Walking tours - for an authentic Varanasi experience
Description
Varanasi is a land of many faiths, a myriad of colors, smells & sounds, a cocktail of tastes and a melting pot of beautiful people and many ancient architecture & carvings. It is in Varanasi that anyone will find all these aspects of India in abundance. When passing through the residential spaces, you will find undoubtedly feel the sense of community and the spirit that exists in every area. People from all over India live in the old part of Varanasi and a tour of through its narrow alleys is quite an adventure not to miss.. Attractions of the tour: - Religious activities along bank side of River Ganga - Most Important Ghats - Sacred Temples - Narrow alleys - Local Markets - Cremations Ground - Few nice locations for photography FYI : Our walking tours are always theme-based walks – so let us invite you to come walk with us..
Tour Options
Itinerary
On the way to the Dashashwamedh Ghat (Main Ghat), we will pass from Godowlia Crossing, its the most busy/crowded crossing..
Dashashwamedh Ghat, is divided into two parts in between the two parts is Prayaga Ghat- which is replicates the holy city of Prayagraj (Allahabad). This ghat is presumed to be the first historically recorded site associated with the horse sacrifice performed by the Shiva Nagas king around the 3rd century. Walking around here you can get an idea of religious activities and the associated shops selling ritual items.
Man Mandir Ghat, on which stands a palace built by the king of Amber (Rajasthan), Savai Man Singh in 1585-1605. It is known primarily for the magnificent building with exquisite, ornately carved windows carving, and on the roof the Hindu Observatory built by Savai Jai Singh in 1710. The giant’s stone instruments were once used to study the movement of the sun, the moon, the stars, and other heavenly bodies.
Meer Ghat, named in 1735 after the Muslim commander Mir Rustam Ali, provides access to the Vishalakshi temple, and Dharma Kupa. At the top of the Ghat a conservative Brahmin (Swami Karapatri-ji) built New Vishwanath temple in 1956.
Nepali Ghat, close to the bank is a pretty little shrine of the goddess Ganga River, and from the bank a staircase lead to the Nepalese temple (Replica of Pashupati Nath Temple), a very picturesque building, built chief of wood and brick, and known for its erotic sculptures in wood. All four gateways and the doors of the temple are fully decorated with symbolic and archetypal architecture. You we can have short stop here..
Manikarnika Ghat- famous for cremation ground (photography of the cremation area is prohibited), where one can watch the cremation and related rituals.
Alamgir Mosque, which was built on the location of a 11th century Vishnu temple. After its first destruction in the 15th century, it was re-made by the king of Amber (Rajasthan), but finally demolished and transformed in mosque in 1673 by the bigoted Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The original image of black-marble Lord Vishnu is kept in the nearby house of Lakshmanabala, now known as Vindu Madhav Temple, and attracts thousands of devotees and pilgrims. To the left of the entrance gate is an image of Lord Vishnu’s vehicle Garudda, a divine bird, and to the right is Hanuman, Lord Rama’s devotees. These are pieces of the original temple and are excellent example of miniature and column architecture. Inside the temple, straight ahead one can see the image of Vishnu Madhava. While enjoying the flight of stone steps, on the left you pass through the monastery of Ramananda, a 14th century saint who was the guru of the great Saint Kabir (1398-1518).
From here we continue our walks, as we enter the lanes of the northern part of the old city, we will get to peep through the galiya (Alley ways), and lives of people who have never left the street for years. Seeing the life style of Varanasi is distinct in nature, and referred to as Banarasipan. It is an art of living, both passionate and carefree, what the Varanasi dwellers call Masti (“Joie de vivre”), Mauj (“Delight, festivity”), and Phakarapan (“Care freeness”). Some point, we all enjoy a very famous local snacks and drinks – the taste of Varanasi.
We can stop here for one who likes to drink a very famous lassi (on own expenses) ..
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its also known as Golden temple..
Passing by Local Markets, shops, and one more famous temple, we will end our tour here..
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pickup our guest from anywhere here in the city (In 5 Km) or from Airport as well.. There will be an additional fee if the hotel is beyond our area. The fee depends on distance, and you may inquire it to us once the product has been booked.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(41)
Exploring the old city of Varanasi with Rajeev was one of the highlights of my trip to India. His passion for the city, extensive knowledge, and engaging storytelling transformed what could have been a simple walking tour into a truly immersive cultural experience. From the bustling lanes and ancient temples to the rich history and spiritual traditions of Varanasi, Rajeev provided fascinating insights that helped me appreciate the city on a much deeper level. What stood out most was his ability to share not only historical facts but also the everyday stories, customs, and local perspectives that bring Varanasi to life. Rajeev was friendly, professional, and incredibly attentive throughout the tour. He was always happy to answer questions and tailor the experience to my interests, making the entire journey feel personal and authentic. I left the tour with a far greater understanding of Varanasi and many wonderful memories. For anyone looking to experience the true essence of this remarkable city, I highly recommend Rajeev and Kashi Journeys. This is not just a sightseeing tour - it is an opportunity to connect with the history, culture, and soul of Varanasi.
Our tour covered Kashi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. Rajeev really made this trip a memorable one for our family. He personally worked with me to customize trip based on what we needed. He is extremely knowledgeable and his communication was excellent, especially since I was coming from Canada. He handled all the hotel bookings, arranged comfortable cars, and everything was high quality. Rajeev was very flexible with the itinerary and even accommodated some last-minute changes. He truly took care of us like we were his own family.
Kashi Journeys! Rajeev is extremely professional and makes Kashi feel like your home. We felt completely at ease with him as we explored every corner of Kashi. Not only is he service-oriented, but he also becomes a long-term friend. Although we only paid for his services, we felt his big heart and dedication were priceless. I highly recommend anyone visiting Kashi to hire him. Visiting Kashi is one thing but exploring it to the fullest with Rajeev is an entirely different experience. Thank you once again, Rajeev, for everything!
Very informative round around Varanasi and ghats. Learned so much new. Thank you for the tour 🙏 Found out more about Hinduism and spirituality.
This was a very worthwhile experience. Rajiv was tireless in taking us to all the sites we especially wanted to see; and his knowledge about Varanasi gave us background and insights we could never have gleaned from a travel book. Highly recommended.
I haded really good vibes with him. He has lots of knowledge and very good english as well. We maded tour our own time without to much hurried mode. He was my first guide ever so I am more than happy 😊
Fantastic guide. A kind hearted man who clearly loves his job. I booked another day with him it was so good. Very knowledgable too. Thank you Rajeev. Great tours.
Rajeev is very knowledgeable and informative. He can suggest different places to visit if needed. Very interesting. He explains everything clearly and gives a lot of background and history. Easy company. Very enjoyable 2 days in Varanasi with Rajeev. Thank you. Do not hesitate to book
Really informative, interesting, personable and fun . Well worth it ! Thank you ! We really gained a lot more understanding of Varanasi .
Rajif was amazing as a guide and very insightful as well. It made the walking tour very interesting and unforgettable, he was not a simple guide he was really into what he tried to pass to us and we appreciated it a lot.
