The River Ganga is almighty…..taking on the role as Mother Ganga for all of India and believed to have the power to rid people of their sins just by bathing in her holy water. All life in Varanasi revolves around the river…..from cleansing people’s souls to providing a means of income for local people via laundry, boat tours, transportation and even entertainment.
Varanasi Old City Tours has organized different boat tours to give visitors a glimpse of the vibrant activity that takes place on the river. Early mornings are especially magical as Hindus come to perform their daily puja in the river, practice yoga or to meditate. Boat tours offer a wonderful vantage point to see this first hand. The architecture of the ancient temples and palaces are best appreciated from the perspective of a boat – both day and night. Especially popular is the evening Aarti ceremony, a truly magical time to be on the river surrounded by faith and thousands of glowing candles floating the river.
Boat Ride at Dawn and Walking Tour of the Ancient Alleyways & Temples
TOUR ITINERARY:
Highlights:
- Boat ride at dawn
- Walking tour: Darahara Mosque, Underground Shiva Temple, Nepali Temple, Golden Temple
Take a boat tour on the Ganges River at dawn to absorb the mystical atmosphere and see first-hand the sacred fires of the Manikarnika cremation Ghat and the ancient architecture along the riverfront which is dotted with 15th century Maharaja palaces and temples. This will also be your opportunity to see Hindu worshipers doing their daily devotional rituals (puja) along the river. Believers bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun…….a true representation of Hindu faith at its most humble.
Our tour will begin at Dasashwamedh Ghat, floating the fluid currents past the many ghats, palaces and temples. During the ride, the Varanasi tour guide will introduce you to the history and folklore of Varanasi and point out famous landmarks and explain the morning rituals.
One of the oldest and most famous ghats in Varanasi is the cremation ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, where the sacred funeral fires burn 24 hours a day. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Varanasi and to be cremated on the banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death (reincarnation)….thus achieving Moksha (salvation) and ending the cycle for good.
Moving downriver to the Darahara Mosque, we will disembark and begin the walking tour of the old city. Your tour guide will take you into the Darahara Mosque, the Shiva underground temple and the Nepali Temple before guiding you through the labyrinth of narrow alleyways lined with houses that tower above you, a myriad of shops for food and knick-knacks, guesthouses for the adventurous travelers and pilgrims and cows……lots and lots of cows!
Final destinations: The Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath Temple)…..famous for being one of the most visited and sacred temples for Hindus with spires that shine with real gold.
From here we can help you find a rickshaw (or your car) to go back to your hotel.
Start: Main Ghat – Dashashwamedh / End: Golden Temple
Tour Duration: Tour duration is approximately 3-3.5 hours). Start time varies depending on weather, so please check with us.
Cost: $28 per person, (15% discount for 3 or more people)
Includes: Knowledgeable English-speaking guide, boat ride and complimentary water bottle.
Tips and Details:
We will be doing a lot of walking so please wear comfortable shoes. Mosquito cream is advisable during boat tours. Please note that there are no Western-style toilets easily available anywhere in the vicinity of the walk. All of our boat rides are guided tours and there will be a trained guide with you all the time during the tour. Our maximum group size is usually not more than 6-8 people. If you’d like a hotel pickup or drop-off, please let us 24 hours in advance.
Golden Temple Note: Security very tight when entering the Golden Temple. You must leave shoes, cameras, mobile phones, and even pens outside if you wish to enter the complex. There are safe locker facilities available. You can take money purses into the temple. Foreigners are required to bring a passport as id proof.
Evening Walking Tour of the Bengali Tola, Ganga Riverfront and Aarti Ceremony Boat Ride
Highlights include:
- Bengali Tola Ancient Bazaar
- Harishwar Burning Ghat
- Cow Sanctuary
- Traditional Wrestling Gym
- Riverfront Walk
- Boat Ride along riverfront and Aarti Ceremony
TOUR ITINERARY:
We will begin our tour at the entrance to the Bengali Tola neighborhood at the vegetable market at the Main Ghat (Dashashwamedh). The tour will make its way through the famous Bengali Tola bazaar bustling with South Indian pilgrims, sitar shops, small temples and numerous sweet shops and shops of all varieties. We will visit temples and ashrams like you have never seen before!
The walking portion of the tour will finish near Assi Ghat where we will begin the boat tour passing many fascinating sights along the way such as the Harishwar Burning Ghat, Maharajah palaces, the widow ashram, the colorful Kedar Ghat temple, the water buffalo bathing area and many other ghats. During the ride, the guide will introduce you to the history and folklore of Varanasi and point out famous landmarks and explain some Hindu rituals.
The tour will culminate at Main Ghat (Dashashwamedh) where we will stay and watch the spectacular evening Aarti ceremony performed by students of the Vedas and Upanishads to worship the mighty Ganga. The beautiful Hindu ritual of worship (known as puja) unfolds each night on the banks of the Ganga with brass lamps, fire and incense, accompanied with chants and hundreds of candles floating on the river.
Your guide will share the most interesting legends and facts to give you a better understanding of their purpose and importance.
Start and End: Main Ghat (Dashashwamedh)
Tour Duration: Walking/boat tour duration is approximately 2 hours plus 1 hour Aarti ceremony). Start time varies throughout the year depending on Aarti Ceremony start time, so please check with us.
Cost: $28 per person for 2 people, (15% discount for 3 or more people)
Tips and Details:
We will be doing a lot of walking so please wear comfortable shoes. Mosquito cream is advisable during boat tours. Please note that there are no Western-style toilets easily available anywhere in the vicinity of the walk. All of our boat rides are guided tours and there will be a trained guide with you all the time during the tour. Our maximum group size is usually not more than 6-8 people. If you’d like a hotel pickup or drop-off, please let us 24 hours in advance.
ONCE A YEAR FESTIVAL EVENT: Dev Diwali Evening “City of Lights” & “Arti Ceremony” Boat Ride on November 20, 2020
TOUR ITINERARY:
If you want to celebrate Diwali with the Gods, Varanasi is where you should be headed. The fifteenth day after the explosive Diwali festival is when, devotees believe, the Gods descend from the heavens to celebrate the festival on the ghats. Dev Diwali is unique to Varanasi, it doesn’t take place in any other Indian city and is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see.
The local ghats are washed, cleaned and the hundreds of people come and make Rangolis (beautiful colorful mandalas applied on the ground with colored pigment) before lighting thousands of clay lamps (diyas) on the steps along the entire length of the riverfront just for this one night—visually, the scene is absolutely spectacular.
A boat tour is a must on this night! There is no better way to watch the thousands of glowing and flickering candles lining the Ganga steps. Boats fill up fast…meaning months in advance, so don’t wait to make your arrangements. It is a vision of majestic beauty that you will never forge….as well as a photographers dream.
Tour Itinerary:
We will begin our tour at Meer Ghat floating northward at dusk passing the main cremation area, Manikarnika Ghat, temples and grand palaces and then returning at a leisurely pace to view the ghats aglow with candle light. The finale to the evening will be the special Aarti ceremony held just for this evening. You might even find a maharaja or two in attendance.
Start and End : Main Ghat (Dashashwamedh)
Tour Duration: Boat tour duration is approximately 2 hours plus 1 hour Aarti ceremony.
Cost: $28 per person
Includes: Knowledgeable English-speaking guide, boat ride, water and snacks, all taxes
Tips and Details:
Bring your camera. Mosquito cream is advisable during boat tours. Please note that there are no Western-style toilets easily available anywhere in the vicinity of the walk. All of our boat rides are guided tours and there will be a trained guide with you all the time during the tour. Our maximum group size is usually not more than 6-8 people. If you’d like a hotel pickup or drop-off, please let us 24 hours in advance.