Most of the super-fast trains on the main east-west line between Delhi and Calcutta such as the Rajdhani, bypass Varanasi but stop at Mughal Sarai, an arduous 45 minutes away by road or a short train ride. Varanasi station has a reservations desk (daily 8am-2pm & 2.30-7pm; tel 0542/343404). The daily Mahanagri Express #1094 is the fastest service to Mumbai (11.35am; 28hr). For Calcutta via Patna, the daily choice is between the Amritsar-Howrah Express #3050 (7.50pm; 20hr) or the Amritsar-Howrah Mail #3006 (4.45pm; 20hr). The #3010 Dehra Dun-Howrah train leaves at 4pm and arrives in Calcutta at 7am. Two good trains run to Delhi: the AC Express #2381 (Wed, Thurs & Sun, 7.45pm; 14hr), and the Neelachal Express #8474 (Mon, Wed & Sat; 6.55am; 14hr). For the mountains of UP, the Dehra Dun-Varanasi Express #4265 (8.40am; 24hr) and the Doon Express #3009 (11.30am; 20hr) are the best options. Three trains daily leave for Nepal via Gorakhpur (6-8hr); they're not main-line services, so are subject to infuriating delays. For Khajuraho, take a train to Satna (best is the #1028 Gorakhpur-Dader Express; 11.05am; 8hr 45min), and change onto a bus (6am, 7am, 12 noon and 3pm) for the four-hour journey.

UPSRTC run morning and evening buses , including overnight services, to the border at Sonauli (10hr) via Gorakhpur, from the Cantonment Bus Stand. Slightly more luxurious private buses travel through Sonauli to Kathmandu (tickets include basic overnight accommodation), but from Sonauli you get a better choice of buses across the border to Pokhara or Kathmandu. Several buses depart for Gaya, near Bodh Gaya (7hr) after 6am. Regular services ply the Grand Trunk Road east to Patna, and there are good deluxe buses for Allahabad, which is an excellent rail link. There are also regular bus services to Lucknow (9hr), Faizabad, Ayodhya (7hr) and Jaunpur (2hr).