Who said saving and fun can't go hand in hand? In Varanasi, you can chill and embrace spirituality without burning a big hole in your pocket. It was an unplanned 2-day trip to Varanasi, right after a refreshing bath at the Kumbh in Prayagraj.
Day 01
Train took only 3 hours from Prayagraj Junction, and I reached Varanasi Junction at noon. I had lunch just outside the station and booked a bed at GoStops hostel for ₹236. Later, I realized I could’ve gotten it for just ₹150! After checking in, I walked to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. On the way, I visited plenty of other temples, which delayed me, so I changed my plan and headed straight for the famous Ganga Aarti.
The Ganga Aarti starts at 6 PM, but to grab a nearby seat, you need to be there at least an hour early. You can also watch it from a boat for ₹100. After the mesmerizing Aarti and exploring some nearby temples, I walked back to the hostel.
Varanasi is also a haven for foodies! There are plenty of cafes and restaurants serving delicious food at affordable prices. I ordered a masala dosa and an uttapam for just ₹40. Back at the hostel, they had many fun in-house activities. I played foosball and chess with some foreigners and watched highlights of today’s cricket match before heading to bed.
Day 02
I woke up late. After a quick bath and check-out, I stored my bag in the hostel's locker. It’s great that GoStops lets you use their locker and common room facilities even after check-out, till 11 PM. The day started with chai and snacks. On my way, I found Shri Ram Tea Stall, which serves fantastic tea for just ₹6.
My first stop was Shri Durga Temple, followed by Tulsi Manas Temple and Tridev Temple. Next, I visited Sankat Mochan Temple, which opens at 10 AM. It took about 30 minutes for darshan. Having covered 4 out of 5 major temples, I decided to indulge in a Banarasi paan at Tambul Bhandar in Suvarna Complex. A visit to Banaras without tasting their famous paan would be incomplete—it was absolutely delicious!
Afterward, I took an e-rickshaw to Ramnagar Fort, which cost ₹30. The fort itself doesn’t have much to offer, but the museum inside is worth a visit. It houses a collection of bagghis (carriages) and 19th-century weapons. The entry fee was ₹50, but photography isn’t allowed inside.
Though tired, I still had to visit the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which was 7 km from the fort. The e-rickshaw ride cost ₹30. In the evening, the queue for darshan stretched over 2 km! After the temple visit, I walked to Manikarnika Ghat, which is nearby. A word of advice—don’t trust Google Maps here as many paths are closed. Visiting the ghat is a humbling experience—it’s where you truly realize the transient nature of life, as people even have to wait after death.
After this reflective experience, I had dinner, collected my bags from the hostel, and headed to the railway station for my train.
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
