Itineraries for Your Trip to Varanasi
1 Day in Varanasi for First Timers
When I was fresh out of grad school, I decided I would save up every penny at my low-paying summer temp job and buy an airplane ticket to India. A few months later, I found myself backpacking through the country, learning the ropes and slowly—but deeply—falling in love with the country.
People I met kept telling me to visit Varanasi, but I was intimidated. I was mostly fearful of food poisoning, but also that the city might be too extreme for me to handle. Still, I ended up going, and while it certainly was intense, it was also fascinating to be immersed in the heart of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. I’d suggest seeing it for yourself by following this one-day itinerary.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a boat trip along the Ganges River (Ganga).
Loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibers are ideal for staying cool on hot Varanasi days.
Get up before the break of dawn on your first day and head down to the Ganges River for a sunrise boat ride. Your captain will paddle you past ancient ghats, where devout Hindus conduct their morning prayers, and will provide commentary as you make your way along the holy river. After your journey, grab a filling breakfast at one of the many rooftop cafés or pop back to your hotel for a well-deserved nap.
![Varanasi Morning Boat Tour [RowBoat]](https://media.tacdn.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-360x240/09/c3/3c/2d.jpg)
Devote your afternoon to exploring Varanasi on foot, preferably with a guide who can help add some context to what you’re seeing (and keep you from getting lost in the city’s labyrinthine alleys). Visit holy ghats and see temples as you make your way through town, learning about Varnasi’s history and its significance as a major pilgrimage destination. If you have time, ask your guide to take you to a local street food vendor for some of the city’s famous tamatar chaat, a mélange of potatoes and tomatoes covered in chutney.
Around sunset, head to Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganges River to watch the evening aarti, a prayer ceremony during which a long line of priests offer sacred fire to the river. Join throngs of devotees in prayer and chanting during this moving ceremony. It’s open to all, regardless of background, and anyone is welcome to show up. However, if you aren’t Indian and/or familiar with Hindu ritual, you may find going with a guide who can provide context a more enriching option.
