Banarasi Thandai: The City's Cooling Festival Drink

Thandai literally means “the cooling one”. It is a rich, chilled milk drink made from a ground paste of almonds, fennel, melon seeds, poppy seeds, black pepper, cardamom, dried rose petals and saffron. Sweet, fragrant and gently spiced, it is the perfect answer to a hot afternoon in the lanes.

In Varanasi, thandai is tied to Lord Shiva and to festivals. On Mahashivratri and Holi the whole city seems to drink it — often in its traditional bhang version. If you want it plain, simply ask for thandai “bina bhang” (without bhang); every good shop serves both and will happily make it the way you like.

Godowlia is the city's thandai corner, with old shops such as Badal Thandai serving it in clay kulhads, topped with dry fruit and rose petals. Drink it slowly — it is filling — and pair it with a sweet from a nearby mithai shop.

Visiting for Holi or Shivratri? Rooms at Om Villa Heritage go quickly around festival dates, so send us your dates early on WhatsApp and we will share the best times to join the celebrations safely.