Uttar Pradesh is one of the states that define India and its rich history, which dates back to the beginning of time. This is the land of great sages, philosophies, and the inspiration for two of India’s great epics: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. With each progressing century, the state has vouched for India’s secularism by welcoming various religions: Hindu, Jainism, Islamic, Buddhist, and more.

Apart from Varanasi, Allahabad, the holy confluence of two major rivers flowing through the subcontinent, the Ganga and Yamuna, and Agra, which beautifully preserves the intellectual excellency of Mughal architecture, there are many more destinations here that piques the interest of every traveler and shows every shade of Indian ethnicity. More of this can be seen in special events and festivals that bring pilgrims from all over the country and beyond the nation’s borders together, whether it’s the annual Holi festivals in Barsaana and elsewhere, or the famous Kumbh gathering held once every 12 years in Allahabad. Explore India’s culture and the origins of human values by traveling to Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi, which is believed to be the world’s oldest living city, is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the holy river Ganga. For decades, the mystique of this location has drawn pilgrims from all over India and the world. Varanasi is the vibrant and fascinating India of your dreams, with ancient domes, muths, ashrams, priests, and narrow lanes lined with shops selling Benaresi sarees.

Exploring the religious geography of this city will be exhilarating, with personal life and death ceremonies being performed side by side on the Ghats. For an unforgettable experience, take a walk through the busy alleyways or watch the sunrise from a boat. Trace the city’s perimeter, showing respect to shrines along the way. Who knows, maybe a trip to the City of Light would be your favorite stop of all.

Varanasi, India’s spiritual capital, can be confusing. People have concerns about everything from “can we take photos of burning pyres” to “how to deal with touts.” Here are the 11 most popular Varanasi travel tips you should know in order to answer those random yet important questions…

10 Tips For Varanasi Travel 

1) Visit Varanasi, but don’t visit here first. Varanasi is a wild place, especially for people unfamiliar with Indian culture. Seeing dead bodies set on fire and nude sadhus covered in the ash can make you want to stay in your hotel room and not go anywhere.

Varanasi is much more intense than other spiritual travel locations in India, such as Rishikesh or Bodhgaya. So, if this is your first visit to India, ease into the real India for a while before coming here and prepare yourself for such a show.

2) On your first night, do not stay at Manikarnika Ghat. The major action takes place at Manikarnika Ghat. The sight of at least 20 flaming pyres all lined up next to each other can be intimidating. Chanting reverberations add to the melodrama even more. I recall spending a night at Assi Ghat, which was a simplified version of the city – and I recommend you do the same unless you want to be afraid!

3) Varanasi is not a place where you can go out and party or enjoy the nightlife. That should be saved for another city. Instead, come to explore the city, relax on the ghats, and absorb the complexities of Indian culture and as much as peace in your life you can get over there.

4) Experiment with food. Varanasi offers a magnificent and enlightening street food experience as a blend of various age-old religious traditions. Simply go to one of the major bazaar’s historic streets, select a popular food spot, and eat a variety of dishes — you’ll enjoy them all. A few locations to start are Shree Ram Bhandar, Deepak Tambul Bhandar, Deena Chaat Bhandar, and Baati Chokha If you are a sweet lover then you can also add some flavor of launglata with Lanka ki Lassi.

I would also suggest trying Paani-Poori at one of the roadside traditional stores, which provide a real and traditional experience.

5) You can take photos of the cremations. Counting your final days in Varanasi and being cremated here is considered a great thing by Hindus. So don’t worry, relatives of people who are being cremated aren’t shocked. Instead, some of them can be found having a good time. Having said that, it is perfectly acceptable to take photographs as long as you are careful not to offend the families of the deceased.

6) Foreigners are not permitted to enter Viswanath Temple.  However, check with the local authorities beforehand, as rules in India change on a daily basis.

7) Before photographing sadhus. Make sure you get their permission because if you don’t, then they might come after you for money (not all sadhus found in Varanasi have renounced the world, for some, becoming a sadhu was a way to find quick ways of making money). If you ask for their permission ahead of time, with a bright and pleasant expression, you might be able to get away with it for free.

8) You don’t need to go to the Ghats because the old town is constructed on top of them. Varanasi has about 80 ghats in all, and even if you keep away from them, a portion of your daily walk would inevitably lead you to them. However, staying near the ghats is recommended for the greatest experience of the town.

9) If you think you’re clever, consider how clever individuals who engage in tourist touting are. They are tenacious and astute. While the majority of them will offer you a boat ride or a quick tour of the city, some of them will approach you and ask for “wood money” to have their deceased relatives cremated. Simply said, don’t believe everything you hear!

10) Because Varanasi is made up of a maze of ghats and narrow lanes, make sure you know the name of your guesthouse and the ghat where it is located.

 Negotiate in Varanasi. This is especially true of Gange’s riverboat rides. Negotiating isn’t something to be ashamed of. It may be a sacred site, and it may feel inappropriate, but business is business.

Where To Stay In Varanasi: Varanasi is a popular tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh, thus there are plenty of cheap and standard hotels and hostels. To help you with a few names where you can stay, however, I can suggest to you the names of my top three Varanasi hostels: Cohostel, GoobVibes, and Varanasi INN.

For More Travel Tips: Top 9 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In 2022