“In Sawan, the Kanwariya carries Ganga jal on his shoulders from Sultanganj to Deoghar- sometimes over 100 km on foot. You carry it in your heart. The road will carry the rest.” Find complete information for Delhi to Deoghar Trip by road for Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga darshan and Kanwar yatra.
Why this trip is special in Sawan Month?
Every Sawan (July–August), millions of Kanwariyas pour out of Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Bengal toward Deoghar -home to Baidyanath Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve most sacred Shiva shrines in India. The ritual: collect holy Ganga water (from Sultanganj on the banks of the Ganga, near Bhagalpur), walk or ride to Deoghar, and offer it to Baba Baidyanath while chanting “Bol Bam!” For a road trip, book Tempo Traveller on Rent in Delhi and make this a full-circle pilgrimage- Ganga aarti in Varanasi, sacred jal collection, Jyotirlinga darshan, and the monsoon journey home.
This blog gives you a complete plan: day-by-day itinerary, all route distances, Tempo Traveller cost breakdowns, stay recommendations, and practical Sawan tips- so you arrive at Baba’s feet prepared, not panicked.
Trip overview- At a glance
Total distance: ~2,800 km- Full round trip
Total days: 9 Incl. travel days
Vehicle rate: ₹23/km Onwards
Tempo Traveller Driver/day: ₹600+ ₹600 overnight
Route Distnaces- Segment-by-segment breakdown
| # | Segment | Route | Distance | Drive time |
| 1 | Delhi → Varanasi | NH-19 (Agra–Prayagraj) | 820 km | 12–14 hrs |
| 2 | Varanasi → Sultanganj | NH-31 / NH-131A via Buxar | 250 km | 5–6 hrs |
| 3 | Sultanganj → Deoghar | SH-5 / NH-333B | 48 km | 1–1.5 hrs |
| 4 | Deoghar → Delhi (return) | NH-114A → NH-2 or via Prayagraj | 1,060 km | 16–18 hrs (2-day) |
| Total (approx.) | ~2,178 km | ~35–41 hrs | ||
Note: Local sightseeing in Varanasi (ghats, Kashi Vishwanath, Sarnath) and Deoghar (Baidyanath complex, Naulakha temple) will add ~80–100 km. Total trip odometer: approximately 2,250–2,280 km.
Tempo Traveller- Full cost estimate
Based on your rates: ₹23/km vehicle charge · ₹600/day driver allowance · ₹600/overnight halt charge.
| Component | Details | Amount (₹) |
| Vehicle kilometrage charges | ||
| Delhi → Varanasi | 820 km × ₹23 | 18,860 |
| Varanasi → Sultanganj | 250 km × ₹23 | 5,750 |
| Sultanganj → Deoghar | 48 km × ₹23 | 1,104 |
| Local in Varanasi | ~50 km × ₹23 | 1,150 |
| Local in Deoghar | ~30 km × ₹23 | 690 |
| Deoghar → Delhi (return) | 1,060 km × ₹23 | 24,380 |
| Subtotal — kilometrage | 51,934 | |
| Driver charges | ||
| Driver daily allowance | 10 days × ₹600 | 6,000 |
| Overnight halt charges | 9 nights × ₹600 | 5,400 |
| Subtotal — driver charges | 11,400 | |
| Grand total — Tempo Traveller | 63,334 | |
Per person cost (12 Seater Tempo, 10 pax): ~₹6,333/person · (8 pax): ~₹7,917/person
Add hotel stays, food, prasad, and toll charges separately. Km beyond this itinerary will charged at additional.
9 Days Trip Itinerary for Delhi to Deoghar
Day 1: Delhi → Departure & overnight drive
Depart late evening · Drive ~400 km to Prayagraj or Mirzapur halt
- Depart Delhi by 8–9 PM to beat city traffic
- Drive via NH-19 (Yamuna Expressway → Agra bypass → Prayagraj)
- Overnight halt near Prayagraj or Mirzapur (~400 km mark)
Night departure: NH-19
Stay: Budget highway hotel near Prayagraj / driver rest
Night drives on NH-19 are comfortable- 4-lane expressway, well-lit toll plazas. Stock the vehicle with water, dry snacks, and a first-aid kit before leaving Delhi.
Day 2: Arrive Varanasi · Ghats & first darshan
~420 km from halt · Arrive morning · 2 nights in Varanasi
- Arrive Varanasi by 8–9 AM · freshen up at hotel
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga- a meditative start
- Kashi Vishwanath temple darshan (pre-book slot online)
- Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Evening stroll through Vishwanath Lane, taste kachori-sabzi
Kashi Vishwanath Dashashwamedh Aarti Ganga boat ride
Stay: Hotel near Assi Ghat / Godowlia · 2 nights
Book Kashi Vishwanath darshan on kashivishwanath.org. On Sawan Somvar (Monday), queues stretch to 6–8 hrs- go on a Tuesday/Wednesday for a calmer experience or arrive by 4 AM on Mondays.
Find Here: Tips and Guide for Sugham Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple Varanasi
Day 3: Varanasi full day · Sarnath & Kalbhairav
Rest day · sightseeing · Varanasi deep dive
- Dawn aarti at Manikarnika Ghat (the eternal cremation ghat)
- Sarnath Buddhist complex (~10 km from city)
- Kalbhairav temple- Varanasi’s fierce guardian deity
- Banarasi saree lane, thandai shops, malaiyyo (seasonal)
- Second Ganga Aarti- Take a boat this time for best view
Stay: Same Varanasi hotel (night 2)
Day 4: Varanasi → Sultanganj drive
~250 km · NH-31 via Buxar · 5–6 hrs · Sacred jal collection
- Early start from Varanasi by 6 AM
- Drive via Buxar → Bhagalpur → Sultanganj (~250 km)
- Sultanganj Ganga ghat — collect sacred jal in kanwar vessel
- Ajgaivinath Shiva Temple at Sultanganj (perched on a rock island)
- Night stay in Sultanganj / Bhagalpur
Stay: Sultanganj or Bhagalpur (budget hotels / dharamshalas)
Sultanganj in Sawan is extraordinarily crowded- hundreds of thousands of Kanwariyas queue here. Keep your vehicle parked at a distance and walk to the ghat. Carry sealed containers for jal- the jal must not touch the ground until it reaches Baba Baidyanath.
Day 5: Sultanganj → Deoghar · Baidyanath darshan
~48 km · The sacred culmination of the pilgrimage
- Start by 4–5 AM — join Kanwariyas chanting Bol Bam!
- Arrive Deoghar · head directly to Baidyanath temple complex
- Offer sacred Ganga jal to Baba Baidyanath (Jyotirlinga darshan)
- Visit 21 temples within the Baidyanath temple campus
- Naulakha Temple & Trikuta Hill cable car ride
Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Bol Bam! Naulakha temple21-temple campus
Stay: Deoghar · 2 nights (hotel near temple)
Deoghar darshan queues in Sawan run 4–8 hours. VIP/special entry passes are available for quicker darshan- check official Baidyanath temple trust. The atmosphere inside the complex is like nowhere else in India- raw, electric devotion.
Day 6: Deoghar · Rest, explore & local temples
Rest day · leisure in Deoghar · nearby sites
- Trikuta Hill- 3 peaks, cable car, panoramic Jharkhand views
- Naulakha Mandir — stunning white marble architecture
- Satsanga Ashram & Tapovan temple complex
- Local market for Deoghar ke pethe (famous sweet) & Rudraksha
- Repeat Baidyanath darshan early morning if desired
Stay: Deoghar (night 2)
Day 7: Deoghar → Varanasi (return leg)
~480 km · NH-114A → NH-19 · ~9–10 hrs
- Final Baidyanath darshan at 5 AM then depart by 7 AM
- Drive via Giridih → Hazaribagh → Aurangabad → Varanasi
- Arrive Varanasi by evening · overnight stay
NH-114A returnVaranasi again
Stay: Varanasi (1 night)
Alternatively route via Jasidih (near Deoghar) → Dhanbad → Gaya → Varanasi if you want to avoid the hills — flatter, slightly longer but faster road.
Day 8: Varanasi → Prayagraj · Sangam darshan
~130 km · Bonus spiritual stop · Triveni Sangam
- Early morning dip at Dashashwamedh or Assi Ghat before departing
- Drive to Prayagraj (~130 km, ~2.5 hrs)
- Triveni Sangam boat ride- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati
- Hanuman Mandir (submerged in monsoon floods- iconic sight)
- Overnight in Prayagraj
If you have enough time in hand, you can extend your trip to Ayodhya from Prayagraj for Ramlala Darshan.
Day 9: Prayagraj→ Delhi
~590 km direct · or split via Agra overnight
- Option A: Direct drive Prayagraj → Delhi (~590 km, ~9–10 hrs)
- Option B: Break in Agra · Taj Mahal sunrise · drive Delhi next morning
- Overnight in Agra (Option B) or reach Delhi by night
Sawan Road Trip Essentials
- Copper/steel kanwar vessel for Ganga jal
- Waterproof bags for monsoon rain
- First aid + ORS + antacid
- Non-slip sandals for wet ghats
- Light cotton kurtas (orange / white)
- Plenty of cash (₹500/₹100 notes)
- Offline Google Maps downloaded
- Temple passes pre-booked online