How to Reach Banaras | Banaras Biennale 2026 | CII

Celebrating India's Living Heritage

27 November – 31 December · Banaras, India

Celebrating India's Living Heritage
Banaras Ghats Sunset

Plan Your Visit

Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located in North India in the middle valley of the Ganga, in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, around 320 kilometers southeast of Lucknow. It is situated about 797 km towards the southeast of New Delhi, 121 km towards the east of Prayagraj and 63 km towards the south of Jaunpur.

The geographical coordinates of Varanasi are approximately 25.3176° N latitude and 82.9739° E longitude. Varanasi is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus and is renowned for its cultural and spiritual significance.

FROM DELHI : ~797 km (SE)
FROM Prayagraj : ~121 km (E)
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

How to Reach Varanasi

By Air

By Air

Varanasi has an international airport named Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), located approximately 26 kilometers northwest of the city center. It offers domestic flights to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, as well as international flights to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand) and Colombo (Sri Lanka).

By Railway

By Railway

The railway stations in Varanasi, particularly Varanasi Junction, Banaras Railway Station, Kashi Railway Station and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, connect the city to major states and cities across India through express, superfast and Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains. Varanasi is directly connected by rail to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa and many more.

By Road

By Road

Varanasi has a well-developed road network connecting it to various cities and towns in the region. National Highway 2 (NH 2) and National Highway 31 (NH 31) pass through the city, providing connectivity to major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow and Patna. Public and private buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws are readily available for local and intercity transportation.

Road Distance from Major Cities

Prayagraj
~120km
via NH 19
Lucknow
~320km
via NH 27 / NH 19
Agra
~600km
via NH 19
Kolkata
~680km
via NH 19
Delhi
~800km
via NH 19
Mumbai
~1,500km
via NH 48 / NH 44 / NH 30 / NH 19

Top Attractions

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Shri Kashi Vishwanath

Standing on the western bank of India's holiest river Ganges

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Ganga Aarti

The Ganga Aarti of Varanasi is one of the most captivating spiritual ceremonies in India

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Ghats of Varanasi

The Ghats of Varanasi along the Ganga hold a spiritual and cultural significance

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Sarnath

Sarnath, located approximately 10 kilometers from Varanasi

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Other Most Visited Places

Varanasi is a city of infinite layers — spiritual, historical, and cultural.

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Varanasi Yatra

Varanasi Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage to one of the world's oldest living cities