Ganges

Name: Ganges
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.6 (42 reviews)

Best Things to Do in Varanasi on River Ganges Holidays

Take a Sunrise Boat Trip

Sailing on the Ganges at dawn is a mystical experience. As the sun casts an orange glow and the mists rise, the ghats teem with pilgrims performing religious rituals. As you watch people bathe, chant, meditate and wash clothes, you truly realise the importance of these sacred waters. The liveliest ghats include Manikarnika, Dasaswamedh, Scindia and Assi.

Shop in the Street Markets

Throughout the streets of Varanasi, you’ll find lively markets and bazaars selling, well, just about everything, from silk and muslin to perfumes, art and food. There are many to choose from, but Thatheri Bazar is known for metalwork, Vishwanath Lane is great for textiles, and Godowlia Market offers a diverse mix of goods and souvenirs.

Visit the Temples

Varanasi is one of the most religious cities in India, so visiting the temples should be high on your list of things to do. The most famous is Kashi Vishwanath, which was built in the mid-18^th century and sits inside two golden domes. Other impressive temples include Annapurna, Durga, Ankatha and Bharat Mata.

See Pilgrims Bathe in Sacred Waters

The Ganges is sacred to Hindus. The holy waters attract pilgrims from across the globe who come to bathe here, a process that’s said to purify souls and wash away sins. People also come to the Ganges to immerse their relative’s ashes in the water, which helps to attain moksha, the liberation of the soul and end of the reincarnation cycle.

Attend an Evening Arti Ceremony

The Arti is a ceremony of light, which is best witnessed from the Dasaswamedh Ghat. Hindu priests light large brass lamps, as dancing and religious chanting take place. It’s believed the lamps absorb the blessing of the goddess Maa Ganga (Mother Ganges). This is one of the most spectacular and soul-stirring ceremonies you’ll witness along the Ganges at Varanasi.

Try the Local Food

Varanasi is a dizzying maze of narrow lanes filled with traditional restaurants, street-food stalls and tea stalls. Try Varanasi lassi, a sweet drink made with saffron, dried rose petals and pistachios. It’s a favourite with locals. For something spicier, try a choti kachori, a snack made with lentils and masala with a crispy outer layer.

River Ganges Holidays

Flowing for 1,550 miles, the mighty Ganges springs to life in the Himalaya and empties into the Bay of Bengal. This sacred river is one of the most fertile regions in India and is the lifeblood of those who live alongside it. Rice and other crops provide essential food for the people of Bangladesh and India and on our River Ganges holidays you can watch people bathing in its sacred waters, as they remember their ancestors and purify themselves. Seeing the swirl of colour along the River Ganges during morning prayers is a humbling experience and a sight to behold.

On our Ganges River trips, we take a boat onto the water to witness the extraordinary spectacle on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river, as thousands of Hindu pilgrims bathe in the holy waters. The river also flows through the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, Varanasi. The city has been a cultural and religious centre for Hinduism in northern India for thousands of years. As you explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and temples of the city, you’ll see religious elders, pilgrims and wandering holy men known as Sadhus.

Ganges River trips are a great way to delve deeper into the culture of South Asia and there’s plenty of time to visit the silk emporiums or try authentic street food.

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I have always wanted to visit India and this trip did not disappoint, its such a vibrant country full of traditions, colour and lots of smiles. The children we met who wanted photos of us along with everyone at India gate who we felt like celebrities posing for them in pictures. The overnight train to Varanasi was an adventure and not to be apprehensive about with some wonderful morning views from the train to take in.

Angela Whitbread Highlights of Northern India

As always, Exodus didn’t disappoint. The itinerary was great, we packed a lot in to the 9 day trip. Some early starts and long drives but the bus was comfortable and the air con worked well! Lots of walking on this trip, and be prepared for the pollution, if you have bad asthma I would consider a different trip as you are literally coughing with the smog!
But the busyness of the traffic is part of the adventure!
Sunrise in India isn’t a thing unfortunately due to the haze of pollution so the Taj Mahal wasn’t seen to it’s full beauty until the sun is higher in the sky. The dreaded sleeper train definitely is something I never wish to repeat, but it’s one night and so long as you don’t go to the toilet you’ll be ok haha ….I took shoe covers !!! So glad I did ! The beds are as hard as a table top !

jeanette hambrey Highlights of Northern India