Experiences in Varanasi | Timbuktu Travel

What to do in Varanasi

Life and death dance an eternal waltz along these ancient ghats, where incense mingles with morning mist and prayer bells pierce the dawn. As the sun rises over the Ganges, wooden boats glide past pilgrims performing riverside rituals, while narrow lanes spiral into a maze of temples and chai wallahs. By dusk, the Ganga Aarti transforms Dashashwamedh Ghat into a spectacular choreography of fire and chanting. Whether you're watching silk weavers at work, sipping lassi from earthen cups, or exploring the Buddhist sanctuaries of nearby Sarnath, this spiritual capital reveals India at its most profound and compelling.

See the Ganga Aarti evening ceremony in Varanasi

This experience is very significant in Varanasi, where the holy Ganges is worshipped as a daily ritual and the Aarti is performed by the students of the Vedas and Upanishads, led by the head priest of the Gangotri Seva Samiti.

Go on a boat ride at the Assi Ghat in Varanasi

Through the ride, as we sail down the Ganges, the guests will view the iconic sites of Tulsi Ghat and the Panch Parmeshwar Temple, amongst others.

Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi

The temple, standing on the bank of the Ganges, is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Death & Rebirth: A Night Walk Through Varanasi

Death & Rebirth is the Night Walk where you move from various sites throughout the city related to death & life. Beginning with a fertility temple and ending with the cremation grounds, this tour takes many of the sites of other tours and strings them together in a garland of fantastic sites and experiences. Walk with us through the city and see Banaras as Mahashamstana, the great cremation ground. You'll visit an ashram of a path of tantric non- dualism, well known for their black-clothed renunciants who meditate in the cremation grounds. You will get a taste of death and rebirth while discussing philosophy as you wander through Kali temple to chai shop, eventually reaching one of the cremation grounds.