Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India uses Asia/Kolkata, currently IST (UTC+05:30). No clock changes are scheduled in the next 12 months.
Varanasi is one of the larger cities in India, with a population of about 1.2 million. Unlike many places, it does not observe daylight saving time.
The band below is your local scale — accent shows when everyone's business hours overlap. Add or remove a city on the left and this updates too.
Written for people arriving, calling in, or planning a trip around the time difference.
Areas near the ghats along the Ganges keep the city's most significant sights within walking distance, though the narrow lanes of the old city take some getting used to. Quieter neighborhoods further from the riverfront offer a calmer alternative a short ride away.
The ghats along the Ganges are especially atmospheric at sunrise, when boats set out on the river and the morning rituals begin, as well as during the evening river ceremonies. Cooler months make extended time along the riverfront considerably more comfortable.
Cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws navigate the narrow lanes of the old city, while boats are the way to experience the riverfront itself. Walking is often the most practical option within the dense central lanes.
The cooler months from October through March bring far more comfortable temperatures for time along the ghats than the intense heat of late spring or the humid monsoon season from roughly June through September.
India uses the INR, calling code +91.
India's currency is the rupee, and Hindi is the predominant language of this region, with English also used in tourism contexts. Modest dress and respectful conduct are especially appreciated near the riverfront ghats.
