One-day private guided tour of Varanasi

• A knowledgeable guide who provides suggestions for dining, beverages, museums, attractions, festivals, and additional activities. • Admission fees. • Pickup from and drop-off at your hotel. • A private excursion. • One exclusive boat ride.

• Meals and beverages • Tips • Transfers to and from the airport or train station to the hotel • Admission fees for Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is an optional visit

• Nearby public transportation options are available. • Infants must sit on an adult’s lap. • Not advisable for individuals with spinal injuries. • Not advised for those with limited cardiovascular health. • Appropriate for all levels of physical fitness. • Children need to be accompanied by an adult.

Cancellation at least 24 hours prior to the planned departure time is required to receive a full refund.

The guide will greet you at the hotel reception at the start of the tour and return you to the hotel afterward. For the specified hotels (1) Tree of Life and (2) Ramada at Katesar, Ramnagar, a car and driver will be sent to those hotels. The guide will meet you at an agreed location in the city, as both hotels are located outside the city limits.

• An accredited guide will greet you at your hotel and take you to the old city while explaining the sights for the day. You will walk down to the ghats along the River Ganga, where your guide will describe morning activities such as pilgrims heading to the river, vendors selling flowers, and priests near the temple. • Morning Boat ride: A boat ride at dawn on the Ganges is an essential Varanasi activity. The early light enhances the scenery as you observe the colorful bustle of pilgrims bathing and performing puja. A popular one-hour trip travels south from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat and back, where you may see a burning corpse at those locations. You can witness people bathing, conducting rituals, practicing yoga and meditation, and worshiping the rising Sun. • After the boat ride, a walking tour through the old city will take you along narrow alleyways leading to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most significant Shiva temples adorned with over 850 kilograms of actual gold at its pinnacle. Your guide will explain the temple's significance and share stories regarding its heritage. You can request your guide to take you to a popular street food spot to try traditional local breakfast with a cup of masala chai (tea). • Return to your hotel for freshening up, resting, and having breakfast before continuing with other tours for the day. This is a chance to recharge and possibly share beautiful sunrise boat ride photos with friends and family. • After breakfast, drive to Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon following his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Stroll through the lovely garden and visit the ruins of various monasteries and temples. Explore the main temple, the excavated ruins, and the archaeological museum (note that the museum is closed on Fridays). • The Dhamek Stupa is a large and significant Buddhist monument situated in Deer Park, Sarnath. It marks the exact site where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and is a sacred location for Buddhists globally. The stupa is a solid cylindrical structure measuring approximately 43.6 meters (141 feet) tall and 28 meters (92 feet) in diameter at its base. The bottom portion features beautifully carved floral designs, geometric patterns, and representations of humans and birds, typical of Gupta architecture. • The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is a polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century BCE erected by Emperor Ashoka. Its most notable feature is the Lion Capital, which is now the official emblem of India. The pillar's top, known as the Lion Capital, displays four lions back-to-back, symbolizing strength, courage, and unity. After visiting Sarnath, you will drive to a local restaurant for lunch. • Walk through the weavers district of Varanasi and learn about the lives of the weavers and the hand weaving process of the renowned silk brocades and Banarasi saris, which have been mentioned in Vedic and Buddhist texts. • Banaras Hindu University, a prestigious educational institution with notable academic and cultural significance, is one of the top-ranking universities in India and the largest residential university in Asia. You will drive through its lush green campus and may visit the new Vishwanath temple located on site. • Following the drive through the university, visit the notable Durga Temple, a red-painted structure built in the 18th century by a queen from Bengal. It is especially important for the worship of Goddess Durga and is regarded as one of the most powerful and mystical temples in Kashi. • Finally, you will walk to Dashashwamedh Ghat to observe the well-known Ganga Aarti ceremony from the shore. This ceremony is conducted by a group of young priests facing the river. The Aarti, or lamp offering, occurs at scheduled times to invoke the Gods. The lamps are moved clockwise before