Day 01: Arrival in Varanasi – Ganga Aarti Ceremony
Upon arrival at the railway station, you will be received with warmth and then taken to your accommodation. After check in, you can continue your relaxation until it is time to enjoy the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the nearby Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening. You may also want to take an optional evening boat ride on the Ganga River to fully experience the ambiance of this spiritual occasion.
Overnight – Varanasi.
Day 02: Varanasi – Sunrise Boat Ride & Temple Tours
Rise up early to begin your day on the holy Ganges during the morning when you can take a calming boat ride. You will be able to see devotees offering prayer/meditation to the sun (Surya) and observe the many paths that people have taken along their way to be spiritually connected, at sunrise.
After breakfast at your hotel, visit/experience various temples, such as Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, the Durga Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, and Banaras Hindu University.
Return to your hotel for the overnight stay in Varanasi.
Day 3: Exploring Sarnath and Ramnagar
After breakfast, you will take a trip to Sarnath, the site of Gautama Buddha’s first sermon.
You will see several of the major attractions in Sarnath, including the Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Buddhist temples, and the Archaeological Museum.
After visiting Sarnath, you will continue on to the historical Ramnagar Fort. This fort was built in the 17th century and has a fantastic museum that showcases royal artifacts, old weapons, and interesting relics.
You will then return to Varanasi for the night.
Day 4 – Leaving Varanasi for Bodhgaya (300 km / 6 hours).
After breakfast, you will drive to Bodhgaya, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Once you arrive in Bodhgaya, you will check into your hotel.
After you check into your hotel, you will visit the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree (the tree where Buddha became enlightened.) Additionally, you will have time to check out some of the other temples and religious sites in the area.
You will spend the night in Bodhgaya.
05. Bodhgaya – Gaya – Varanasi
After breakfast today, you will depart for an exciting day at the city of Gaya, which is known as a Hindu pilgrimage center. You will visit the Vishnupad Temple and take a trip to the Phalgu River.
In addition to those places, you will also explore numerous international Monasteries (Japanese, Tibetan, and Chinese) located in Bodhgaya.
You will then return to your hotel in Varanasi after your full day of fun!
06. Varanasi to Ayodhya (200 km / 4 hrs)
After breakfast this morning, you will start your drive to Ayodhya, which is one of the holiest cities in India and the birthplace of Lord Rama.
You will visit important sites such as: Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, and you will be able to take a holy dip in the Saryu River.
You will spend the night in Ayodhya.
07. Ayodhya – Naimisharanya Excursion
After breakfast this morning, you will proceed for a spiritual excursion to Naimisharanya, a sacred forest where thousands of Sages are believed to have meditated.
The area is home to many temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is a place of mythical importance.
After visiting this divine place, you will return to Ayodhya to stay overnight.
08 Day Trip: From Ayodhya to Prayagraj
You will travel by vehicle for approximately two hours after breakfast to reach Prayagraj (also known as Allahabad) and check into your hotel.
Afterward, visit the Triveni Sangam, where three rivers (the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical river Saraswati) join together. You have the option to take a holy dip and conduct certain prescribed rituals at the Sangam.
You will also visit Anand Bhawan (the location of the Nehru Family Home), as well as Swaraj Bhawan (the place where the Indian National Congress was founded).
Overnight stay at Prayagraj
09 Day Trip: Prayagraj-Excursion to Chitakoot
You will have a day trip to Chitrakoot after breakfast, which is a very sacred site due to its historical ties to Lord Rama.
Some of the sites you will visit in Chitrakoot are Ram Ghat, Hanuman Dhara, Kamadgiri Hill, and Gupt Godavari Caves.
You will return to Prayagraj for an overnight stay.
10 Day Trip: Depart Prayagraj for Varanasi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport or railway station at Varanasi or Prayagraj.
Finally, you will depart India with many spiritual memories from your travels throughout the country.
