Things to Do in Varanasi 2026 — Top Experiences, Boat Rides, Puja & More

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Why Book Your Varanasi Experiences With Us

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Born in Varanasi

Our team is born and raised in Varanasi — we know every ghat, temple, lane and festival intimately.

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All boat rides, temple tours and sightseeing trips are private — no mixing with other groups.

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The must-do experiences in Varanasi are: (1) Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat — India's most spectacular religious ceremony. (2) Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga past all 84 ghats. (3) Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga darshan. (4) Sarnath day trip — Dhamek Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, where Buddha gave his first sermon. (5) Varanasi street food walk — chaat, tamatar chaat, banarasi paan, blue lassi, kachori sabzi. (6) Maha Mrityunjaya Puja at the ghats. (7) Manikarnika Ghat walk. (8) Ramnagar Fort visit.

Yes, watching the Ganga Aarti from the ghat steps is completely free. However, for a premium experience — watching from a private boat on the river with unobstructed views — you need to book a private boat. Visit Kashi offers private motor boat bookings for the Ganga Aarti starting from ₹599. The boat gives you a 360° view of all 7 priests performing the ceremony simultaneously.

Minimum 2 nights / 3 days is recommended for a meaningful Varanasi experience. Day 1: Evening Ganga Aarti. Day 2: Sunrise boat ride + Kashi Vishwanath + Sarnath. Day 3: Remaining temples and ghats. With 3 nights / 4 days you can also visit Ramnagar Fort, do a street food walk and attend a classical music performance. Visit Kashi offers 1N/2D to 5N/6D packages covering all major sightseeing.

The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat happens every evening between 6:30–7:30 PM in winter (October–March) and 7:00–8:00 PM in summer. Arrive 30–45 minutes early to get a good spot on the ghat steps. For the best view without the crowd, book a private boat — you float directly in front of the 7 priests as they perform the ceremony.

Yes, Sarnath is just 12 km from Varanasi city centre and easily doable as a half-day trip (2–3 hours). Key sites are the Dhamek Stupa (5th century CE), the Ashoka Pillar (3rd century BCE), Mulagandhakuti Vihara, and the Archaeological Museum which houses the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka (the national emblem of India). Visit Kashi can arrange an AC cab for the Sarnath day trip — starting from ₹999.

Varanasi is primarily a spiritual and cultural destination, but there are some adventure and unique experiences: (1) Hot air balloon ride over Varanasi (seasonal) — breathtaking views of the ghats at sunrise. (2) Night boat ride along the burning ghats (Manikarnika) — a deeply moving experience. (3) Yoga and meditation retreat on the Ganges. (4) Cycling tour through the old city lanes (Galis). Contact us on WhatsApp for customised experiential packages.

Things to Do in Varanasi

All Experiences & Activities

Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat

Sunrise Boat Ride on the Ganga

Kashi Vishwanath Temple Darshan

Sarnath Day Tour — Dhamek Stupa & Museum

Varanasi Full Day Sightseeing by AC Cab

Varanasi Street Food Walk — Chaat, Lassi & Kachori

Air Show in Varanasi 2026 — Namo Ghat (22, 23 & 25 Oct)

Boat Booking at Dashashwamedh Ghat

Morning Boat Ride Dashaswamedh Ghat (Private)

Morning Boat Ride Assi Ghat (Private Motor Boat)

Musical Boat Ride in Varanasi

Private Motor Boat for Evening Ganga Aarti

Lighting Decorated CNG Boat Booking

Maha Mrityunjaya Puja in Varanasi

Rudrabhishek Puja in Varanasi