Best Time To Visit Varanasi: Festivals, Weather, Off Season And Tips
Wondering what is the best time to visit Varanasi? We spent enough time in Kashi touring people. So, we know that “best time” means different things to different travellers.
A pilgrim coming for Kartik Purnima wants crowds and devotion. A photographer wants clear light and calm water. A budget backpacker wants cheap rooms and fewer tourists.
This guide breaks down what each season actually feels like in Varanasi, beyond the generic “visit in winter” advice every website repeats. You’ll know exactly what to expect, what it costs, and whether your timing matches what you’re hoping to find.
Winter months from October to March give you the full Varanasi experience without melting or getting drenched.
The best time to visit Banaras falls during this period for straightforward reasons: comfortable weather, major festivals, and the city functioning at full capacity. Temperatures range from 10°C to 27°C, which means you can spend entire days walking the ghats without exhaustion.
But here’s what travel sites don’t tell you: winter is also when hotel prices triple, boat rides cost double, and temple queues stretch for hours. The pleasant weather comes with trade-offs.
Why winter works for most people:
Boat rides at sunrise don’t make you sweat through your clothes by 7 AM. You can climb the steep ghat steps without feeling like you’ll pass out.
Evening Ganga Aarti becomes bearable instead of standing in 35°C heat surrounded by thousands of bodies. Walking through the narrow gallis of the old city stays manageable instead of suffocating.
The festival advantage:
Diwali, Dev Diwali, Ganga Mahotsav, and Mahashivratri all fall during winter. These aren’t just events, they’re when Varanasi transforms. Over a million diyas light up the ghats during Dev Diwali. Pilgrims from across India descend on the city. The spiritual energy hits differently than a random Tuesday in July.
Best Month To Visit Varanasi
November wins for most people.
The best month to visit Varanasi combines ideal weather with the biggest festival of the year. Dev Diwali happens 15 days after Diwali (dates shift yearly based on the lunar calendar, but usually mid-November). This is when all 84 ghats light up with diyas, laser shows project on the walls of Chet Singh Ghat, and the entire riverfront glows.
Hotels get fully booked 2-3 months ahead for Dev Diwali week. Prices jump to ₹5,000-8,000 for basic rooms that normally cost ₹1,500.
If you’re coming in November, book everything by August. September bookings mean you’re fighting for scraps.
December through January brings fog and cold.
These months feel different from November. Morning fog blankets the ghats until 8-9 AM. Some people love this atmospheric vibe. Photographers get moody shots. Others feel cheated out of the sunrise they imagined.
Ganga Mahotsav happens in late December (exact dates vary). Five days of classical music, dance performances, and cultural programmes along the ghats. Smaller than Dev Diwali but still worth timing your trip around if you care about traditional arts.
February brings Mahashivratri.
This festival packs the city again, but differently from Dev Diwali. Mahashivratri focuses on Shiva worship. Kashi Vishwanath temple stays open 24 hours. Queues for darshan hit 8-10 hours. Devotees camp on the ghats performing overnight pujas.
If you’re not here for religious reasons, avoid Mahashivratri week. The city becomes overwhelming. If spiritual immersion is your goal, this is Kashi best time to visit for pure devotional energy.
March transitions toward summer.
Still pleasant but warming up. 20-30°C days feel comfortable. Fewer tourists than winter peak, but festivals end. You get a calm Varanasi without extreme heat or crowds.
Budget travellers find March ideal. Prices drop back toward off-season rates by mid-March. The weather stays manageable. You avoid both winter crowds and summer furnace.
April to September? Different category entirely. Covered in the seasonal breakdown below
Best Season To Visit Varanasi
Varanasi has three distinct seasons, each creating a completely different experience.
Understanding what each season actually feels like helps you decide if booking that cheap April flight is genius or misery.
How Is Varanasi During Winter (October To March)?
October eases you into winter.
Mornings cool down to 18-20°C. Days stay warm at 28-30°C but lose that oppressive heat. This is when smart travellers arrive, before November’s festival surge pushes prices up.
Dussehra celebrations happen in late September or early October depending on the lunar calendar. The city gears up for the festival season ahead.
November is peak everything.
Best weather. Biggest crowds. Highest prices. Dev Diwali transforms the city into something beyond its usual self. If you’ve seen photos of Varanasi with the ghats lit up like a river of light, that’s Dev Deepawali in November.
But here’s what Instagram doesn’t show: the crushing crowds. You can’t walk freely along the riverfront during Dev Diwali. You’re shoulder-to-shoulder with lakhs of people. Boat rides get booked days in advance. Temples have 6-hour queues.
December and January bring fog.
Mornings from mid-December through January see thick fog. Flight delays are common. Trains run late. Your 6 AM sunrise boat ride happens in grey mist where you barely see the ghats 50 metres away.
Some travellers love this. The ghats appear and disappear like something from another time.
Others hate it. They came for that golden sunrise lighting up ancient temples and get dense fog instead. Manage expectations if you’re visiting during peak fog season.
February gets cold at night.
Temperatures drop to 8-10°C in early mornings. You need actual winter clothes, not just layers.
Mahashivratri dominates February. The entire city revolves around Shiva worship for that week. If you’re not here for religious reasons, it’s overwhelming.
If spirituality drew you to Varanasi, Mahashivratri is the best time to visit Varanasi temple experiences at their most intense.
March transitions toward heat.
By late March, temperatures creep toward 32-35°C. Still manageable, but you feel summer approaching. Tourist crowds thin. Hotels drop prices. You get a sweet spot of decent weather without peak season chaos.
What To Expect In Summer (April To June)?
Summer in Varanasi starts warm and quickly turns intense.
By early April, afternoons touch 35–38°C, and by May, the heat soars past 42°C. June only brings relief when the monsoon sets in around mid-month.
This is when the city slows down. Tourists leave, and hotels drop their rates by almost half. A ₹2,500 winter room might cost ₹800 in May. Flights are cheaper too, and train tickets are easy to find even last minute.
The heat, though, is no joke. Walking along the ghats after 9 AM becomes difficult. The stone steps trap heat, and shade is rare. Inside the narrow lanes of the old city, hot air barely moves. Locals often rest through the afternoon because it’s simply too hot to do much.
If you’re planning a visit in summers:
- Go for early mornings and evenings.
- Visit Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan, and Durga Temple. These are covered.
- Bharat Kala Bhavan at BHU is a cool, quiet spot to spend a couple of hours too.
By evening, around 6 PM, temperatures drop enough to head back to the Assi ghat for Ganga Aarti.
Should You Visit During Monsoon (July To September)?
Most people don’t visit, but the monsoon brings a different kind of magic to Varanasi. You can witness lush greenery, fewer crowds, and rain-washed ghats. Hotels, trains, and flights are all cheaper. It’s an off-season bonus for travellers who don’t mind a little rain.
However, sea tides are high so boat rides are limited during this time as it gets risky. Some days you can’t get on the water at all. Your sunrise boat ride plan might not happen.
Flooding affects the lower ghats. Assi Ghat’s lower steps disappear underwater during heavy rain periods.
So, who should visit Kashi in monsoons? Travellers who love rain, nature, and quiet places. It’s great for photographers and those who enjoy slow, uncrowded travel
What Is The Off-Season In Varanasi?
Late April through early September defines off-season. This spans summer’s peak heat (May-June) and most of the monsoon (July-August). No one can bear the 42-degree heat to travel. So, you will see a 50 to 60% drop in tourist visits during this time.
If you decide to travel during the off-season in Kashi, prepare yourself:
For summers (April-June):
- Book hotels with ACs.
- Plan indoor activities for midday. Museums, temples with covered sections, and cafes.
- Wear light cotton clothes that breathe.
- Carry rehydration salts and drink water constantly.
For monsoon (July-September):
- Pack proper rain gear, not just a flimsy umbrella. Waterproof shoes or sandals that can handle wet conditions.
- Keep electronics in waterproof bags. Sudden downpours drench everything.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
We would say that early morning, 4 to 8 AM is the best time to visit Kashi Vishwanath.
See, the temple opens up around 2:30 to 3:00 AM for Mangla Aarti. Get there by 4 or 4:30 AM if you want darshan without crushing crowds. You’ll wait 30 to 35 minutes max. If you arrive after 7 AM, there will be queues that stretch for hours.
Morning darshan feels different, too. The energy is calm. You can actually stand in front of the Jyotirlinga for a minute instead of being rushed through in 10 seconds.
Late evening 6-9 PM works if mornings don’t.
Evening Shringar Aarti happens around 7 PM. Though the temple gets packed, but the vibe is worth it. Chanting, bells, incense – the full spiritual experience. But the wait might be longer as all tourists who are in Varanasi for only 1 day will want to cover the Vishwanath temple in their itinerary.
However, avoid 9 AM to 5 PM completely.
Midday queues are brutal. There will be atleast 3 to 4 hours of waiting time. Heat, crowd, exhaustion. Not worth it unless you have no other option.
If we compare the crowd variation by seasons, then:
- Winters have a humongous crowd pull. Dev Diwali, Mahashivratri, Makar Sankranti…every festival brings lakhs of devotees.
- Monsoon (July-September) is the calmest time. Fewer tourists, shorter queues. This is the best season to visit Kashi Vishwanath temple if you want a peaceful experience without crowds.
Here are some booking tips from us:
- Free darshan works fine if you visit early morning during the off-season. Don’t bother during festivals – you’ll stand for hours.
- Best to get Sugam Dashar tickets for ₹300 pp if you are with family or kids. It lets you skip general queues. Book online through the temple’s official website or at the ticket counter near the entrance.
Which Time Is Best For Kashi Yatra?
Kartik month (October-November) is the best time to visit Kashi Varanasi.
This is when serious pilgrims plan the Kashi Yatra. The spiritual significance peaks during Kartik Purnima and Dev Diwali. Bathing in the Ganga during the Kartik month is believed to wash away sins and bring moksha closer.
The weather helps too. Varanasi visit best time weather-wise aligns with spiritual timing. Pleasant 20-25°C days, cool evenings, clear skies for sunrise boat rides.
Magh month (January-February) comes second.
Another highly auspicious period for pilgrims. Makar Sankranti and Basant Panchami fall during this time. Devotees believe bathing at Sangam in Prayagraj then visiting Kashi completes the spiritual circuit.
Temperatures drop to 10-15°C in early mornings, so pack warm clothes for pre-dawn Ganga dips.
Shravan month (July-August) for Shiva devotees.
Monsoon doesn’t stop hardcore pilgrims. Every Monday in Shravan sees huge crowds at Kashi Vishwanath. If you’re specifically devoted to Lord Shiva, this period holds special meaning.
Just be ready for rain and occasional flooding near the ghats.
You can even combine the Kashi Prayagraj and Ayodhya tour for a combined experience. If you’d like some help with routes or planning, at World View Travels, we have a lot of custom packages you can explore.
How Does Season Affect The Cost Of A Trip To Varanasi?
If you visit Kashi during the peak season of November, then expect to pay anywhere between INR 6500 to 8000 for flights from metro cities like Mumbai or Chennai (that too one way) because the rush is high. Delhi flights are still cheaper from ₹3,000 to 4,500 one way if you book early.
Trains? Tatkal is your only option because regular tickets sell out 2 months before when booking opens. If you’re sure about dates, book the day reservations open.
Dev Diwali (15 days after Diwali) is the costliest time. Hotel rates hit ₹5,000-8,000 for basic rooms. Boat rides that normally cost ₹1,500 go up to ₹5,000-8,000.
So, what is the best time to visit Kashi? Around February-March. The weather is still good, the festival rush ends after Mahashivratri, and prices drop 20-30% from November levels. But, if you have the budget, November is best.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Time To Visit Varanasi
The autumn to spring season, from October to March, is the best time to go to Varanasi.
April to June is the best season to visit Varanasi as it is less crowded during the summers. Also, Diwali and all festivals are over, so the crowd is less.
