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Banaras is how locals talk about everyday life here: the food, the silk, the music and the lanes of the old city.
Kachori-sabzi for breakfast, Banarasi chaat through the day and paan to finish โ see our street food guide for exactly where to go.
Hand-woven sarees with gold and silver zari work, made by weaving families who've practised the craft for generations โ our silk shopping guide covers where to buy without overpaying.
Home to the Banaras gharana, a distinct school of singing and tabla โ evening recitals and riverside performances are worth building into an itinerary.
The narrow galis behind the ghats hold centuries-old temples, shops and homes โ best explored slowly, on foot, with someone who knows the turns.
Most visitors split their time between Kashi's rituals and Banaras's everyday culture โ a morning at the ghats, an afternoon in the silk markets and old-city lanes, an evening at a music recital. We can slot a Banaras-focused day or two into any itinerary alongside the usual temple and boat-ride stops.
Banaras is believed to derive from the Varuna and Assi rivers that historically bordered the city, and is the name most commonly used in everyday speech, food and craft traditions.
One of classical Indian music's major schools, known for its distinct style of singing and tabla playing developed in Varanasi over centuries.
It's hand-woven with intricate gold and silver zari work, a craft tradition unique to Varanasi's weaving families and passed down over generations.
Kachori-sabzi, Banarasi chaat, lassi and the city's distinctive paan are among the most recommended โ we can point you to specific stalls worth the wait.
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