By Road
See the road route from Delhi to Varanasi, including the onward journey and practical travel notes.
Read road route →Delhi to Varanasi Route
One of India's busiest pilgrimage routes, with a genuine choice of transport: an 8-hour Vande Bharat, a range of overnight sleeper trains, direct flights, and a long but straightforward drive down NH-19.
How to Reach Varanasi from Delhi by Road
Roughly 800 km via NH-19, typically 12-14 hours by car. Volvo AC sleeper buses run from Delhi, usually departing early evening and arriving the following morning. For a journey this long, most travellers find train or flight the better call.
How to Reach Varanasi from Delhi by Train
The fastest is the Vande Bharat Express (22436), covering roughly 755 km in about 8 hours, running six days a week with AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car only - no sleeper. Overnight options include the Kashi Vishwanath Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Shramjeevi SF Express, generally taking 11-14 hours depending on the service.
Varanasi has more than one station. Varanasi Junction (BSB), also called Varanasi Cantt, is the main one and about 3 km from the city centre. Banaras (MUV), formerly Manduadih, is less crowded and closer to Assi Ghat - worth checking if BSB is waitlisted, since it holds a separate quota.
How to Reach Varanasi from Delhi by Air
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur is about 26 km northwest of the city. Multiple daily flights from Delhi take roughly 1.5 hours, making this the fastest option overall once airport transfers are counted.
Delhi to Varanasi Travel FAQs
How long is the train from Delhi to Varanasi?⌄
Between 8 and 14 hours depending on the service. The Vande Bharat Express is the fastest at about 8 hours; overnight sleeper trains like the Kashi Vishwanath and Shiv Ganga Express take 11-14 hours.
Which Varanasi station should I book to?⌄
Varanasi Junction (BSB), also called Varanasi Cantt, is the main station and closest to the city centre. Banaras (MUV) is less crowded, sits closer to Assi Ghat, and has a separate quota - useful if BSB shows waitlisted.
Is there a direct flight from Delhi to Varanasi?⌄
Yes, multiple daily direct flights, taking about 1.5 hours. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is about 26 km from the city.
How far is Varanasi from Delhi by road?⌄
About 800 km via NH-19, typically 12-14 hours by car. Overnight Volvo buses run the route, though most travellers prefer train or flight for this distance.
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?⌄
October to March, when the weather is most comfortable. This window also covers Dev Deepawali, one of the city's most spectacular festivals.