A Kashi yatra’s money goes four ways: stay near the ghats, temple aarti tickets if you want them, the river (boats), and food in the lanes. General darshan is free; the Ganga aarti is free; Sugam Darshan is optional.
The calculator below uses indicative bands — platform displays and travel reports checked 01 October 2026 — and the official aarti prices, which are the only firm numbers in the mix.
Cost structure, labelled
| Item | Indicative range | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General darshan + Ganga aarti | ₹0 | Verified — official/free |
| Temple aarti ticket (per person) | ₹300–500 | Verified — official prices |
| Sugam Darshan (optional) | ₹250–300 (official conflict) | Verified — official conflict |
| Stay per night (budget → heritage) | ₹351–₹8,261+ | Reported — platform displays |
| Boat ride (sunrise hour, informal) | ~₹200–500/boat shared | Unconfirmed — negotiated |
| Food per person/day | ₹300–700 | Unconfirmed — travel reports |
| Local transport per day | ₹50–200 | Unconfirmed — aggregator figures |
Calculator
Long-distance train/flight costs are excluded and vary by origin city — add them from your own booking. All figures are indicative ranges, not quotes.
Reading the result
- ±30% is the honest error bar; festival weeks (Dev Deepawali, 24 Nov 2026) break the bands entirely.
- The only prices that don’t move: the temple’s own aarti tickets (official) — and even those assume normal days.
- Long-distance travel (train/flight) is excluded; add it from your booking, not from our guess.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Varanasi trip cost per person?
Roughly ₹1,200–4,500 on the ground for two days (indicative, checked 1 October 2026), excluding travel to Varanasi.
Is darshan free at Kashi Vishwanath?
Yes — general darshan is free. Fees attach to aarti tickets and optional Sugam Darshan.
