GhatGo Guides
Long-form, fact-checked answers to the questions our customers actually ask about boating on the Ganga, the daily Ganga Aarti, and cabs from Varanasi. Written and maintained by the GhatGo editorial team.
Boats on the Ganga
Pillar guide
Varanasi boat ride: the complete guide (2026)
Everything you need to plan a boat ride on the River Ganga in Varanasi — pricing, boarding ghats, sunrise vs sunset vs aarti slots, duration, safety and step-by-step booking instructions.
Sunrise vs sunset boat ride in Varanasi: which should you pick?
Compare a sunrise boat ride on the Ganga with a sunset / Ganga Aarti slot — timings, crowd, photography, atmosphere and pricing so you can pick the slot that matches your trip.
Dashashwamedh vs Assi vs Namo Ghat: which boarding ghat is best?
Side-by-side comparison of the three most-booked boarding ghats in Varanasi — Dashashwamedh, Assi and Namo — covering vibe, parking, accessibility, crowd levels and which slots suit each.
Varanasi boat ride price: how much should you pay in 2026?
Fair-price reference for a boat ride on the Ganga in Varanasi: shared rates per person, private charter tiers by group size, peak-season premiums and what is included in the GhatGo fare.
Safety on Ganga boats in Varanasi: what to check before you board
How GhatGo verifies boat operators, the lifejacket and capacity rules we enforce, monsoon and adverse-weather policy, and what to look for on the boat before you push off.
Ganga Aarti & experiences
Pillar guide
Ganga Aarti timings at Dashashwamedh Ghat (month by month)
Definitive month-by-month start times for the daily Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, plus recommended boarding times, festival overrides and how to reserve a boat-side view.
Best time to visit Varanasi (season-by-season guide)
When to visit Varanasi for boat rides, the Ganga Aarti and sightseeing — broken down by season, with weather, crowd levels, festival highlights and pricing notes for each window.
Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi: date, schedule and how to watch
Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi is on Tuesday 24 November (Kartik Purnima). What the festival is, how it differs from Diwali, the evening schedule on the ghats, and why a boat is the best way to watch the Ganga Aarti, laser show and fireworks.
Dev Deepawali 2026 trip planner: boat ride, 3-day package and costs
Plan a Dev Deepawali 2026 trip to Varanasi (Tuesday 24 November) — how many days you need, a 3-day itinerary, what it costs, booking deadlines, and whether to book the festival boat ride alone or the 2-night package with hotel and cab.
Varanasi in 2 days: a practical itinerary
A two-day Varanasi itinerary that covers the must-do sunrise boat ride, evening Ganga Aarti, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Sarnath and the lanes of old Banaras — with realistic timings and travel between each stop.
Cabs from Varanasi
Pillar guide
Varanasi cab booking: the complete guide (2026)
Plan a cab from Varanasi in 2026 — fares for airport, sightseeing and outstation trips to Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya and Gaya, vehicle selection by group size, payment, and what is included in the price.
Varanasi to Ayodhya by cab: fare, distance, time and route
Plan a Varanasi-to-Ayodhya cab trip in 2026 — fares per vehicle (Dzire, Ertiga, Innova, Carens, Traveller, Urbania), drive time, route via NH128, what is included and how to book online.
Varanasi to Prayagraj by cab: fare, distance, time and route
Varanasi-to-Prayagraj (Allahabad) cab fares by vehicle class, drive time, route and what the fare covers — plus the combined Ayodhya + Prayagraj package for pilgrimage trips.
Varanasi to Sarnath day trip: cab fare, things to do, timings
A practical day-trip guide to Sarnath from Varanasi — cab fares, drive time, what to see (Dhamek Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath Museum), entry timings and the best half-day itinerary.
Varanasi airport to city taxi: fare, pickup point and time
Booking a taxi from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (LBSI / VNS) to Varanasi city or your hotel: fares by vehicle class, pickup logistics, drive time and what to do if your flight is delayed.
Where to stay
Pillar guide
Where to stay in Varanasi: best areas and a hotel near Kashi Vishwanath (2026)
Where to stay in Varanasi in 2026 — the old city near Kashi Vishwanath vs Assi Ghat vs Cantonment, what each area is like for darshan, the Ganga Aarti and boat rides, and Hotel Shubha Inn, 400 m from Kashi Vishwanath, from ₹1,699 a night.