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Holy Rituals on the Ganges |
| Duration: | 3 days - 2 nights | Accommodation: |
Comfortable hotels. Comfort level 3/4 (accommodation in India) |
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| Price: | From AUD$339 per person - based on 2 people sharing | Includes: |
- 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast - Morning Ganges boat excursion and city walk |
| Transport: | Boat and car | Excludes: |
- International flights - trains or domestic flights - Tipping - All other meals/drinks |
Day 1 - Arrival in VaranasiYour Varanasi tours start today after you arrive in the city, whether it be by overnight train, plane or from our Varanasi travel module; Riverside Ruins and Lost Temples. You'll spend 2 nights in a charming hotel that lies right on the banks of the river close to the Assi Ghat, which is used by pilgrims during a special pilgrimage route called 'Panchatirthi Yatra'. The Ganges is flanked by a series of these ‘ghats’ – broad stone staircases leading down to the water – that stretch into the horizon.During your Varanasi tours you'll be able to explore both the Old Town and New Town. The Old Town is chaotic with lots of people and street vendors everywhere but in the New Town you'll find just a bit more space and greenery. While this more relaxed atmosphere may sound appealing, we find staying in the Old Town to be far more impressive as its buzzing daily life is indeed why most people come go on our Varanasi tours. |
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Tonight, the evening’s your own. You could go to the centrally located Dashaswamedh ghat and see the 'Aarti' ceremony; a special ceremony that priests hold every night to honour their mother Ganga (river) to thank her for bringing life. The atmosphere can be quite mystical with all the singing, chants, large lamps and torches. Please remember to mind your belongings at the Aarti ceremony as the ghat can get extremely busy. If you want to enjoy the ceremony with a little more privacy; it is also possible to rent a boat for a few dollars and view the ceremony from the water. After the ceremony, you may want to explore some of Varanasi’s restaurants for dinner. If you want more variety, we recommend that you head over to the new part of town as there is quite an array of restaurants to choose from. |
Day 2 - Varanasi: Morning boat ride on the GangesThis morning you will continue on your Varanasi tours with a very early start to take a boat trip on the Ganges at dawn. This is an extremely special experience and you cannot help but soak up the intensely spiritual atmosphere. You will drift past pilgrims of all ages and classes as they perform their ritual bathing just before sunrise and you may even get to see a public cremation. To be cremated on the banks of the Ganges is the highest honour for Hindus and is proceeded by a funeral procession full of loud singing and many colours...but only the rich can afford it so it is not an everyday event. After the boat trip, there's a guided Varanasi tours walk through the old centre of Varanasi. Watch out for the holy cows in the narrow alleyways. |
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The rest of the day for this Varanasi tours is yours to do to with as you wish. We find that one of the best ways to get to know the city is by wandering through its winding streets, tantalising your senses with all the sights and sounds of shops and stalls, and watching as rickshaws whiz by in every direction.If you are looking for a quieter afternoon on your Varanasi tours then you could take taxi to the city of Sarnath, 5 km outside of Varanasi. Sarnath is where Buddha came after he attained enlightenment in the Indian town of Bodghaya 2500 years ago to preach about the Middle Way to reach nirvana. To commemorate this even, the religious ruler Ashoka built an enormous stupa (temple) and several Buddhist monasteries and now every Buddhist country in the world has its own temple built in the small, tranquil village. |
Day 3 - Depart VaranasiYour Varanasi tours come to an end after breakfast. There are numerous directions you can take to continue your India adventure. If you want to return to Delhi we can organise an overnight train or domestic flight but if you would rather move away from the urban chaos and instead experience the green countryside of Southern India then you can catch a flight so you can experience our Cochin travel modules: Kerala Silk tour or our Kerala houseboats module with Backwaters and Wildlife. Alternatively you could make for India’s forests, tea plantations and mountain monasteries by overnight train for a Darjeeling Tours or Sikkim tours...the possibilities are endless. |
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A peek at your Varanasi tours accommodation... (click to enlarge)
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