Guides

Varanasi, checked.

Practical guides to what guests ask us before they book - festival dates, aarti timings, darshan, Sarnath, trains and flights. Every date, time, fee and distance is read from a named source, and each guide says the day it was last checked. Written from Shivpur, where the hotel is.

  1. 01Festival · 24 November 2026Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi: the date, the ghats, and how to see itDev Deepawali 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November. The date, the evening muhurat, which ghats are lit, boats, crowds, and getting there from Shivpur.
  2. 02Every evening · Dashashwamedh GhatThe Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh: timings, where to sit, and getting thereEvening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat: around 6:45 PM in summer and 5:45 PM in winter, free, about 45 minutes. When to arrive, boat or steps, the drive.
  3. 03Temple · Kashi VishwanathKashi Vishwanath darshan: the aartis, the phone rule, and Sugam DarshanPlanning darshan at Kashi Vishwanath: the five daily aartis, what you cannot carry in (phones included), Sugam Darshan, the best time to go, and the drive.
  4. 04Day trip · 5 km from the hotelSarnath in a day: the stupa, the museum, and the Friday ruleSarnath is about 5 km from Hotel Vagmi. Dhamek Stupa, the museum and the Lion Capital, Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, ASI tickets, and why not to go on a Friday.
  5. 05Every morning · On the GangaThe sunrise boat ride in Varanasi: when to leave, where to boardSunrise in Varanasi falls between about 5:05 AM in June and 6:45 AM in January. When to leave Shivpur, rowboat or motorboat, fixed fares, and the monsoon rule.
  6. 06Itinerary · 48 hoursTwo days in Varanasi: a plan that fits the river's clockA two-day Varanasi itinerary from Shivpur: the evening Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat, Kashi Vishwanath darshan and Sarnath - with timings and the rules to plan around.
  7. 07Planning · When to comeThe best time to visit Varanasi, season by seasonMid-November to mid-February is the most comfortable time to visit Varanasi. What each season is really like - heat, monsoon floods, winter fog - and the festivals.
  8. 08Getting here · By trainArriving in Varanasi by train: which station, and the ride to ShivpurVaranasi Junction is about 2 km from Hotel Vagmi. Banaras, Kashi and DDU Junction compared, getting from the platform to Shivpur, and winter fog delays.
  9. 09Getting here · By airVaranasi airport to the city: the drive to Shivpur, and what to bookLal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur is about 20 km from Hotel Vagmi. Prepaid taxis, app cabs, hotel pickups, and planning around fog.
  10. 10Planning · Travelling with parentsVaranasi with your parents: an easier pace, and what to plan aroundPlanning Varanasi with elderly parents: easier darshan at Kashi Vishwanath, aarti from a boat, Sarnath's flat paths, the ghat steps, and a quiet base.