Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti, Boating & Witnessing the GOD
Description
It’s a city with deep cultural experience, The sacred river of Ganga preserves the memory of thousands of years in her motherly water which flows just in the center of the city. Our tours will take you to a magnificent Sunset with Ganga Aarti (Praying to the God of the river –The Ganges) where life starts at the bank of Mother Ganga with morning eye-opener prayers by the scared priest, you can enjoy these spectacular scenes on the boat. This is a lifetime cultural experience to not MISS! While at the same places while exploring cultural heritage you will find THE END of life at Manikarnika Ghat where people are burning the dead body of loved ones. Our tours will bring you to the life and death experiences at the cultural heritage sites of Mother Ganges.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meeting Point: Agrawal Radio Chauraha Shivala4+GG4, Road, Shivala Ghat, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India. We welcome our travelers at Green Ganga Café, located just opposite the entrance of Assi Ghat. From here, you begin by watching the evening Ganga Aarti and then continue with a boat ride to the popular ghats (piers) of Varanasi. The Varanasi Ganga Aarti is one of the most powerful spiritual ceremonies in India. Held every evening along the banks of the sacred River Ganga, this ritual is performed by trained priests who offer fire, incense, and rhythmic prayers to the holy river. The atmosphere becomes magical as lamps glow against the dark sky, devotional chants fill the air, and hundreds of devotees gather to witness the ceremony. Watching the aarti from a boat adds a truly unforgettable perspective, allowing you to experience the devotion and energy from the heart of the river itself.
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most vibrant and famous ghat in Varanasi. It is located close to Vishwanath Temple. According to legend, Lord Brahma performed a grand sacrifice of ten horses here, which is how the ghat got its name. Today, it is the main site of the evening Ganga Aarti and remains constantly alive with pilgrims, sadhus, street performers, and visitors from around the world. The steps leading to the river are always active with rituals, prayers, and cultural activities, making it the spiritual heart of the city.
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred cremation grounds in India. It represents the eternal cycle of life and death and holds deep spiritual significance in Hindu belief. It is said that cremation here grants liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The sacred fire at this ghat is believed to have been burning continuously for centuries. Visiting Manikarnika Ghat offers a profound and humbling experience, revealing a powerful aspect of Varanasi’s spiritual reality.
The Ghats of Varanasi are a series of stepped riverfront platforms lining the banks of the Ganga. There are more than 80 ghats, each with its own history, legend, and purpose. Some are used for daily rituals and bathing, others for meditation, yoga, ceremonies, and cremations. Together, they form the cultural and spiritual backbone of the city. A boat ride along these ghats offers a complete view of Varanasi’s living traditions, where devotion, culture, and everyday life flow seamlessly along the sacred river.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour starts at 5:00 PM in winter and at 5:30 PM in summer.
Reviews(151)
This was my second visit to Varanasi. The city has changed altogether, but it has not lost its aura. The rush of people throughout the day, the unruly traffic everywhere, gives it a different atmosphere. The cruise in the evening, covering the "Artis" on the famous ghats of the river Ganges is just awesome ! I will love to visit Varanasi again and again.
Thank you for visiting us again and for sharing your thoughtful review. We’re delighted to know that despite all the changes, Varanasi’s timeless aura and unique energy still made a lasting impression on you.
FAILED to communicate with us all day to confirm plans, then failed to show up at meeting site, had to call Trip Advisor for help, DO NOT USE!
We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. After investigating the situation, we found that this was a last-minute booking and we had already informed you via email and also tried to reach out to confirm the arrangements, but unfortunately we did not receive any response from your end.
We took the "Alaknanda" cruise. It was really good and witnessing the "Namo Ghat Arti" from the boat was awesome. The cruise charges a fancy price, but I believe it's worth the money.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Alaknanda cruise and found witnessing the Namo Ghat Aarti from the boat to be an awesome experience. We are glad you felt the experience was worth it—hope to welcome you again soon!
Definitely need support navigating the old city of Varanasi and finding the meeting spot. Be prepared to walk on rough surfaces.
Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience — we’ll use your comments to improve our services and provide clearer guidance for future guests.
Rahul was a great guide! Very friendly and helpful. He was explaining everything in a very interesting way. He also was answering to all our questions and showed us a few interesting places on the bank of the river.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Rahul and found his guidance informative and engaging. Your appreciation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again for another wonderful experience!
Rahul was very friendly and helpful. He was answering to all our questions. He also showed us some interesting places on the bank of the river. Excellent experience!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had an excellent experience and enjoyed exploring with Rahul. Your appreciation truly motivates us to keep delivering great service and memorable tours.
The boat was very small that too uncovered. It was about to rain so we wanted a covered boat. With the price we paid we did not expect a boat like that.
We’re really sorry to hear that the boat didn’t meet your expectations. The tour generally operates with standard boats as mentioned in the inclusions, but we completely understand your concern regarding the weather. We’ll share your feedback with our operator to ensure better arrangements and clearer communication for future travelers.
We booked and travelled 1 hour to the meeting point for a 5:00pm start. We waited for 20 minutes and no one arrived only to check my email to find a cancellation notification at 4:56pm (4 minutes before the tour was meant to start). No prior warning or communication. Terrible
We are very sorry for the inconvenience you faced. However, we would like to clarify that the tour was scheduled on a date when the region experienced flooding, making it unsafe to operate. For the safety of our guests, we had no choice but to cancel the tour. We informed you in advance, attempted to reach you directly on the same day, and also issued a full refund promptly. As the cancellation was due to unavoidable natural circumstances and outside our control, this review does not reflect the actual service quality we strive to provide. We remain committed to ensuring safe and memorable experiences for all our customers.
Because of the unusual traffic in Varanasi, it was necessary to shorten the boat tour, on the orders of the authorities. To “kill time” Rahul gave me a guided walking tour around the absolutely fascinating Tulsi ghat, off the beaten track. It was very interesting. The rest of the tour according to my expectations, with the nice boat tour, and all the surprising information about the cremation, among others. Thank you Rahul!
Thank you very much for this positive feedback! Despite the unexpected circumstances in Varanasi, we’re delighted that you enjoyed the alternative experience offered by Rahul, as well as the rest of the tour. His enthusiasm and local knowledge truly make a difference. We hope to welcome you again for more enriching discoveries! 😊
These guys bailed on us. We showed up at the meetup and waited and waited. I had to call their head office in Bangkok to get ahold of someone, and when they finally reached out, they said that their boat had been damaged two days earlier and they couldn't give us a tour. They told us they tried reaching out via WhatsApp, and couldn't get through to us. It is true, we had given them our American cell phone number, and not the number we were using on WhatsApp. However, we booked through this app —why not reach out here? It was very disappointing.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you faced due to the sudden suspension of boating in Varanasi. The decision was made by the local administration due to overcrowding and safety concerns, which were beyond our control. Our team reached out to inform you about the situation, and we appreciate your understanding at that time. However, we regret any disappointment this may have caused in your travel plans. Your experience matters to us, and we would love the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Please feel free to reach out if there’s anything we can do to make it up to you.
