Places to Visit near Varanasi

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 km

Best Time: October to March

6 Sarnath Attractions

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: 62 km

Best Time: October to March

6 Vindhyachal Attractions

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: 250 km

Best Time: October to March

26 Bodh Gaya Attractions

Known For : Prayag Kumbh Mela 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 ooze 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: 120 km

Best Time: October to March

24 Allahabad Attractions

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: 391 km

Best Time: July to March

25 Khajuraho Attractions

Known For : Bara Imambara Chota Imambara British Residency

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: 304 km

Best Time: October to March

47 Lucknow Attractions

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

Best Time: October to June

Known For : Gandhi Ghat Patna Sahib Gurudwara 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: 254 km

Best Time: October to March

42 Patna Attractions

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: 350 km

Best Time: November to May

8 Panna Attractions

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: 316 km

Best Time: October to March

30 Rajgir Attractions

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: 328 km

Best Time: October to March

8 Nalanda Attractions

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: 626 km

Best Time: October to March

17 Agra Attractions

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: 272 km

Best Time: October to January

7 Vaishali Attractions

Known For : Ram Janmabhoomi Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya Kanak Bhawan

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: 200 km

Best Time: October to March

16 Ayodhya Attractions

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: 260 km

Best Time: July to March

13 Chitrakoot Attractions

Kushinagar is a city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, at a convenient distance of 51 kilometres from Gorakhpur. It is recognized as a significant spot for spiritual excursions, particularly under the faith of Buddhism. This reality stems from the widespread belief that Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, achieved the optimum level of spiritual enlightenment, nirvana, after his death in the city.

Distance from Varanasi: 237 km

Known For : Sharadha Devi Temple Venkatesh Temple Ramvan

Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Satna is known for being one of the largest cement producing city in the world due to the plenty of limestone and dolomite deposits housed in the town. In addition to this, the city is also famous for housing various religious sites. Chitrakoot Dham, Sharadha Devi Temple, Dhawari's Sai Baba Temple, Rawatpura Ashram, Venkatesh Temple, and more. Satna also offers few historical sites to explore such as the Madhavgarh Fort, Gidhakoot, and Jagatdev Talab. For those who want great deals on locally handcrafted goods, Pannilal Chowk in Satna is the place to be at if you are looking for some street shopping choices at a bargain.

Distance from Varanasi: 283 km

8 Satna Attractions

Located on the Eastern banks of River Ganga, opposite to Tulsi Ghat, Ramnagar Fort is a stunning historical monument in Varanasi. It was built by Raja Balwant Singh in 1750 according to the Mughal style of architecture. Even though the system of Kings was abolished in the region, the current Maharaja, Pelu Bhiru Singh, resides in the Fort.

Distance from Varanasi: 10 km

Known For : Nadine cultural centre Dholi Sati Dadi Mandir Temples in Fatehpur

Situated in the Sikar district of Rajasthan, Fatehpur is an ancient town, a prominent part of the Shekhawati region. Fatehpur is popular with tourists who want to try out a new destination, and have a knack for art and culture.

Distance from Varanasi: 1,037 km

Best Time: October to March

4 Fatehpur Attractions

Known For : Grishneshwar Temple Bibi ka Maqbara The Ajanta caves

Aurangabad, which was declared by the Government as the Tourism Capital of Maharashtra back in 2010, is a famous tourist hub which greets its visitors with a richly woven tapestry of sights and sounds. The city got its name for being the erstwhile capital of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century AD. The town is used as the base to explore the extremely famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Daulatabad Fort which is renowned for its strong defence systems, Mausoleums of Aurangzeb and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara famous for its architecture and Grishneshwar Temple, one of the only 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas in India.

Distance from Varanasi: 1,203 km

Best Time: October to March

37 Aurangabad Attractions

At a distance of 65 kms from Varanasi in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, Devdari Waterfalls is a beautiful spot with cascading silvery water amidst lush green surroundings. Falling down a height of 58 metres, the waterfalls are a popular spot of tourism and attracts a large tourist influx.

Distance from Varanasi: 69 km

A sacred land that holds importance to the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists alike, Sravasti is a cultural paradise, that lies in the heart of Uttar Pradesh. Monasteries from Thailand, Tibet and Korea bring to life every architect's dream. A city that holds the ancient Bodhi Vriksh (tree) is not unfamiliar with the legends and myths of Ramayana. Shravasti is also the birthplace of Tirthankar - the founder of Jainism.

Thus, this region holds great importance for the devotees of three religions, who annually visit in huge numbers. Shravasti which comes from the words, "Sabbam atthi", stands for peace and prosperity, which is reinforced by each ring of the Japanese World Peace Bell.

Distance from Varanasi: 313 km

Known For : Jehangir Mahal, Orchha Fort Ram Raja Temple Raja Mahal, Orchha Fort

Orchha is a historical town located on the banks of river Betwa in Madhya Pradesh, known for its grand palaces, and intricately carved temples. Famous as the city of palaces, it is world-renowned for the classic mural paintings, frescos and Chhatris (cenotaphs) that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers. Orchha's old-world charm casts a spell on tourists from all around the world.

Distance from Varanasi: 531 km

Best Time: July to March

16 Orchha Attractions