Varanasi (VNS): the electric bus, and the last stretch to the ghats
The airport is 26 km out. UPSRTC electric buses run for 40 to 140 rupees. No vehicle reaches the lanes by the ghats.
- The airport is at Babatpur, about 26 km north west of Varanasi.
- UPSRTC runs air conditioned electric buses on routes 101 and 102, every 30 to 60 minutes.
- The fare is 40 to 140 rupees depending on where you get off.
- The bus takes 60 to 75 minutes.
- A prepaid cab counter operates in the arrivals hall.
- A taxi or app cab to central Varanasi is 800 to 1,200 rupees, 45 to 60 minutes.
- Babatpur railway station is 1 to 2 km from the terminal, an auto ride of 50 to 100 rupees.
- Local trains from Babatpur reach Varanasi Junction in about an hour for 30 to 150 rupees.
- No car reaches the ghats. The old city lanes are too narrow, and the last stretch is on foot or by cycle rickshaw.
- Agree with your guesthouse where the driver can actually stop, before you arrive.
The distance
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International is at Babatpur, about 26 km north west of Varanasi.
- Every option takes the best part of an hour because of the road, not the distance.
The bus
- UPSRTC runs air conditioned electric buses between the airport and the city, on routes 101 and 102.
- They go every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Fares are 40 to 140 rupees depending on distance, and the journey takes 60 to 75 minutes.
- This is the cheapest way in by a wide margin and the buses are new and air conditioned, which is not always true of Indian airport buses.
The train, if you want it
- Babatpur railway station is 1 to 2 km from the terminal, about 10 to 15 minutes by auto rickshaw at 50 to 100 rupees.
- Local and express trains run from there to Varanasi Junction in about an hour, at 30 to 150 rupees.
- It is cheap and slow and involves two changes with luggage, so it is for the curious rather than the tired.
Taxis
- A prepaid cab counter is in the arrivals hall.
- Ola and Uber operate around the clock.
- Expect 800 to 1,200 rupees to central Varanasi, 45 to 60 minutes.
The last stretch, which nobody warns you about
- No car reaches the ghats. The old city is a maze of lanes far too narrow for a vehicle, and taxis stop at the edge of it.
- From wherever the driver stops it is on foot, or by cycle rickshaw as far as that can go.
- Ask your guesthouse in advance which road end they are nearest to and how far the walk is. Arriving after dark without that answer is how people end up wandering the lanes with a suitcase.
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