Varanasi, India
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Time in Varanasi compared to other major cities right now.
About Varanasi, India
Varanasi, also known as Banaras or Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and Hinduism's holiest city. Situated on the banks of the Ganges, the city's ghats, Vishwanath Temple, and surrounding sacred geography draw millions of pilgrims each year.
Time zone details
Varanasi observes IST (Asia/Kolkata in the IANA database). The UTC offset and any daylight saving transitions are handled automatically by your browser's time zone library. If you're scheduling a meeting or call, use our time zone converter for an exact difference on a specific date.
Calling India from abroad
The international dialing code for India is +91. To call a phone number in Varanasi, dial your country's international access code, then +91, then the local number (drop the leading zero if there is one).
Currency in India
The official currency is INR (₹). Exchange rates fluctuate daily — check a currency converter for the latest rate against your home currency before any transaction.
Languages spoken
Common languages include Hindi, Bhojpuri, English.
Top places to visit in Varanasi
- Ghats along the Ganges — Sacred stepped riverbanks — Dashashwamedh hosts the evening Ganga Aarti ritual.
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple — One of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva, central to Hindu pilgrimage.
- Sarnath — Ancient Buddhist site 10 km away where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
Top local foods of Varanasi
- Kachori sabzi — Spicy puffed bread with potato curry — Varanasi's morning street-food ritual.
- Banarasi paan — Chewable betel leaf with sweet, savory, and aromatic stuffings — a Varanasi institution.
- Malaiyo — Featherlight saffron-and-cardamom milk foam, sold only on winter mornings.
Working with someone in Varanasi
When scheduling a call or meeting with someone in Varanasi, the time difference from your location is shown at the top of this page. For deeper coordination tips, see our guide on working across time zones and time zone etiquette for global meetings.