If you are planning a vacation to Varanasi from Mumbai, taking a flight would be convenient and it will save time as well. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport serves the city of Varanasi and its IATA Code is VNS.
The flight tickets for Varanasi from Mumbai flights ranges from Rs. 2,971 to Rs. 19, 692, depending on the booking time, availability of flights and the class in which you opt to travel.
Booking a round trip would be economical. You can pre-book a meal of your choice would also save some on the overall airfare. One of the best ways to save on airfare of a Mumbai to Varanasi flight would be to book it a month or two weeks before the departure.
The airlines flying between Mumbai to Varanasi on a daily basis include IndiGo, GoAir, SpiceJet, Air India, and Vistara. These airlines offer direct as well as connecting flights. Generally, the connecting flights are in cities such as, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Jaipur, and Lucknow.
Mumbai Airport facilities
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has two large terminals with plenty of eateries that remain open 24 hours. There is a pharmacy available at both the terminals. There are options for retail therapy at the domestic terminal with stores including, Hidesign, Swarovski and The Body Shop.
Varanasi Airport facilities
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is the second-busiest airport in Uttar Pradesh. The airport has a single terminal that serves both domestic and international flights. There are ATM machines installed at both landside and airside. You will find convenience stores, snack bars and a restaurant at the domestic terminal as well.
Baggage Information, Security Check-in and Document required
The baggage allowance varies from one airline to another. Vistara and IndiGo are among the major airlines that provide flights from Mumbai to Varanasi regularly. The baggage allowance for these airlines are as follows:
Indigo: All the domestic Indigo flights allow passengers to carry hand luggage up to 7kg. The check-in baggage per passenger, should not weigh more than 15kg. For passengers travelling with infants, Indigo allows one baby pram or stroller as cabin baggage, free of cost.
Vistara: Vistara allows 7kg as hand-baggage for the Economy class. The Premium Economy class passengers are allowed 10kg hand baggage while the Business class offers 12kg. The checked baggage allowance differs from class of travel and the categories within the classes of travel. If you are travelling in Lite and Standard categories, you can carry a maximum of 15kg in the Economy class. In Flexi, you are allowed 20kg. The Lite Premium Economy allows 20kg. The Standard Premium Economy cabin allows 25kg. 30kg is allowed in Flexi. Vistara also offers Lite Business cabin where 30kg is allowed. If in this class, you choose Standard then, 35kg would be allowed and in the Flexi category of the Business class, 40kg will be allowed.
Passengers should mandatorily carry some documents for identification along with their e-tickets. Any of the following documents can be shown as a proof of identity:
- A valid Passport.
- Driving License.
- Photo ID card issued by the government or reputed private organization.
- PAN Card provided by the Income Tax Department.
- A voter ID card.
- Photo Credit card.
- Valid birth certificate if travelling with infants.
- School ID card for children.
Places to visit in Mumbai
Mumbai is an exciting place to be. The city is also called the ‘City That Never Sleeps’. The entertainment hub has these must-visit places:
- Colaba Causeway: Colaba Causeway lies in the heart of the city. There are roadside vendors and designer boutiques as well. So, indulge in some retail therapy. Do check out the great range of food and drinks available here. You can head to Cafe Leopold and Cafe Mondegar for a great bite and a beer. The airport is located 25km away.
- Essel World and Water Kingdom: If you love entertainment and are with your loved ones, a visit to Essel World is necessary. Known as one of the largest amusement parks in Asia, this place has some exciting rides and entertainment shows. You would need to stay overnight at nearby hotels to completely explore both Essel World and Water Kingdom. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 41km from here.
Places to visit in Varanasi
Varanasi is the hotspot for pilgrims. The historical city has an array of shrines and temples that one should explore when in Varanasi. Few places you could go are as follows:
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Also known as the Golden Temple, it stands on the western bank of the holy River Ganga. The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is a major sacred attraction and it is named after Varanasi’s second name, Kashi. When you are here, make sure that you witness the aarti. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is 25km away.
- Nepali Temple: The temple is built in a traditional Nepali style of architecture and is also known as the Kanthwala Temple (wooden temple). The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located 25km from the Varanasi airport.
- Sarnath: The peaceful temple, which is located 25km from the airport, is one of the main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. You can see the Dhamekh stupa and ruins of the temple where Buddha spent his first rainy season.
Shops and restaurants in Varanasi
Varanasi is a holy city and food is a quintessential part of the Varanasi's culture. Apart from checking out stores to buy Banarasi saree, these are the few places where you can dine and shop the Varanasi way:
- Vishwanath Gali: The best place to do some budget street shopping. You will find the best kurtis and Indian sweets that are a favourite among the locals and the tourists as well. Apart from that, you will also find idols of wood and brass here. The market is 25km from the airport.
- Vinayak Plaza: If you love shopping from brands, then you need to visit the Vinayak Plaza. The mall also has a food court, a movie theatre and showroom of brands such as Ritu Kumar and Reliance trends.The mall is 22km from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
- Thatheri Bazaar: Famous for metal and brass work, this market has the best Kachori Sabzi. The Ram Bhandar here has been serving authentic delicacies since decades. You can also try some other street foods from the roadside vendors here. The airport is around 25kms from here.
- Kashi Chaat Bhandar: Located at a walking distance from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, this street food joint has Chaat, Pani Puri and snacks. Not just this joint, every thing that you try from here will leave you craving for more. The joint is 24km away from the airport.
Weather in Varanasi
Summers in Varanasi are extremely hot and humid with temperatures as high as 41°C. The monsoons lasts till October. The winters are dry and cool.
