Ayodhya to Varanasi Road Distance: 200 km · 4-5 hours · Cab from ₹3,300
Ayodhya → Jaunpur → Varanasi
Darshan timings, ghat-side drops and drivers who know the aarti schedule.
Cab fare, all inclusive
Distance
200km
Drive time
4hrs
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Driving Ayodhya to Varanasi: what this corridor is like
Timed for darshan
Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath and Har Ki Pauri run on temple time; the driver plans the departure so you arrive for the slot you booked.
Ghat-side drops
Most ghats are foot-only for the last stretch. We drop at the nearest vehicle point and wait, rather than leaving you to find a cab back.
Festival-week fares fixed
Deepotsav, Kanwar season, Chhath — fares are locked when you book, and the driver stays with you across multi-day yatras.
What the Ayodhya to Varanasi road is actually like
Varanasi to Ayodhya is flat from end to end, and the whole art of it is timing. The road out is the airport road past Babatpur, and the first proper town is Jaunpur on the Gomti, worth a slow pass over the old Shahi Bridge. From Jaunpur to Sultanpur the highway runs through sugarcane and paddy, and this is where we make the tea halt, usually at one of the dhabas short of Sultanpur. After Sultanpur you turn north for Ayodhya, and the last fifty kilometres through Faizabad are the busiest, with pilgrim buses converging on the temple approach. The surface is good all the way; what changes is the air. From mid-December to the end of January the fog over these fields is thick until ten in the morning, and a four-hour drive becomes five. In July and August both the Ganga and the Saryu run high, which does not touch the road but does close the lower ghats at either end. In summer leave at first light and finish the darshan before the heat.
How far is Varanasi from Ayodhya?
The distance from Ayodhya to Varanasi is 200 km by road via NH-56 via Jaunpur, the same road as the outward leg driven in the other direction, and the drive takes about 4-5 hours. A one-way AC cab is ₹3,300 (sedan), Ertiga SUV ₹4,500, Innova Crysta ₹5,400, 12-seater Tempo Traveller ₹6,900. Toll and parking are extra at actuals.
By Road
200 km
Drive Time
4-5 hours
Cab From
₹3,300
Fuel (self-drive)
₹1,429
Ayodhya to Varanasi distance, time & cab fare
- Road distance
- 200 km (124 miles)
- Drive time by cab
- 4-5 hours
- Best route / highway
- NH-56 via Jaunpur
- AC Sedan cab fare Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 seater
- ₹3,300 (₹11/km)
- Ertiga SUV cab fare Maruti Ertiga · 6 seater
- ₹4,500 (₹15/km)
- Innova Crysta cab fare Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 seater
- ₹5,400 (₹18/km)
- Tempo Traveller cab fare 12-seater AC
- ₹6,900 (₹23/km)
- Approx. fuel cost (self-drive)
- ₹1,429 one-way
* Cab fares are one-way and include fuel & driver. Toll and state tax are extra at actual.
Ayodhya to Varanasi: cab vs train vs bus vs flight
A quick comparison of travel time, cost and comfort for the 200 km journey to help you choose the right mode.
Cab / TaxiRecommended
- Travel Time
- 4-5 hours
- Cost
- From ₹3,300
- Comfort
- Door-to-door, private, flexible stops
- Best For
- Families, groups, comfort
Train
- Travel Time
- 4-6 hrs
- Cost
- Budget (subject to availability)
- Comfort
- Fixed timing, station-to-station
- Best For
- Solo budget travellers
Bus
- Travel Time
- 5-6 hrs
- Cost
- Most economical
- Comfort
- Shared, fixed stops
- Best For
- Backpackers, low budget
Flight
- Travel Time
- Not practical
- Cost
- Highest
- Comfort
- Fastest but airport transfers needed
- Best For
- Long distances, time-critical
For Ayodhya to Varanasi, a private cab offers door-to-door pickup, no fixed timetable and the freedom to stop anywhere en route.
Ayodhya to Varanasi cab fare
Fuel and driver included · Tolls and taxes extra
Sedan
Swift Dzire / Etios · 4 Seater
Ertiga SUV
Maruti Ertiga · 6 Seater
Innova Crysta
Toyota Innova Crysta · 7 Seater
Tempo Traveller
12-Seater AC · 12 Seater
* Toll & state tax extra at actual. Fares based on 200 km one-way.
Tips from drivers who run this route every week
Best time to travel
October to March. Deepotsav and Ram Navami in Ayodhya are spectacular.
Local insider tip
The pickup is anywhere in Ayodhya and the drop anywhere in Varanasi. The plazas are the same ones as the outward leg in the other order, and the driver settles them on FASTag.
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Ayodhya to Varanasi FAQs
What is the distance from Ayodhya to Varanasi by road?
Ayodhya to Varanasi is 200 km by road via NH-56 via Jaunpur via Jaunpur. It is the same road as Varanasi to Ayodhya driven in the other direction, so the kilometres, the highway and the toll plazas are the same; only the order of the stops changes.
How long does it take to drive from Ayodhya to Varanasi?
About 4-5 hours for the 200 km. Good national highway. Road improved significantly with recent development.
What does a one-way cab from Ayodhya to Varanasi cost?
₹3,300 (sedan), Ertiga SUV ₹4,500, Innova Crysta ₹5,400, 12-seater Tempo Traveller ₹6,900. A one-way drop is charged for the outward distance only; tolls, parking and any state permit are extra at actuals, and the driver settles them on FASTag.
Is the return leg from Ayodhya to Varanasi charged differently?
No. The fare is worked from the published rate card on the distance driven, so Ayodhya to Varanasi costs the same as Varanasi to Ayodhya for the same vehicle. What changes on a return booking is only whether you pay for one leg or two.
When is the best time to drive from Ayodhya to Varanasi?
October to March. Deepotsav and Ram Navami in Ayodhya are spectacular.
Is Banaras to Ayodhya the same as Varanasi to Ayodhya?
Yes. Varanasi is also called Banaras (Benares) and, in its temple sense, Kashi. The distance, the road and the fare on this page are the same journey under either name.
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