Varanasi
Your Varanasi hotel, Varanasi Junction or the airport → Varanasi Junction or the airport, on the evening of Day 3
3 days 2 nights
year-round
Starting from
Price on request
per pilgrim · 2 Nights / 3 days
Quick answer
In short
Experience My India's 3 Days Varanasi Tour Package covers a sunrise Ganga boat ride, Kaal Bhairav, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the evening Ganga Aarti, Sarnath's Dhamek Stupa, the Banarasi silk weavers, the southern temples and a street-food trail.
3 days, 2 nights with a local Kashi guide, AC cab, hotel and Banarasi meals.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 730+ reviews. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for your dates' per-person price - reply in 30 minutes. Har Har Mahadev 🙏
Experience My India's 3 Days Varanasi Tour Package gives Kashi the room to be more than a rush of temples - three days for the spiritual core, the artistry and the everyday life of the city. Day 1 is the spiritual pulse: a sunrise boat on the Ganga, Kaal Bhairav and the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, the old lanes, and the grand Ganga Aarti at dusk. Day 2 turns to history and craft - the ancient Buddhist ruins of Sarnath, then the Banarasi silk weavers, where we take you to real handlooms rather than the commission shops, closing with a rooftop sunset over the river at Assi Ghat. Day 3 is culture and flavour: the southern temples and the green BHU campus, a Banarasi street-food trail through tamatar chaat and, in winter, the frothy malaiyo, and a final, quiet reflection at Manikarnika, the eternal cremation ground. With two nights near the ghats, an AC cab and a local Kashi guide who knows the corridor, the weavers and the touts, the three days move at the city's own pace. For your dates' per-person price, WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Route overview
Your Varanasi hotel, Varanasi Junction or the airport → Varanasi Junction or the airport, on the evening of Day 3
Departure
Your Varanasi hotel, Varanasi Junction or the airport
Stop 1
Dashashwamedh Ghat → Sunrise rowboat on Day 1, and the grand Ganga Aarti that evening
Stop 2
Kaal Bhairav & Kashi Vishwanath Dham → The Kotwal of Kashi first, then the Jyotirlinga through the corridor
Stop 3
Sarnath → About 10 km out - the Dhamek Stupa, the ruins and the Lion Capital museum
Stop 4
Sarai Mohana weavers → Genuine Banarasi handlooms - buy from the maker, not a showroom
Stop 5
Assi Ghat → A rooftop sunset over the Ganga on Day 2
Stop 6
Sankat Mochan, Tulsi Manas & BHU → The southern temples and the New Vishwanath Temple on Day 3
Stop 7
Manikarnika Ghat → A quiet, respectful final reflection at the eternal cremation ground
Final arrival
Varanasi Junction or the airport, on the evening of Day 3
3 days, 2 nights - Kashi's spiritual core, its craft and its everyday life
Sunrise Ganga boat, Kaal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath Dham on Day 1
The grand evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh
Sarnath's Dhamek Stupa and the Ashoka Lion Capital museum
Genuine Banarasi silk weavers in Sarai Mohana - no commission shops
Southern temples, BHU and a Banarasi street-food trail on Day 3
AC cab, hotel near the ghats, meals and an expert local Kashi guide included
Rated 4.9 out of 5 - 730+ reviews
Day 1 - The Spiritual Pulse of Kashi. The first day is the heart of Kashi - the river at dawn, the Jyotirlinga, the old lanes and the Ganga Aarti at dusk.
We push off from Dashashwamedh in a private rowboat as the city wakes, gliding along the western bank past pilgrims at their morning puja and ritual baths, then walk the stone steps that link the ghats.
Practical note
A shared or private boat is calmest at dawn; the sunrise slot costs more than midday, so we fix the rate before boarding.
Kaal Bhairav first - the guardian deity of Kashi, whose permission tradition asks for before you enter the holy city. Then the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, dedicated to Lord Shiva, through the corridor opened in December 2021.
Practical note
Phones, cameras, leather and bags are not allowed inside Vishwanath - deposit them at the free cloakroom near the corridor gates first (allow 15-25 minutes). Darshan is free; we book the official Sugam Darshan e-pass to skip the long line.
We wander the narrow galis behind the ghats - small shrines, marigold garlands, tiny shops - and stop for a traditional poori-sabzi lunch with a creamy lassi in a clay kulhad.
Practical note
The lanes are uneven and shared with cows and monkeys; stay with the guide and keep bags closed.
We reach Dashashwamedh in good time for the evening Ganga Aarti - a synchronised ritual of massive brass lamps, conch, chant and incense - watched from a good step or from a boat on the river.
Practical note
The aarti is seasonal: about 5:45 PM in winter and 6:45-7:00 PM in summer, lasting around 45 minutes. Reach by 5:00 PM for a step, or take a boat for the clearer view.
Dinner and an overnight stay near the ghats.
Day 2 - Ancient Roots and Banarasi Craft. The second day pairs the deep history of Sarnath with the living craft of the silk weavers, and ends with a quieter, younger side of the river.
About 10 km north lies Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. We explore the 43-metre Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of the ancient monasteries, and the Archaeological Museum, home to the original Lion Capital of Ashoka - India's national emblem.
Practical note
The Dhamek Stupa and ruins are open daily, but the Sarnath Archaeological Museum is closed on Fridays - if you travel on a Friday we reorder the day.
Back in the city, we visit the weavers' district around Sarai Mohana, where Ansari artisans work traditional handlooms to create the silk sarees Varanasi has been famous for over six centuries. You watch the loom, and buy - if you wish - directly from the maker.
Practical note
We do not take you to shops that pay auto drivers a commission; those inflate the price. Real handloom silk carries a Silk Mark and GI tag - our guide shows you how to check before you pay.
We close the day at Assi Ghat, the younger, more relaxed end of the riverfront, with a rooftop cafe sunset over the Ganga - a calm dinner away from the central crowds.
Practical note
Assi is also where the Subah-e-Banaras morning aarti is held, in case you wish to return at dawn.
A second night near the ghats.
Day 3 - Hidden Gems, Campus Life and the Food Trail. The final day is the everyday Kashi - the green southern temples, the university campus, the street food, and a last, sobering reflection by the river.
We visit the Tulsidas-founded, monkey-filled Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and the white-marble Tulsi Manas Mandir, whose walls carry the verses of the Ramcharitmanas, then drive into the tree-lined Banaras Hindu University campus to the New Vishwanath Temple, built of white marble.
Practical note
Sankat Mochan also bans phones and cameras (security since 2006) - free lockers at the gate, and keep prasad out of sight of the monkeys.
The afternoon is a food walk through the flavours that belong only to Kashi: tamatar chaat, the city's spiced tomato chaat, chura matar, and - if you visit in the cooler months - malaiyo, the saffron-scented frothy milk dessert that the winter mornings are famous for.
Practical note
Malaiyo is a winter-only treat, sold in the old-city mornings roughly November to February; out of season you will not find it.
We end by walking the outskirts of Manikarnika Ghat, the primary cremation ground, where the fires never go out. It is intense and sobering, and it is also the truest lesson Kashi has to teach - about a view of life and death that this city has held for millennia.
Practical note
This is a live cremation ground: no photography, keep a respectful distance, and ignore anyone soliciting 'donations for the dying' - it is a known scam.
We transfer you to Varanasi Junction or the airport in good time for your onward journey, and the yatra ends with the blessings of Kashi.
Quick enquiry
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Everything you need to know about your pilgrimage with Experience My India.
The package includes an AC cab, two nights in a hotel near the ghats, an expert local Kashi guide across all three days, a sunrise Ganga boat ride and an evening Ganga Aarti, Banarasi breakfast and meals, Kashi Vishwanath darshan assistance with Sugam Darshan e-pass help, the Sarnath excursion, a guided visit to genuine silk weavers and a Banarasi street-food trail. Flights, trains and temple fees are not included. WhatsApp Experience My India at +91-7302265809 for exact inclusions.
The 3 Days Varanasi Tour Package is priced per person and depends on your hotel category, group size and pickup point, with a lower rate for larger groups. Experience My India shares the exact per-person figure on WhatsApp rather than a fixed sticker price. Message +91-7302265809 with your dates and number of travellers and we reply within 30 minutes.
Day 1 is the spiritual core - sunrise boat, Kaal Bhairav, Kashi Vishwanath, the old lanes and the evening Ganga Aarti. Day 2 is Sarnath and the Banarasi silk weavers, closing with a rooftop sunset at Assi Ghat. Day 3 is the southern temples and BHU, a street-food trail and a quiet reflection at Manikarnika. Experience My India adjusts it to your arrival and departure.
Yes, and three days keep it gentle. Experience My India uses the AC cab for all driving, gives elderly guests the sunrise and the aarti from a boat, and keeps the hotel near the ghats so days stay short. The old-city lanes are uneven, so we walk at your pace. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 with any mobility needs before booking.
Around 70% of Kashi Vishwanath pilgrims come from South India, so this is our most common request. Fly into Varanasi (VNS) airport, about 25 km from the ghats, or take a train to Varanasi Junction, and Experience My India plans all three days around your arrival. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 with your city and dates; we book your Sugam Darshan pass and reply within 30 minutes.
General darshan is completely free. A Sugam Darshan e-pass (about Rs 250-300) on the official shrikashivishwanath.org portal gives a faster lane, and Experience My India books it there for you - there is no other legitimate VIP entry. Phones, cameras, leather and bags are banned inside; deposit them at the free cloakroom near the corridor gates first.
Experience My India provides a private AC cab for Sarnath, the weavers' district, BHU and the southern temples. But the old city is not drivable: cars stop at the edge of the ghat lanes, and Kashi Vishwanath, the ghats and the Ganga Aarti are reached on foot or by boat. Auto and e-rickshaws cover the short gaps.
Experience My India keeps cancellation flexible. Since the hotel, Sugam Darshan and boat slots are date-specific, we ask for firm dates, and cancellations made with reasonable advance notice are accommodated without difficulty. If your plans change, message us early. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to confirm the terms for your dates before you book.
Yes. Experience My India takes you to genuine handloom weavers in the Sarai Mohana district, not the commission shops that auto drivers push. Our guide shows you the handloom, explains the Silk Mark and GI tag, and helps you check a saree before you pay. A 'pure silk' Banarasi under about Rs 2,500 is almost always powerloom. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to plan a weaver visit.
Booking takes one message. WhatsApp Experience My India at +91-7302265809 with your travel dates, group size and pickup city. We reply within 30 minutes with the price, confirm your hotel and pickup point, and book your Sugam Darshan pass and boats. No advance payment is taken until your plan is confirmed in writing.
More sacred journeys hand-picked for you.
What travel guides don't tell you before you arrive.
Varanasi has woven silk for more than six centuries, and a real Banarasi saree is one of the finest things you can carry home from Kashi. It is also one of the easiest things in India to be cheated on - and the cheating almost always follows the same pattern.
First, the price tells the truth. Banarasi silk received its GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2009, which legally means the saree was handwoven in the Varanasi cluster. A genuine handloom piece takes anywhere from 15 to 60-plus days on the loom, with pure mulberry silk and real gold or silver zari. Powerloom copies, made in hours from synthetic yarn and fake zari, sell for roughly Rs 400 to Rs 2,500 - and are routinely passed off as 'pure silk Banarasi'. If a 'pure silk' saree is offered under about Rs 2,500, the material alone could not cost that little; it is a copy. Real handwoven Banarasi starts in the thousands and runs to a lakh or more.
Second, the shop matters more than the saree. Many showrooms pay auto-rickshaw drivers and freelance guides a commission of 30 to 50 per cent to bring tourists in - and that commission is simply added to your bill. This is exactly why every honest local tells you never to buy silk from a shop an auto driver pushes hard. Experience My India takes you instead to the weavers' district around Sarai Mohana, where the loom is in the room and you buy from the maker - the weaver who earns barely Rs 1,500 to 2,000 on a saree that a tourist showroom would sell for Rs 10,000.
Third, you can check it yourself. Turn the saree over: a handloom weave is slightly uneven, with float-and-knot work on the reverse; a powerloom copy is machine-perfect on both sides. Look for the green-and-gold Silk Mark tag and the GI tag, and scan their QR codes on the official Silk Mark app and the India GI portal. Ask plainly whether the zari is asli (real) or nakli (artificial). Our guide does all of this with you before a single rupee changes hands - so you leave Kashi with a real Banarasi, at the weaver's price, not a powerloom copy at a tourist one.
Buy it right and it lasts three or four generations. Buy it wrong and you have paid saree money for a polyester print named for search engines.
Every other stop on this tour prepares you, in a way, for this one. Manikarnika is the primary cremation ground of Kashi, and its fires have not gone out in living memory - or, the city will tell you, in any memory at all.
To stand near it is unlike anything else in travel. Biers arrive through the lanes on the shoulders of families, wrapped in gold and marigold; the eldest son, head shaved, circles the pyre; the flames rise against the river and the old buildings, and the smoke drifts over boats full of pilgrims. There is grief, but there is no horror and no hiding - death is simply here, in the open, part of the working life of the ghat, the way birth is elsewhere. Hindus believe that to be cremated at Manikarnika, or even to die within Kashi, breaks the cycle of rebirth and grants moksha; there are houses by the ghat where the very old come, quietly, to spend their last days waiting for exactly this.
Most travellers arrive braced for something grim and leave strangely lightened. Seeing life and death share one riverbank, without drama, tends to loosen a knot people did not know they were carrying. In our WhatsApp feedback, guests reach for the same word about this stop, over and over: peace - which is not the word any of them expected to use about a cremation ground.
Rajeev Sharma and the Experience My India Kashi team bring you here last, and gently - from a respectful distance, with no photography, and with the plain warning to ignore anyone soliciting 'donations for the dying', which is a known scam. We do not narrate over it or rush you. We simply let the oldest living city in the world say the thing it has been saying for three thousand years, and then we take you quietly back to the light.
Day 1 insider tip: the two things that catch first-timers at Kashi Vishwanath are the phone rule and the queue. Experience My India sends you to the free cloakroom before the gate, books the official Sugam Darshan e-pass, and times your darshan for the calm late morning.
Day 2 insider tip: a 'pure silk' Banarasi saree offered for a bargain is almost always powerloom. Buy where the loom is in the room - Experience My India takes you to genuine weavers in Sarai Mohana, never a commission showroom.
Senior citizen note: three days keep this the gentlest of our Varanasi tours. For elderly guests we give both the sunrise and the aarti from a boat, keep the AC cab close for Sarnath, the weavers and BHU, and trim the walking on the food trail. Manikarnika is optional and viewed from a distance.
Pro tip: Our local guides know these nuances intimately. They navigate crowds, time the darshan, handle protocols and share the stories textbooks miss.
Watch before you go
Watch the real Ganga Aarti, the Ram Mandir darshan flow and the ghat atmosphere, curated by our local experts so you arrive prepared.
Live aarti atmosphere
The evening ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Temple flow guide
The darshan process before you reach
Ganga boat experience
Sunrise rides over the holy river
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The practical details that make the difference on the day.
Cars cannot enter the old-city ghat lanes - Kashi Vishwanath, the ghats and the Ganga Aarti are reached on foot or by boat, so wear shoes you can walk and climb steps in.
Phones, cameras, leather and bags are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath - deposit them at the free cloakroom near the corridor gates; allow 15-25 minutes. General darshan is free; a Sugam Darshan e-pass is about Rs 250-300, only on the official shrikashivishwanath.org portal.
Sankat Mochan also bans phones and cameras (security since 2006) - use the free lockers at the gate, and keep prasad out of sight of the monkeys.
A 'pure silk' Banarasi saree offered under about Rs 2,500 is almost always powerloom - real handloom carries a Silk Mark and GI tag; buy in the weavers' district, not from a shop an auto driver pushes.
Malaiyo, the frothy winter dessert, is sold only in the cold months (roughly November to February) in the old-city mornings - out of season you will not find it.
Sarnath is about 10 km away; the Dhamek Stupa and ruins are open daily, but the Sarnath Archaeological Museum is closed on Fridays.
Manikarnika is a live cremation ground - no photography, keep a respectful distance, and ignore anyone asking for 'donations for the dying', which is a scam.
Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and expect to remove your shoes at temples; October to March is the coolest, most comfortable time to walk the city.
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Local guide, Experience My India
Born and raised in Varanasi, among its ghats, temples and pandits. I have been guiding pilgrims for more than 40 years, across Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayagraj, in Hindi, Telugu and Kannada. Experience My India was built on one belief: a well-planned yatra is a deeply felt one.
More about RajeevPlease review these policies before confirming your yatra.
Processing Time: Approved refunds will be processed within 7 to 10 working days via the original payment method. Force Majeure: If a tour is cancelled by Ayodhya Varanasi Guide due to unforeseen circumstances (extreme weather, government restrictions, or vehicle breakdown), a 100% refund or an alternative date will be offered. Unused Services: No refunds will be provided for any part of the sightseeing missed by the guest due to late arrival or personal choice during the tour.
We understand that travel plans can change. Our cancellation slabs are as follows: 48 Hours or More before the tour: Full Refund of the advance amount (minus a small 5% processing fee/bank charges). 24 to 48 Hours before the tour: 50% of the advance amount will be refunded. Less than 24 Hours or No Show: No refund will be provided as the vehicle and driver are already blocked for your service. Peak Dates: For bookings during major festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, or Radha Ashtami, all advance payments are Non-Refundable due to extreme demand.
To provide competitive local pricing while maintaining high service standards, we follow a split-payment structure: Advance Deposit: A 50% advance payment of the total package cost is required to process the booking. Balance Amount: The remaining balance must be paid to the coordinator or driver upon arrival or at the start of the tour. Mode of Payment: We accept UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), Bank Transfers, and Cash. Exclusions: Please note that E-Rickshaw charges (for narrow lanes near Banke Bihari Temple), Guide fees, and Temple donations are typically not included in the package and should be paid directly in cash.
We want to ensure your spot is secured so you don't miss the divine Darshan timings. Booking Confirmation: A booking is considered "Confirmed" only after the receipt of the initial advance payment. Voucher Issuance: Once the payment is verified, we will issue a Digital Confirmation Voucher via WhatsApp/Email containing your driver details, vehicle number, and reporting time. Reporting Time: For Same Day Tours, guests are expected to report at the designated pickup point (Hotel/Railway Station) at the scheduled time. A maximum waiting period of 30 minutes is allowed, after which the tour may be treated as a "No Show."
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