Mumbai to Varanasi is one of India’s classic west-to-east pilgrimage journeys — the City of Dreams to the City of Moksha. For Mumbai’s large population of Maharashtrian, Gujarati, North Indian, and South Indian families, a Varanasi tour is often on the lifetime pilgrimage list alongside Tirupati, Shirdi, and the Char Dham.
This guide covers everything a Mumbai traveller needs to plan a Varanasi tour package in 2026 — direct flight options, 3-day and 5-day itineraries, an extended circuit including Prayagraj and Ayodhya, honest pricing, and the seasonal factors that affect your experience on the ghats.
Mumbai to Varanasi Flights
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) has excellent direct connectivity to Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS). The flight takes approximately 2 hours.
Airlines on the BOM–VNS route:
- IndiGo: Multiple daily departures, including early morning slots (6:00–8:00 AM) that are ideal for maximising your first day in Varanasi.
- Air India: Well-served route, with good seat availability for group bookings.
- SpiceJet and Vistara: Occasional direct and via-stop services.
Return airfare estimates (economy, per person):
- Off-season (April–June, mid-September): Rs 5,000–9,000
- Peak season (October–February): Rs 9,000–16,000
- Booked 5–7 weeks ahead: Rs 7,500–12,000 on most dates
- Festive dates (Dev Deepawali, Diwali, Mahashivratri): Rs 13,000–22,000
Mumbai to Varanasi is a 2-hour flight, which makes a 3N/4D package very practical — you lose minimal time on travel days and gain more time at the destination.
Mumbai to Varanasi by Train
Several trains connect Mumbai and Varanasi, with journey times ranging from 22 to 28 hours depending on the route:
- Mumbai LTT–Varanasi Express: One of the more direct options from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla). Journey ~24 hours.
- Mahanagari Express: Well-known Mumbai–Varanasi route, departs CST/Dadar.
Train is a viable option for large family groups who prefer slower travel, or for those combining Varanasi with Madhya Pradesh stops. For a 3N/4D Varanasi package, flying is strongly recommended to preserve destination time.
3-Night/4-Day Varanasi Itinerary
This is the most popular format for Mumbai professionals and families — achievable over a long weekend if you time flights well.
Day 1: Arrive Varanasi, First Evening at the Ghats
- Morning: Take the first morning flight from Mumbai (6:00–8:00 AM departure). Land at VNS by 8:00–10:00 AM. Hotel check-in.
- Afternoon: First walk along the ghat promenade — the sheer scale and energy of Varanasi’s waterfront is best absorbed slowly rather than rushed.
- 6:00 PM: Reach Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti. Priests perform an elaborate fire-based puja with large brass lamps, conch shells, and incense. For first-time visitors from Mumbai, this moment usually leaves a deep impression. Arrange a boat ride from a ghat-side operator for the river-facing view.
- Night: Dinner in the old city area — try Banarasi chaat, litti chokha, and the famous Varanasi lassi
Day 2: Kashi Vishwanath and the Sacred Ghats
- 4:30 AM: Pre-dawn visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple for Mangala Aarti. This is the most auspicious time of the day at the temple — the crowd is manageable, the air is cool, and the rituals are conducted in near-silence broken only by bells and mantras.
- 6:30 AM: Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga. As you float past Manikarnika Ghat — the eternal cremation ground — your guide will explain the philosophy behind this place: in Varanasi, death is not feared but welcomed as a gateway to liberation.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 10:30 AM: Annapurna Mata temple (Goddess Annapurna is worshipped here as the mother who feeds the world). Kaal Bhairav temple — Lord Bhairava is the guardian of Varanasi and considered its presiding deity alongside Vishwanath.
- 3:00 PM: Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, one of Varanasi’s most beloved and spiritually potent temples, founded by the poet-saint Tulsidas.
- Evening: Tulsi Manas temple — where Goswami Tulsidas is said to have composed the Ramcharitmanas
Day 3: Sarnath Day Trip
- 9:00 AM: Drive to Sarnath (12 km, 25–30 minutes). This is one of the most historically significant places in Asia — the site of the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The Dhamek Stupa (built by Emperor Ashoka), the Sarnath Archaeological Museum (which houses the original Lion Capital of Ashoka — the symbol of modern India), and the Tibetan and Sri Lankan monasteries are all worth a couple of hours.
- 1:00 PM: Return to Varanasi for lunch
- Afternoon: Explore Vishwanath Gali (the narrow lane leading to the main temple) for Banarasi silk, rudraksha items, and religious souvenirs
- Evening: Assi Ghat for the smaller evening aarti, then dinner
Day 4: Morning Ghat Walk and Departure
- 5:30 AM: Subah-e-Banaras — a cultural event at Assi Ghat around sunrise, featuring classical music and yoga on the ghat steps. A very different mood from the evening aarti.
- 7:00 AM: Hotel breakfast and checkout
- Transfer to VNS airport for afternoon or evening flight back to Mumbai
5-Night/6-Day Itinerary with Prayagraj
For Mumbai travellers with more time, extending the trip to include Prayagraj adds enormous spiritual value. Prayagraj (Allahabad) is 130 km from Varanasi — the site of the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati converge. This is considered one of the most sacred spots for ritual bathing and ancestral rites in all of Hinduism.
- Days 1–3: Varanasi (full itinerary as above)
- Day 4: Drive to Prayagraj (2.5 hours). Triveni Sangam snan, Allahabad Fort, Shankar Viman Mandapam, Akbar’s bridge
- Day 5: Hanuman Mandir, Anand Bhavan (historic residence of the Nehru family, now a museum), Yamuna ghat rituals
- Day 6: Return to Varanasi for departure flight to Mumbai
Our Varanasi–Prayagraj–Ayodhya combined package covers all three cities in a structured 3N/4D format.
7-Night Grand Circuit: Varanasi + Prayagraj + Ayodhya
The complete North India pilgrimage circuit for Mumbai devotees — Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram and location of the Ram Mandir consecrated in 2024, has become one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in India and is 200 km from Varanasi.
- Days 1–4: Varanasi (deep dive — includes all major temples, ghats, Sarnath)
- Day 5: Travel to Prayagraj (2.5 hours), Triveni Sangam, river puja
- Day 6: Ayodhya (3.5 hours from Prayagraj) — Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Saryu River aarti and evening rituals
- Day 7: Morning at Saryu ghat, drive to Varanasi (3.5–4 hours), evening flight to Mumbai
See the complete Ayodhya–Prayagraj–Varanasi tour for the full 7-day planned itinerary and inclusions.
Varanasi Tour Package Pricing from Mumbai
| Package Type | Duration | Price per person (twin sharing) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (flight + guesthouse, shared transfers) | 3N/4D | Rs 18,000 – 25,000 |
| Standard (flight + 3-star hotel, private transfers) | 3N/4D | Rs 28,000 – 38,000 |
| Comfort (flight + 4-star hotel, private guide) | 3N/4D | Rs 42,000 – 55,000 |
| Standard with Prayagraj extension | 5N/6D | Rs 40,000 – 52,000 |
| Grand circuit (Varanasi + Prayagraj + Ayodhya) | 7N/8D | Rs 58,000 – 72,000 |
All prices include return flights from Mumbai (economy), accommodation (twin sharing), daily breakfast, private road transfers within Varanasi, and a local guide. Optional pandit services for special rituals, extra meals, and shopping are not included.
For a tighter itinerary, the Varanasi 2N/3D package is our shortest available Varanasi trip. The Varanasi temple tour 3N/2D is structured purely around temple darshans and aarti timings — ideal for devotees whose priority is ritual over sightseeing.
What to Pack: Mumbai to Varanasi
- Winter clothing (October–February): Varanasi’s winter is significantly colder than Mumbai’s. Evenings and early morning ghat visits require a warm jacket, a woollen shawl, and closed shoes. Mumbai residents are often caught off guard by how cold Varanasi’s 5 AM boat ride feels in December.
- Modest temple attire: Full-length kurta-pyjama or saree for temple visits. No shorts or sleeveless tops inside temple premises.
- Footwear that slips on and off easily: You will remove your shoes at every temple entrance — sometimes 10–15 times per day on a busy pilgrimage day. Flip-flops with a good grip for the ghats, and a clean pair of slip-on shoes for temples.
- Cash: Small notes for diyas, flower offerings, donations, and street food. Card payments are accepted at most hotels but rarely at ghat-side stalls.
- Personal medication: Change in water and diet affects some travellers — carry basic antacids and any personal prescription medication.
Best Time to Visit Varanasi from Mumbai
October through February is the prime travel window. Within that window:
- Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima, November): The single most spectacular visual experience in Varanasi’s year — 84 ghats illuminated with hundreds of thousands of diyas. This is when Varanasi is at its most photographically and spiritually magnificent. Book very early — 2–3 months in advance for flights and hotels.
- Diwali (October/November): Varanasi’s Diwali celebrations on the ghats are famous nationwide. Fireworks, illuminated boats, and the evening aarti create an extraordinary atmosphere.
- Mahashivratri (February/March): The biggest night of the year at Kashi Vishwanath — hundreds of thousands of devotees, all-night prayers, and elaborate abhishek rituals. Significant for all Shiva devotees.
- Makar Sankranti (January 14): Mass ritual bathing at the ghats, kite flying across the city, and a festive atmosphere throughout Varanasi.
Why Travel with Prayag Samagam
Prayag Samagam is a Prayagraj-based travel company specialising in the Varanasi–Prayagraj–Ayodhya pilgrimage corridor. We have helped thousands of Mumbai families plan their Kashi yatra — from working professionals on a 3-day trip to large joint families doing a 7-day circuit.
- Hotels selected for their proximity to the ghats — not convenience to the highway
- Pre-arranged special darshan passes for Kashi Vishwanath and Ram Mandir
- Experienced guides who know when to take you through the narrow gullies and when to let you experience the ghats at your own pace
- Pandit services for Ganga puja, ancestral Tarpan, and customised rituals arranged in advance
- Flexible packages for groups of 2 to 50
- 24/7 support throughout your trip
Book Your Varanasi Tour from Mumbai
WhatsApp or call us to get a customised quote based on your travel dates, group size, and preferred accommodation tier:
WhatsApp: +91 7754097777
Phone: +91 7754097777 / +91 9115234555
Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, all days
Most Mumbai bookings for peak season (November–February) are confirmed 4–6 weeks ahead. For Dev Deepawali and Diwali travel, plan 8–10 weeks in advance for the best hotel options and airfare.
