Day 01: Arrival into Varanasi – Ganga Aarti Evening
You will arrive in Varanasi – The ‘spiritual’ capital of India.
Upon your airport/railway station arrival you will be met & shown to your pre booked accommodation where you can then have some time to relax after you check in.
You will then depart for the very sacred banks of the River Ganges in time to witness the divine Ganga Aarti ceremony performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The Ganga Aarti is a magnificent ceremony of worship performed with oil lamps, chanting, & devotional music providing a wonderful spiritual experience. You can also choose to have the Ganga Aarti viewed from a boat (Optional at your expense). If you would like to arrange your own personal Ganga Aarti please let the tour operator know.
Overnight stay in Varanasi.
Time of Ganga Aarti (Approx.) –
Summer – 19.00hrs – 19.30hrs
Winter- 18.00hrs – 19.00hrs
Day 2: Get Up Early to Take a Sunrise Boat Ride, Tour Temples, Excursion to Sarnath
You start with a sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges River, where you will be able to observe the beautiful “Subah-e-Banaras.” You will see all of the people on the ghats performing the morning rituals. You will also see many of the famous ghats, such as the Assi Ghat, the Dashashwamedh Ghat, and the Manikarnika Ghat.
You will next visit the following important and famous temples: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Hanuman Mandir (Sankat Mochan), Durga and Banaras Hindu University. You will then return to the hotel and eat breakfast.
Later in the day, you will leave your hotel and go on a trip to Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon. You will experience various things here, including the Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, and archaeological museum.
Finally, you are free to shop at local markets in the evening. You will then return to your hotel for the evening.
Day 03: Varanasi – Ayodhya – Prayagraj
You will have an early breakfast this morning, before departing for Ayodhya – The birthplace of Lord Rama located on the banks of Sarayu River, Ayodhya is rich in culture and religious history with significant connections to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
You will visit several important destinations during your day, including Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan, as well as Ramkatha Museum; all of which are located in Ayodhya.
Afterward you will continue your journey into Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) to check into your accommodation for the night.
Day 04: Prayagraj Sightseeing –Varnasi
You will begin your day again with breakfast before being transported to Triveni Sangam. The sacred meeting point of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati provides the opportunity to participate in religious rituals or take a Holy dip where many Hindus go, making it an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus throughout the world.
From Triveni Sangam you will visit an array of other sites within Prayagraj including Allahabad Fort Hanuman Temple, Anand Bhavan and Swaraj Bhavan with enough available time to visit Chandrashekhar Azad Park or Khusro Bagh.
Following the completion of your time at these locations, you will return to your hotel in Varanasi, where you will remain for the night.
Day 05: Departure from Varanasi
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some alone time either relaxing or discovering new things before being taken to the airport or railway station for onward travel. You will be heading home with fond memories from your spiritual travels!
