Three days is the perfect amount of time for Kashi - enough for the evening aarti, a sunrise boat ride, the temples, the lanes and a half-day at Sarnath.
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Varanasi - Kashi, Banaras - is not a city you tick off; it is one you absorb. Its ghats have welcomed pilgrims for thousands of years, and life along the Ganga still follows the rhythm of sunrise prayers and evening lamps. Three days lets you experience it properly without rushing.
Day 1: The Ghats & the Evening Ganga Aarti
Check in and rest, then head to the river in the late afternoon. Walk along the ghats from Dashashwamedh towards Ganga Mahal and Assi, watching wrestlers, sadhus, boatmen and families going about their day.
At sunset, take your place at Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti. Young priests in saffron robes perform the ritual with great brass lamps, conch shells and bells, while thousands of diyas float downstream. Watching from a boat moored in the river gives the best view.
Day 2: Sunrise Boat Ride & the Temples
Wake before dawn for a boat ride along the ghats. As the sun rises over the far bank, pilgrims bathe, priests chant and the old palaces glow gold. Many boats also stop at Assi Ghat for the morning Subah-e-Banaras programme of music and yoga.
After breakfast, visit Shri Kashi Vishwanath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor now links the temple directly to the river. Phones, bags and leather items must be left in lockers outside.
In the afternoon, visit the tall marble Shri Vishwanath Temple on the Banaras Hindu University campus, then the Nepali Temple at Lalita Ghat, carved in wood by craftsmen from Nepal in the 19th century.
Day 3: Sarnath, Where the Buddha Taught
Just 10 km from the city, Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment. See the great Dhamek Stupa, the remains of Emperor Ashoka's pillar and the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar. Do not miss the Sarnath Museum, home of the original Lion Capital of Ashoka - India's national emblem.
Return to the city for an evening walk through the lanes of Vishwanath Gali and a final look at the river.
What to Eat in Banaras
- Kachori-sabzi and jalebi - the classic Banarasi breakfast
- Malaiyo - a cloud-light saffron milk froth, sold only in winter
- Thick lassi in kulhads, topped with malai
- Banarasi paan - the famous finish to any meal
Respect at the Burning Ghats
Manikarnika and Harishchandra are cremation ghats, among the holiest places in Hinduism. You may watch quietly from a distance, but never photograph cremations, and politely decline anyone asking for "donations" for wood.
When to Visit
October to March is ideal. Dev Deepawali, on the full moon of Kartik in November, is the most magical time of all, when every ghat is lit with lakhs of diyas - book months ahead. Our Varanasi Spiritual Tour follows this plan, and can be extended to Ayodhya.
Nepal Trip Holiday Travel Desk
The same team that plans and operates our tours across Nepal, India and Bhutan. Questions about this guide? Call or WhatsApp us on +91 63071 02408 - we are happy to help.
