Road trip guide

Cuttack Varanasi

Planning to travel from Cuttack to Varanasi? It is about 860 km by road and 16 to 19 hours by bus. Here is the whole journey: the towns on the way, the best time to leave, and how to travel comfortably.

about 860 kmabout 16 to 19 hours5 big stops on the way

Photo: Dashashwamedh Ghat, Saaremees, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quick answer

Cuttack to Varanasi by bus takes about 16 to 19 hours and covers about 860 km by road, via Keonjhar, Lohardaga, Dehri, Sasaram. Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

The journey, stop by stop

The big towns the road passes, in order.

Cuttackstart
Keonjhar
Lohardaga
Chatra
Dehri
Sasaram
Varanasi arrive

What the road is like

From Cuttack the road passes Keonjhar, Lohardaga, Chatra, Dehri and Sasaram before reaching Varanasi.

Varanasi on the Ganga is one of the holiest cities in India, known for its ghats and the evening Ganga aarti.

Cuttack is Odisha’s thousand-year-old Silver City on the Mahanadi, famous for its filigree work and Durga Puja. It is a short ride from Bhubaneswar on the main highway.

Trains also connect the Cuttack area with Varanasi. Check IRCTC for direct trains and current availability: on festival and holiday dates they often sell out weeks ahead.

Why go by bus, not train?

Why more and more people now choose the road for Cuttack to Varanasi.

Board near home: a bus stops at towns and junctions along the way, so you do not have to travel to a big station first.
Seats when trains are full: on popular dates, train seats to Varanasi sell out weeks ahead, while buses add capacity close to the date.
Live tracking your family can follow, so nobody has to call you at midnight to ask where you are.
A proper berth to sleep in: a modern AC sleeper coach gives you your own lie-flat berth with curtains, charging and a reading light.
Why buses are growing: new expressways, better coaches and online booking with seat choice have made long-distance road travel faster and far more comfortable than it was a few years ago.

Tips for the journey

Pick a lower berth if you get up at night, and an upper berth if you want the most privacy and the least foot traffic.

Carry a light shawl: AC coaches run cool after midnight, even in summer.

Keep your ID, phone charger and water in a small bag at your berth, and the big bag in the luggage hold.

Share your live bus tracking link with family before you sleep, so they can see where you are without calling.

Eat a light dinner before boarding. Long-route coaches stop for meals, but timings depend on the road.

Questions travellers ask

How long does Cuttack to Varanasi take by bus?

About 16 to 19 hours, depending on traffic, stops and the exact road.

How far is Varanasi from Cuttack by road?

About 860 km.

Which towns are on the way from Cuttack to Varanasi?

Keonjhar, Lohardaga, Chatra, Dehri and Sasaram.

When is the best time to leave?

Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

Is it better to go by bus or train from Cuttack to Varanasi?

Both work. A bus lets you board near home and often has seats when trains are full; a train can be faster on some routes. For a trip this long, choose an AC sleeper berth.

Useful links: the road route on Google Maps and IRCTC for current trains. Distances and times are rounded and vary with traffic and stops.

Last updated 15 October 2026 by the Nandighosh travel team.