Varanasi Monsoon and River Rise: What It Means for Ganges Flooding and Pilgrim Tourism
Everything live for Varanasi, in one place.
As of 18 October 2026, Varanasi is at 26°C and smoky haze, with a 17% chance of rain. Petrol costs ₹102.51/L and diesel ₹95.96/L here today.
Air is unhealthy today and worse than yesterday. Smoky haze expected through the day.
Cost of Living & Breathing Index in Varanasi: 60/100 (Fair)
Rank #139 of 273 tracked cities · flat vs 30 days ago
What's driving this score
Score starts at 100 and only tracks two things: today's air quality and how the local fuel price compares to the national average. Varanasi's AQI of 450 took off 40 points; fuel here is at or below the national average and took off 0 more - leaving 60/100. This isn't a full cost-of-living measure, only these two.
🕒 Updated 18 Oct 2026, 12:00am
Live Air Quality in Varanasi Today: 450 (Severe)
Up 109 points from yesterday
Last 7 days
Pollutant breakdown
CO is driving Varanasi's Air Quality Index (AQI) right now - it's the pollutant with the worst sub-index, which is what the overall number is based on (the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)'s National AQI methodology takes the worst reading, not an average).
🕒 Updated 18 Oct, 4:20 AM IST · next refresh in ~199 min
Live Weather in Varanasi Today: 26°C, Smoky haze
64% humidity · down 0° yesterday
Today, hour by hour
24°
💧10%
23°
💧5%
23°
💧6%
22°
💧6%
22°
💧7%
22°
💧11%
22°
💧15%
25°
💧17%
26°
💧15%
28°
💧14%
29°
💧12%
31°
💧11%
31°
💧11%
32°
💧5%
32°
💧6%
32°
💧10%
31°
💧7%
28°
💧10%
27°
💧14%
26°
💧4%
26°
💧3%
25°
💧4%
25°
💧9%
25°
💧15%
☀️ Best window outdoors today: 6 AM–8 PM - lower rain chance and comfortable temperatures.
🕒 Updated 18 Oct, 6:50 AM IST · next refresh in ~3 min
Varanasi Petrol and Diesel Rates Today: ₹102.51 and ₹95.96
Petrol up ₹0.65 yesterday
Varanasi Auspicious Times for Today
Sunrise 6:46 AM · Sunset 6:13 PM · Rahu Kalam 4:48 PM-6:14 PM
Varanasi Bank Status Today: Closed
Closed today - Sunday
Banks in Uttar Pradesh are closed today (Sunday).
Weather Alerts for Varanasi Today
No active IMD weather alerts for Uttar Pradesh right now.
Compare Varanasi with Nearby Cities
vs Chandauli, Sonbhadra and 4 more nearby cities
Live Varanasi Mandi Prices Today: Garlic ₹7,000, Green Chilli ₹2,000
Showing 1–1 of 1 markets
Varanasi APMC (Varanasi)4 items
- Garlic₹7,000/q
- Green Chilli₹2,000/q
- Potato₹800/q
- Tomato₹2,000/q
Varanasi PIN Codes / Postal Index Number
265 post offices across 39 PIN codes in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Showing 241–265 of 265 post offices
| Post Office | Pincode | Office Type | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sultanpur BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221007 | BO | Delivery |
|
Sunderpur BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221005 | BO | Delivery |
|
Surahi BO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221206 | BO | Delivery |
|
Susuwahi BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221011 | BO | Delivery |
|
SVV SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221002 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
Tapowanashram BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221007 | BO | Delivery |
|
Tari BO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221207 | BO | Delivery |
|
Tekuri BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221116 | BO | Delivery |
|
Telibagh SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221002 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
Tewar BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221101 | BO | Delivery |
|
Thaney Rampur BO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221207 | BO | Delivery |
|
Thathara BO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221313 | BO | Delivery |
|
Tikari BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221011 | BO | Delivery |
|
Tiwaripur BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221104 | BO | Delivery |
|
Udaipur BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221101 | BO | Delivery |
|
Ukathi BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221104 | BO | Delivery |
|
Umrahan BO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221112 | BO | Delivery |
|
UP Collage SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221002 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
Varanasi Cantt HO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221002 | HO | Delivery |
|
Varanasi City SO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221001 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
Varanasi HO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221001 | HO | Delivery |
|
VARANASI SHIVPUR SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221003 | PO | Delivery |
|
Vijay Sirohi Nagar SO Varanasi East Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221001 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
Vsi Kutchhery SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221002 | PO | Non Delivery |
|
West Colony SO Varanasi West Division · Uttar Pradesh Circle |
221004 | PO | Non Delivery |
Gas Price
How is Varanasi's AQI calculated?
The Air Quality Index combines PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO and O₃ readings from CPCB-monitored stations into one 0–500 score, using whichever pollutant reads worst as the overall number rather than an average of all of them. Today the dominant pollutant driving that number in Varanasi is CO. Varanasi's current AQI of 450 falls in the "Severe" band (400+).
Is Varanasi's air quality safe today?
Not fully - Varanasi is at Severe today (AQI 450). Avoid all outdoor activity. This level affects even healthy people.
Are mandi prices rising or falling in Varanasi?
Garlic has risen 0.0% at Varanasi's mandi in the latest reporting cycle - the biggest mover among commodities tracked there right now. Mandi (wholesale) prices update daily from Government of India data.gov.in reports.
What are today's petrol and diesel prices in Varanasi?
Petrol is ₹102.51/L, diesel ₹95.96/L, for Varanasi. Fuel prices are revised daily and can vary slightly by station. The base crude and refinery cost is the same nationwide - state VAT and cess are what make petrol cheaper or pricier just across a state line.
Why does Varanasi's gold price match the national rate?
Gold is one national spot rate, not set city by city - Varanasi's price tracks the same international gold market and the day's USD/INR exchange rate as everywhere else in India.
Are banks open in Varanasi today?
No - banks in Uttar Pradesh are closed today (Sunday).
What is Rahu Kalam in Varanasi today?
Rahu Kalam in Varanasi today runs from 4:48 PM to 6:14 PM. Hindu tradition treats this window as inauspicious for starting new ventures, travel, or important decisions.
Why Check Varanasi's Weather and AQI?
Varanasi is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and among Hinduism's most significant pilgrimage sites, built along the ghats of the Ganges where the daily Ganga Aarti ceremony draws large crowds of pilgrims and tourists every evening. Weather here isn't background information for visitors - it directly determines whether the riverside ghats are even accessible.
Ganges Flooding and Pilgrim Tourism Impact
During the monsoon, the Ganges regularly rises enough to submerge the lower ghats entirely, forcing rituals and boat rides to relocate or pause for weeks at a time - a recurring seasonal event locals plan around. Winter fog also affects the city's airport, which handles significant pilgrim and tourist traffic. Track Varanasi weather before planning a ghat visit or sunrise boat ride during monsoon season.
Seasonal Guide
Oct-Mar: Peak Pilgrim Season - Cool, comfortable conditions and full ghat access; December-January fog can delay flights.
Apr-Jun: Extreme Heat - Highs regularly exceed 43°C; outdoor rituals shift to early morning and evening.
Jul-Sep: Monsoon and River Rise - The Ganges frequently floods the lower ghats; check Varanasi AQI and river levels together before a ghat visit.
Data Methodology
Weather and AQI figures are drawn from public government monitoring sources and refreshed regularly. See Uttar Pradesh weather and AQI for how Varanasi compares with other cities in the state.