Distance from Varanasi — Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Vindhyachal, Gaya & Naimisharanya (2026 Route Guide)
By Taxi Kashi Team | Last Updated: July 2026 | Based on 500+ pilgrimage trips operated by our drivers across all six routes
Quick Answer: From Varanasi (Kashi), Ayodhya is ~200 km / 3.5–4 hrs, Prayagraj is ~130 km / 3 hrs, Vindhyachal is ~80 km / 2 hrs, Chitrakoot is ~290 km / 6 hrs, Gaya is ~240 km / 5 hrs, and Naimisharanya is ~245 km / 5.5 hrs — all by road. Full breakdown, route, and toll details for each below.
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Distance from Varanasi to All 6 Pilgrimage Destinations — Comparison Table
| Destination | Distance | Time by Road | Route | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayodhya | ~200 km | 3.5–4 hrs | NH-56 via Jaunpur, Sultanpur | Fare → |
| Prayagraj | ~130 km | ~3 hrs | NH-19 via Bhadohi | Fare → |
| Vindhyachal | ~80 km | ~2 hrs | Chunar Road via Mirzapur | Fare → |
| Gaya | ~240 km | ~5 hrs | NH-19 via Sasaram | Package → |
| Chitrakoot | ~290 km | ~6 hrs | Via Prayagraj–Karwi Road | Package → |
| Naimisharanya | ~245 km | ~5.5 hrs | Via Lucknow–Sitapur Road | Package → |
Times assume normal traffic and a 5:30–6:30 AM departure from Varanasi. Add 30–45 minutes for peak city traffic or festival-day departures.
Varanasi to Ayodhya Distance
How far is Ayodhya from Varanasi? Approximately 200 km by road, taking 3.5 to 4 hours via NH-56 (Varanasi–Lucknow National Highway) through Jaunpur and Sultanpur. The straight-line (aerial) distance is also close to 200 km.
Varanasi to Ayodhya — Route & Travel Time
- Varanasi (0 km) → Ring Road bypass → NH-56 entry
- Jaunpur (~55 km, ~1 hr) — historic Akbari Bridge over the Gomti River
- Sultanpur (~120 km, ~2 hrs) — approximate midpoint
- Ayodhya (~200 km, ~3.5–4 hrs) — Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Saryu Ghat within ~3 km
Toll on this route runs approximately ₹200–250 (sedan), ₹300–350 (Innova Crysta), or ₹450–600 (Tempo Traveller/Urbania), one way, at 2–3 toll plazas.
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Varanasi to Prayagraj Distance
How far is Prayagraj from Varanasi? Approximately 130 km by road, taking about 3 hours via NH-19 through Bhadohi. This is the shortest of the six pilgrimage routes from Varanasi, making it practical as a same-day round trip for a Triveni Sangam darshan.
Varanasi to Prayagraj — Route & Travel Time
The route runs Varanasi → Bhadohi (~65 km, ~1.5 hrs, roughly the midpoint) → Prayagraj (~130 km, ~3 hrs), staying on NH-19 for almost the entire drive. Traffic is generally lighter on this stretch than the Ayodhya route, though Prayagraj city traffic near Sangam builds up during Magh Mela and Kumbh periods.
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Varanasi to Vindhyachal Distance
How far is Vindhyachal from Varanasi? Approximately 80 km by road, taking 1 hr 45 min to 2 hours via Chunar Road through Mirzapur. This is the shortest route in this guide and easily doable as a half-day Devi Darshan trip.
Varanasi to Vindhyachal — Route & Travel Time
The route runs Varanasi → Chunar Road → Mirzapur → Vindhyachal, hugging the Ganga for the last stretch. Most travelers combine this with darshan at Ashtabhuja Devi Temple and Kaali Khoh — the full Tridev Yatra circuit — achievable in one day if you leave Varanasi by 6 AM.
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Varanasi to Gaya Distance
How far is Gaya from Varanasi? Approximately 240 km by road, taking about 5 hours via NH-19 through Sasaram, crossing into Bihar. Gaya is the gateway for Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple and the Vishnupad Temple pind-daan circuit.
Varanasi to Gaya — Route & Travel Time
This is the longest single-day-feasible route in this guide. Most groups travel it as an overnight or 2-day trip rather than a same-day return, given the combined 10-hour round-trip drive time plus temple visits. Early departure (before 6 AM) is strongly recommended.
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Varanasi to Chitrakoot Distance
How far is Chitrakoot from Varanasi? Approximately 290 km by road, taking about 6 hours via the Prayagraj–Karwi road. Chitrakoot is associated with Lord Ram’s exile period and is typically combined with a Prayagraj stop en route.
Varanasi to Chitrakoot — Route & Travel Time
Given the 290 km distance, most pilgrims either break the journey with a stop in Prayagraj or plan Chitrakoot as an overnight trip rather than a single-day round trip from Varanasi.
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Varanasi to Naimisharanya Distance
How far is Naimisharanya from Varanasi? Approximately 245 km by road, taking about 5.5 hours via the Lucknow–Sitapur road. Naimisharanya (near Sitapur) is one of the most sacred forest-pilgrimage sites in Hindu tradition, associated with the recitation of the Puranas.
Varanasi to Naimisharanya — Route & Travel Time
This route runs via Lucknow before turning toward Sitapur district. Given the distance, most groups combine this with a Lucknow stop or plan it as an overnight trip.
🚖 See Naimisharanya Tour Package & Book →
Which Vehicle for Which Distance?
- Under 100 km (Vindhyachal): Sedan or Innova Crysta — easy half-day round trip.
- 100–200 km (Prayagraj, Ayodhya): Sedan for couples, Innova Crysta for families, 12-seater Tempo Traveller for groups — all comfortably same-day.
- 240+ km (Gaya, Chitrakoot, Naimisharanya): Innova Crysta or Tempo Traveller recommended over Sedan for the longer highway stretch; plan for an overnight stay rather than a rushed same-day return.
Need a group vehicle for any of these routes? See our Tempo Traveller in Varanasi page for 9–17 seater options, or Hire Innova Crysta in Varanasi for families.
Frequently Asked Questions — Distance from Varanasi
How far is Ayodhya from Varanasi by road?
Ayodhya is approximately 200 km from Varanasi by road via NH-56, taking 3.5 to 4 hours through Jaunpur and Sultanpur.
How far is Prayagraj from Varanasi by road?
Prayagraj is approximately 130 km from Varanasi by road via NH-19 through Bhadohi, taking about 3 hours — the shortest of the major pilgrimage routes from Varanasi.
How far is Vindhyachal from Varanasi?
Vindhyachal is approximately 80 km from Varanasi via Chunar Road through Mirzapur, taking 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours — easily done as a half-day trip.
How far is Gaya from Varanasi?
Gaya is approximately 240 km from Varanasi via NH-19 through Sasaram, taking about 5 hours. Most travelers plan this as an overnight trip rather than a same-day round trip.
How far is Chitrakoot from Varanasi?
Chitrakoot is approximately 290 km from Varanasi via the Prayagraj-Karwi road, taking about 6 hours. Many pilgrims break the trip with a stop in Prayagraj.
How far is Naimisharanya from Varanasi?
Naimisharanya is approximately 245 km from Varanasi via the Lucknow-Sitapur road, taking about 5.5 hours.
Which of these routes can be done as a same-day trip from Varanasi?
Vindhyachal (80 km), Prayagraj (130 km), and Ayodhya (200 km) are all realistic same-day round trips with an early morning departure. Gaya, Chitrakoot, and Naimisharanya (240+ km each) are better planned as overnight trips given the combined round-trip drive time.
Are toll charges the same on all these routes?
No. Toll scales roughly with distance and the number of plazas on each highway. The Ayodhya route (NH-56) has 2-3 toll plazas costing approximately Rs 200-600 one way depending on vehicle size; shorter routes like Vindhyachal have minimal or no toll.
What is the distance from Kashi to Ayodhya?
Kashi is another name for Varanasi, so the distance is identical – approximately 200 km by road via NH-56, taking 3.5 to 4 hours.
Book Your Cab for Any of These Routes
Now that you know the distance, route, and travel time for all six destinations, the only thing left is confirming your vehicle. WhatsApp your destination, travel date, and group size — we’ll send back a fixed fare in minutes.
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October–February is peak pilgrimage season on all six routes. Book 3-7 days ahead for the shorter routes, 1-2 weeks ahead for Gaya, Chitrakoot, and Naimisharanya.
