Varanasi Travel Guide

As a northern city of India, Varanasi is divided into three seasons of cool, hot and rainy. October to March belongs to the cool season, the best time to visit Varanasi, and tourists can expect pleasant weather with less rainfall, sunlight and mild temperature. While in the night, it can be a little chilly with the lowest temperature of 5 ℃ (41 ℉). If you plan a Varanasi travel during this period, you can wear thin and breathable cloths like dress and cotton fabrics in the daytime and prepare some warm clothes like woolen sweaters and padded pants for cold nights.

• Pizzeria Vaatika Café:  B 1/178, Assi Ghat. This pleasant café offers vegetarian pizzas and varieties of Indian dishes. Italian and Western simple foods are also available. The apple pie and ice cream are highly recommended.
  
• Tadka:  Hotel Ramada Plaza JHV, Cantonment. With an elegant environment, Tadka provides an open kitchen for guaranteeing fresh and homemade dishes. Various diet options for guests: vegetarian, halal, kosher and gluten-free.
  
• CBowl of Compassion:  32/162, Devnathpura, Bengalitola Lane. The rooftop restaurant with a gorgeous sunset view has the most delicious authentic Indian dishes like Kofta and Thaali. Also, you can enjoy a cozy yoga class to relax.
  

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi operates domestic flights and international flights from LA, Milan, Madrid and Manchester. Usually, travelers visit Delhi first and then transfer to Varanasi. If by air, it takes about 1.5 hours; if take trains, the time from Delhi to Varanasi takes around 12 hours. The main railway stations in Varanasi are Varanasi Junction Railway Station and Mughal Sarai Station (MSG). The former one has a special Foreign Tourist Assistance Bureau, and it costs about 150 rupees to take a taxi from the downtown area. MSG is about 14 km (8.7 mi) south of downtown Varanasi and usually takes near 1 hour to arrive due to the serious congestion.

For Varanasi travel, rickshaw/auto is the most convenient mean of transportation. Its price for a single way generally takes Rs25 within 2 km and it costs Rs8 per km for the subsequent distance. The driver will charge for the carriage of large luggage at Rs.7.5/piece. Besides, the best way to visit the Ganges is by boat, usually Rs50-100 / hour (2-3 people).

• Bala Ji Handicraft:  Bhadhani Assi, near Assi Ghat, Varanasi.  Located in an alive area, Bala Ji Handicraft is a quite bustling market including all kinds of handmade goods like jewelry, incense, statues and silks.
  
• U.P. Cottage Emporium:  B1/229 Assi, Varanasi.  The market is a large-scale supplier for retail, wholesale and export. Here you can choose various cheap items with a high quality, such as wooden art products, woolen fabrics and jewelry.
  
• The Bed Silk & Pashmina:  B1/153 Ganga Math Assi, Varanasi.  This place provides you with a wide selection of high-quality silk, Pashmina, bed sheets and fabrics.