Mirzapur itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Mirzapur

1. 01

   Day 1: Ghats, craft lanes and one waterfall

   Start at Pakka Ghat while the river is calm and the light is soft, then walk or ride to Bariya Ghat and the old riverside temples. Pass the stone clock tower on the way into the market quarter and ask a shopkeeper for directions to the brass workshops at Basnai Bazar and Badli Katra, or to a dhurrie weaver you can watch at work. After lunch and a rest, hire a taxi to Wyndham Fall and Tanda Fall, which sit close together on the Mirzapur-Pahari road, about 14 km from the station. Aim to be back on the road before dusk, as the approach roads are poorly lit.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pakka Ghat	45 to 90 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; October to March for comfort
   Bariya Ghat	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon, October to March
   Brass Workshops at Basnai Bazar and Badli Katra	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Daytime, when workshops are working; any season
   Wyndham Fall (Vindham Falls)	1 to 2 hours, plus 30 to 40 minutes' travel each way	Moderate	July to October for the flow; early morning in winter for comfort and quiet
   Tanda Fall	1 hour	Moderate	July to October, when the water looks milky white; early morning for quiet

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pakka Ghat: The broad stone steps are uneven in places and can be wet or slippery near the water, with little seating or shade. Go with a helping arm and keep to the upper levels if balance is a concern.

   With parents at Bariya Ghat: Steps are uneven and may be wet near the water, with little seating or shade. Stay on the upper levels and go with an arm to hold.

Plan 02

2 days in Mirzapur

1. 01

   Day 1: The river town

   Spend the morning on Pakka Ghat and Bariya Ghat, then see the clock tower and walk through the older market quarter. Visit a carpet or dhurrie workshop in the afternoon and the brass workers at Basnai Bazar or Badli Katra, if you can arrange a guide to take you.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pakka Ghat	45 to 90 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; October to March for comfort
   Bariya Ghat	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon, October to March

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pakka Ghat: The broad stone steps are uneven in places and can be wet or slippery near the water, with little seating or shade. Go with a helping arm and keep to the upper levels if balance is a concern.

   With parents at Bariya Ghat: Steps are uneven and may be wet near the water, with little seating or shade. Stay on the upper levels and go with an arm to hold.

2. 02

   Day 2: Waterfalls

   Leave early with a hired taxi for Wyndham Fall and Tanda Fall, then continue to Siddhnath ki Dari if the season and road conditions allow. Carry water and food, as there is almost nothing to buy near the falls. Skip bathing in any pool; the rocks are slippery and the water is deep in places.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Wyndham Fall (Vindham Falls)	1 to 2 hours, plus 30 to 40 minutes' travel each way	Moderate	July to October for the flow; early morning in winter for comfort and quiet
   Tanda Fall	1 hour	Moderate	July to October, when the water looks milky white; early morning for quiet
   Siddhnath ki Dari	Half a day including travel	Demanding	July to October, in or just after the monsoon

   Pace: Siddhnath ki Dari involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Wyndham Fall (Vindham Falls): The approach is by road and the viewing areas are fairly close, but rock surfaces are slippery in the rains and seating, shade and facilities are limited. Wear shoes with grip and carry water.

   With parents at Tanda Fall: Viewing is straightforward from the road side, but the rocks are slippery in the monsoon and there is little seating, shade or food. Choose dry daylight hours and wear shoes with grip.

Plan 03

3 days in Mirzapur

1. 01

   Day 1: Ghats and the old town

   Take it slowly: a morning on Pakka Ghat and Bariya Ghat, lunch, a rest, then the clock tower and the market lanes in the cooler late afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pakka Ghat	45 to 90 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; October to March for comfort
   Bariya Ghat	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon, October to March

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pakka Ghat: The broad stone steps are uneven in places and can be wet or slippery near the water, with little seating or shade. Go with a helping arm and keep to the upper levels if balance is a concern.

   With parents at Bariya Ghat: Steps are uneven and may be wet near the water, with little seating or shade. Stay on the upper levels and go with an arm to hold.

2. 02

   Day 2: Crafts and the nearer falls

   Visit a dhurrie workshop and a brass workshop in the morning, then drive to Wyndham Fall and Tanda Fall after lunch, when the light is kinder and the trails have lost the morning's crowds.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Wyndham Fall (Vindham Falls)	1 to 2 hours, plus 30 to 40 minutes' travel each way	Moderate	July to October for the flow; early morning in winter for comfort and quiet
   Tanda Fall	1 hour	Moderate	July to October, when the water looks milky white; early morning for quiet

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Wyndham Fall (Vindham Falls): The approach is by road and the viewing areas are fairly close, but rock surfaces are slippery in the rains and seating, shade and facilities are limited. Wear shoes with grip and carry water.

   With parents at Tanda Fall: Viewing is straightforward from the road side, but the rocks are slippery in the monsoon and there is little seating, shade or food. Choose dry daylight hours and wear shoes with grip.

3. 03

   Day 3: Lakhaniya Dari, or the temples and Chunar

   Fit walkers can make the longer trip to Lakhaniya Dari, which involves a walk of two to three kilometres in. If that sounds like too much, use the day for Vindhyachal and Chunar, both of which have their own Raahzo guides.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Lakhaniya Dari	Most of a day, including travel; the walk in takes about 1.5 hours	Demanding	July to October, when the fall is at full strength

   Pace: Lakhaniya Dari involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Lakhaniya Dari: The trail runs 2 to 3 km from the entry gate over large rocks, streams and jungle, with no seating or facilities. It is not suitable for elderly travellers or anyone with limited mobility.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Mirzapur trip for parents and children

• Treat the waterfalls as separate expeditions. Wyndham Fall and Tanda Fall are the gentlest, with short walks from the road, while Lakhaniya Dari involves two to three kilometres each way over rock.
• Avoid the pools. Rocks at the falls are slippery in the monsoon, and Lakhaniya Dari is reported to be very deep, with drownings most years. Stay behind the viewing points.
• Carry water, snacks and any medicines for the whole day. Food near the falls is very limited, and there is little shade or seating.
• Hire a taxi with a driver for the day rather than relying on autos. It gives you a place to rest and means you are not stranded when light fades.
• Ghat steps are uneven and can be wet or slippery by the river. Go in the morning or late afternoon and take a stick or a helping arm.
• In July to September the roads to the falls can be slow or waterlogged; build in extra time and check conditions with your hotel the evening before.

Mirzapur with elderly parents: the full guide →