Ashrams in Varanasi to Stay: Verified Options + Dev Deepawali 2026

Which Varanasi ashrams and spiritual-trust guest houses take guests, how each one books, and the Dev Deepawali 2026 date (24 November).

Updated 2026-10-23

In short: few places in Varanasi run by spiritual organisations take general guests. Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram (Bhadaini) lists a room-booking contact; the Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple trust lists two guest houses; ISKCON Varanasi names one affiliated guest house. Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama has no guest house. Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November (Kartik Purnima).

Last checked 2026-10-23 on each official page.

Varanasi stays at a glance

Place	Area	Who can stay	How to book	Source
Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram	Bhadaini	Not published – contact ashram	Room bookings by phone (number on the official contacts page)	source
Gangadarshanam Guest House (temple trust)	Near Dashashwamedh Ghat	Not published	Online, via the trust's listed booking site	source
Southern Grand Kashi (temple trust)	Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor	Not published; rooms and dormitory beds listed	Online or reservations phone/email	source
Hare Krishna Stays (ISKCON-affiliated)	Durgakund	Visitors and pilgrims	Phone or email	source

Places that take guests

Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram, Bhadaini

The Anandamayi Sangha's official contacts page lists the Varanasi ashram at Bhadaini, Varanasi 221001, with the ashram phone 0542 408 3111 and a separate room-bookings contact (Vijay Singh, 96512 83814). It also lists separate contacts for a local dharamshala and the hospital. No prices, rules or stay limits are published there. source

The same organisation runs the Kankhal ashram in Haridwar, which has a page on Ashram Atlas.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple trust guest houses

The temple trust's official FAQ says it has two guest houses: Gangadarshanam Guest House near Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Southern Grand Kashi in the temple corridor. It points to gangadarshanam.com and southerngrandkashi.com for bookings, and says both have restaurants. temple trust FAQ (PDF) The trust's portal describes Southern Grand as "owned by Trust & operated under supervision of the Trust". source

Southern Grand Kashi (Bhimashankar Guest House) lists Super Deluxe rooms and dormitory beds; reservations +91 96 3905 3905, email. source The Gangadarshanam site did not load when we checked, so use the trust's FAQ link to reach it.

ISKCON Varanasi's affiliated guest house

ISKCON Varanasi says its temple guest house is under renovation, with no rooms on the temple premises for now. It names one affiliated guest house for visitors and pilgrims, Hare Krishna Stays at Durgakund near the temple (+91 9794020057, [email protected]), and says it has no other affiliated guest house. source

Spiritual centres near Varanasi that are not drop-in stays

Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Luxa

Its official site states: "There is NO GUEST HOUSE in RK Advaita Ashrama." Anyone offering you a room there is not the ashram. source

Dhamma Cakka, Sarnath

This Vipassana centre runs ten-day and Satipatthana courses. You apply for a course; you can't book a room on its own. source See also Dhamma Giri for how these courses work.

Free or low-cost stays?

None of the official pages we read mentions free rooms or publishes prices. Ask when you contact them. For free and donation-based stays elsewhere in India, see free ashram stays in India.

Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi

Date status: confirmed (last checked 2026-10-23). Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November (Kartik Purnima). Drik Panchang gives the evening lamp-lighting window as 5:08–7:47 PM, and the Varanasi administration is planning for that date, as reported by the Times of India. Drik Panchang

Event	Reported date	Status	Source
Ganga Mahotsav	20–23 Nov 2026	Unconfirmed (press)	Times of India
Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima)	24 Nov 2026	Confirmed	Drik Panchang, Times of India, Times of India

On Kartik Purnima the ghats of Varanasi are lit with earthen lamps. The press reports the state tourism department is planning illumination of the ghats and kunds. Times of India For background, see our Diwali and Dev Deepawali page.

Finding a stay or a boat for Dev Deepawali night

None of the places above has announced festival bookings. Contact them early. The press reports a four-day UP Tourism package, "Dev Deepawali: Divya Kashi Anubhav", that includes boat experiences. Times of India Confirm details with UP Tourism before paying.

How to book safely

Use only the phone numbers and sites on each organisation's own page (linked above).
Be wary of sites that use an ashram's name with their own WhatsApp number, or that ask for advance UPI payment to a personal number.
Ignore any offer of a "guaranteed ghat-view room" for Dev Deepawali from a seller you can't verify.
Carry ID. Foreign guests: ask your host about the registration it has to file for you.

Before you go: what to pack · ashram etiquette · ashrams in Uttar Pradesh

Questions people ask

Can I stay in an ashram in Varanasi?

Yes, but options are few. Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram in Bhadaini lists a room-booking contact, and the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust lists two guest houses. Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama says it has no guest house. Contact each place directly; none publishes prices.

Is there a free ashram stay in Varanasi?

We found none published on an official page. Don't count on a free room; ask the ashram directly.

How much does a Varanasi ashram stay cost?

None of the places below publishes a price on the pages we checked. Ask when you call or book.

When is Dev Deepawali 2026?

Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November (Kartik Purnima). Drik Panchang gives the evening lamp-lighting window as 5:08–7:47 PM, and the Varanasi administration is planning for that date, as reported by the Times of India.

How do I book a boat for Dev Deepawali?

Book early and only with an operator you can verify. UP Tourism has announced a Dev Deepawali package that includes boat experiences, as reported in the press; confirm details with UP Tourism before paying.