closing Time: 10:30 am–4:30 pm (Sunday Closed)

Duration to Explore: 2 to 3 hours

Entry fees: Rs. 10 for Indians & Rs.150 for Foreigners

Distance from Varanasi: 8.4 Km

Things to do:

• Discover ancient sculptures and artifacts
• Observe old manuscripts and coins

6. Manikarnika Ghat

In Hinduism, it is believed that when a man dies, he attains another life based on the karma(actions) he gathered in the present life. It is believed that when cremated at Manikarnika Ghat, the human soul attains moksha and breaks the cycle of rebirth.

The ghat has ancient roots, which relate to Goddess Parvati’s earring. Lord Vishnu cut the body of Goddess Adi Shakti into 51 pieces, and her earrings fell at this place, which is now known as the Manikarnika ghat.

Opening/Closing Time: Open 24 hours

Duration to Explore: 1 to 2 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 5.6 Km

Things to do:

• Observe the cremation rituals
• Pray silently for the departed souls

7. Sankat Mochan Mandir

The Sankat Mochan Mandir is a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god. The Sankat Mochan means a reliever from troubles. Sankat Mochan temple was established in the 16th century by saint & poet Goswami Tulsidas. 

Hence, if you are a Hanuman devotee, you must include it in your Varanasi list of places to visit. If you visit in April, you cannot miss the classical concert festival “Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh” held here each year.

Opening/Closing Time: 5 am–10 pm

Duration to Explore: 1 to 2 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 8.2 Km

Things to do:

• Offer Prayer
• Chant or Read Hanuman Chalisa

8. Shri Satyanarayan Tulsi Manas Temple

Tulsi Manas Mandir is important for our Hindu faith because it is where Shri Saint Goswami Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas. 

This temple was built by the Surekha family in 1964 and inaugurated by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. It houses a museum with a rare collection of manuscripts and old artifacts. 

With its beautiful architecture and glorious history, Tulsi Manas Temple is a must-see on your trip to Varanasi.

Opening/Closing Time: 5:30 am–12 pm, 3:30–9 pm

Duration to Explore: 2 to 3 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 6.3 Km

Things to do:

• Experience the beauty of white marble architecture
• Visit the temple’s museum 
• Attending morning or evening Aarti ceremonies

9. Ramnagar Fort

The next attraction on our list of the best places to visit in Varanasi is the Ramnagar Fort, which is perfect for history lovers. The king of Varanasi built it in the style of Mughal architecture. 

This Fort houses a museum of artifacts, Veda Vyasa Temple, Dakshin Mukhi Temple of Hanuman, and the king’s residential complex.

So whenever you visit here, the Fort gives you a glimpse of the regal past of Varanasi in the Mughal times.

Opening/Closing Time: 10 am–5 pm

Duration to Explore: 3 to 4 hours

Entry fees: Rs 75 

Distance from Varanasi: 10.7 Km

Things to do:

• Explore the Saraswati Bhawan Museum.
• Take a moment to admire the architecture.

10. Alamgir Mosque

Alamgir Mosque is the last attraction on our list of must-visit places in Varanasi. In 1669, it was built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and restored by English scholar James Prinsep to its former glory. It is made of beautiful high domes and mirrors. 

Opening/Closing Time: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Duration to Explore: 1 to 2 hours

Entry fees: Free

Distance from Varanasi: 7.6 Km

Things to do:

• Explore Indo-Islamic architecture from the 17th century
• Enjoy Sunset Views

Conclusion

Varanasi has a variety of tourist attractions, but these are the most popular ones. Get in touch with SuperbWorldTrip.com to learn more about the places to visit in Varanasi. You can also find great deals on vacation packages, hotels, and flights. 

Varanasi is more than just a tourist destination; it is an experience that every tourist seeks. Every street, ghat, and temple will give you a sense of spirituality. 

Take your bags and head to the oldest city in the world.