Full day Sightseeing of Varanasi with Evening Aarti (Ganges Ceremony)

Sunrise and sunset are the most auspicious times in Hinduism and early in the morning take a boat down at the river. People flock to the river to greet the rising sun and you will see a panorama of life in a pilgrim town. The activities vary from pilgrims taking a bath in the holy river, to yogis meditating on the steps leading to the river bank to women doing laundry and washing vessels. There is a certain timelessness about the sights which is extraordinary. We would walk through the narrow street to visit The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples. Every temple is well attended and every street corner has roadside shrines and vendors selling garlands, incense sticks and other items used in worship. You walk through the narrow alleys where we share space with cows, scooters, cycle rickshaws, shops and people, past temples & abandoned palaces.

After breakfast you stroll through the old city. The visit to the old city is a fascinating insight into the rituals of Hinduism. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman. The temple was established by famous Hindu preacher and poet saint Sri Goswami Tulsidas in the early 16th century. Durga Mandir, also known as Durga Kund Mandir and Durga Temple, is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Maa Durga. Tulsi Manas Mandir has great historical and cultural importance in Hinduism since the ancient Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas was originally written at this place by Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century. Birla Temple was founded by the Raja Birla of the Birla family of great industrialists. It was planned by the Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya (the founder of the Banaras Hindu University) as part of the BHU campus.

In the evening we visit the Ganges to see the spectacular 'Aarti' when priests perform a ritual to put the river goddess Ganges to sleep and to ward off evil. The ceremony will be watched from a boat, and we will have time to travel up river viewing some of the 90 odd Ghats which define life in the city.