Varanasi in June: monsoon time? Fun to be had?

Hi there, I'm planning on being in and around Varanasi for a couple of weeks in June (probably 15/6 - 23/6, followed by a sikkim excursion). I'm hoping it'll be monsoonish (!) can anyone hazard a guess re: crazy rain and sweltering heat?

Also I'm keen to meet some locals and see the town, eat some food, perhaps check out the university (i'm a travelling religious studies scholar..). I was In varanasi for a week back in 2008, and I really enjoyed myself, although that was the second week of my first trip to india (and overseas!!) and it was quite, overwhelming, and it was only a week. If anyone could recommend any cultural events, attractions or favorite places to eat, i'd be most grateful

thanks beautiful people

The monsoon might not have started by then. Even in the height of the monsoon, it's both crazy rain and sweltering heat. If the monsoons have started, the traditional dawn boat ride won't be as spectacular; it'll be cloudy instead of the bright sunrise.

If you can adjust to the heat, though, there is fun to be had. Go to the Madhur Milan Cafe on Dasaswamedh Road--best snacks and sweets there. Shop for books around Assi Ghat, and of course take some time to see Sarnath. Enjoy!

Thanks thirdreel. I'm from Australia so I should be able to deal with the heat... but you never know! I stayed in Assi ghat last time and really enjoyed its ambience, and the books! I took a day trip out to Sarnath and really enjoyd that. Maybe I'll have the time for a Bodh Gaya side trip, but yes I'll certainly go back there.

Are there any Benaras Hindu university students on this board? I'd be quite keen to check out the campus and gain some scholarly insights about the worlds' oldest continually inhabited city!

I'm not sure if there are any BHU students here, but I don't think it's likely. It's been discussed a few times before--apparently a lot of visitors to the temple have had thoughts about enrolling there (myself included) but they don't accept a lot of foreign students, and they don't make it easy for foreigners to apply. Of course, that's not what you're asking, but it's kind of relevant to the culture there. You'll probably meet students on campus who are eager to talk to you, but they'll be mostly interested in practicing their English and perhaps on recommending a tour guide or palm reader, not so much discussing their scholarly insights.

You may face hurdles due to heavy rains during your Sikkim tour.

The Asi area is still my favorite for lodging and ambiance, that neighborhood feel. For eating - the Vaatika, down by the ghat at Asi is a nice place for an evening meal - pizza/ravioli/etc, great people watching. The Haifa, across from the Tiwari Lodge - the Tiwari, my residence for my last six month stay - great Middle Eastern Thali, Indian thali and great place to meet other travelers. The Kerala Cafe, ask a rickshaw driver, great south Indian food, cool atmosphere.

In season the Ganges View hotel has cultural programs - music, painting, etc. The Music Melody House - three minute walk from the ghat, offers a wide range of mini-concerts, again, during "the season" but often off-season too.

I went specifically FOR monsoon last time and it didn't really start raining until the end of June/in to July.



P.S. and as for "fun" . . . it can be had . . . simple things: like standing on the roof of your guesthouse - after the electricity has been cut (again), i.e. no fan - in 110 degree heat, same humidity - in a pouring rain storm,arms raised overhead . . .

Thanks, Darmabum. I read your first post above and was about to drop you a line when I saw your second post which answered my question.
Sounds fabulous.

Does anyone know what's the weather like in Varanasi around mid July? Would it be a good time to visit Varanasi-Sarnath? Should I be afraid of the rain?

July will be hot and sometimes rainy. Why would you be afraid of the rain? Do you melt?

mid-July, rain will be (if historical records hold up their end of the bargain) increasing. There are certainly "windows" of time to get out and see things . . . never rained All The Time. Mostly impressive cloud buildups, and BIG rain dumps, back to sunshine. GREAT lightning storms . . .

Hi tommytoes & All
I am new to this site but very much old for a places like Varanasi, A great city.
At first I wanted to make you understand that Rain must never affect your tour i.e. You shouldn't be afraid of rain.Especially varanasi is not a hilly area, it means no land slide
Its rainy season in june last and july but just take a pair of slippers and raincoat or umbrella.
In june you can enjoy boating as well. Also morning(sunrise) and evening after 6:30 pm time is good to be on Ghats(River Bank).
There are several parts in varanasi which are little known for foreigners. You can find every thing in varanasi except snowfall
you can try
-Ganga Ghats
-Sarnath
-SampoornaNand Sanskrit University
-Benares Hindu University(BHU)
-Just go another side of river Ganga ie Beach (Normally),charges are nominal approx 25 Indian Rupees per person for shared boat(includes return fare too), ohh just live like Benarasi people.
-Ram Nagar Fort
-Bharat Kala Bhavan
-Shri Kashi Viswanath Temple Street.
-Manikarnika Ghat
-Evening Arti at Dasashwamedh Ghat
Note that Day will be hot and sunny if not rainy
of course October is the best season for Varanasi due to best weather, Several cultural programs, festivals(Dusshera, Ramlila, Diwali etc)
And last but not least forgive all the persons who insists you to buy their crafts or things or services because it the matter of their living. and avoid beggars.
several topics might be not covered but enough.

My university and BHU had few seminars together which I attended last year. So my advice would be just walk around campus and check out the cricket field, there is always someone who is up for a chat Flavors cafe, close by the main gate of BHU is where all the 'it' BHUers hang out.
And swing by Harmony bookshop in Assi ghat, the owner knows all things Varanasi

Hi, I'm a local. June 20 is considered as Monsoon arrival date over here. Sometimes it arrives a week earlier, sometime two weeks later. July-August are proper monsoon season.

It can rain a lot over here (but its's raining much recently) and then we see many extra rivers... ok, they are generally roads, but because of poor drainage system of the city, roads become river when it rains. Rain water vanished within few hours though.

In monsoon, city can feel quite muddy. But we can see some green in monsoon and buildings are washed by the rain, so everything looks colourful. Sky is clean blue also.


Monsoon season means there would be humidity as well.

Monsoon season is darling to locals like me. We don't have much interest in the ghats and old city because we have been here since our birth. Locals love natural places. So, we have low mountains in the southern neighbouring district 'Mirzapur' and there are few little water falls as well. There are much better hill areas in India, but but us, specially for me, they are green heaven in monsoon season. :P

If someone wishes to be some adventurous, then plan to go over there in Monsoon.

Here are some pictures of those area:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3&l=3556306ea0

hi sais,
we are approx. 25-30 people from Haryana. We have planned to visit Banaras & allahabad in Mid August.
will it be rainy, I'm not afraid of rain, but just want to know whether, if we will be able to visit ghats, temples etc. and will Boat ride be available at that time.
And what about Allahabad, will we be able to take snan at sangam in Monsoon. if not, i dont think its worth visiting Allahabad or Varanasi in that case