Varanasi itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Varanasi

1. 01

   River at dawn, temple by day, aarti at dusk

   Start before sunrise with a rowing boat from Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh Ghat. Drift north past Kedar Ghat's striped steps to watch Manikarnika respectfully from the water. Have breakfast of kachori-sabzi and jalebi near the ghats, then rest. Late morning, visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple through the Dham corridor. Check the official temple site first for current rules on phones, bags and sugam darshan. Take a long lunch break at the hotel. In the late afternoon, walk slowly through Vishwanath Gali or stop for tamatar chaat at Kashi Chaat Bhandar. Then settle in at Dashashwamedh early for the evening Ganga Aarti, ideally watching from a boat if steps are a problem.

Guides for the stops on this route

Plan 02

2 days in Varanasi

1. 01

   Day 1: The ghats and the Ganga Aarti

   Take a sunrise boat ride from Assi towards Manikarnika. Go back for breakfast and a rest. Mid-morning, have darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, then take the short walk through Vishwanath Gali for prasad and brassware. After an afternoon rest, walk the level stretch around Dashashwamedh Ghat and stay for the evening aarti. Book a boat for the aarti if anyone in the group struggles with crowds or steps.

2. 02

   Day 2: South Varanasi temples and BHU

   An easy morning by car or e-rickshaw: Sankat Mochan Temple early, before the queues build, then Durga Kund Temple and Tulsi Manas Temple, which are close to each other. Continue to the Banaras Hindu University campus for the New Vishwanath Temple and Bharat Kala Bhavan's miniatures and textiles. The BHU campus is flat and green and easy on older legs. End the day at Assi Ghat's calmer evening aarti, or with a lassi.

Guides for the stops on this route

Plan 03

3 days in Varanasi

1. 01

   Day 1: River and old city

   Take a sunrise boat ride past Kedar Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat. Eat breakfast in Kachori Gali if everyone is comfortable in narrow lanes, otherwise at the hotel. Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple late morning and take the afternoon off. In the evening, watch the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, with a snack stop at Kashi Chaat Bhandar before or after.

2. 02

   Day 2: Sarnath

   Drive out to Sarnath after breakfast. The Dhamek Stupa and the excavated monastery ruins sit in a level, landscaped park, and the Sarnath Museum next door holds the Lion Capital of Ashoka. Check the museum's weekly closing day before you go. Have lunch in Sarnath, return for a rest, and spend a quiet evening at Assi Ghat.

3. 03

   Day 3: Temples, BHU and Ramnagar

   Visit Sankat Mochan Temple and Durga Kund Temple in the morning, then the New Vishwanath Temple and Bharat Kala Bhavan on the BHU campus. In the afternoon, cross the river to Ramnagar Fort for its museum of palanquins, vintage cars and arms, and the view back over the Ganga. If you have extra energy or an extra day, a car trip to Chunar Fort makes a good countryside outing.

Guides for the stops on this route

Pacing

Make the plan work for everyone

• Choose your hotel for vehicle access first and river views second. Ask exactly where the car stops and how many steps or metres lie between it and the room.
• See the ghats from a boat rather than walking the full length. A rowing boat is gentler, but for a long stretch or elderly passengers a motor boat with proper seating is easier. Ask for life jackets.
• Go for Kashi Vishwanath darshan on a weekday outside festival periods. Check the official temple trust site for current rules on phones and bags, and for any sugam darshan or senior-citizen arrangements, because these change.
• Avoid the Dashashwamedh aarti crowd on festival evenings such as Dev Deepawali, and on Mondays in Shravan. The crush on the steps can be dangerous. Watch from a booked boat or from Assi instead.
• Build in an afternoon rest every day. Varanasi's heat, noise and walking tire people more than the distances suggest.
• Carry a folding stool or cushion for the aarti, small change for rickshaws, water, and any medication in a small bag. Temples may require you to deposit bags and phones.