Varanasi Airport (IATA: VNS, ICAO: VIBN) (Hindi: वाराणसी हवाईअड्डा also known as Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is a public airport located at Babatpur 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Varanasi Airport was officially renamed as Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in October 2005.

Inside Old Varanasi airport

Outside Old airport terminal, 2008

Jet airways at Varanasi Airport

Parking bay at the airport

Varanasi Hindustani pronunciation: [ʋaːˈraːɳəsi] ( listen)), also commonly known as Banaras or Benaras (Banāras [bəˈnaːrəs] ( listen)) and Kashi, Kāśī [ˈkaːʃi] ( listen)), is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres (199 mi) southeast of state capital Lucknow. It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India.

The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for several thousand years. The Benares Gharana form of the Indian classical music developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi (Kashi).