Ganges

Best Things to Do in Varanasi on River Ganges Holidays

Take a Sunrise Boat Trip

Sailing on the Ganges at dawn is a mystical experience. As the sun casts an orange glow and the mists rise, the ghats teem with pilgrims performing religious rituals. As you watch people bathe, chant, meditate and wash clothes, you truly realise the importance of these sacred waters. The liveliest ghats include Manikarnika, Dasaswamedh, Scindia and Assi.

Shop in the Street Markets

Throughout the streets of Varanasi, you’ll find lively markets and bazaars selling, well, just about everything, from silk and muslin to perfumes, art and food. There are many to choose from, but Thatheri Bazar is known for metalwork, Vishwanath Lane is great for textiles, and Godowlia Market offers a diverse mix of goods and souvenirs.

Visit the Temples

Varanasi is one of the most religious cities in India, so visiting the temples should be high on your list of things to do. The most famous is Kashi Vishwanath, which was built in the mid-18^th century and sits inside two golden domes. Other impressive temples include Annapurna, Durga, Ankatha and Bharat Mata.

See Pilgrims Bathe in Sacred Waters

The Ganges is sacred to Hindus. The holy waters attract pilgrims from across the globe who come to bathe here, a process that’s said to purify souls and wash away sins. People also come to the Ganges to immerse their relative’s ashes in the water, which helps to attain moksha, the liberation of the soul and end of the reincarnation cycle.

Attend an Evening Arti Ceremony

The Arti is a ceremony of light, which is best witnessed from the Dasaswamedh Ghat. Hindu priests light large brass lamps, as dancing and religious chanting take place. It’s believed the lamps absorb the blessing of the goddess Maa Ganga (Mother Ganges). This is one of the most spectacular and soul-stirring ceremonies you’ll witness along the Ganges at Varanasi.

Try the Local Food

Varanasi is a dizzying maze of narrow lanes filled with traditional restaurants, street-food stalls and tea stalls. Try Varanasi lassi, a sweet drink made with saffron, dried rose petals and pistachios. It’s a favourite with locals. For something spicier, try a choti kachori, a snack made with lentils and masala with a crispy outer layer.

River Ganges Holidays

Flowing for 1,550 miles, the mighty Ganges springs to life in the Himalaya and empties into the Bay of Bengal. This sacred river is one of the most fertile regions in India and is the lifeblood of those who live alongside it. Rice and other crops provide essential food for the people of Bangladesh and India and on our River Ganges holidays you can watch people bathing in its sacred waters, as they remember their ancestors and purify themselves. Seeing the swirl of colour along the River Ganges during morning prayers is a humbling experience and a sight to behold.

On our Ganges River trips, we take a boat onto the water to witness the extraordinary spectacle on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river, as thousands of Hindu pilgrims bathe in the holy waters. The river also flows through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, Varanasi. The city has been a cultural and religious centre for Hinduism in northern India for thousands of years. As you explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and temples of the city, you’ll see religious elders, pilgrims and wandering holy men known as Sadhus.

Ganges River trips are a great way to delve deeper into the culture of South Asia and there’s plenty of time to visit the silk emporiums or try authentic street food.

Ganges Holidays

Classic

9 Days from USD 2310

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

Classic

15 Days from USD 4150

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

Classic

9 Days from USD 2235

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

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This has been an amazing trip, can’t recommend it enough, especially if this is your first trip to India, it’s a great introduction to get your bearings. Our trip was nine days and we covered a large geographical area in a relatively short space of time to see the sights in Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthamborne, Agra and Varanasi. To do this we travelled in a private minibus which was really comfortable and also took the public train to Varanasi and Delhi, the train was also really comfortable, spacious and clean , we also had a couple of small boat trips along the Ganges which were really special, so there was a good mix of transport it wasn’t all minibus. The sights you see on this trip are stunning, and there are just so many to see. This is a busy trip but that’s the beauty of it, you will get to see so much. The hotels we stayed in were of varying standards but mostly very good: Jaipur, Agra, Ranthamborne and Varanasi Hotels were all great and the breakfasts and evening meals in those hotels were really very good indeed. We were taken to some fabulous restaurants to eat in the evenings and the food everywhere we went was delicious and we didn’t worry about what we were eating as every place we ate at had been vetted by our excellent tour guide leader. The group we travelled with were so much fun, we all became good friends by the end.

Majella OMahony Highlights of Northern India

An amazing trip, which was exceptionally organised. India is a very special country and this trip really did give you some truly incredible highlights of Northern India. Would definitely go back to India and would definitely book with Exodus again.

Felicity Miller Highlights of Northern India

The tour was well organised and visited the main cities I expected to be covered. Tour guide – Naveen Bazaz was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

Elizabeth Edwards Highlights of Northern India

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