Varanasi Ganga Aarti Tour: Experience the Riverside Hindu Ritual and Boat Ride
4.5
46 Ratings
Varanasi
Experience the mesmerizing Varanasi Ganga Aarti Tour, a riverside Hindu ritual and boat ride. Witness the captivating Ganga Aarti ceremony and explore the sacred cremation place on an enchanting evening boat ride.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Ganges River - Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges
- Dasaswamedh Ghat - Main Ghat of Varanasi
- Manikarnika Ghat - Manikarnika Ghat, the main burning ghat, is the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Dead bodies are handled by outcasts known as doms, and are carried through the alleyways of the old town to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher, swathed in cloth.
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Ganga Aarti - Aarti is a Hindu ritual, in which light is offered to one or more deities. Aarti also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when offering of lamps is being offered.
Hindus in India worship the river Ganges as goddess. Every evening in Varanasi, aarti is performed at the Dashashwamedh ghat. We can watch it from the ghat or from the waterside in a boat. It is a beautiful, resonant, and majestic spectacle with a very precise choreography involving rituals performed by several priests with the sound of bells, drums, cymbals, and Sanskrit mantras. The river is also worshiped with flower petals.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included.
- Enjoy a private boat ride.
- Professional English-speaking guide provided.
- Guides available in other languages upon request.
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Tips
Additional Information
Embark on an evening boat journey followed by Ganga Aarti: The ideal choice for your visit would be an evening boat trip to the cremation site, concluded with the experience of Ganga Aarti.
Aarti is a religious ceremony in Hinduism where light is devoted to one or several gods. The term ‘Aarti’ also pertains to the hymns sung in homage to the deity during the lighting ceremony.
In India, Hindus revere the Ganges river as a goddess. Every evening in Varanasi, the ritual of aarti is conducted at the Dashashwamedh ghat. Spectators can witness it from the ghat itself or from on the water in a boat. It is an impressive, reverberating and grand display, with a well-defined choreography involving rites executed by multiple priests to the accompaniment of bells, drums, cymbals, and Sanskrit chants. The river is also adored with petals of flowers.
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Ganges River
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(46 Ratings)
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Cruiser21827067863
Apr 20, 2024
A great Spritual Experience - It was an amazing spiritual experience for me and my family .our guide Inderjeet was extremely friendly and resourceful individual. The arrangement which was arranged by him was quite good. especially the sitting arrangement for the evening Ganga Arti was quite impeccable !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Radhika
Apr 8, 2024
Amazing experience - I highly recommend Indrajeet's Varanasi boat tour. He delivered on his promise, providing a fantastic explanatory tour of the Ganges and the significance of the various ghats. The boat ride was peaceful, allowing us to enjoy the serenity of the river. Indrajeet ensured we had the best seats to view the Ganga arathi, and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening chants and rhythms. He even walked us back safely and offered to stop by the famous Kashi chat corner. Indrajeet was prompt, helpful, and made our experience unforgettable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Departure64861274818
Mar 29, 2024
Varanasi evening Aarti - Easy to organise and Shiva our guide was informative, helpful and got us great seats to watch the evening Aarti ceremonies. Would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_p
Feb 29, 2024
Spectacular and invigorating. - We cruised on the Ganges prior to the ceremony and viewed the crematorium in full operation. A real humbling experience to view this sacred site. Upon returning to the ghat we had birds eye view. Absolutely mind blowing. Where on earth do you get to view such an amazing spectacle? The energy was overwhelming. Our guide ensured we got the most from this experience. Thoroughly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Avisiktam
Feb 18, 2024
Ganga Aarti Review - The entire trip was very well organized ! We got a great view of the pristine aarti and also amazing boat ride !
Would recommend people to opt for this package and especially the hospitality of Inderjeet ji !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheena_l
Jan 16, 2024
Informative helpful guide - Vinit Pandey was a lovely guide. Arrived on time, answered questions and explained the significance pointing out some specific features and history. Also took us down to the waters edge to offer flowers and a diya after the prayers. At the end he also advised us on restaurants near our hotel which was really useful
Review provided by Viator
Flyer22090505405
Dec 29, 2023
1 day in Varanasi - Visiting Varanasi with Vinod from Varanasi Day Tours was an experience that transcends mere sightseeing. The Aarti ceremony, a vibrant and spiritual spectacle, was the highlight of our journey. Vinod, our guide, was not only professional and knowledgeable but also provided a deeply insightful narrative that enriched our understanding of the rituals and their significance. The tour was impeccably organized, ensuring we navigated the bustling ghats with ease and safety. The dedication of the team to our comfort and enlightenment was evident throughout the tour. It was more than just a trip; it was a profound immersion into the spiritual heart of India, leaving us with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for its culture and traditions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tamana_r
Nov 25, 2023
Good experience - We enjoyed this tour of the Ganga Aarti and the boat ride. We had good conversations with the guide, Satish. We also appreciated the hotel pick up and drop off.
Review provided by Viator
Sarahku1288bx
Jan 4, 2024
Great way to see Varanasi at night - We enjoyed our tour and our guide was very knowledgeable and helped us see parts of Varanasi we would not otherwise have found. It was really good to have a mix of time on a boat and then time exploring among the bank of the river and seeing different landmarks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer30002695952
Jan 3, 2024
Night visit to ganga river - The guide tour kinldy explained us everything regarding the ganga river. The pick up from the hotel though, was by foot. We would’ve liked to know more about the ganga arti celebration.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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