Smoking at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport – VNS – 2026

Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) serves one of India’s most important religious and cultural cities, welcoming millions of pilgrims and tourists every year. The compact airport handles domestic flights to major Indian cities and limited international services.

A designated smoking area is available inside the terminal after security. Look for signage near the boarding gates or ask at the information desk for the current location.

VNS is a smaller airport, and smoking facilities are more basic than what you’d find at major hubs like Delhi or Mumbai. The smoking area may be a partitioned or semi-enclosed designated spot rather than a fully separate room. The airport is undergoing expansion to handle growing passenger numbers, so locations may shift as construction progresses.

Outdoor smoking is permitted at designated spots near the terminal entrance. The parking area and forecourt provide open space where smoking is common. If arriving, the area outside the arrivals exit offers an immediate option.

Inside Terminals

A designated smoking area is available inside the terminal after security. Look for signage near the boarding gates or ask at the information desk for the current location.

VNS is a smaller airport, and smoking facilities are more basic than what you’d find at major hubs like Delhi or Mumbai. The smoking area may be a partitioned or semi-enclosed designated spot rather than a fully separate room. The airport is undergoing expansion to handle growing passenger numbers, so locations may shift as construction progresses.

Outside Terminals

Outdoor smoking is permitted at designated spots near the terminal entrance. The parking area and forecourt provide open space where smoking is common. If arriving, the area outside the arrivals exit offers an immediate option.

Tips for Smokers at VNS

• VNS is a small airport that can get extremely crowded during religious festival seasons — Diwali, Dev Deepawali, Maha Shivaratri, and the monsoon pilgrimage months. Allow extra time for security if stepping out for a smoke
• The airport is being expanded to handle increasing traffic from both domestic travelers and Buddhist circuit tourists. Smoking area locations may change — always check signage
• E-cigarettes and vaping are completely banned in India — do not carry them
• If connecting through Delhi or Mumbai to reach Varanasi, those airports have much more established indoor smoking facilities
• Buy cigarettes before security at the terminal shops, as airside options are limited at this smaller airport