Varanasi at Night

Varanasi at night takes on a wholely different atmosphere. I had the wonderful opportunity of exploring in this great Hindu city for a few days, and was thrilled by the sights and sound when night falls. At the Dashaswamedh Ghat on the Ganges, a puja would be going on in full swing, with sound of bells and chantings. In other places, night life takes on its own Varanasi-style meaning. There are silent nooks and crannies right next to bustling streets. The streets were crowded with people, and animals, and traffic.

A shrine in one of the alleyways called gali, in Varanasi. (16 November, 2004)


Deeper in the night, I walked along the Ganges. All was dark and quiet, and on the horizon, I could see the string of city lights. In the narrow galis, as the alleys in Varanasi is called, there was quietness punctuated by flashes of activity as you pass by shrines to any of the multitudes of Hindu deities. I hope that the photographs I have assembled here will provide you at least a glimpse of how it is like at night in Varanasi, though nothing compares to being there yourself.

Thank you for reading this page and viewing the shots.



People assembled at street corners. (16 November, 2004)


Steps leading up from the ghats. (16 November, 2004)


This is the view from our guesthouse which is located right next to a Hindu temple. (16 November, 2004)


Activities at street level in the city of Varanasi. (16 November, 2004)


A bicycle parked on a main thoroughfare in Varanasi at night. (16 November, 2004)


Street vendor hawking basketware. (16 November, 2004)


Crowds on Dashaswamedh Ghat where the daily pujas are conducted. (16 November, 2004)


Entrance to the labyrinthine galis of Varanasi. (16 November, 2004)


The city of Varanasi lit up at night. (16 November, 2004)


The Ganges is a picture of tranquility at night. (16 November, 2004)

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