Varanasi & Sarnath Yatra

Highlights & Route

Varanasi and Sarnath sit only ten kilometres apart but belong to two different worlds: the first is the oldest living city of Shiva, loud with bells and conch shells from before dawn; the second is a quiet park of red-brick ruins where the Buddha first taught after his enlightenment. Seeing them together in one short yatra is one of the most rewarding things a pilgrim can do in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and this package is designed for exactly that.

You arrive on Day 1 and spend the evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti, with a walk through the old-city market afterwards. Day 2 is the full day: an optional boat ride at sunrise, darshan at Kashi Vishwanath and Maa Annapurna while the queue is short, then the southern temples of Sankat Mochan, Tulsi Manas and Bharat Mata and a drive through the Banaras Hindu University campus to the New Vishwanath temple. The afternoon is for Sarnath: the Dhamek Stupa, the monastery ruins, the modern temples built by Buddhist nations and the museum that holds the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

With two nights in a pilgrim-friendly hotel, breakfast and dinner included and a private AC vehicle throughout, the plan suits families with children and elderly parents who want to see the essentials without exhausting themselves. The third morning is free, so there is time for a last walk on the ghats before your train or flight.

Route

Varanasi airport / station → hotel → Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti and old-city market → (Day 2) optional sunrise boat → Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna → Sankat Mochan, Tulsi Manas, Bharat Mata → BHU and New Vishwanath temple → Sarnath → (Day 3) free morning → airport / station

Good to know before you book

Kashi Vishwanath opens around 3 am for Mangala Aarti and stays open through the day with a midday break; the queue is shortest soon after dawn.
Phones, cameras, bags and leather items cannot be carried inside Kashi Vishwanath; lockers are available at the gates.
Sugam Darshan tickets are sold only on the temple trust’s official website and are not part of this package.
The Sarnath Museum (ASI) is open 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Fridays; the excavated site and museum have separate entry tickets.
The Ganga Aarti starts soon after sunset, around 6 pm in winter and 7 pm in summer.
Boat rides are optional and paid locally, and are not allowed when the river is in flood (usually some weeks in July to September).

Yatra Highlights

Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat on the evening of arrival
Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna darshan, then Sankat Mochan, Tulsi Manas, Bharat Mata and BHU
Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa, monastery ruins, international temples and the Lion Capital in the museum

Day 1 :

Arrival, Ganga Aarti and the old-city market

Our driver meets you at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time (Babatpur airport, Varanasi Junction or Banaras station) and transfers you to the hotel. The afternoon is for rest; lunch is on your own.

Around an hour before sunset we drive to Godowlia and walk to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti. The ceremony of lamps, incense and conch shells lasts about 45 minutes. Afterwards, walk through Vishwanath Gali and the Godowlia market, where Banarasi silk, wooden toys, rudraksha and brass are sold. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Varanasi

Day 2 :

Kashi Vishwanath, the southern temples and Sarnath

If you wish, start before sunrise with an optional rowing boat along the ghats (paid locally). We then walk into the Kashi Vishwanath Dham for darshan of the Jyotirlinga and Maa Annapurna; phones and bags stay with our coordinator. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Mid-morning we drive south to Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir with the Ramcharitmanas carved on its walls, and Bharat Mata Mandir with its marble relief map of India. A drive through the Banaras Hindu University campus brings you to the New Vishwanath temple. Lunch is on your own in the Lanka area.

In the afternoon we drive about 10 km to Sarnath. Walk among the excavated monasteries to the Dhamek Stupa, visit the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and some of the Thai, Tibetan and Japanese temples, and see the Lion Capital of Ashoka at the Sarnath Museum (closed Fridays). Return to Varanasi for dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Varanasi

Day 3 :

Free morning and departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Use the free morning for a last walk on the ghats, a quiet second darshan or shopping; our coordinator can suggest a route. Check out and drive to your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel) (airport or station) in time for your departure. Allow about an hour for the airport transfer.

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Varanasi	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Varanasi	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is there time for a second Kashi Vishwanath darshan on this yatra?

Yes. The main darshan is early on Day 2, when the queue is shortest, with Maa Annapurna in the same complex. Day 3 morning is kept free, and many families use it for a quieter second darshan before checking out. Our coordinator can suggest the best time. Phones and bags cannot go inside, and Sugam Darshan is not part of this package.

Is the price per person?

Yes, the displayed price is per person on twin sharing in the standard hotel category, before GST. Children, single occupancy, a higher hotel category and peak festival dates change the price; we send an exact quote for your group before you confirm.

What is Sugam Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath and should we book it?

Sugam Darshan is a paid, shorter-queue entry sold by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust; at the start of 2026 it was Rs 300 per person. It is booked only on the trust’s official website, shrikashivishwanath.org, and is suspended on major festival days. It is not included in this yatra, but we are happy to help you book it. Never pay anyone near the gates offering quick darshan for cash.

Can we carry phones and bags into Kashi Vishwanath?

No. Mobile phones, cameras, bags, belts with metal buckles and leather items are not allowed inside the temple. Free lockers are available near the gates, but it is simpler to leave phones and bags with our coordinator or in the vehicle and carry only your ID and some cash for offerings.

What is there to see at Sarnath, and is the museum open every day?

Sarnath, about 10 km from the city, is where the Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. You see the Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of the ancient monasteries, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar with its frescoes and the newer temples built by Buddhist countries. The Archaeological Survey of India’s Sarnath Museum, which houses the Lion Capital of Ashoka (India’s national emblem), is open 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Fridays. Entry tickets to the excavated site and the museum are paid on the spot.

What time is the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat?

The aarti begins soon after sunset and lasts about 45 minutes. In winter (October to March) that means around 6 pm, in summer around 7 pm, and in the monsoon roughly 6.45 pm; exact times move with the sunset. We reach the ghat 45 minutes to an hour early so that you get a seat. Watching from a boat on the water is possible at extra cost if the river is not in flood.

Is the boat ride included?

The boat is optional in this package so that the price stays simple. A one-hour shared rowing boat at sunrise is inexpensive and paid directly to the boatman; our coordinator arranges it on the spot if you ask the evening before. Boats do not run when the river is in flood.

Can we start from Delhi or Dehradun instead?

The package itself begins in Varanasi, but we can book your train or flight from Delhi, Dehradun or any other city and add the fare to the quote. Varanasi is connected to Delhi by Vande Bharat trains and frequent flights; Dehradun has direct flights to Varanasi on some days of the week.

Yatra	Duration	Starts from	Price
Varanasi & Sarnath Yatra (this page)	3 days / 2 nights	Varanasi	From ₹20,000
Ayodhya Dham with Kailash Aerial Darshan	3 days / 2 nights	Lucknow	On request
Ayodhya Ghat walk	Day visit	Ayodhya	On request
Ayodhya Mandir Darshan	Day visit	Ayodhya	On request
Ayodhya Nandigram Yatra	5 days / 4 nights	Ayodhya	From ₹30,000
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Darshan: A Journey to the Treta Yuga	3 days / 2 nights	Ayodhya	On request
Dev Deepawali Varanasi: Ghat Darshan by Boat	Day visit	Varanasi	From ₹9,999
Kashi & Ayodhya Yatra	5 days / 4 nights	Varanasi	On request

Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

Not included

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

Documents to carry

Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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