Delhi to Varanasi

Delhi to Varanasi

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Delhi to Varanasi Schedule

Delhi to Varanasi Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
TravelODesk India Comfort 3pax Any time₹ 25,643
Indian Railways SL - Sleeper Class 03:45 - 23:42₹ 613
Indian Railways SL - Sleeper Class 04:55 - 22:15₹ 615
Indian Railways 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper 06:15 - 20:38₹ 1,950
Indian Railways 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper 08:00 - 18:58₹ 2,025
Indian Railways IR 3A - AC 3-Tier Sleeper 11:35 - 04:35$ 19.95
Indian Railways 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper 12:45 - 22:02₹ 1,970
Indian Railways 3A - AC 3-Tier Sleeper 15:05 - 05:15₹ 1,486
Indian Railways 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper 17:10 - 08:55$ 23.49
Pro Active Journey Management AC Seater 18:00 - 08:00₹ 1,502
Indian Railways SL - Sleeper Class 21:40 - 15:00$ 6.68
Indian Railways 3A - AC 3-Tier Sleeper 23:45 - 10:52₹ 1,586

How to get from Delhi to Varanasi

A historical city of Varanasi on the banks of the sacred river Ganga sits in the eastern part of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, southeast of the capital city of New Delhi.

The most timesaving method to get to Varanasi is via a direct flight while trains offer a reasonably priced alternative for those who do not mind spending a night on the wheels.

Direct bus routes are also available and in many cases they offer the most budget-friendly way to get to Varanasi overland.

How far is Varanasi from Delhi?

It is 800 km from Delhi to Varanasi via national highway 19. It is slightly longer – about 825 km – if travelling via Agra–Lucknow expressway.

The rail distance between the two is 752 km, and the direct air link covers 670 km.

What is the most budget-friendly way to reach Varanasi?

To save some rupees in your pocket, consider sleeper class or third class on trains or AC buses. In both cases you should stay within INR850-INR1,500 price range.

How much will a journey to Varanasi cost?

Depending on the class of the seat, travelling by train can cost INR850–INR3,000; by bus – INR900–INR1,800; by plane – INR3,500–INR5,500 if booked in advance, often up to INR8,000 (economy cabin; at least double the highest limit for business class).

How much does a travel to Varanasi last?

Travelling overland, expect to spend from 12 hours to 17 hours, either by bus or train.

Flying is a whisk – you’ll reach Varanasi from Delhi in about 90 minutes.

How to get from Delhi to Varanasi by train

While travelling by train between Delhi and Varanasi takes quite a time, there is a fare number of direct trains plying this route on a daily bases thus you are never short of choice as far as departure times and ticket classes are concerned.

How long does it take to get to Varanasi by train?

The fastest trains need between twelve and 14 hours to reach Varanasi, while the slowest ones of which there are quite a few require about 17 hours.

How much are the railway tickets?

Expect to pay from INR850 for a non air-conditioned sleeper class to INR3,000 for a berth in a plusher first class sleeper compartment for four.

Second tiered AC class costs in the region of INR2,000.

Are there sitting classes on Delhi–Varanasi trains?

Direct Delhi–Varanasi trains do not offer sitting classes.

How many daily trains are there between Delhi and Varanasi?

There are six daily trains complemented by a dozen and a half of non-daily trains. Normally, each day you have no less than ten direct departures to Varanasi to choose from.

Where do trains to Varanasi depart from Delhi?

In Delhi, trains to Varanasi should be boarded at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), the main railway station of Delhi. It is the busiest railway station in the country and boasts the largest route interlocking system in the world, so it can feel quite chaotic at the first glance (and at the second, too!).

Some of the daily trains to Varanasi then call to Ghaziabad some 40 minutes after their departure from New Delhi and there are also trains originating from Anand Vihar Terminal, some 15 km east of NDLS which also call to Ghaziabad. Thus it is an option to use Ghaziabad as your departure station, too.

Which trains are recommended for the Delhi-Varanasi journey?

Out of daily trains the most convenient from the point of view of its schedule is
SWATANTRTA S Express 12562 leaving New Delhi Railway station (NDLS) at 8.40 pm and arriving to Varanasi Junction (BSB) at 8.25 am the next morning. It is also the fastest train which covers the distance in about 12 hours and offers all three air-conditioned tiered classes and a cheaper non air-conditioned sleeper class thus it comes highly recommended.

Similarly, SHIV GANGA Express 12560 at 6.55 pm from NDLS (arrives at 7 am) and SWATANTRTA S Express 12562 at 8.40 pm (8.25 am) are both a great alternative.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday MAHAMANA Express 22418 is also a good option departing Delhi at 6.35 pm and arriving to Varanasi at 8.25 am.

How to get from Delhi to Varanasi by bus

While buses are not the most popular means of transportation on this route, there are direct buses from Delhi to Varanasi, too.

How long does bussing to Varanasi take?

Buses need between 14 and 16 hours to reach Varanasi. En route they make at least a couple of stops for snacks and bathroom as there are no toilets on board.

How much do bus tickets to Varanasi cost?

In media, bus tickets prices start from INR900 for a seat in an air-conditioned coach.

Are there sleeper buses serving this route?

Yes, there are. Usually, Delhi-Varanasi buses have both seats and berths in the same bus, so you have a choice.

Are there night buses to Varanasi?

Yes, there are. The majority of departures is scheduled around 8 pm and arrive to Varanasi at about 10 am.

Which companies serve this route?

The route is served by both government and private operators.

Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) runs buses from Anand Vihar (East Delhi) to Varanasi; Safar Express Tour and Travels, Indo Express and Royal Travels Delhi all offer buses to Varanasi.

Bus travel tip

Note that while the main bus station in Varanasi is located by the railway station, not all the buses of private operators call there and you can be dropped off at other locations.

How to fly from Delhi to Varanasi

It is a popular route served by five airlines offering daily direct flights between Delhi Indira Gandhi International airport and Lal Bahadur Shastri airport which serves Varanasi. The airport is located 26 km northwest of Varanasi.

How much is the airfare?

As a rule, with INR3,500-INR5,500 you can always secure yourself a ticket in the economy cabin.

For cheapest deals, check SpiceJet – it often has air tickets to Varanasi for about INR2,000.

How long does it take to fly from Delhi to Varanasi?

Flying time from Delhi to Varanasi falls between 85 minutes and one hour and 45 minutes.

Via connecting flights, expect to spend from five hours and up. The only reasonable connection is via Jaipur as all other options on offer – e.g. Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad or Hyderabad – are a considerable detour from the route.

Air travel tips

Getting from Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri airport to the city is possible via taxi or tuk-tuk. The latter is only slightly cheaper but takes twice the time than a taxi. A taxi generally reaches Varanasi in about one hour.

There is also a state bus but its stop is located out of the airport, within some 10 minutes walk. But it costs under one dollar.

Transportation from Delhi to Varanasi

Facts about the transport from Delhi to Varanasi

Cheapest Transport$7
Fastest Transport1h 15m
Earliest Departure4:45 AM
Latest Departure10:45 PM
Departures per day18
Distance810 kilometers
Transport CompaniesATS Travel, First Choice Holidays, Gola Bus Service, Highway Star Travel Cargo, Indian Railways, IndiGo, Kalpana Travels Kanpur, Kst Travels, Laxmi Holidays, Raj Shila Travels, Rajshri Travels, RS Yaday Travels, Safar Express Tour, Shree Saroj Travels, TravelODesk India, Zingbus

Delhi to Varanasi Destination Reviews

JW
Flight according to plan and smooth = happy customer:)
flight Economy, IndiGo (IndiGo), Oct 26, 2022
GM
Pleasantly surprised, fresh bedding and good sized beds on the upper and lower berths (side ones are thinner)
Train #12562 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper, Indian Railways, Oct 6, 2022
MH
Smooth ride, awesome food
Train #22436 CC - AC Chair Class, Indian Railways, Aug 31, 2022
M
We managed to get onto the correct train, the tickets worked, and our beds were ready for us. The train arrived on time too!
Train #12562 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper, Indian Railways, Aug 31, 2022
AF
Really nasty train bathrooms for a 1 clase
Train #12560 1A - AC First Class Sleeper, Indian Railways, Aug 24, 2022
MP
The train was comfortable and on time. 12go asia service is good and reliable. The only very very big issue, that brought me to give a low rate was the experience at New Delhi train station: it is very crowded, scaring and confusing for me, with people that seem to be public employees but they are not, and they will bring you to private travel agencies saying that these are the public offices for tourists information. There, they told me that my ticket was not valid because I'm a tourist (actually it's not true), that the train was cancelled or delayed (again not true) and they try to sell other travels or hotels much more expensive than the true. This unfortunately happened to me more than one time. Be really carefull about trusting people, even the tuktuk drivers. If you need information, ask only to the personnel sitting on the counters inside the station, even there is a long queue
Train #22436 CC - AC Chair Class, Indian Railways, Aug 5, 2022
FJ
We booked 2 tickets and we got the beds on opposite sides of the coach. Umber 12 and 42.
Train #12560 2A - AC 2-Tier Sleeper, Indian Railways, Jul 29, 2022
GF
The first driver was smoking marihuana while driving. The second driver was drunk while the smoker eas driving and when he started driving, was driving the bus like an animal very agressive. Despite that, we’ve survived and arrived in Varanasi. The bus is very comfortable but we booked the seats 4U and 5U and we need to change the seats because the air duct was exactly above us! About 12goasia, thanka for your service! Very simple and easy to help us!!!
Bus AC Sleeper, Abha Travels, Dec 21, 2021
4.4
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