Full-Day Private Guided Cultural Tour in Varanasi
5.0
8 Ratings
Varanasi
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and traditions of Varanasi with a full-day private guided tour. Experience morning rituals, visit temples, explore Sarnath, and witness the mesmerizing Evening Aarti ceremony.
Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ganges River - You are going to leave your 30 minutes before Sunrise to do Boat ride on river Ganges. Beside sunrise you will see some palaces situated on the bank of river Ganges, tho crematorium (Manikarnika and Harschandra) and many activities like pilgrims taking holy bath in the Ganges to wash their lifetime sin some pilgrims offer candle with flowers on river Ganges, some shave hair to do rituals for their died family members, some Landry men clean laundry etc. 01-hour boat ride(private rowing boat)in river Ganges,

  • Dasaswamedh Ghat - 30 minutes in Dasashmedh Ghat to see pilgrims and morning rituals and 30 minutes walk in the narrow lane of the old city

  • Banaras Hindu University - After boat ride by car, you will go to take a round of Banaras Hindu University, which has the biggest university campus in Asia. The University campus is very green beautiful.

  • Monkey Temple (Durga Temple) - After that you will go to Durga temple which is 200 years old. This temple is red, dedicated to Hindu Goddess Durga. Earlier it was having many monkey here so it is known as monkey temple.

  • Bharat Sevashram Sangha - Varanasi - Then you will proceed to Mother India temple where you will see relief map of India made on the floor by white marble.
    After that, you will come back to your hotel for breakfast.
    (02 hours break for breakfast and freshen up)

  • Sarnath - After breakfast, you will proceed to Sarnath which is 08 km from Varanasi. Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, so It is a great pilgrimage centre for Buddhist.
    First of all, you will see The Srilankan temple where besides Buddha’s statue you will see nice wall painting on the wall representing the life of Buddha.

  • Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath - After that, you will go to Archeological site to see gigantic gigantic Dhammekh which was made by Ashoka in 3rd century BC.
    After that, you will visit the Archeological Museum where you will find the national emblem of India and many statues of Buddha and Hindu God and Goddess.
    Then you will see a big Buddha’s statue (25meater high) which was made by Thai monastery.
    After that comeback Varanasi and on the way you will see the Silk weaving art (handloom) of Varanasi.
    Then lunch break for 02 hours.

  • Dashashwamegh ghat - Walking tour and evening Aari ceremony
    walking in the old city you will feel and understand how people are living in the old city by generation to generation in the same place.
    First of all, you will see a big and colourful crowded market(cloth, vegetables and fruits) where local people come to buy daily needs. Then you will have a long walk in the narrow lane to see old houses, shrines and The Golden Temple of Shiva(outside only). After that, you will see the cremation process e.g.

  • How family members are buying wood, which types of wood it is.
  • Process of making funeral pyre and lighting fire etc.
    After that, you will walk along the river Ganga up to Dasashmedh Ghat, where you will see Aarti ceremony.
    The Aarti is a prayer ceremony of the Ganges river which is performed every day. Seven Hindu priests do this ceremony with incenses, flowers and fire. It goes for one hour after that come back to the hotel and tour ends with lots of memories.
What's Included
  • Bottle of water per person
  • Guided tour with an official guide
  • Transportation in a comfortable car (Etios, Desire, or similar)
What's Not Included
  • Sarnath monument entrance ticket INR 305/- per person.
  • Gratuities
  • Tea/coffee and snacks
Additional Information

This comprehensive Varanasi experience from dawn until dusk is split into three segments: starting the day at Dashashwamedh ghat observing morning rituals like the sacred bath of devotees and temple tours, then on to Sarnath, the location of Buddha’s first sermon, and finally, a walk through ancient Varanasi in the evening that concludes with a stunning Aarti ceremony. Accompanying the tour will be a knowledgeable guide sharing insights into Varanasi’s cultural fabric, along with teachings about Hinduism and Buddhism.
Varanasi is the essence of India, brimming with life beyond its historic structures. The tour will bring to light the significance of the river Ganges in the lives of Hindus. Assuredly, you will return with a heart full of indelible memories.

Location
Godowlia
Infront of hotel Ganges Grand, Godowlia(center of the city), Varanasi.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(8 Ratings)
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Wojtekb71
Oct 25, 2023
Varanasi tour - Very diligent and prepared guide. We enjoined walking this ancient city with him and learnt great knowledge on customs, traditions and habits of Indian people. Strongly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandtour691006
Sep 5, 2023
Expert guide, perfect English and easy to spend the day with! - Ashock is incredibly knowledgable and his English is excellent so you really get the most out of his explanations. He is kind, caring and very well educated a perfect guide for your trip. Highlights were hiring a private boat and sailing downstream to visit the mosque!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
142mrinalj
Jun 2, 2023
Kashi Trip made perfect - AshokJi was extremely professional and made sure he fulfilled our list of all the places we wanted to see. He’s very knowledgeable and well versed with the history of this place. We loved his punctuality and professionalism. This was our first trip to Kashi and AshokJi went beyond measure to make our trip highly memorable and perfect. We give him a 7-star rating and would highly recommend him if you are looking at visiting Kashi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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