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The nine
Know the trick, keep your money
- 1
The boat “price list”
The trick: A laminated “official” card quotes ₹3,000–5,000 for a sunrise ride — or the price is secretly per person and doubles mid-river.
Your move: A private wooden boat (2–4 people) is ₹800–1,500 an hour. Agree the total price AND the exact duration before you step in.
- 2
Manikarnika “wood donation”
The trick: A kind “helper” explains the cremation, walks you to a balcony, then asks for money toward a family’s firewood.
Your move: It’s invented — the families have already paid. Never follow anyone up the stairs. No photos.
- 3
The “free” tour / English practice
The trick: A friendly “student” just wants to practise English and show you the real city for free.
Your move: Every shop he walks you into pays him 30–50%. Say “no thanks” and keep walking.
- 4
The ghat “entry ticket”
The trick: Someone at the top of the steps sells a “ticket” or “camera fee” to enter the ghats.
Your move: The ghats are public and free. Always. Walk straight past.
- 5
“The temple’s closed” detour
The trick: Your driver says your temple is shut for a ceremony and offers a “government” silk emporium to wait at.
Your move: It isn’t closed. He earns 20–40% on anything you buy. Name your stops up front: “no shops, please.”
- 6
The fake sadhu photo
The trick: A holy man in saffron beckons you for a photo, then demands ₹500–1,000.
Your move: Agree a price first if you want the shot — ₹20–50 is respectful. If you didn’t ask, you owe nothing.
- 7
The “friend boatman” introducer
The trick: A stranger insists on taking you to “his friend, the best boatman” — then vanishes.
Your move: The boatman’s price already hides his 30–50% kickback. You didn’t ask for help — don’t pay for it.
- 8
ATM “helpers”
The trick: A “helpful” local hovers at the ATM offering to assist you.
Your move: Cover your PIN, refuse all help, and use machines inside banks during busy hours.
- 9
The foreigner price
The trick: No price is displayed; the shopkeeper reads your clothes and quotes 3–5×.
Your move: Packaged goods have an MRP printed on them — never pay above it. For crafts, haggle or use fixed-price government emporiums.
The one rule behind all of them
Every scam runs on you not knowing the real price. Never accept help you didn't ask for. Know the number before you're quoted one.
Know before you land
The real numbers
- Private boat (2–4 people)
- ₹800–1,500 / hour
- Shared public boat
- ₹30–100 / person
- Airport prepaid taxi into town
- ₹800–1,000
- Sadhu photo (only if you ask)
- ₹20–50
- Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh
- Free — ~6:45pm, arrive by 5:45pm
- Best sunrise boat window
- 5:00–6:30am
- Packaged water & snacks
- Never above the printed MRP
Five-question trivia
Get all five right, get the full guide for $5.99
Every answer is in the cheat sheet above. Answer all five correctly and the full Varanasi Insider Guide — usually $14.99 — is yours for $5.99.
1.What's a fair price for a private wooden boat for 2–4 people?
2.Someone at the top of the steps sells you a ghat “entry ticket”. What do you do?
3.Your driver says the temple is closed for a ceremony. What's really going on?
4.You asked a sadhu for a photo. What's a respectful amount?
5.What's the most you should pay for a bottle of packaged water?
Answer all five to check.
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