Varanasi isn’t just temples: 12 incredible things to do beyond the ghats

Discover the soulful, lesser-seen side of Varanasi — from quiet sunrises and artisan workshops to music-filled nights and hidden lanes.

Varanasi has a way of swallowing you whole—its chaos, its charm, its contradictions. Most travellers rush to the famous temples, the burning ghats, the evening aarti, and then hurry out with a checklist. But the real Varanasi? It quietly hides in its backlanes, workshops, rooftops, and riverfront dawns, waiting for anyone willing to slow down.

Step off the well-trodden path, and the city reveals a version of itself that feels intimate, soulful, and sometimes even surreal. Here are the experiences that show you the Varanasi locals know—and that tourists rarely discover.

The galis are a living museum—attar sellers, forgotten shrines, pan-stained walls, and sudden bursts of laughter spilling out of tiny homes. Wander without a plan; the city tells its stories best that way.

Behind every bridal Banarasi saree is a weaver hunched over a handloom, fingers dancing through threads like muscle memory. Sit with them, listen to their craft, and watch heritage unfold strand by strand.

Before dawn, Varanasi softens. The river blushes pink, priests hum their first chants, and the city stretches awake. A simple sunrise boat ride here feels almost meditative.

(Image: Canva)

Imagine yoga, classical music, Sanskrit chants, and a gentle morning aarti—all happening by the river as the sun rises. This daily ritual is Varanasi at its most soulful.

Hot kachori-sabzi at sunrise, tamatar chaat that tastes like chaos and comfort, frothy Banarasi lassi in kulhads, and dreamy malaiyo in winter. And yes—end with a paan. Always.

This is the city of sitars, thumri and gharanas. Slip into a late-night baithak, where maestros tune their instruments under dim lanterns and melodies hang in the air like incense.

BHU feels like a city within a city—shady avenues, stunning museums, sandstone buildings, and calm plazas. After hours in the galis, this leafy campus feels like a reset button.

A 20-minute ride from Varanasi takes you to the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon. The peace here is almost disarming—stupas, monasteries, and gardens that feel untouched by time.

Varanasi breathes rhythm. Watch a live Kathak recital or a folk performance—ghungroos ringing through an intimate hall is one of the city’s most underrated experiences.

See Varanasi from a whole new angle. Evening cruises offer sweeping views of the ghats with storytelling, music, and calm waters—no crowds, no chaos.

Find a spot overlooking the ghats, order chai, and watch the sun melt into the Ganga. As the lamps light up below, the city feels almost cinematic.

From wooden toys and brass lamps to stone carvings and handmade perfumes, Varanasi’s artisans carry generations of tradition. Buying from them feels like taking home a piece of the city’s soul.

(Image: Canva)

Because Varanasi Isn’t Just a Destination—It’s a Mood.

You come for the ghats, maybe the temples. But you stay for the music at midnight, the conversations with weavers, the sunrises that feel ancient, and the chaotically beautiful lanes that make you feel oddly at home.

Step beyond the clichés, and Varanasi doesn’t just show you its secrets—it stays with you long after you’ve left.