Varanasi temples and ghats walking tour with Ganga Aarti

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (5 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/32

Duration5h–7h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · IT +2

PickupAt your hotel

Walk the ghats at dawn, stand in the temples at ceremony time, watch the Ganga Aarti at dusk

A guided walking tour of Varanasi's temples and ghats that moves through the old city on foot, visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple), Durga Temple, and Sankat Mochan Temple (Monkey Temple), then follows the Ganges from the cremation sites to the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Assi Ghat. The tour includes a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French; tea, water and lassi; and tuk-tuk transport between major stops. The route covers five to seven hours and is suitable for all fitness levels.

5h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Varanasi city and temple tour

Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple ceremonies
See Durga Temple ceremonies
Attend Sankat Mochan (Monkey) Temple kirtan
Explore Banaras Hindu University and New Vishwanath Temple
Walk Old City from Harishchandra to Manikanika Ghat
Try sweets and lassi at Blue Lassi
Watch Ganga Aarti ceremony at Assi Ghat

The Experience

Varanasi's old city unfolds on foot, starting at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple—the oldest and most sacred shrine to Shiva, also called the Golden Temple—where you'll watch the morning ceremonies. From there the walk moves through the narrow lanes toward the Ganges, passing through the market where locals buy flowers and incense, stopping at Blue Lassi to drink the famous yogurt drink and taste local sweets. The guide navigates the tight streets and explains what you're seeing as you move.

The tour visits three major temples: Durga Temple near Durgakund, where you'll see rituals in progress; Sankat Mochan Temple (also called the Monkey Temple), which is especially active on Tuesdays and Saturdays when kirtan chanting happens; and the New Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University, one of India's oldest institutions. Between stops, a tuk-tuk carries the group to save time and energy, so the walking stays focused on the temple interiors and the old city itself.

The route then moves to the ghats along the Ganges—the stone steps where the city meets the river. You'll walk from Harishchandra Ghat to Manikanika Ghat, where cremations take place in full view. This is not a detached observation; you're standing at the water's edge watching the ritual unfold. The day ends at Assi Ghat at sunset for the Ganga Aarti, a daily ceremony of fire and chanting held in honor of the river, performed at both sunrise and sunset. An optional boat ride after the tour costs extra and is not included in the price.

What’s included

Tea, a water bottle and lassi.
a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
tuk-tuk transport between major stops.
entry to all temples and the Ganga Aarti ceremony.
and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Recorre La India

Is this one for you?The five to seven hour pace means you're walking and standing for much of the day, with tuk-tuk breaks between temples—book this if you're comfortable on your feet and want to move through the old city itself rather than view it from a vehicle. The tour follows the operator's schedule, which is what keeps the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the exact moment it happens each evening.