- Flight
- Direct Delhi flights exist. Airport is 22 km from the city (district site)
- Train
- Direct Delhi trains exist. Nearest station Varanasi Junction (Incredible India)
- Road
- No official Delhi distance or time found
- Schedules and fares
- Not quoted here. Check live
Delhi to Varanasi is a route with real choices. We do not quote fares or timings, because they change and we did not find a stable official source. Here is what the official pages confirm, and how to choose.
1. Flying
The Varanasi district website says several airlines operate from Lal Bahadur Shastri airport at Babatpur, 22 km from the city and 30 km from Sarnath, and lists Delhi among the domestic routes. The district page also says there is a direct daily flight between Varanasi and New Delhi. Air India's own route page says it connects Delhi and Varanasi with four daily flights. That page can change, so check the live schedule. The flight is only the middle of the journey: add the airport transfer at both ends, which for Varanasi means 22 km to the city.
2. Taking the train
The district website says Varanasi is a major rail junction with direct trains from New Delhi. It names the Kashi Vishwanath Express, Mahamana Express and Shiv Ganga Express among others. It also lists trains that stop at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, which it places 16 km from Varanasi. Incredible India gives Varanasi Junction (BSB) as the nearest railway station. The district list is old, so treat the names as leads and check live availability for your date before you book.
3. Going by road
The district page says Varanasi sits on a national highway, but it gives no distance or driving time from Delhi, and we did not find an official one. Ask your driver or the map app for the current estimate, and plan on it being a long day.
4. Which combination makes sense
- Short on time: fly, and budget for the 22 km airport transfer.
- Parents who dislike airports: a train that lands you at Varanasi Junction, which is closer to the city.
- Group with luggage: a hired car, if you accept the length.
5. Check before you book
Confirm which station the train actually ends at, the flight time against your hotel check-in, and how you reach the old city lanes. Our guide to the airport to Assi Ghat transfer covers the last part.
Sources
Varanasi district website (varanasi.nic.in); Incredible India, Varanasi (incredibleindia.gov.in); Air India route page (airindia.com). Checked on 30 October 2026.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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