🇮🇳 Varanasi,
India
#108
Nomad Score
5.5
Coords
25.3356491, 83.0076292
Likes
👍 0 👎 0
Actions
ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - One of the world's oldest living cities, located on the banks of the Ganges River. |
| 👥 Population | Approximately 1.5 million |
| 💻 Internet Speed | 30-100 Mbps on fiber (Airtel Xstream, JioFiber); mobile 5G is widespread. |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | Indian Rupee (INR). 1 USD ≈ 83 INR. ATMs are frequent near Dashashwamedh Ghat. |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Not drinkable. Use RO filtered water or branded bottled water (Bisleri/Kinley) at ₹20 per liter. |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets. Power cuts occur; ensure accommodation has 'Inverter' backup. |
| 📶 SIM Card | Jio and Airtel. Obtain at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport or shops in Assi Ghat for approx ₹299/month. |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI. Wise and Revolut work at most ATMs; UPI (GPay/PhonePe) is essential for locals. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Guesthouses (₹1,000-₹2,500/night) and Boutique Hotels/Heritage Havelis (₹5,000+). |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Partially. UPI is used everywhere from tea stalls to malls; cards accepted in hotels, but cash is king in the narrow alleys. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and Booking.com. Monthly rates at guesthouses like Granny's Inn or Rose Heritage start at ₹35,000. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostelworld favorites: Zostel Varanasi (Luxa Road) or International Travellers' Hostel (near Railway Station) for ₹600-₹900/dorm. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Dashashwamedh Ghat for the main Aarti ceremonies and central chaos. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Assi Ghat (South). It is calmer, has more cafes, and a younger, international crowd. |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Varanasi Coworking (Mahmoorganj). Prices: ₹400/day, ₹5,000/month. Modern amenities in a quieter district. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Terra cotta Cafe or Terracotta Cafe (Assi Ghat). Good Wi-Fi, relaxed atmosphere, and excellent coffee (₹150-₹250). |
| 💼 Networking Events | Informal meetups at 'Open Hand Shop & Cafe' and events organized by the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) community. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Varanasi Expats Facebook Group; morning yoga sessions at Assi Ghat. |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Ola and Uber. Available for cars and auto-rickshaws. Crucial for fair pricing. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Varanasi On Wheels or local vendors near Assi Ghat. Monthly scooter rental: ₹4,000-₹6,000. |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | No ocean; 'Sands' on the opposite bank of the Ganges (accessible by boat, ₹200) for sunset walks. |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | IndiGo and Air India Express for domestic connections to Delhi and Mumbai. |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Air India, Thai Airways (via Bangkok), and Buddha Air (to Kathmandu). |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | NH19 (Golden Quadrilateral) connects to Kolkata and Delhi; NH31 to Lucknow. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Varanasji Junction (BSB) and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU) for long-distance trains. |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | No unified pass. Pay per ride on E-rickshaws (₹10-₹30 for shared rides). |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | AC Buses to Prayagraj (3 hours) or Lucknow (6 hours) via UPSRTC. |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Heritage Hospital (Lanka) or Sir Sunderlal Hospital (BHU) for high-quality care. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga Training Centre (Shivala Ghat). Group classes: ₹300/session. Siddhi Yoga for teacher training. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Talwalkars (Sigra) or Gold's Gym (Mahmoorganj). Monthly membership approx ₹2,500-₹3,500. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Most guesthouses offer 'per piece' washing. For professional service: UClean (Mahmoorganj). |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Swiggy and Zomato are extremely active and reliable. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Tamatar Chaat at Deena Chat Bhandar and Malaiyyo (winter seasonal dessert). |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Brown Bread Bakery (Dashashwamedh) and Aadha-Aadha Cafe; many options as the city is predominantly veg. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Kashi Chat Bhandar (for sweets) and Blue Lassi Shop (famous lassis for ₹100-₹150). |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Vishwanath Gali for silks and trinkets; Thatheri Bazaar for metalwork. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Amazon.in and Flipkart. Deliveries to the old city alleys might require meeting the rider at a main landmark. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | BigBasket and Blinkit (10-20 minute delivery in main city areas). |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Limited due to holy status. Upscale hotels like Taj Ganges or Radisson have bars. No public bars near the Ghats. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | None (alcohol restricted near the holy river). Malls in the Cantonment area have bars like 'The 3rd Floor'. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Hotel JHV (Cantonment) features a decent wine selection at their lounge. |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Godaulia Crossing and Assi Ghat for Kachori Sabzi and Baati Chokha. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Dosa Cafe (South Indian) and Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe (Wood-fired pizza, Assi Ghat). |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Bharat Kala Bhavan (within BHU campus) for ancient sculptures and paintings. |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Sarnath (10km away) where Buddha gave his first sermon; Ramnagar Fort. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and Durga Mandir (Monkey Temple). |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Dev Deepawali (November) - the entire riverfront is lit with millions of lamps. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Bengali Tola for music and traditional workshops. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Nagari Natak Mandali (Aryanagar) for local Hindi theater and classical music. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Godowlia Market and Chowk for Banarasi Silk Saris (₹5,000 - ₹50,000+). |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Benares Gharana classical music; check International Music Centre Ashram for evening sitar concerts. |
| 🎨 Street Art | The walls of the Ghats feature extensive religious and mythological murals. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Nidhi's Cooking Classes or classes at Little Stars School for domestic charity. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Rhythm Art Gallery near Assi Ghat for local contemporary art. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Man Singh Observatory located at Man Mandir Ghat. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The 'Banarasi Silk' weaving heritage, protected by GI status. |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary (70km away) for waterfalls and trekking. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Panna National Park (Approx. 7-8 hours drive) for tiger safaris. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | Walking the 7km stretch of Ghats from Assi to Manikarnika at 5 AM. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Malviya Bridge (Double-decker bridge) for a panoramic view of the crescent-shaped riverfront. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Siberian birds migrate to the Ganges during winter (Nov-Feb); take a boat trip. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Assi Ghat riverbank evenings during the winter months. |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Blue Dart, DTDC, and India Post (Head Post Office at Visheshwarganj). |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Computech at Sigra or various repair shops in the IP Mall area. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Sigra Stadium (Indoor sports complex). |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Hindi classes at Benares Hindu University (BHU) or private tutors in Assi (₹500/hour). |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Library (BHU) - one of the largest in India. |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Alice Boner Institute for cultural exchange and research. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | LXG (League of Extraordinary Gamers) near Lanka. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Not permitted in the state of Uttar Pradesh. |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ₹80,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹3,200,000 / $38,500) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ₹55,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹2,200,000 / $26,500) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ₹75,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹4,500,000 / $54,200) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ₹50,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹3,000,000 / $36,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ₹70,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹5,600,000 / $67,500) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ₹45,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹3,600,000 / $43,400) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 25% for domestic companies; 40% for foreign companies. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 10% for residents; 20% for non-residents (subject to DTAA). |
| 🏦 Tax System | Residential status based; residents taxed on worldwide income, non-residents on Indian-sourced income. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 30% (plus surcharges) for income above ₹1,500,000. |
| 🧾 VAT | GST (Goods and Services Tax) ranges from 5%, 12%, 18% to 28% depending on the item. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | POEM (Place of Effective Management) rules apply to tax foreign entities in India. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Yes, annual tax based on the Annual Rental Value (ARV) paid to Varanasi Nagar Nigam. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Stamp duty is approximately 7% for men and 6% for women. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | No specific nomad visa; standard e-Tourist visa allows stay but technically prohibits local employment. |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING VARANASI