Sunrise in Varanasi today is at 05:16 AM. Sunset is at 06:32 PM. These two numbers shape every Hindu ritual of the day. At BlessInIdeas, we calculate these times using exact latitude-longitude sun calculation for Varanasi (25.3176°N, 82.9739°E). Whether you need Brahma Muhurta time, Rahu Kaal timing Varanasi, or just the daily sunrise schedule, this is your one stop.
Today’s Sunrise and Sunset at a Glance — Varanasi, 8 May 2026
Kashi sunrise time today falls at 05:16 AM. Banaras sun timings end the day at 06:32 PM. The total daylight hours in Varanasi today are approximately 13 hours 16 minutes.
That is longer than average, because May sits close to the summer solstice.Varanasi local time runs on IST (UTC+5:30). No daylight saving adjustment applies.
The sun rise and set duration changes every single day by a few seconds. This small shift adds up to major differences across months.
This page is updated every morning. Bookmark BlessInIdeas for your daily sunrise schedule, especially if you perform morning rituals, yoga, or photography.
Quick Reference Table — Varanasi Sun Timings Today
| Event | Time (IST) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Brahma Muhurta | 03:40 AM | Best for meditation & prayer |
| Sunrise | 05:16 AM | Day begins, rituals start |
| Golden Hour (Morning) | 05:16 – 06:16 AM | Best light for photography |
| Abhijit Muhurta | 11:48 AM – 12:36 PM | Highly auspicious midday window |
| Astronomical Noon | 12:02 PM | Sun at highest point |
| Golden Hour (Evening) | 05:32 – 06:32 PM | Soft evening light |
| Sunset | 06:32 PM | Evening rituals begin |
| Civil Twilight Ends | 06:57 PM | Sky still faintly lit |
| Nautical Twilight Ends | 07:26 PM | Stars become visible |
| Astronomical Twilight Ends | 07:57 PM | Full night begins |
What Is Sunrise and Sunset — The Hindu and Scientific View
When does the sun rise in Varanasi? Scientifically, sunrise is the exact moment the upper edge of the sun crosses above the eastern horizon.
In Hindu tradition, the day does not begin at midnight .It begins at sunrise. Every prayer, fast, and muhurta is counted from that first light.
What time is sunset in Varanasi today? The sun sets at 06:32 PM. At that moment, the evening sandhya begins.
Both sunrise and sunset are sacred transitions in Vedic calendar timings. They are not just astronomical events, they are spiritual gateways.
At BlessInIdeas, we use the Swiss Ephemeris standard for calculation. This gives you accuracy within 30 seconds.
That level of precision matters for Sandhyavandanam time and other rituals that must start at the exact moment of sunrise or sunset.
How many hours of daylight in Varanasi today? Exactly 13 hours and 16 minutes. This is longer than the 12-hour equinox average.
India does not use daylight saving time, so UP sunrise time today is always based on true solar time adjusted for IST.
Brahma Muhurta — The Most Sacred Hour Before Sunrise
What happens during Brahma Muhurta? This special period begins 1 hour 36 minutes before sunrise. Today in Varanasi, Brahma Muhurta time starts at approximately 03:40 AM and ends at 04:28 AM.
The name comes from Sanskrit, Brahma (the creator) and Muhurta (a time unit). Ancient Vedic texts describe this period as the most powerful window for meditation, prayer and study. The mind is calm, the air is pure, and cosmic energy is said to be at its peak.
When is Brahma Muhurta in Varanasi today? 03:40 AM to 04:28 AM. If you wake during this window, you align with centuries of Vedic wisdom.
Many sadhus, monks, and spiritual practitioners in Varanasi begin their practice at exactly this time, not by accident, but by design.
Why Brahma Muhurta Matters for Daily Life
- Mental clarity: The pre-dawn mind is scientifically more alert and creative.
- Spiritual merit: Performing Puja or chanting during this window is considered many times more powerful.
- Physical health: Ayurveda describes this period as Vata-dominant — ideal for movement and breath work.
- Best time for morning prayer in Varanasi: Brahma Muhurta, without question.
Rahu Kaal, Gulika Kaal, and Yamaganda — Calculated From Sunrise
How is Rahu Kaal calculated from sunrise? The day is divided into 8 equal parts using the exact Kashi sunrise time. One of those parts is assigned to Rahu and is considered inauspicious for new beginnings.
Today, Rahu Kaal timing Varanasi falls based on today being a Friday. On Fridays, Rahu Kaal generally runs from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (exact time shifts daily with sunrise).
Rahu Kaal today Varanasi start and end time is calculated fresh each day at BlessIngideas , you will never see a generic estimate here.
Read More: Maha Shivratri 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Timings & Complete Vrat Guide
Comparison Table — Inauspicious Periods Today in Varanasi
| Period | Today’s Time (Approx.) | Ruled By | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kaal | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Rahu | Avoid new ventures |
| Gulika Kaal today | 07:46 AM – 09:16 AM | Saturn/Manda | Avoid important decisions |
| Yamaganda Kaal | 03:16 PM – 04:46 PM | Yama | Avoid travel |
When to start fasting today Varanasi? Always begin after sunrise. 05:16 AM is your start point. Fasting before sunrise is part of night vrat (Nirjala), which has separate rules.
Auspicious time for Puja today falls during Abhijit Muhurta (11:48 AM – 12:36 PM) and also during Nithya Yoga auspicious windows.
Puja timing today is best confirmed using the full Panchang, which BlessInIdeas publishes daily.
Twilight in Varanasi — Civil, Nautical and Astronomical
Most people only know sunrise and sunset. But dusk and dawn timings have three distinct phases and each one matters differently.
What is twilight? Twilight is the light that fills the sky before sunrise (dawn) and after sunset (dusk), caused by sunlight scattering through the upper atmosphere.
Civil twilight time is when the sun is 0–6° below the horizon. Nautical twilight covers 6–12°. Astronomical twilight runs from 12–18° below the horizon.
Difference Between Civil and Astronomical Twilight
| Twilight Type | Sun Angle | Sky Appearance | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Twilight | 0° – 6° below | Bright enough for outdoor activity | Safe to walk, no artificial light needed |
| Nautical Twilight | 6° – 12° below | Horizon still faintly visible | Sea navigation reference |
| Astronomical Twilight | 12° – 18° below | Sky appears fully dark to eye | Star observation begins |
| True Night | Below 18° | Complete darkness | Deep sky astronomy |
In Varanasi today, civil twilight begins at approximately 04:50 AM, about 26 minutes before sunrise.
This is when the Ganges ghats begin to glow with that famous soft blue light that photographers call the golden hour Varanasi pre-dawn phase.
How does Earth’s tilt affect sunrise time? Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5° means the sun’s path changes throughout the year.
In summer (near June solstice), the sun rises earlier and sets later in Varanasi. In winter (near December solstice), it does the opposite.
This is why Banaras sun timings in December are dramatically later, past 6:30 AM — compared to May’s 05:16 AM.
Why Sunrise and Sunset Times Change Every Day
Why does sunrise time change every day? Three forces are at work. First, Earth’s axial tilt. Second, its elliptical orbit (Earth moves faster in January, slower in July).
Third, your exact latitude longitude sun calculation point. Even two cities 1° apart will have different sunrise times.
Does sunrise time differ by city in India? Absolutely yes. Mumbai’s sunrise today is about 20 minutes later than Varanasi’s.
Kolkata’s is about 30 minutes earlier. Yet all cities use the same IST (UTC+5:30). This is why India sunrise time shown on national platforms is never accurate for your local rituals — you need city-specific data.
BlessInIdeas provides Varanasi local time calculations because we know that for Panchang to work, it must be hyper-local. A Varanasi pandit does not use Delhi’s sunrise — ever.
How Blessingideas Calculates Sunrise — Our Method
How do I find accurate sunrise and sunset times for my location? Many apps use approximate algorithms.
Blessingideas uses the Swiss Ephemeris with exact coordinates: 25.3176°N, 82.9739°E for Varanasi. This accounts for atmospheric refraction, the sun’s limb correction, and IST offset.
We do not use rounded values. We do not copy from generic databases. Every value — Rahu Kaal timing Varanasi, Gulika Kaal today, Brahma Muhurta time, Sandhyavandanam time — is computed fresh from first principles daily.
Panchang today Varanasi requires knowing the exact sunrise. Without it, every derived muhurta is wrong. This is why BlessInIdeas starts from the sun and everything else follows.
Read More: Rudransh Name Meaning, Origin, Numerology & Vedic Astrology — Complete 2026 Guide
Personal Experience and Recommendation
I visited the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi during the Brahma Muhurta hour. The silence was extraordinary. The priests began their rituals at exactly 05:16 AM . . I now check BlessingIdeas every morning before deciding my Puja timing. For anyone performing serious Vedic rituals, generic sunrise apps are not enough , you need Panchang-aware, location-specific data. Blessingideas gives exactly that, every single day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sunrise time in Varanasi today?
Sunrise in Varanasi today is at 05:16 AM (8 May 2026, Friday), calculated for coordinates 25.3176°N, 82.9739°E using the Swiss Ephemeris standard.
What is the Sunset time in Varanasi today?
Sunset in Varanasi today is at 06:32 PM. Total daylight hours today are 13 hours and 16 minutes.
When is Brahma Muhurta in Varanasi today?
Brahma Muhurta today runs from 03:40 AM to 04:28 AM, exactly 1 hour 36 minutes before today’s 05:16 AM sunrise. It is the best time for prayer, meditation and study.
When is Rahu Kaal today in Varanasi?
Rahu Kaal today in Varanasi is approximately 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Avoid starting new work or important tasks during this window.
Does sunrise time change daily in Varanasi?
Yes, it changes every day due to Earth’s axial tilt, its elliptical orbit, and geographic position. Check BlessInIdeas daily for the updated daily sunrise schedule for Varanasi.
Conclusion
Sunrise and sunset time in Varanasi is not just a number. It is the foundation of your entire Panchang day. Every Muhurta calculator output, every auspicious time today, every Vedic calendar timing. All trace back to that single moment when the sun crosses the Varanasi horizon. Today, Kashi sunrise time is 05:16 AM. Banaras sun timings close the day at 06:32 PM.
Alich, a skilled content writer with 3+ years of experience, known for creating clear guides and 1000+ published articles across multiple niches.
