Planning · When to come

The best time to visit Varanasi, season by season

Name: Hotel Vagmi
Address: S-1/35-42-S, Shyam Nagar Colony, Central Jail Road, Club Road, Shivpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221002, IN
Telephone: +91-9369601100
Price range: ₹₹

Varanasi is worth visiting in any month, but not in the same way. The river, the light, the crowds and the festivals all change with the season. Here is what each part of the year is actually like, so you can choose the trip you want.

Facts checked · 11 September 2026

Winter: mid-November to mid-February

The dry, cool months are the most comfortable, and the most popular. December averages about 17°C, with afternoons around 23°C and nights near 11°C. The mornings on the river are cold and often misty - beautiful at sunrise, so pack a warm layer.

From about mid-December to mid-January, fog can be persistent across north India and trains and flights into Varanasi are often delayed. Build a little slack into arrival days.

Late November is the high point of the year: Dev Deepawali, the festival of lamps on the ghats, falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, and closes the Ganga Mahotsav. Rooms across the city go weeks ahead.

Spring: late February to March

Warmer, clear days before the heat arrives, and the festival season continues - Mahashivratri falls on 6 March 2027 and draws the biggest crowds of the year to Kashi Vishwanath. By late March the afternoons are already hot; do the sights early and rest in the middle of the day.

Summer: April to June

Hot and dry. April averages about 31°C with highs near 38°C, and in May and June daytime temperatures regularly pass 37°C. It is the quietest season for visitors. If you come, live by the river's clock: a dawn boat, darshan early, indoors through the afternoon, and out again for the evening aarti.

Monsoon: July to September

July and August are the wettest months. When the Ganga rises, the lower steps of the ghats go under water, walking between ghats becomes difficult, and the administration can suspend boat operations until the level falls. The evening aarti at Dashashwamedh moves to the rooftops beside the ghat. The city is green and uncrowded, but plan for a different trip - temples, Sarnath and the lanes rather than the river.

So when should you come?

For comfort and the river at its best: mid-November to mid-February.
For the festival of a lifetime: Dev Deepawali, 24 November 2026 - book early.
For travelling with older parents: December to February, avoiding the Dev Deepawali crowds.
For fewer people and lower rates: the summer and monsoon months, with the trade-offs above.

Averages describe a typical year, not a forecast. Check the forecast and, in the monsoon, the Ganga's level before you travel - the front desk will tell you what the river is doing.

Questions guests ask

What is the best month to visit Varanasi?

Mid-November to mid-February is the most comfortable - dry and cool, with December afternoons around 23°C. Late November adds Dev Deepawali, on 24 November 2026.

Is it good to visit Varanasi in the monsoon?

It is quiet and green, but when the Ganga rises the ghats flood, boats can be suspended and the evening aarti moves to rooftops. Plan temples and Sarnath rather than the river.

How hot does Varanasi get in summer?

In May and June daytime temperatures regularly pass 37°C, and April highs are near 38°C.

Does fog affect travel to Varanasi in winter?

From about mid-December to mid-January, fog often delays trains and flights. Allow slack on arrival days.

Stay in Shivpur

Hotel Vagmi is in Shivpur - quiet and residential, about 6 km from Dashashwamedh Ghat and 2 km from Varanasi Junction. The travel desk arranges cabs and pickups, and will book your boat if you ask the night before.

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Checked against

Timings and fees in Varanasi change with the season and the festival calendar. Every figure above was read from these sources on the date shown - confirm on the day, or ask the front desk.