Delhi to Varanasi Travel Guide | Air vs Road vs Railway | Price | Schedule | Time

Delhi to Varanasi travel guide

Every tourist place envelops a sanctity that enables itself to stand out from other places from the lot. Varanasi is one such place that boasts of a world class university, historic importance and mythological stories. Even now it’s in the news for strong political battle in recent Loksabha elections.

The city has been a cultural center of north India for several thousand years, and has a history that is older than most of the major world religions. The Benares Gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi. It is the spiritual capital of India. Scholarly books have been written in the city, including the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas. Today there is a temple of his namesake in the city, the Tulsi Manas Mandir. One of the largest residential universities of Asia the Banaras Hindu University is located here. Varanasi is often referred to as “the city of temples”, “the holy city of India”, “the religious capital of India”, “the city of shiva”, and “the city of learning”.

Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries. Also a pilgrimage place for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives.

Roadways

I have a feeling you’re gonna enjoy this trip! New Delhi (Delhi) to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) driving directions for the distance of 850 kilometers. It will take at least 10 hours by road and will cost you at least Rs 3969 of fuel! Avoid the sun and have cold drinks to escape the heat. Try riding the bus from Delhi to Varanasi. Then you’ll really feel abused ha ha ha! Seriously, I’d guess a bus, if there was even a “fast” service, would take at least 24 hours. Until that new superhighway is completed it’s going to be just about the slowest, noisiest way to get there. For long distance travel a train is preferable. 

Railways

There are 9 direct trains from Delhi to Varanasi including sampark kranti and rajdhani coaches.

Airways