Places to Visit Near Varanasi

1. Sarnath: Where the Wheel of Dharma First Turned (10 km)

Just thirty minutes north of Varanasi Junction, the noise of city traffic suddenly drops several decibels as you enter Sarnath. This is where Gautama Buddha walked after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya to find his five former companions—and where he delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta), setting the Wheel of Dharma in motion.

• What You’ll Experience: The centerpiece is the massive Dhamek Stupa, a 143-foot cylinder of solid brick and stone dating back to 249 BCE under Emperor Ashoka. Walk clockwise around the stupa across the manicured lawns where maroon-robed monks from Thailand, Tibet, and Sri Lanka sit in silent meditation.
• Don’t Miss the Museum: Right across the street is the Sarnath Archaeological Museum (closed on Fridays). Inside sits the original Lion Capital of Ashoka—the polished sandstone sculpture that became India’s National Emblem. Seeing the mirror-like Mauryan polish up close after 2,200 years gives you goosebumps.
• Local Tip: Skip the mid-day heat. Reach Sarnath by 8:30 AM, explore the Tibetan, Thai, and Japanese temples first, hit the museum when the gates open at 9:00 AM, and wrap up with lunch before heading back to town.

2. Ramnagar Fort & Lassi Stop (14 km)

Sitting on the eastern bank of the Ganga directly opposite Tulsi Ghat, the 18th-century Ramnagar Fort is the ancestral home of the Kashi Naresh (the Maharaja of Banaras). Built in creamy Chunar sandstone in a blend of Mughal and Indian styles, the fort looks like it is rising straight out of the river.

• What You’ll Experience: Make no mistake—Ramnagar Fort is weathered, slightly eccentric, and unapologetically stuck in time. That is exactly its charm. Its Saraswati Bhawan Museum houses one of India’s quirkier royal collections: vintage American convertibles, silver-plated royal palanquins, jewel-encrusted swords, elephant-ivory carriages, and a remarkable astrological clock made in 1852 that shows the time, zodiac, moon phase, and planetary positions simultaneously.
• How to Get There: In winter and spring, you can walk across the seasonal pontoon bridge or take a 20-minute wooden boat ride from Assi Ghat straight to the fort’s river steps. During the monsoon, drive across the Samne Ghat bridge.
• Food Stop: You cannot visit Ramnagar without walking five minutes outside the fort gate to Shiv Prasad Lassi Bhandar. Served in an earthen kulhad topped with thick rabri and saffron, it is arguably the finest lassi in the region.

3. Chunar Fort: The Magical Citadel on the Ganga (40 km)

If you only have time for one full-day road trip outside Varanasi, make it Chunar Fort in Mirzapur district. Perched dramatically on a detached rocky cliff of the Vindhya hills where the Ganga takes a sharp crescent turn, this fortress has been fought over for more than two millennia.

• The History: Legend connects the hill to King Bali and the three steps of Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar, while historical records trace it through Chandragupta Vikramaditya, Prithviraj Chauhan, Sher Shah Suri, the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and finally Warren Hastings of the British East India Company. Fans of Hindi literature will also recognize Chunar from Devaki Nandan Khatri’s iconic fantasy novel Chandrakanta.
• What to See Inside:
  • Sonwa Mandap: A 28-pillar open pavilion built with intricate geometric stone carvings.
  • The Deep Bawdi (Stepwell): A massive, echoing circular well nearly 200 feet deep connected internally to the Ganga river.
  • Warren Hastings’ Sundial & Bungalow: Overlooking a breathtaking 180-degree bend in the river.
  • The British Cemetery: Tucked quietly below the ramparts with towering 18th-century obelisks.
• Shopping: Chunar is famous across India for its red-clay glazed pottery and plaster-of-Paris figurines. Pick up hand-painted ceramic cups and planters directly from the roadside workshops outside the fort for a fraction of city prices.

4. Markandey Mahadev & the Ganga-Gomti Sangam, Kaithi (30 km)

Looking for the spiritual authenticity of Varanasi without the commercial hustle? Drive 30 km northeast along the Varanasi–Ghazipur highway to the quiet village of Kaithi.

Here, the calm waters of the Gomti River merge with the mighty Ganga. Right near this sacred confluence stands the ancient Markandey Mahadev Temple, where according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva protected the young sage Markandeya from Yama, the god of death. Taking a morning boat ride out to the Sangam point—where you can clearly see the two differently colored rivers meeting surrounded by migratory birds—is deeply peaceful.

5. Rajdari and Devdari Waterfalls (65 km)

Located inside the Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandauli district, Rajdari and Devdari are twin waterfalls that make for the easiest, most family-friendly nature trip near Varanasi.

• The Vibe: As you drive past Naugarh dam, the road winds through dense teak, mahua, and sal forests. Rajdari is the first and most accessible waterfall, plunging in wide, stepped tiers over dark rock ledges with a landscaped viewpoint and park right in front of it. About 500 meters downstream through the forest lies Devdari, which drops into a deeper, mist-filled gorge.
• Best For: Families, photographers, and anyone wanting a hassle-free forest picnic without heavy hiking.

6. Lakhaniya Dari & Siddhnath ki Dari (55 km)

If Rajdari is for sightseeing, Lakhaniya Dari (located near Ahraura on the Varanasi–Sonbhadra road) is for adventure lovers.

• The Trek: Reaching the main waterfall requires a 1.5-kilometer scramble over giant river boulders and ankle-deep streams flanked by steep valley walls. At the end of the canyon, water crashes down from nearly 150 feet into a natural amphitheater.
• Safety Note: Wear proper trekking shoes with grip (leave the flip-flops in the car) and never venture into the gorge if heavy rain is actively falling upstream, as flash floods can occur quickly in the Vindhya rock basins.

7. Vindhyachal Dham & Ashtabhuja Temple (70 km)

Situated between Prayagraj and Varanasi along the southern bank of the Ganga, Vindhyachal is one of the most revered Shaktipeeths in India, dedicated to Maa Vindhyavasini.

Thanks to the recently developed Vindhyachal Corridor, the approach to the main temple and the river ghats has been transformed with wide pink-sandstone plazas and organized queues. Most pilgrims complete the sacred Trikona Parikrama, a triangle circuit connecting three hill shrines:

• Maa Vindhyavasini Temple (near the riverbank)
• Kali Khoh Temple (set inside a forested hollow dedicated to Mahakali)
• Ashtabhuja Temple (perched atop the Vindhya hill ridge with sweeping views of the plains)

8. Jaunpur: The Shiraz-e-Hind (60 km)

Drive 90 minutes northwest of Varanasi and you’ll step into the 15th-century capital of the Sharqi Sultanate. Once known across the medieval Islamic world as Shiraz-e-Hind (the Shiraz of India) for its scholars and poets, Jaunpur boasts a unique architectural style found nowhere else in the country—massive sloping pylon facades without minarets.

• Top Highlights:
  • Shahi Bridge (Akbari Bridge): Built between 1564 and 1568 by Munim Khan under Emperor Akbar across the Gomti River. Four centuries later, locals still walk and drive across its stone arches every single day, browsing shops built right into the bridge pillars.
  • Atala Masjid & Jama Masjid: Towering Indo-Islamic masterpieces built over 14th-century foundations.
  • Shahi Qila (Jaunpur Fort): Climb the fort walls for panoramic views over the Gomti River and visit the intact Turkish-style royal Hammam (bathhouse) inside.

9. Prayagraj (Allahabad): The King of Tirthas (120 km)

Connected to Varanasi by a smooth, six-lane national highway (NH-19), Prayagraj is barely a two-hour drive from Kashi. Most pilgrims combine both cities on a single spiritual itinerary.

• What to Do in One Day: Start directly at the Triveni Sangam, hiring a licensed boat from Boat Club or Arail Ghat to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati. You can physically see the greenish waters of the deep Yamuna meeting the shallower, silt-rich current of the Ganga. Afterward, visit the Bade Hanuman Ji Temple (featuring the famous reclining idol), view the external walls of Akbar’s Allahabad Fort, walk through Anand Bhawan (the historic Nehru family estate), and wrap up with chaat and kulfi in Civil Lines.

10. Sasaram, Bihar: The Floating Taj of the East (125 km)

Cross the Bihar border down NH-19 for two hours, and you will come face-to-face with one of India’s most underrated architectural wonders: the Tomb of Sher Shah Suri in Sasaram.

Built in 1545 inside a massive artificial square lake, this three-story red-sandstone octagonal mausoleum actually features a dome wider than that of the Taj Mahal. Standing on the causeway as the monument reflects in the still water around it—without the massive tourist crowds of Agra—feels like stumbling upon a secret chapter of Indian history.

11. Bodh Gaya, Bihar: Under the Bodhi Tree (250 km)

If you have an extra night to spare, complete the ultimate spiritual circuit by pairing Varanasi with Bodh Gaya (about 4.5 to 5 hours by road or 3.5 hours via the Vande Bharat Express to Gaya Junction).

The UNESCO World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple Complex marks the exact spot where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi Tree. Even if you aren’t Buddhist, sitting on the cool stone courtyard at dusk while hundreds of butter lamps flicker and chants rise in ten different languages is one of the most moving travel experiences in Asia.

Which is the closest tourist place near Varanasi for a half-day trip?

Sarnath (10 km) and Ramnagar Fort (14 km) are the closest and easiest half-day trips. Either one can be comfortably explored in 3 to 4 hours, leaving your morning or evening free for the ghats.

Are the waterfalls near Varanasi open year-round?

While the forest parks stay open through winter, the waterfalls themselves (Rajdari, Devdari, Lakhaniya Dari, and Wyndham Falls) are rain-fed. They are at their roaring best from late July to November. By March through June, most of them dry down to a trickle.

Is it safe to drive from Varanasi to Chunar or Prayagraj at night?

The Varanasi–Prayagraj highway (NH-19) is a well-lit, six-lane corridor that is completely safe at night. However, if you are visiting forested areas like Chandraprabha (Rajdari/Devdari) or Lakhaniya Dari, always exit the forest floor before 4:30 PM, as those interior roads are unlit and pass through quiet rural stretches.

Can I do Varanasi and Bodh Gaya in a single day?

While technically possible if you take the early morning Vande Bharat Express from Varanasi Junction to Gaya and return the same evening, it feels rushed. Spending at least one night in Bodh Gaya lets you experience the Mahabodhi Temple at both sunrise and candlelight dusk.