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Markets & Riverside Rituals

Feel the pulse of Varanasi

Discover Varanasi by walking through the twisted bylanes of markets, with a plethora of interesting shops selling everything from flowers to spices, which open up onto the colourful, pilgrim-overrun ghats – the steps that lead down to the river. A more interesting way to see the hubbub on the ghats is to set off on a boat ride – where you pass people swimming in the river, taking ritual dips, washing clothes and offering prayers. End the day, with the Ganga Aarti, an evening ritual of lighting lamps against the darkness and offering prayers to the river deity, Ganga – a quintessential experience of a sacred, spiritual India.

Activities from the Destination

Places of interest to weave into your itinerary

Boating on the Ganges

Renew your wedding vows or listen to a flutist as you cruise down the Ganges
Dev Deepawali

A festival of lights for the gods illuminated by a thousand oil lamps
Mahashivratri

Celebrate the creation of the cosmos
Private Kathak performance

Witness the dance tradition of royal courtesans
Ramnavami Ramlila

Experience Varanasi's Dussehra celebrations of dance-dramas
Sarnath ruins & museum

Retrace India's Buddhist heritage at the 'tree of enlightenment'
Secular Trail

Learn of Varanasi's secular faiths
Unwind with Yoga

Learn India's oldest wellness practice

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