Route at a Glance
Distance
300 km
By Train
4.5–7 hrs
By Bus
7–9 hrs
By Taxi
5–6 hrs
How to Get There
By Train (Best Option)
Multiple daily trains run from Varanasi Junction (BSB) to Lucknow Junction (LKO) or Lucknow Charbagh (LJN) — our how to reach Varanasi guide covers arriving at the junction. The Vande Bharat Express is the fastest at around 4-4.5 hours. The Mahanagari Superfast and Pushpak Express are reliable alternatives. Varanasi is well connected to Lucknow by rail, with at least 8-10 trains daily.
Cost: INR 250 (Sleeper) to INR 2,060 (Executive Chair Car, Vande Bharat)
By Bus
UPSRTC (UP State Transport) operates regular buses from Varanasi Bus Stand (Cantonment area) to Lucknow. AC Volvo buses are available. Private Volvo sleeper buses are a decent overnight option — you depart at night and arrive in Lucknow by early morning. The road (NH-19 to Agra-Lucknow Expressway section) is well-maintained. Buses take 7-9 hours.
Cost: INR 400–700 (non-AC to AC Volvo)
By Taxi / Private Car
A private taxi from Varanasi to Lucknow takes approximately 5-6 hours via NH-19 and the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. This is the most flexible option for groups or families. Ola Outstation and hotel-arranged cars are available. If splitting between 3-4 people, the per-person cost approaches the Vande Bharat fare.
Cost: INR 4,500–6,500 one way (sedan); INR 7,000–10,000 round trip with waiting
Money Saver
Best Trains: Varanasi to Lucknow
| Train | Depart | Arrive | Duration | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Vande Bharat Express (22549/22550) Fastest option. Semi-high-speed with on-board meals. Book 14+ days ahead. | 06:00 AM (approx) | 10:20 AM (approx) | 4h 20m | INR 1,115 (CC) / INR 2,060 (EC) |
Lucknow Mahanagari SF Express (12227) Daily superfast express. Good balance of speed and cost. Popular with business travelers. | 06:05 AM | 12:00 PM | 5h 55m | INR 340 (SL) / INR 890 (3AC) / INR 1,285 (2AC) |
Pushpak Express (12533) Reliable daily express train. Mumbai-Lucknow route passing through Varanasi. | 09:00 AM (approx) | 15:30 PM (approx) | 6h 30m | INR 340 (SL) / INR 890 (3AC) |
Ganga Gomti Express (12559) Good budget option if Vande Bharat and Mahanagari are full. Check IRCTC for current schedule. | Varies | Varies | 6–7h | INR 250 (SL) / INR 770 (3AC) |
Timings are approximate and subject to change. Train schedules and fares should be confirmed on IRCTC. SL = Sleeper, 3AC = AC 3-tier, 2AC = AC 2-tier, CC = Chair Car, EC = Executive Chair Car. Varanasi Junction station code: BSB. Lucknow Junction: LJN. Lucknow Charbagh: LKO.
What to See in Lucknow
Lucknow was the capital of the Nawabs of Awadh — a sophisticated court culture that produced some of India's finest architecture, cuisine, classical music (thumri, ghazal), and etiquette (the famous Lucknowi tehzeeb). The contrast with Varanasi is stark: where Varanasi is ancient, intense, and Shiva-devotional, Lucknow is Mughal- inflected, elegantly formal, and Muslim-influenced. The two cities together offer a portrait of the full range of Uttar Pradesh's cultural depth.
Bara Imambara
Built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula during a famine — the project employed thousands and provided relief employment for years. The main hall is one of the largest arched chamber constructions in the world, built without any iron beams. Inside is the Bhulbhulaiya (the labyrinth) — a maze of over 1,000 passages on the upper level of which only 489 are accessible. A guide is essential for the Bhulbhulaiya. The complex also includes a mosque, a baoli (stepwell), and the tomb of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula himself.
Tip: Do not attempt the Bhulbhulaiya without a government guide (available at the entrance). People get genuinely lost. Morning visits are cooler and less crowded.
Chota Imambara (Hussainabad Imambara)
Built in 1838 by Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah as his own mausoleum, the Chota Imambara is more intimate than the Bara but arguably more beautiful in its detail. The interior is filled with Belgian chandeliers and gilded Arabic calligraphy — it earned the nickname 'Palace of Lights.' The nawab's tomb and that of his daughter are inside. The surrounding garden and the replica of the Taj Mahal at the far end of the approach road add to the spectacle.
Tip: Walking distance from Bara Imambara. Combine the two in one session. The chandeliers are the main attraction — look up when you enter.
Rumi Darwaza
The imposing 60-foot ceremonial gateway built in 1784, designed to resemble the Sublime Porte (Rumi Darwaza) of Constantinople. It stands between the Bara and Chota Imambaras and is the defining architectural symbol of Lucknow. The gate is elaborately decorated with carved arches and is particularly photogenic in the golden hour light. It was never actually used as an entrance — it was built purely as a monument to Nawabi grandeur.
Tip: Best photographed from the road between the two Imambaras. Early morning and sunset both provide good light. The gateway is more impressive than photographs suggest.
Hazratganj
Lucknow's heritage commercial boulevard — built by the British in the colonial era, named after the Nawab Hazrat Muhammad Ali Shah. The street retains its colonial-era architecture with arched colonnades, heritage buildings, and a distinctly different feel from most Indian commercial streets. It is the place for Lucknowi chikankari embroidery shopping, traditional sweet shops (visit Ram Asrey for traditional sweets since 1862), and coffee at one of the old-world cafes.
Tip: Ram Asrey on Hazratganj has been making traditional Lucknowi sweets since 1862. Try the imarti, barfi, and pedas. The street is most pleasant in the early evening when it fills with locals.
Tunday Kebabi (Aminabad)
One of the most famous kebab restaurants in India, founded in 1905 by Haji Murad Ali — who had only one arm, earning the 'Tunday' (one-armed) nickname. The galouti kebab served here is the gold standard of the form — a melt-in-the-mouth minced meat kebab flavored with a spice blend of reportedly 160 ingredients. The Chowk and Aminabad area around Tunday Kebabi is Lucknow's food street, with dozens of kebab, biryani, and street food stalls.
Tip: Arrive at lunchtime (12:30-2 PM) for the freshest kebabs. The original Aminabad branch is better than the mall outlets. Order the galouti kebab on roomali roti, followed by the kakori kebab. The biryani here is also excellent.
Day Trip vs Overnight Stay
Day Trip (very tight)
- Vande Bharat (6 AM) — arrive Lucknow ~10:20 AM
- Bara Imambara + Bhulbhulaiya (2 hrs)
- Rumi Darwaza photo stop (20 min)
- Quick lunch — Tunday Kebabi (1 hr)
- Chota Imambara (1 hr) or Hazratganj walk
- Evening train back (6-8 PM)
Feasible only with Vande Bharat. No flexibility for delays or diversions.
Overnight Stay (recommended)
- Day 1 morning: Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza
- Day 1 afternoon: Chota Imambara, Residency Ruins
- Day 1 evening: Hazratganj walk + dinner Chowk
- Day 2 morning: Aminabad market, more food
- Day 2 afternoon: Return train to Varanasi
Budget hotels: INR 800–1,500. Mid-range: INR 2,000–4,500 (Hazratganj area best).
Local Tip
Combining Varanasi and Lucknow
Varanasi and Lucknow represent two very different currents in north Indian culture. Varanasi is the city of Shiva — one of the world's oldest living cities, Hindu, ancient, cremation ghats and Sanskrit learning, where time seems to flow in circles. Lucknow is the city of the Nawabs — 300 years old, Shia Muslim in cultural flavor, refined, architectural, where poetry, food, and elegance are the local religion.
Seeing both within one trip gives you a much richer understanding of Uttar Pradesh than either city alone. A recommended combined itinerary is 3-4 days in Varanasi (ghats, temples, Ganga Aarti, Sarnath) followed by 2 days in Lucknow (Imambaras, Rumi Darwaza, food). Check our budget guide for combined trip cost estimates. The total loop can be done entirely by train with no need to fly anywhere.
Suggested Combined Itinerary (6 days)
- Days 1-3: Varanasi — ghats, Kashi Vishwanath, Ganga Aarti, Sarnath, street food.
- Day 4: Morning train to Lucknow (Vande Bharat or Mahanagari). Afternoon: Bara Imambara and Bhulbhulaiya.
- Day 4 evening: Rumi Darwaza, Chota Imambara, Hazratganj walk, Chowk food street.
- Day 5: Residency Ruins, Aminabad market, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoo (optional), Tunday Kebabi lunch.
- Day 6: Return to Varanasi by afternoon train, or depart directly from Lucknow to Delhi or your next destination (Lucknow to Delhi: 5 hrs by Shatabdi or Vande Bharat).
Local Tip