Prayagraj (Allahabad)
Uttar Pradesh
1.5 h by train· Prayagraj Express / intercity
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹3,500 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Weekend getaways›From Varanasi
Within 6 hours
Weekend getaways from Varanasi
11 places within 6 hours of Varanasi, 1 of them under 3 hours — the nearest is Prayagraj (Allahabad) at 1.5 h.
5 travel times come from Tourisma's curated train, bus and cab data. The rest are approximate drives: straight-line distance × 1.3 for the road at 50 km/h, with the hill stretch (the last 50–80 km into the hills) at × 1.6 and 30 km/h. Islands and high-Himalayan places are listed only with a curated time.
Under 3 hours
3–6 hours
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
3 h by train· Vande Bharat / Intercity Express
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹4,300 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Sasaram
Bihar
~3 h approx. drive · ~148 km
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹2,950 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Ayodhya
Uttar Pradesh
4.5 h by train· Kashi Express / Jan Shatabdi
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹3,500 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Bodh Gaya
Bihar
4.5 h by train· Train to Gaya (3h) + cab 13 km
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹3,280 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Chitrakoot
Madhya Pradesh
~5.4 h approx. drive · ~272 km
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹2,900 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Gaya
Bihar
~5.5 h approx. drive · ~276 km
Best: Sep–Mar · From ₹3,000 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Betla National Park
Jharkhand
~5.6 h approx. drive · ~281 km
Best: Nov–May · From ₹3,400 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Patna
Bihar
~5.7 h approx. drive · ~285 km
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹3,300 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Vaishali
Bihar
~5.9 h approx. drive · ~296 km
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹2,870 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)
Khajuraho
Madhya Pradesh
6 h by cab· Cab Khajuraho–Varanasi via Satna
Best: Oct–Mar · From ₹4,380 for two, 2 days (stay, food, local; excl. travel)