Mathura to Varanasi Road Trip Guide
- jitenmathuravrinda
- Sep 24
- 4 min read

The road trip from Mathura to Varanasi is one of the holiest and most culturally diverse trips in Uttar Pradesh. The journey links the birthplace of Lord Krishna to the city of Lord Shiva. Mathura is a sacred town famous for Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple and Yamuna ghats. Varanasi also known as Kashi or Banaras is one of the world's oldest living cities and renowned for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Ganga ghats and its colourful traditions. Spanning some 600 kilometers, this road trip provides visitors with a chance to experience history, culture piety and cuisine of various parts of Uttar Pradesh. With good roads taxi and bus services and amenities en route, this journey is long but comfortable and satisfying.
Mathura to Varanasi Distance
The road distance from Mathura to Varanasi is approximately 600 kilometers. It typically takes ten to twelve hours to drive between the two cities. The actual duration is traffic and stoppage dependent. For those traveling with the family and senior citizens, it is advisable to split the journey and take an overnight stopover in Kanpur, Lucknow or Prayagraj. This saves the journey from becoming too exhausted and provides some sightseeing opportunity on the way. For those who like to drive continuously early morning start is ideal as this avoids congestion and permits arrival at Varanasi in the evening.
Mathura to Varanasi Road Route
The most frequented and accessible way is
Mathura → Agra → Kanpur → Prayagraj → Varanasi
This is one route that passes through national highways and expressways making the journey smooth. Passengers go through populous towns, villages, green belts and rivers making the road trip more beautiful. As this route joins major cities, there are a lot of fuel stations rest stops and restaurants making this route convenient for long road trips.
How to Reach Varanasi from Mathura
There are various options to travel to Varanasi from Mathura but the most flexible is traveling by road.
By Road: This is the most convenient option. The journey by road takes approximately ten to twelve hours depending on traffic conditions. Taxis, buses and self drive vehicles are available from Mathura.
By Rail: Numerous direct trains connect Mathura and Varanasi. The duration of the journey is nine to eleven hours. If one doesn't prefer long hours of driving, trains are a good alternative.
By Air: Mathura lacks an airport of its own. Agra, Delhi and Lucknow are the nearest airports. There, tourists can take direct flights for Varanasi. It saves time but requires extra travel to get to the airport.
All tourists opt for road travel because it provides flexibility to stop on the way and view places.
Top Stops on the Way
A long drive from Mathura to Varanasi is made more engaging with stops at significant cities and towns.
Agra: Just a brief drive from Mathura Agra is where the Taj Mahal Agra Fort and other Mughal monuments lie. It is also renowned for sweets such as petha and snacks such as bedai kachori.
Kanpur: A large industrial town along the way famous for leather bazaars and street food. It also boasts historical sites and local bazaars.
Prayagraj: One of the most religious cities in India. It is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers called the Triveni Sangam. The Allahabad Fort, Anand Bhavan and temples are a must-see.
Varanasi: The last destination. Here tourists can see Kashi Vishwanath Temple watch Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat take a boat ride in the Ganga and stroll through the narrow bazaars. Sarnath nearby is also a must-see for Buddhist enthusiasts.
These stops cut down travel fatigue and provide a combination of piety history and local culture.
Best Time to Visit Varanasi
The ideal time for this road trip is October to March. The weather is cool and pleasant during these months, which is ideal for temple visits and sightseeing. April, May and June are the summer months that are very hot and not preferred for a long road trip. July to September are the monsoon months that experience heavy rains, which do not make driving easy. Winter and early spring are the most convenient seasons for this trip.
Where to Eat on the Way
Eating is a significant component of the road trip culture. There are numerous highway dhabas, restaurants and nearby eateries en route.
Agra: Renowned for sweets such as petha and Mughlai cuisine. Bedai kachori and jalebi are also favored.
Kanpur: Famed for samosas thaggu ke laddu and spicy chaats.
Highway Dhabas: A lot of dhabas offer thali puri sabzi, dal roti and snacks that are easy and delicious.
Prayagraj: Offers snacks near Sangam and traditional sweets.
Varanasi: Once in Varanasi travelers must try kachori sabzi, tamatar chaat, lassi and the Banarasi paan.
Carrying some water bottles, dry fruits and snacks is also a good idea especially for families with children.
Mathura to Varanasi Taxi
For those who prefer comfort and safety, booking a taxi is the best choice. Mathura Vrindavan tour packages offers Mathura to Varanasi taxi service at reasonable rates. The company has sedans, SUVs, tempo travellers and buses available for various group sizes. Vehicles are neat and clean and drivers are experienced with good route knowledge. Taxi booking enables passengers to make halts at Agra, Kanpur, Prayagraj or any other destination as per their preference. Families normally prefer SUVs or cars, whereas large groups opt for buses or tempo travellers. With Mathura Vrindavan tour packages, the travel becomes comfortable safe and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Mathura to Varanasi road trip is a 600 km long journey but it is abounding with history, culture and devotion. Beginning from the birth city of Lord Krishna and culminating in the city of Lord Shiva, it links two of India's holiest cities. Stopping en route at Agra, Kanpur and Prayagraj, the journey is not so much about arriving at a place as witnessing various facets of Uttar Pradesh. Whether one goes by road, train or air with careful planning food stops and suitable transport, this journey is a spiritual experience to remember
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