Varanasi Local Sightseeing with Ganga Aarti – Private Tour

Pickup from the hotel at 5:30 am and proceed to ghat to enjoy the morning Boat ride at sunrise. Every morning at dawn, hundreds of worshipers can be seen bathing in the sacred waters. The great river banks are lined with an endless chain of stone steps — the ghats — that stretch from one end of the city to the other. Believing that anyone who dies in the river of life in Varanasi gains freedom from the cycle of birth and death, the site has become a haven for the sick and aged waiting out their final days. The smoke that billows from the crematoriums on the edge of the river gives testimony to their final release from life's earthly confines—your boat docks at Manikarnika (Cremation) Ghat. On any given day, anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred corpses are cremated here; the ghat is assiduous with activity as the cremated bodies threw up smoke and fire and after that comeback hotel has breakfast.

Later after breakfast visit Sarnath. Sarnath in Varanasi is the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon. It makes Sarnath one of the most venerated Buddhist places. Besides Buddhism, Sarnath is also connected with Jainism. There are many Buddhist monuments and edifices at Sarnath. Some of the important Buddhist monuments at Sarnath are the Dhamekha stupa, the Dharmarajika stupa & the Chaukhandi stupa and monasteries and temples of different schools of Buddhism from Japan, China, Thailand, Burma and others.

Later after this, drive to the river bank and step into one of the oldest streets to enjoy a walking tour. A guided walk in Varanasi's old streets and through thousands of years old alleys, and holy temples will leave you mesmerised. Discover the sacred and oldest living culture of this ancient city by getting yourself into these old streets. A walk which promises surprises at every step is extremely rich in its insights and sights. A lot more learning experiences to come when you are onto this. This Varanasi walk takes place in the Northern part of the Ghats and will give real insights into Varanasi. With this walking tour, one would be able to see Kashi Vishvanasth Temple, Famous Food Streets of Varanasi, Kachori Gali, Perfume Market, Flower Market, Silk Market, Souvenirs Market and many countless things.

Later in the evening drive to the river bank of Ganga and embark on a private boat to witness the aarti ceremony followed by seeing cremation. Aarti, also spelt arathi, is a Hindu ritual, in which light is offered to one or more deities. Aarti also refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when offering of lamps is being offered. Hindus in India worship the river Ganges as a 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 worshipped with flower petals. After this you will return back to the hotel and services will end here.

After the sightseeing and Ganga Aarti experience, your chauffeur will transfer you to Varanasi Airport, Varanasi Railway Station, or your hotel in the city, depending on your onward plan. The tour ends with memories of the ghats, temples, old lanes, sacred rituals, and the spiritual atmosphere of one of India's oldest living cities.

The timing of this Varanasi tour can be adjusted according to your flight schedule, train arrival, or hotel plan. If required, the sightseeing order may be modified to make the day more practical while still keeping the key experiences intact, including the ghats, important temples, local city atmosphere, and the evening Ganga Aarti.