By Air
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) lies about 26 km northwest of the city at Babatpur, with flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and other hubs, plus some international connections. From the airport: prepaid taxis and app cabs serve the city; the drive to the old city takes roughly 45–75 minutes depending on traffic — do not schedule tight same-day darshan slots on landing.
By Train
| Station | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Varanasi Junction | BSB | The main station (Cantt side) — most long-distance trains. |
| Kashi | KEI | Eastern station; convenient for some eastern/northern routes. |
| Banaras (Manduadih) | BSBS | Modern terminus west of the centre; several premium trains. |
Book early in season; pilgrim traffic is heavy year-round. From any station, autos/e-rickshaws and taxis run to the old-city edge (Godowlia/Chowk) — vehicles cannot enter the lanes beyond.
By Road
Varanasi sits on the NH19/NH31 corridors; Purvanchal Expressway links it to Lucknow, and highways to Prayagraj, Patna and Gorakhpur. State and private buses serve the region; self-drive is straightforward until the old city, where you must park at designated lots (Godowlia and corridor-side parking) and walk.
From the Stations/Airport to the Temple Area
- App cabs/autos to Godowlia crossing, then walk (~10–15 min) or e-rickshaw to the corridor gates.
- Boat option: in season, boats from certain points can drop you at ghat steps below the corridor's riverfront entrance — atmospheric but not luggage-friendly.
Old-City Access
The temple zone is effectively pedestrian. Two-wheelers can approach some parking points; cars cannot. E-rickshaws bridge the last kilometre. Wear footwear you can remove quickly, and keep your phone secure in the press of the lanes (deposit it before the temple anyway).
Accessibility
The corridor gates and riverfront plaza offer step-free access that the old lanes never could; autos can approach designated points close to the gates. Wheelchair users should aim for the corridor entrance and use the Trust's assistance services.
Route Updates
Old-city traffic management, one-way flows and festival-day diversions change frequently. Check with your hotel on the day and follow police signage. We publish verified route advisories in the update bar when issued by authorities.