Beware of scammers on the ghats. Touts and self-styled “guides” or “priests” roam the Ganga ghats and temple lanes, offering VIP darshan, pujas, boat rides or “donations for cremation wood”. Never pay anyone in advance, and never pay for a service before you have actually received it. Book temple services only through the official trust.
Your options
Walking
The only way through the narrow galis around the temple and along the ghats. Use offline maps; lanes are confusing.
E-rickshaw & auto
Everywhere on main roads. Shared rides cost very little; reserve the whole vehicle for comfort. Agree the fare first.
Cycle-rickshaw
Slow but able to go where autos can’t, especially near Godowlia. Good for elders over short distances.
App cabs & taxis
Uber and Ola operate across the city; useful for the airport, stations, BHU and Sarnath.
Boats
Move between ghats along the river — e.g. Assi to Lalita Ghat for the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
Read moreCity buses
Electric city buses run on main routes such as Cantt–Lanka; cheap but not useful for the old city.
Indicative fares
| Trip | E-rickshaw (reserved) | App cab |
|---|---|---|
| Assi → Godowlia | ₹100 – 150 | ₹150 – 250 |
| Varanasi Jn → Godowlia | ₹150 – 250 | ₹200 – 350 |
| Godowlia → BHU | ₹100 – 150 | ₹150 – 250 |
| Godowlia → Sarnath | ₹300 – 400 | ₹350 – 500 |
| Airport → Godowlia | — | ₹600 – 1,000 |
Indicative only; fares rise at night, in rain and on festival days.
Avoiding overcharging
- Agree the fare and destination before you get in — and whether it is shared or reserved.
- Use prepaid taxi counters at the airport and Varanasi Junction.
- Check the app-cab fare for the same route as a benchmark.
- Politely ignore drivers who offer a “cheap tour” that includes shopping stops — they are paid commission by the shops.
Tips
- Carry change. Drivers often have none for ₹500 notes.
- Say your destination landmark (“Godowlia”, “Assi Ghat”, “BHU gate”), not a hotel name in a lane.
- Evening traffic around Godowlia is heavy; walk the last stretch.
- Packages from kashitravel.live include airport/station pick & drop and local transfers.