What can I do in Varanasi in two days?
Spend day one on Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna Devi, Kal Bhairav and the Ganga Aarti. On day two take a sunrise boat ride, see the morning at Assi Ghat, visit Sankat Mochan, the Durga Temple and the Vishwanath temple at BHU, and end with a walk along the ghats or the Sapta Rishi Aarti.
On this page
The itinerary
A suggested plan by our editors, not an official schedule. Times are approximate; check current temple timings and conditions on the day.
Day 1 — The heart of Kashi
7:00 AM
Start early for calmer queues.
9:30 AM
Annapurna Devi and the Dham corridor
Walk the courtyards to the river.
11:00 AM
E-rickshaw via Maidagin.
1:00 PM
Lunch and rest
Old-city food; rest in the heat.
4:00 PM
Ghats from Dashashwamedh to Manikarnika
Walk slowly; be respectful near the cremation grounds.
Sunset
At Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Day 2 — The river and south Kashi
5:30 AM
Row north from Assi or Dashashwamedh.
7:00 AM
Dawn aarti, music and yoga programme; check the current schedule.
9:00 AM
Carry as little as possible — security is strict.
10:30 AM
Nearby; beside a large tank.
12:00 PM
A spacious modern temple on the university campus.
4:00 PM
Banarasi silk near Godowlia, or the colourful Kedar Ghat.
7:00 PM
Sapta Rishi Aarti (booked) or evening ghats
Book the temple aarti on the official portal.
Tips
- Stay near Dashashwamedh or Godowlia to walk to the temple and the ghats.
- Book any aarti or Sugam Darshan on the official portal in advance.
- In summer, move the midday temples to early morning and rest from 1 to 4 PM.
Frequently asked questions
Is two days enough for Varanasi?
Two days covers the main temples, the ghats, a boat ride and the Ganga Aarti comfortably.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Rituals and daily schedule (opens in a new tab)
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — Official temple source, checked September 2026
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism — Varanasi (opens in a new tab)
Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh — Government source, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- 1-Day ItineraryA one-day Varanasi itinerary: Kashi Vishwanath darshan, Annapurna Devi, Kal Bhairav, the old city and the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh, with realistic timings.
- 3-Day ItineraryA three-day Varanasi itinerary: the old-city temples and Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat and south Kashi, then Sarnath, Bharat Mata Mandir and a slow final evening.
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