Solo Travel in Varanasi

The southernmost of the main ghats, where the small Assi river meets the Ganges, with a more relaxed, residential feel than the central ghats. It's home to the Subah-e-Banaras sunrise programme and a smaller evening aarti, surrounded by cafés, guesthouses and bookshops. From here you can walk north along the ghats to Dashashwamedh in under an hour.

📍Assi Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India

One of Asia's largest residential universities, founded in 1916, with a huge leafy campus south of the old city. At its heart is the New Vishwanath Temple, a tall white-marble temple built by the Birla family and open to people of all faiths. The campus is a calm contrast to the ghats, and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum is worth a look.

📍Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India

Varanasi is famous for Banarasi silk, woven on handlooms in neighbourhoods such as Madanpura and Peeli Kothi, where you can hear the clack of looms from open doorways. Some weaving families welcome visitors to watch the intricate brocade work. Be wary of touts steering you to shops for commission — a guided heritage walk is the easiest way in.

📍Madanpura, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A tiny family-run lassi shop deep in the old-city lanes near Manikarnika Ghat, run for three generations and serving around 80 kinds of thick lassi in clay cups, topped with malai. The walls are covered in travellers' photos and notes. It's a classic stop on a walk through the old town — try a banana or fruit-and-nut lassi.

📍CK 12/1 Kunj Gali, Kachori Gali, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A heritage hotel in a palace built in 1812 on Darbhanga Ghat, right beside Dashashwamedh Ghat, restored over 18 years with its frescoes and stone detailing intact. Rooms look over the Ganges, and the evening Ganga Aarti takes place just along the ghats. Arriving by boat is part of the experience — a splurge at the very heart of the riverfront.

📍Darbhanga Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

Varanasi's main and busiest ghat, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Every evening at sunset, priests perform the Ganga Aarti with large brass lamps, bells and chanting, watched by crowds on the steps and from boats on the river. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for a spot on the steps, or watch from a boat for a less crowded view.

📍Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A long-running guesthouse on Meer Ghat, a few minutes' walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, with Ganges views from its terraces and many of its rooms. It's a comfortable, well-located mid-range base in the old city, where you can watch life on the river from above and walk to the evening aarti.

📍D3/24 Meer Ghat, near Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A popular chaat shop on Dashashwamedh Ghat Road near Godowlia crossing, famous for tamatar chaat — a spicy, tangy mash of tomato and potato served in a leaf bowl — plus palak chaat and golgappa. It's busy in the evenings, cheap and quick; stop by before or after the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat nearby.

📍D-37/47 Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

One of the holiest Hindu temples, dedicated to Shiva as one of the twelve jyotirlingas, with gold-plated spires. Since 2021 the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor has linked it directly to the ghats. Security is strict: phones, bags and cameras usually have to go in lockers, and queues can be long. Dress modestly; foreign visitors can enter.

📍Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

Varanasi's principal cremation ghat, where cremations take place day and night, as dying and being cremated here is believed to bring liberation. Visitors may watch quietly from a respectful distance, but photographing cremations isn't allowed. Beware of self-appointed 'guides' asking for money for wood — it's a well-known scam.

📍Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A café and shop near Assi Ghat run as a social enterprise that sells crafts made by local artisans. It's a calm, bright place for good coffee, breakfast, sandwiches and cakes, open from early morning into the evening — handy for a quiet hour with a book or laptop after a sunrise boat ride. The shop is good for fair-trade souvenirs.

📍B1/128-3 Assi Ghat Road, Dumraun Bagh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India

A garden café right on Assi Ghat, open since 1993 and known for its wood-fired pizzas and apple pie. The terrace looks over the Ganges, and it's a relaxed place to linger over a meal or a lassi between walks along the ghats. Popular with travellers, it's an easy, low-key spot for a solo lunch or dinner.

📍B-1/178 Assi Ghat Road, Shivala, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India

An 18th-century sandstone fort on the east bank of the Ganges, about 14km south of the old city and still the residence of the former royal family of Banaras. Part of it is a faded but fascinating museum of vintage cars, palanquins, weapons and an astronomical clock. It's reached by road across the river; go in the afternoon.

📍Ramnagar, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221008, India

About 10km north-east of Varanasi, the deer park where the Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. See the huge Dhamek Stupa, temple ruins and monasteries built by Buddhist countries; the archaeological museum holds the Lion Capital of Ashoka, India's national emblem, and is closed on Fridays. A peaceful half-day trip from the ghats.

📍Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221007, India

A free programme held before sunrise every morning at Assi Ghat, with a Vedic fire ritual and chanting, a morning Ganga aarti, classical music and a yoga session on the ghat steps. It's a peaceful, far less crowded counterpart to the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh, and a lovely way to begin a day of walking along the river.

📍Assi Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India

A dawn boat ride along the Ganges is the classic Varanasi experience: as the sun rises, you drift past pilgrims bathing, priests at prayer and the smoke of the cremation ghats. Boats leave from Dashashwamedh, Assi and other ghats — agree the price and duration with the boatman before setting off, and choose a hand-rowed boat for a quieter ride.

📍Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India

A branch of Zostel, India's biggest backpacker hostel chain, in Bangali Tola among the old-city lanes, a short walk from the ghats. Dorms, private rooms and social common spaces make it an easy place to meet other travellers — and to find company for a sunrise boat ride or the evening Ganga Aarti.

📍D-29/11 Bangali Tola Road, Bangali Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India