Weekend Getaways from Varanasi

Kushinagar is mainly an ancient town having great religious value. It’s one of the four main pilgrimage centers for Buddhists, the others being Lumbini Nepal, Bodhgaya and Sarnath. Kushinagar is where Buddha took his last breath. There are also numerous temples that you can visit to understand Buddhism as a religion.

Time: The best time to visit Kushinagar is from November to February
Distance from Varanasi: 228.6 km via Kasia - Deoria Rd

Lucknow has a rich cultural such as beautful monuments, exquisite mosques and intriguing remains of British-era buildings—there are several places to visit in Lucknow that symbolize the city's rich history and culture. 

Time: Best time to visit Lucknow in summers is until March and April
Distance from Varanasi: 304.0 km via NH 31

Rajgir is a only town where the air that surrounds its beautiful sceneries carries hints of spirituality and vibrant hues of history with links with both Buddhism and Jainism. This place has mainly set in a green valley and surrounded by rocky hills, Rajgir is a spiritual town with natural serenity amongst the dense forests, mysterious caves, and springs.

Time: October to March is the best time to visit Rajgir 
Distance from Varanasi: 323.3 km via NH19

This is a modest pilgrim center, all wrapped in a wisp of spirituality, Nalanda continues to be an equally enriching location in the present. It also offers vibrant substance of spirituality, history, culture, architecture, and tourism.

Time: October to March is the best time to visit Nalanda.
Distance from Varanasi: 321.4 km via NH19

Chitrakoot is a small town situated in the north Vindhyan range. Legends have stated that this place was the place where Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana stayed for eleven and half of their fourteen years of exile.

Time: July-October is the peak season to visit
Distance from Varanasi: 264.7 kmvia NH19
 

Panna is a beautiful town situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh and holds a lot of historical significance. As per a former Gond settlement, Panna is a small city in the heart of the country, which boasts of being the only city with diamond reserves.

Time: November to May is the best time to visit Panna.
Distance from Varanasi: 350.5 km via NH135 and NH39

1. Kaimur

Time to visit: October to March
Distance from Varanasi: 96.1 km via NH19

2. Faizabad

Time to visit: October to March
Distance from Varanasi: 204.1 km via Harlalka Rd

3. Pratapgarh

Time to visit: September to March 
Distance from Varanasi: 139.8 km via NH 31

4. Bhojpur

Time to visit: Between October and March.between October and March
Distance from Varanasi: 212.8 km via NH19 and Ara - Sasaram Rd/Old Grand Trunk Rd

5. Gorakhpur

Time to visit: From October to December and the month of February
Distance from Varanasi: 199 km

6. Mirzapur

Time to visit: February, October, November, and Decembe
Distance from Varanasi: 66.3 km via NH35

7. Allahabad

Time to visit: October to March
Distance from Varanasi: 126.1 km via NH19

8. Sasaram

Time to visit: February, October, November, and December.
Distance from Varanasi: 130.3 km via NH19

9. Chandauli

Time to visit: Between October and March
Distance from Varanasi: 33.4 km via GT Rd and NH19

10. Basti

Time to visit: between October and March
Distance from Varanasi: 208.3 km via NH28

11. Jaunpur

Time to visit: November to January
Distance from Varanasi: 66.9 km via Saidpur - Khajurhat Rd

12. Gaya

Time to visit: Between November and February.
Distance from Varanasi: 253.3 km via NH19

13. Kanpur

Time to visit: October to March
Distance from Varanasi: 336.8 km via NH19 and NH19

14. Banda

Time to visit: October to mid-December
Distance from Varanasi: 331.5 km via NH19 and NH19

15. Birgunj

Time to visit: June to October 
Distance from Varanasi: 358.9 km via NH 31

16. Buxar

Time to visit: October to March 
Distance from Varanasi: 133.6 km via NH19 and SH 14

17. Rewa

Time to visit: October to March
Distance from Varanasi: 221.7 km via NH135

18. Sitamarhi

Time to visit: February, March, October, November and December
Distance from Varanasi: 373.3 km via NH 31

19. Ayodhya 

Time to visit: October till Mid March
Distance from Varanasi: 203.2 km via Harlalka Rd