Kashi Vishwanath Prayag

A prayer for your welcome

The first day of our long tour through some of the most divine sites in India starts with our arrival in Varanasi/Kashi. Our representatives will meet you upon your arrival and they will then assist you in your transfer to your hotel, where you will check-in and drop off your luggage as you stretch your legs for a bit. Spend some time however you’d like but once the time for the sunset draws near, it is time for you to be on your way to witness a most marvellous ritual that is performed here every day at this time. The Dasaswamedh Ghat, located near Vishwanath Temple, is the location of this ritual. Watch the pandits take to a stage that has been built here and blow the conch shell, commencing the Varanasi Ganga Aarti. The River Ganga is considered to be a Goddess in the culture here and every sunset is punctuated by this ritual. The ritual itself, however, is a spectacular sight. It is a properly choreographed performance in truth, with every action, from the circular movement of the lanterns to the chanting functioning with a deliberate rhythm, in perfect synchronisation. After witnessing this spectacle, we return to our hotel for an overnight stay.

The next step on a holy journey

With a hearty breakfast, you get an energetic start on the second day of the tour. We check-out from our hotel in Varanasi, after which we head towards the city of Allahabad, officially referred to as Prayagraj, to seek the blessings of the holy monuments present there, as well as to learn of some of its historical structures. Even before we reach Allahabad, on the way there, there are so many important stops to make. The Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Temple are all on the agenda before we actually leave from the town of Varanasi. After we’ve basked in their divine glory and actually made our way to Allahabad/Prayagraj, we check into a hotel there, following which we tour that city in the afternoon. This afternoon tour includes important landmarks across the city, such as the famous Anand Bhavan, as well as the Hanuman Temple here, which is renowned for the fact that the idol of Lord Hanuman that is worshipped here depicts him in a relaxed, reclined posture. We will also visit the Allahabad Fort, Patalpuri Temple, the iconic Ashoka Pillar, the top of which is the basis for the National Emblem of India, and finally the Akshaya Vat. The day ends with an overnight stay in this city.

The home of the Lord

We have breakfast at the hotel here in Prayagraj/Allahabad, after which we complete our check-out process and head to the next destination on the tour. This next destination is the holy town of Ayodhya. This legendary village is said to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, with the place of his birth here referred to as Ram Janmabhoomi and the setting of his epic life story, known as Ramayana. We will visit these hallowed grounds on our tour here, along with important landmarks from Lord Ram’s life, such the Lakshman Ghat, Kala Ram Temple, Kanak Bhavan Temple and the numerous Jain shrines that are found throughout the village. We end the day as we return to our hotel for an overnight stay.

From hallowed land to sacred waters

The day starts off with our customary breakfast, after which we check-out from the hotel and head back to Varanasi. Upon arrival here, we will once again check into a hotel. Then, a boat ride on the gorgeous waters of the Ganga River awaits us in the afternoon. Once the boat ride has concluded, we tour around the city, visiting some of its familiar temples again for a closer look. As we revisit the Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple and Sarnath Temple, along with a visit to the Bharat Mata Temple for the first time, the day’s events draw to a close. We return to the hotel and turn in for the night.

The seat of enlightenment

A drive to Bodh Gaya awaits on this day after you have some breakfast and check-out from your hotel. As you arrive in this important town for people of the Buddhist faith, you check into your hotel for the day and stay there overnight.

An illuminating stroll

The day begins in Bodh Gaya where, after breakfast and check-out, we get some sightseeing done. We visit some of the most important Buddhist monuments anywhere in the world, such as the Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple and the Maha Bodhi Temple. The Chinese Temple here is also part of the day’s tour. Charity and kindness are two key teachings of Buddhism, so we visit a school that has been constructed to educate the poor of the city, in line with these values. The tour of Bodh Gaya ends as we return to Varanasi for an overnight stay.

The end of an enriching holiday

The tour officially ends as we have one final breakfast, then check-out from the hotel and depart from Varanasi to go home, fulfilled due to our encounter with the divine monuments of these great cities.