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Ganges River

Ganges River: Our most recommended tours and activities

India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer

1. India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer

Your driver will collect you from your hotel lobby for the journey to Ghat for Aarti. On arrival at Ghat, you will embark on the boat trip to Dashashwamedh Ghate. The Aarti prayer service is performed each evening by a group of priests. You will also witness the Agni Pooja, which is performed as a commitment to the Lord Shiva. All priests here are students of the Vedas and Upanishads, which is led by the head priest of the Gangotri Seva Samiti. The service is performed by traditionally-garbed priests by the light of brass lamps. This magnificent Aarti takes 45 minutes and starts at 6:45 p.m.  After Aarti, eat in a famous Indian restaurant, where you will enjoy a mouthwatering dinner.

Varanasi : Sunrise Boat Tour

2. Varanasi : Sunrise Boat Tour

Varanasi or Banaras or Kashi, call it by different name but every name will give you a unique story and joyful feeling to be here. A city situated on the banks of river Ganges. Varanasi has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many Ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Start your journey with the hotel pick-up where your guide and cab waits for you. Tour starts either at 5:00 in the morning or 6:00 depending upon the season. Time shall be confirmed to you post booking. Enjoy the city with more than 2000 temples that includes the Kashi Vishwanath Temple also called the Golden temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. With so many Ghats here, Some of the prominent and popular one’s include the Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Assi Ghat,Shivala Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, Darbhanga Ghat, Ahilyabai Ghat and the Kedar Ghat. On the completion of boat ride, visit to the oldest part of Varanasi for a small walk. Stop  by the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Post completion of the tour, get dropped off back to your hotel.

Varanasi: Morning Tour with Yoga Session and Boat Ride

3. Varanasi: Morning Tour with Yoga Session and Boat Ride

Bask in spirituality and experience the true culture of India with this morning tour of Varanasi. Depending on the time of year, start your tour at either 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM with a pickup from you guide and driver. Head to the famous Assig ghat to witness the sunrise with the Ganga Aarti. Enjoy a traditional ritual and classical dance as you welcome the morning.  Following this, have a yoga session by the banks of the river with locals and learn how this ancient art has become all the rage the world over. Once you’re done stretching your muscles, proceed to the Akhada, a traditional place for training and practicing of Indian martial arts. See how men engage in this wonderful art from the earliest hour of the day. Next up on the list will be your morning boat ride on the Ganges. Immerse yourself with views of the colorful ghats and people performing their different rituals. After the boat ride of approximately 1-hour, you will be taken to the last leg of your tour which includes a walk through the oldest part of Varanasi. Explore the narrow alleys and the innumerable tiny temples, which dates back centuries, like a local.

Varanasi Full-Day Private Tour with Sarnath and Ganga Aarti

4. Varanasi Full-Day Private Tour with Sarnath and Ganga Aarti

After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Sarnath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is hailed as one of the holiest Buddhist places in India and the place where Gautama Buddha, after attaining spiritual enlightenment, delivered his first sermons and claimed the place as an important pilgrimage site for his followers. Here, you'll first visit Chaukhandi Stupa, which is an elevated structure surrounded by octagonal towers. It's the gateway to Sarnath and adorned by lush green lawns from all sides. Then, you'll see Dhamek Stupa, a remarkable structure built of stone and brick. This cylindrical pillar is engraved with delicate floral carvings of Gupta origin. After this you'll visit Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, a modern temple encasing unrivalled frescoes by a Japanese painter and a rich repository of Buddhist literature. Later you will be taken to visit the Sarnath Museum. This is an expansive museum that houses the finest specimens of Buddhist art and culture.  Afterwards, you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting some famous temples and many other marvellous holy structures. In the evening, you will get to witness the ritualistic rites held every night on the banks of the Ganges, before being taken back to your hotel.

Varanasi: Morning Aarti with Boat Ride & Rooftop Breakfast

5. Varanasi: Morning Aarti with Boat Ride & Rooftop Breakfast

Start your day bright and early with a convenient pick-up service from your accommodation in Varanasi at 5:30AM. After a short meet and greet with your driver you will set off on your adventure. Hop aboard your private, air-conditioned vehicle and proceed to Assi Ghat. Upon your arrival in Assi Ghat, you will get the unique opportunity to witness the morning ritual of Aarti. Take part in one of India's most sacred ceremonies as you witness saints, conducting the ceremony whilst holding soil lamps and chanting mantras.  After a spiritual morning, you will proceed for a boat ride starting from Assi Ghat and heading toward Manikarnika Ghat. While you sail on the boat, witness devotees performing morning prayer to the rising sun. During your boat tour, you will also be able to visit Manikarnika Ghat, the Hindu cremation ground.  Continue on your tour and walk through the lanes of Varanasi and witness the culture and traditional heritage. After a day of excitement and adventure, you will be able to finish your tour with a morning breakfast at Dolphin Restaurant for some delicious local cuisine. Return back to your hotel in your private car after your delicious meal. 

Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride

6. Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride

Varanasi Remembrances : After early morning pickup at 5:30am from your hotel, take a sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges River. Witness morning rituals performed at the riverside. Kashi Vishwanath Temple : Afterward, follow your guide on a short walking tour of the old city's alleyways and catch sight of the Kashi Vishwanath, one of the holiest Hindu temples Banaras Hindu University : Banaras Hindu University (Pass By) Stop for breakfast (own expense), then head to Banaras Hindu University at 10am. Established in 1916, BHU is the largest university campus in Asia. Tour the campus and see the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum and the new Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple), which is an exact replica of the original Vishwanath Temple. Bharat Mata Temple : Mother India Temple, built in 1918 and housing an unusual marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent. At 12:30pm, learn about the silk weaving traditions of Varanasi, then take a break for lunch (own expense). Afterward, drive about eight miles (13 km) to Sarnath to take in Dhamekh Stupa, known as the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. You'll also visit the Archaeological Museum, which features treasures that date to the 3rd-century BC (closed Fridays). Dasaswamedh Ghat : At 5pm, take another boat ride on the Ganges to view the cremation grounds, then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony. Your tour ends with return to your hotel around 8pm. Sarnath : Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.

Varanasi: Morning Yoga on the Bank of the Ganga River

7. Varanasi: Morning Yoga on the Bank of the Ganga River

Early in the morning at around 5:30AM, your chauffeur will pick you up from your hotel before transporting you to the Tulsi Ghat for your 90-minute yoga class given by renowned yoga instructor Smriti Chakravarti. Miss Smriti is a founder of the Om International Yoga Health Society and has visited and practiced in many countries such as Belgium, Holland and Italy. There has even been a Spanish documentary surrounding her titled "Energy". This Yoga class is taken in the Courtyard of the Shiv Temple situated in Tulsi Ghat, where according to mythology Tulsi Das Ji resides. The Yoga class will begin with the worship of Lord Shiva and chanting the Mahamritiunjay Mantra. After that, you will be instructed to warm up your body by doing basic exercises. Following this, you will start with Surya Namaskar (salute to the sun), a blend of 12 asans which are from the Vedic age and are useful to keep your body vigorous, active and healthy. After the repetition of the Surya Namaskar 7-8 times, you will be instructed to some other asans such as backward bending, spinal twisting, forward bending, inversion, and balancing asana followed by pranayama, bandha, and mudra. Miss Smriti also gives a 10-15 minutes lesson on yoga and its benefits to your health. After this yoga class tour, your chauffeur will drop you back to your hotel between 7:30AM–8:00 AM.

Other Sightseeing Options in Ganges River

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What people are saying about Ganges River

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 19 reviews

Excellent service very knowledgeable guide

Guide was very helpful and flexible although I have arrived late. The sunrise boat trip was for me the highlight. The service was excellent. Without a Guide I would not have received the insight and information about the things I saw. I would only recommend the tour everyone. Please let the guide know if you are more interested in the morning ritual or the sunrise

Great tour! Rajat was professional, informative, accommodating, and friendly. Each part of the tour was worth it, and we enjoyed the one-of-a-kind beauty of Varanasi. Recommend for travelers who are up for a unique adventure!

A very fine sunrise boat tour and excellent guiding by 5-star guide Kasif, by car, boat and walk at the Ghats (riverfronts). Kasif told us everything of interest and made the trip memorable. Highly recommended!

We were picked up on time in the morning, had his great guide and driver. would book excursions again at any time with get your guide. Lunch and continuing into the evening were simply great.

My guide, Rajat from Varanasi Excursions was very friendly and full of information. He answered all of my questions patiently! The boat trip and walking were a great way to see the city.