On the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, fifteen days after the nationwide celebration of Diwali, the ancient city of Varanasi transforms into a celestial riverbank. This is Dev Diwali, the “Diwali of the Gods.” According to sacred mythology, on this auspicious evening, the deities themselves descend from the heavens to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganga. To welcome them, the city’s entire riverfront, spanning more than 80 ghats, is illuminated with millions of diyas, creating a spectacle of light that seems to merge the earth with the divine.
At its core, the festival is about Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasura, symbolizing the eternal triumph of good over evil. For 2025, this celestial event will take place on Wednesday, November 5th. To witness Dev Diwali is to immerse oneself in a powerful confluence of faith, community, and breathtaking beauty. However, the very spiritual magnetism that draws millions to the city also creates an environment of intense logistical complexity. The streets become busy, roads close, and accommodations are booked months in advance. A successful journey to Dev Diwali is therefore not about avoiding this vibrant energy but about understanding and navigating its beautiful, “managed chaos.”
This guide provides a strategic framework and an expert itinerary designed to help the discerning traveler experience the profound spiritual core of the festival while mastering its logistical challenges.
How to plan for trip to Varanasi on Dev Deepawali 2025?
While Dev Diwali peaks on the single night of November 5th, framing the trip around this date alone is a missed opportunity. A more enriching approach is to plan for a multi-day cultural immersion that also encompasses the grand finale of the Ganga Mahotsav. This four-day classical music and dance festival, organized by the Uttar Pradesh government, precedes Dev Diwali and transforms the city’s riverfront into a vibrant cultural stage.
For 2025, the Ganga Mahotsav is scheduled from November 1st to 4th, featuring a lineup of nationally acclaimed artists. The final evening, November 4th, is slated to host a performance by the popular bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi, offering a world-class cultural experience.
Therefore, the recommended travel plan is a 4-day/3-night itinerary:
- Arrive: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
- Depart: Friday, November 7th, 2025
This schedule allows a traveler to attend the Ganga Mahotsav finale, acclimate to the city’s rhythm before the peak festival crowds descend, fully experience Dev Diwali, and depart after the immediate post-festival exodus has subsided, avoiding the worst of the travel congestion.
Travelling Routes to Varanasi
Given the immense influx of visitors, booking travel to Varanasi should be a top priority, ideally 3 to 4 months before the festival dates.
By Air:
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) is located approximately 26 km from the city center and is well-connected to major Indian hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Taxis and pre-booked car services are available for the transfer to the city, which can take over an hour depending on traffic. Book your flight tickets on Plane Pockets.
By Train:
Varanasi is a major railway hub with two primary stations: Varanasi Junction (BSB) and Banaras Station (BSBS). The city has extensive connectivity across India. For travelers from Delhi, the Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22436) is the fastest option, completing the journey in approximately 8 hours. Train tickets, especially in higher classes, sell out rapidly for the festival period.
By Road:
Varanasi is accessible via a network of national highways. The road journey from Delhi covers around 820-860 km and can take 12 to 15 hours. From Lucknow, the distance is about 320 km, a drive of 5 to 6 hours.2 Travelers should be aware that road travel into the city will be subject to significant diversions and congestion closer to the festival date.
Accommodation Guide
During Dev Diwali, your choice of accommodation is a critical strategic decision. Widespread road closures and traffic restrictions mean that staying close to the ghats is paramount to ensure a walkable, accessible experience. It is advisable to book your stay at least 3 to 4 months in advance, as properties in prime locations are often fully booked long before the festival.
The following table categorizes accommodation options to help guide this crucial choice.
| Category | Recommended Hotels/Guesthouses | Proximity to Main Ghats |
| Luxury | BrijRama Palace, Varanasi – By the Ganges; Taj Ganges Varanasi; Amritara Suryauday Haveli | Excellent (BrijRama, Amritara) to Fair (Taj Ganges is further out) |
| Mid-Range | Palace on Ganges; Hotel River Rhythm; The Kashi Residency; Hotel Banaras Haveli | Very Good, most are within a 5-15 minute walk to Assi Ghat. |
| Budget | Baba Guest House; Family Guest House; Stay Inn Heritage; Teerth Guest House | Excellent, often just steps away from Dashashwamedh Ghat. |
The 4-Day Expert Itinerary for Dev Diwali
This itinerary is designed for a comprehensive and immersive experience, balancing cultural events, spiritual observation, and essential rest.
Day 1 (Nov 4, 2025)
- Morning (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Arrive at Varanasi’s airport or railway station and transfer to your pre-booked hotel. The journey into the city may be slow, so factor in extra time. After checking in, have a relaxed lunch at or near your hotel.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Embark on an orientation walk. The goal is not to see everything but to get a feel for the city’s energy. A good route is to start from the relatively spacious Assi Ghat and walk north along the riverfront towards Harishchandra Ghat. This allows you to observe the initial festival preparations and understand the layout of the ghats before the peak crowds arrive.
- Evening (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Make your way to the venue for the Ganga Mahotsav. This four-day festival culminates on this evening with performances by renowned artists, including a highly anticipated session by bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi. This event serves as a perfect cultural overture to the spiritual crescendo of Dev Diwali.
- Night (9:00 PM onwards)
Enjoy dinner at a restaurant in a less-crowded area like Lanka or Bhelupur. Before retiring, confirm all arrangements for the next day, particularly the meeting point and time for your pre-booked boat ride.
Day 2 (Nov 5, 2025)
- Early Morning (5:30 AM – 8:00 AM)
Begin your day at Assi Ghat to witness the serene Subah-e-Banaras ceremony. This daily ritual includes a morning Ganga Aarti, collective yoga sessions, and classical music performances against the backdrop of the rising sun. This is also the prime time to observe thousands of devotees taking their sacred Kartik Snan, a holy dip in the Ganges considered especially meritorious on this day.
- Morning (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Embark on a culinary pilgrimage for an authentic Banarasi breakfast. The quintessential meal is Kachori-Sabzi (puffed, fried bread with a spicy potato curry) followed by hot, syrupy Jalebi. Iconic establishments like Ram Bhandar in Thatheri Bazar or Madhur Milan near Dashashwamedh Ghat are highly recommended for this experience.
- Late Morning (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
Visit the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the twelve holiest Shiva shrines (Jyotirlingas). Expect significant crowds. To potentially shorten the wait time, consider booking the temple’s Sugam Darshan facility in advance. For those wishing to avoid the most intense crowds, an alternative is to visit other significant but less-crowded temples, such as the architecturally unique Nepali Temple near Lalita Ghat or the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
This period is crucial for rest and preparation. Return to your hotel, charge all electronic devices (phones, cameras, power banks), and have a light, early meal. The evening will be long and require considerable energy.
- Evening (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
4:00 PM: Depart from your hotel on foot to your designated boat boarding point (common points include Assi Ghat, Pandey Ghat, or Namo Ghat). Many roads leading to the ghats will be closed to vehicular traffic by this time, so walking is the only option.
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Board your pre-booked boat. As the sun begins to set, the boat will start its slow journey along the riverfront.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: This is the magical hour. Witness the ghats come alive as thousands of volunteers, families, and priests begin lighting millions of diyas. The auspicious time for rituals, the Pradosh Kaal Muhurat, starts around 5:15 PM.
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Your boatman should navigate to a strategic position near Dashashwamedh Ghat. From this vantage point on the water, you will witness the grand, choreographed Ganga Aarti, a powerful ceremony of fire, sound, and devotion.
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: The boat tour continues, becoming a mobile viewing platform for the official spectacles. It will move towards Chet Singh Ghat to view the government-organized Laser Show, then towards Lalita Ghat for the Light & Sound Show projected near the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and finally offer panoramic views of the city-wide fireworks display.
- Night (9:00 PM onwards)
After the boat ride concludes, you will disembark. The journey back to your hotel will be on foot through dense, slow-moving crowds. It is futile to search for transport, as the areas near the ghats will be in a state of gridlock.2 Patience is key.
Day 3 (Nov 6, 2025)
- Early Morning (6:00 AM – 8:00 AM)
Undertake one final, unique culinary mission. Venture into the historic lanes of the Chowk or Thatheri Bazar area to find Malaiyyo. This ethereal, saffron-infused milk foam is a seasonal delicacy available only on winter mornings. It is served in earthen cups (kulhads) and is an unforgettable taste of traditional Banaras.
- Morning (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Enjoy a final, leisurely breakfast. Take one last stroll along the ghats, which will be significantly quieter, allowing for a moment of peaceful reflection amidst the remnants of the previous night’s grand celebration.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM onwards)
Check out from your hotel. Proceed to the airport or railway station for your pre-booked departure. By this time, the traffic restrictions will have been lifted, and movement around the city will be much easier.
Key Visits You can do in Varanasi for Dev Diwali
| Event | Location | Tentative Time | Expert Viewing Tip |
| Diya Lighting (Deepdaan) | All 84 Ghats | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | The initial lighting is magical. A boat ride moving from south (Assi) to north (Raj Ghat) offers a progressive view of the illumination. |
| Grand Ganga Aarti | Dashashwamedh Ghat | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Witnessing from a boat provides a full, elevated view of the entire synchronized ritual, away from the immense crowds on the ghat itself. |
| Chet Singh Ghat Laser Show | Chet Singh Ghat | ~7:30 PM | This show uses the historic fort as a canvas to narrate mythological stories. Ensure your boat moves to this location after the Aarti. |
| Lalita Ghat Light & Sound Show | Kashi Vishwanath Corridor | ~7:45 PM onwards | A projection mapping show on the walls of the corridor, visible from the river near Lalita Ghat. |
| City-Wide Fireworks | Various Points | ~8:00 PM onwards | The fireworks are launched from multiple locations. A boat in the middle of the river offers the best panoramic view of the entire skyline. |
Varanasi Traveler’s Handbook for Dev Diwali 2025
Transport and Movement
On Dev Diwali, the city center effectively becomes a pedestrian-only zone.
Road Closures: Key arterial roads, such as the route from Maidagin to Godowlia, are completely closed to vehicular traffic for most of the day.
Restricted Transport: The operation of auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws is heavily restricted in areas near the ghats, typically from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Walking is Primary: Be prepared to walk extensively. Comfortable and sturdy footwear is the single most important item to pack.
Designated Parking: For those arriving by private vehicle, the administration sets up designated parking lots on the city’s periphery, from where one must walk or use limited local transport to get closer to the ghats.
Packing, Etiquette, and Safety
Packing Essentials: In addition to comfortable shoes, pack a portable power bank, a reusable water bottle, a scarf (useful for temple visits and the cool evening air), and a small first-aid kit.
Dress Code: Dress modestly in loose, breathable clothing out of respect for the deeply religious nature of the event.
Cultural Etiquette: Dev Diwali is a sacred festival for residents. Be a respectful observer. Avoid loud conversations near areas where rituals are being performed. Photography is a sensitive issue; always ask for permission before taking pictures of people. It is strictly advised to refrain from photography at Manikarnika Ghat, the city’s primary cremation ground, as a matter of respect for the deceased and their families.
Safety: Travel light when heading to the ghats. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and carry only essential items. Be vigilant about your belongings in dense crowds. Mobile networks can become congested and unreliable, so it is wise to save key addresses and your hotel’s location offline on your phone.
Security and Airspace Control
In response to the massive gathering and the presence of dignitaries, stringent security measures are enforced.
No-Fly Zone: The entire city of Varanasi is typically declared a “no-fly zone” for a period of about five days surrounding the festival (e.g., November 12-16).
Prohibited Items: This restriction strictly prohibits the unauthorized use of any aerial objects, including drones, kites, balloons, and paragliders. This is a critical security measure to mitigate potential risks.
If You are Extending Your Stay
For travelers with more time, Varanasi serves as a gateway to profound historical and spiritual sites.
Sarnath: Located just a short drive from Varanasi, this is the deer park where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The site features ancient stupas, monasteries, and a world-class archaeological museum.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU): One of Asia’s largest residential universities, the BHU campus is a peaceful, green oasis. It houses the impressive New Vishwanath Temple and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, which has a remarkable collection of Indian art and artifacts.
Ramnagar Fort: Situated on the eastern bank of the Ganga, this 18th-century sandstone fort and palace is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. It contains a museum with a quirky collection of vintage cars, royal costumes, and weaponry.
For more detailed guide to Varanasi tour check out our dedicated tour for complete Varanasi itinerary.
