When to go to Varanasi?
Varanasi meets the Ganges along a wall of stone ghats, and the way to see them is from a rowing boat at first light, when the bathers are already in the water. At dusk the Dashashwamedh ghat fills for the aarti, all lamps, bells and smoke. Behind it the old lanes run narrow and loud, while Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught, keeps its calm just outside the city.
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The best time to go
For the best weather in Varanasi, aim for January to June, October to December.
See also: Where to go in January? · Where to go in February? · Where to go in March? · Where to go in April?
Month-by-month weather in Varanasi
| Month | ☀️ h/day | 🌧️ mm | 🌡️ °C | Score /100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.5 | 21 | 14 | 72 |
| February | 10.3 | 16 | 19 | 82 |
| March | 10.5 | 19 | 25 | 85 |
| April | 10.9 | 2 | 31 | 90 |
| May | 11.1 | 24 | 33 | 91 |
| June | 10.7 | 117 | 35 | 80 |
| July | 9.5 | 279 | 30 | 57 |
| August | 8.1 | 295 | 29 | 51 |
| September | 8.8 | 248 | 28 | 56 |
| October | 10.0 | 69 | 26 | 79 |
| November | 9.8 | 8 | 22 | 84 |
| December | 8.9 | 15 | 17 | 77 |
Estimated from 3 years of data. The score (0–100) combines sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and temperature.
The climate in brief
In Varanasi, the sunniest month is May, and the driest is April (about 2 mm). Temperatures peak in June (about 35°C). Over the year, an average of 1,113 mm of rain falls, and 9 months in 12 offer ideal weather for a trip.
What to do in Varanasi?
- Ghats of the Ganges (Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika)
- Aarti ceremony (at sunset)
- Old town and alleyways
- Sarnath (day trip, Buddha's first sermon)
Practical info
- Country: India
Destinations near Varanasi
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