My Varanasi Diary
My journey to the sacred city of Varanasi began on 28th May, along with a friend. We boarded our train around 5 PM though it was supposed to arrive at 11 AM .A delay of 8–9 hours. If you're planning a trip to Varanasi or Prayagraj during peak summer (April–June), make sure to add a buffer because train delays are almost guaranteed. The North sees heavy traffic, and punctuality often takes a backseat.
We reached Varanasi Junction at around 2:30 AM. After having puri and sabzi from a nearby stall, we took a tuk-tuk (e-auto) to our accommodation around 3:30 AM and crashed straight into sleep.
The next morning, we woke up at 8:30, freshened up, and headed to the famous
Ram Bhandar for breakfast. Despite the crowd, the badi kachori, sabzi, and jalebi were absolutely worth the wait a burst of flavor and tradition on a single plate.
From there, we set out on foot to explore the ghats of the Ganga, starting from Bonsale Ghat .
We visited nearly 10 ghats in a stretch, each one whispering a story of time, devotion, and stillness. But with the heat touching 36°C, the exhaustion started creeping in. We were getting dehydrated fast. That’s when we stopped for a chilled lassia literal lifesaver.
After drinking some water, we sat by the stall, caught our breath, and soaked in the atmosphere before heading back to our stay for some rest.
In the evening, we visited the popular Monalisa Cafe a place buzzing with international travellers.
We tried a traditional Israeli dish, Lafa, and a Korean special, kimchi fried rice. While the lafa impressed, I personally didn’t enjoy the kimchi fried rice much.
Later that night, we explored the narrow lanes of Varanasi again and headed for aboat ride on the Ganga from Dashashwamedh Ghat.
They charged ₹100 per person totally worth it. The boat gave us a unique view of the ghats, old ruins, and temples along the riverbanks. As the sun set, the scene turned golden.
And then came the moment I was waiting for the Ganga Aarti.
It had always been a dream of mine to witness this aarti up close, and honestly, I couldn’t believe I was there. The lights, the chants, the smoke, the synchronization it was one of the most magical, goosebump worthy experiences of my life.
After the Aarti, we headed to the Kashi Chat Bhandar, where we had tamatar chaat and dahi bhalla both mouthwatering and full of authentic local flavor.
Then came a little experiment Bhang
We tried a stronger version, which was surprisingly refreshing. A little tip here have it only after a good meal and opt for a light dose. Empty stomach or strong versions might not go well with everyone.
We wrapped up the day, freshened up, and had a peaceful sleep.
The Morning of Fulfilment
Next day, I woke up early, got ready, and headed to the one place that truly pulled me to Varanasi the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
