Essentials
- 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.
- 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.
Working and Networking
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.