Places To Visit Near Varanasi is an ancient city and holds much importance in the Hindu religion and mythologies. It is one of the seven holy cities of the Hindus and is famous for its temples and Ghats. Apart from them, there are many other attractions in the city. Don’t forget to have some popular street food of the city that includes Kachoris, Jalebis, Puri Sabzee and Shahi Lassi that are just delicious.
Attracting a lot of tourists all year round, there are incredibly stunning places to visit near Varanasi. Embracing various tourist destinations from wildlife sanctuaries to hill stations, Varanasi is a perfect destination for a getaway with your friends and family. Explore the places near Varanasi on a weekend trip or a vacation and create moments to cherish for years to come.
With abundant tourist places near Varanasi, experience an amalgamation of rich culture, religion and history, all combined into one vacation. Fill your heart with peace and contentment while visiting pilgrimage spots like Singhpur Sarnath and Ayodhya.
Take in the scenic surroundings at Rewa or witness the timeless beauty and architectural marvels at Agra. Observe the splendid Islamic architecture in the City of Nawabs, Lucknow or spend some time at Mirzapur soaked in the natural beauty, places to visit near Varanasi won’t disappoint you Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Sarnath
The place is full of peaceful vibes and serenity. It is one of the holiest places in the country and especially sacred for Buddhists. The city adorns the number of Buddhist stupas, museums, and excavated sites. Other than this you can also see the temple and other serene settings of the place. Sarnath is just 10 km away from Sarnath and you can go and visit this place and come back on the same day.
This is a pilgrimage place for Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus and always overcrowded with tourists and devotees. The place also adorns architectural marvels where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. The famous places to visit in Sarnath are Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Thai Temple, Tibetan Temple, Archaeological Museum, Buddha Purnima festival in Sarnath Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Distance from Varanasi: 40 km
Famous Attractions: Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Thai Temple, Tibetan Temple, Archaeological Museum
Bodh Gaya
Among the most famous places to visit between Varanasi and Allahabad, Bodh Gaya is known for being the shrine for the enlightenment of Lord Buddha, Mahabodhi Tree and is the land of Nirvana for Hinduism. The place is always full of pilgrims who are here to pay their tribute to the sacred land of Bodh Gaya. Lord Buddha used to meditate under the Mahabodhi tree and attained enlightenment. Everyone who is here wants to come to see this tree and pray for its blessings.
Because of this Bodh Gaya has attained the number one rank in being the largest and most popular pilgrimage for Buddhists and has also attained a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A trip to this place is full of insight into the rich culture of India and its philosophies. This is a land of nirvana and a holy shrine. The list of top attractions in Bodh Gaya includes Mahabodhi Temple, The Great Buddha Statue, Tibetan Refugee Market, Bodhi Tree, and Thai Monastery. So, if you are looking for a peaceful place to visit near Varanasi then head to Bodh Gaya Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Ideal Duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
Distance from Varanasi: 253 km
Famous Attractions: Mahabodhi Temple, The Great Buddha Statue, Tibetan Refugee Market, Bodhi Tree, Thai Monastery
Allahabad
Allahabad is another holy shrine near Varanasi. It is popularly called the Prayagraj because it is the meeting point of three rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and Saraswati. It is a place of the ancient town of Hindu Gatherings on the banks of this Sangam. The most celebrated festival in Allahabad is the Maha Kumbh Mela when lakhs and lakhs of people flock to this city to take a holy dip in the Sangam.
Prayagraj is a meeting point of three main rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati and was christened as Allahabad by Emperor Shah Jahan. The main tourist attraction is the Triveni Sangam, The Khusro Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Allahabad Museum, Allahabad Planetarium. It is one of the largest cities in Uttar Pradesh and very well connected by all means of transport i.e. Air, train and roads. It is best to come here during winters (Oct to March) for moderate temperatures. It’s best to avoid Allahabad during monsoons Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Distance from Varanasi: 121 km
Famous Attractions: Triveni Sangam, The Khusro Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Allahabad Museum, Allahabad Planetarium
Khajuraho
Another best place to visit near Varanasi is Khajuraho which is another UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its rich culture and beautiful temples. These temples have erotic signs carved on its exterior, which explains the forward culture of India during medieval times when most of the people were turning towards becoming spiritual and have stopped getting married. The then ruler built these temples to encourage people to have a family life Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
The place is also known for the cultural festivals that are held here every year when lots of International tourists come to visit this rich shrine. When you are in Khajuraho, the top attractions that are never to be missed are the Light and sound show, the Dulhadev Temple, the Kandariya Mahadev Temple, the Lakshman Temple, the Parsvanatha Temple, and the Vishwanath Temple. The railhead is just beside the temple gates and Khajuraho has its airport as well. The best time to visit this place is during Oct and February.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Distance from Varanasi: 392 km
Famous Attractions: Dulhadev Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshman Temple, Parsvanatha Temple
Lucknow
Lucknow is the city of Nawabs and the capital of Lucknow. The city is located on the banks of the river Gomti. The city is popular for rich Nawabi culture and its food. The people here are known for being very polite and courteous. They are so polite that you couldn’t help but smile back if you come to interact with one. The main tourist attractions of Lucknow are the Bara Imambara, the Hazratganj Market, The Lucknow Zoo, the Chowk, Chota Imambara, and Rumi Darwaja.
Visit bustling streets of Lucknow market are a must to taste authentic Mughlai food and Biryani. The Shopping for the latest Chikankari and wholesale stores is also a must. The place is famous for chat and kulfi with faluda as well. Lucknow is the capital city to have its domestic airport and a major railhead. Various state-run buses connect Lucknow to other parts of the country. Winters are the best time to visit Lucknow are summers are scorching hot Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Distance from Varanasi: 320 km
Famous Attractions: Bara Imambara, the Hazratganj Market, The Lucknow Zoo, the Chowk, Chota Imambara
Ayodhya
Ayodhya is located on the banks of river Saryu and is one of the most sacred cities in Hindu mythology for this is the birthplace of Lord Ram. The place also came into limelight due to the Muslim Hindu massacre during the early 90s of dispute for the land of Lord Rama worship place. The city is full of spirituality and is associated with Hinduism.
Other top attractions in Ayodhya are Ramjanma Bhoomi, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath Temple, Hanuman Garhi, Gulan Bari, and Treta Ke Thakur. Many direct trains and buses are connecting Ayodhya to the rest of the country. The nearest airport is in Lucknow from where you could take a train to reach Ayodhya. Just to skip peak summer months. The place is adorned with pleasant weather all year around Places To Visit Near Varanasi.
Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Distance from Varanasi: 203 km
Famous Attractions: Ramjanma Bhoomi, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath Temple, Hanuman Garhi
