Places to visit near Varanasi

9 kms from city center

Known For : Chaukhandi Stupa Ashoka Pillar, Sarnath Thai Temple

Known for its Buddhist connection, Sarnath is a religious town with many beautiful stupas and imposing temples worth visiting.

Distance From Varanasi: 10.2 km via via Rishpattan Road

Best Time: October to March

51 kms from city center

Known For : Vindhyavasini devi temple Kali Khoh temple Sita kund

Vindhyachal is a famous Hindu pilgrimage spot closer to Mirzapur and Varanasi and has several temples in the vicinity with their own interesting stories. This town is situated on the banks of holy river Ganga and people come here to take a dip into it to pray to Goddess Ganga.

Distance From Varanasi: 64.4 km via Varanasi - Allahabad Road and NH19

Best Time: October to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 856

215 kms from city center

Known For : Mahabodhi Temple Great Buddha Statue Tibetan Refugee Market

One of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, Bodhgaya is a village in the state of Bihar. It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year who come to pay their homage in the monasteries, shrines and temples. It also attracts tourists from India and abroad owing to its magnificent Buddha statue, the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree.

Distance From Varanasi: 248.9 km via NH19

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 7,251

114 kms from city center

Known For : Kumbh Mela 2019 Triveni Sangam Khusro Bagh

A few kilometres away from Varanasi, Allahabad is reminiscent of all that is spiritual and sacred in Hinduism. The largest city in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad is famous for being the meeting point of three rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. Built on the site of the ancient town of Prayag, Allahabad has, since time immemorial, held the largest Hindu gathering on the banks of the Sangam' the Maha Kumbh Mela. While Allahabad is often passed over for more travel-friendly cities, there is a lot to Allahabad besides just its religion. The places oozes heritage, history, and stories galore, and once you visit the place, you will definitely have seen Allahabad differently for having travelled to and through it.

Distance From Varanasi: 129.0 km via SH 87

Best Time: October to March

312 kms from city center

Known For : Light and Sound Show, Khajuraho Dulhadev Temple Kandariya Mahadev Temple

Khajuraho is known around the world for its stunning temples adorned by erotic and sensuous carvings.

Distance From Varanasi: 388.9 km via NH135 and NH39

Best Time: July to March

264 kms from city center

Known For : Bara Imambara Hazratganj Market Lucknow Zoo

A city of kebabs and nawabs, of architecture and history, of literature and culture – that is Lucknow in a nutshell for you. The capital and the largest city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, situated on the banks of river Gomti, welcomes you with a heartwarming note of "Muskuraiyein, kyunki aap Lucknow mein hai". Known as the ‘City of Nawabs’, Lucknow has a charm to it that is hard to resist. While the city itself is rich and opulent, the people of Lucknow also follow an endearing 'pehle aap' (you first) culture, which always leaves behind a smile on the faces of its visitors. From a slice of rich colonial history to modernized museums, the 'City of Nawabs' beautifully brings together the opulence of a glittering past and the simplicity of a modern city.

Distance From Varanasi: 303.0 km via NH31

Best Time: October to March

267 kms from city center

Formerly a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa, this National Park is world-renowned as a tiger reserve.

Distance From Varanasi: 349.2 km via NH135

Best Time: October to June

View hotels starting from ₹ 1,275

220 kms from city center

Known For : Golghar Bihar Museum Srikrishna Science Centre

Prospering along the southern banks of river Ganges and set in the conglomerated backdrop of rich ancient heritage and a glorious historical past, Patna boasts of a dominating presence in history and enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest cities in the world. Originally called as Pataliputra, Patna is currently a hot-bed for the culminating political fortunes. In addition to being one of the major and most popular tourist destinations in India- owing to its plethora of artefacts, monuments and grand architectural heritage which provide a peek in the bygone era, this capital city of Bihar also holds significant religious and spiritual importance. It is a gateway to pilgrimage sites of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Distance From Varanasi: 281.8 km via NH19

Best Time: October to March

289 kms from city center

Known For : Pandava Falls and Caves Diamond Mines Panna National Park

Panna is a town situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh and holds a lot of historical significance. A former Gond settlement, Panna is a small city in the heart of the country, which boasts of being the only city with diamond reserves. Panna is also most notably known for the Panna National Park which is a world heritage site and a significant initiative towards wildlife conservation in India.

Distance From Varanasi: 351.8 km via NH135 and NH39

Best Time: November to May

View hotels starting from ₹ 799

248 kms from city center

Known For : Venuvana Japanese Stupa Vulture's Peak or Griddhakuta

Rajgir is town where the air that surrounds its beautiful sceneries carries hints of spirituality and vibrant hues of history with links with both Buddhism and Jainism.

Distance From Varanasi: 314.0 km via NH19

Best Time: October to March

251 kms from city center

Known For : Nalanda University Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall The Great Stupa

The most popular Mahavihara of the ancient times, a significant Buddhist seat of academic excellence and a modest pilgrim center, all wrapped in a wisp of spirituality, Nalanda continues to be an equally enriching location in the present. It offers vibrant substance of spirituality, history, culture, architecture, and tourism.

Distance From Varanasi: 321.4 km via NH19

Best Time: October to March

536 kms from city center

Known For : Taj Mahal Fatehpur Sikri Agra Fort

Home to one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, Agra is a sneak peek into the architectural history with other structures such as Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri and hence makes for a must visit for anyone living in or visiting India.

Distance From Varanasi: 625.6 km

Best Time: October to March

224 kms from city center

Known For : The Ashoka pillar Vishwa Shanti Stupa , Abhishek pushkarni (coronation tank) and Archeological museums Buddha's stupa

Located in the interiors of Bihar, Vaishali is a small district which is also a revered Hindu, Buddhist and Jain worshipping site. It is the city where Lord Mahavir was born. Considered as the first republic of the world, Vaishali is believed to have been named after King Vishal, from the time of Mahabharat.It is also the city where Buddha delivered his last sermon. Surrounded by groves of mango and banana and extensive rice field, it is now a part of Trihut division of Bihar. The village is an important religious and historical attraction site and is flocked by tourists year in and year out.

Distance From Varanasi: 314.2 km via NH19

Best Time: October to January

View packages starting from ₹ 10,000

182 kms from city center

Known For : Ramjanma Bhoomi Kanak Bhawan Nageshwarnath Temple

Assumed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, Ayodahya has been surrounded by controversy since about a decade now but yet, has so much colour and spirituality to see for its tourists taking form of various attractions here including Ram janmabhoomi and various other temples.

Distance From Varanasi: 202.7 km via Harlalka Road

Best Time: October to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 941

213 kms from city center

Known For : Kamadgiri Gupt Godavari Ramghat

Chitrakoot is a small town situated in the north Vindhyan range. Legends have it that Chitrakoot was the place where Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana stayed for eleven and half of their fourteen years of exile.

Distance From Varanasi: 259.4 km via NH19

Best Time: July to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 250