Know before you go
Don't get played.
Banaras is generous. It can also be confusing — and almost everyone you meet in your first hour is selling you something. Here's what we tell every traveller who asks.
How much should a boat ride actually cost?+
Prices swing wildly by season, time of day and how confident you sound. We keep a running, dated benchmark — updated by our team, not by boatmen — so you know the real range before you step onto a ghat.
How do you tell real Banarasi silk?+
There are three quick checks you can do in the shop, with your own hands, in under a minute. We walk through them — burn test, weight, weave — with photos, not marketing language.
What does "pure silk" actually mean?+
Often, not what you think. We break down the labelling terms sellers use — and which ones are meaningful, which are decorative, and which are simply untrue.
Which shops are worth visiting?+
We visit, ask questions, and check sourcing before anything earns a Theo Trusted mark. No shop pays for placement here — that's the entire point of the list.
When is a "special price, only for you" not special?+
Almost always. We explain the commission structures behind guide referrals, so you can recognise the pattern before you're inside the shop.
How should you actually negotiate here?+
Less aggressively than you'd think, and with more patience than you'd expect. A short, honest guide to doing it without insulting anyone or overpaying.