Varanasi01$260/ night
BrijRama Palace
Darbhanga Ghat· Heritage hotel
An 18th-century palace right on the ghats, reached by boat.
India · Ready-made itinerary
2 Day Varanasi Itinerary: Ghats, Ganga Aarti & Sarnath
Varanasi is overwhelming in the best way. This plan anchors each day on the river, at dawn and dusk, and spends the hours between in the old city and at Sarnath.
- Length
- 2 days
- Budget for two
- $350 incl. stays
- Best time
- Oct – Mar
- Pace
- Balanced
Who it suits: Culture lovers, photographers and first-timers who want a respectful, well-paced introduction to the city.
Day 1: River and fire
- 5:45 AM · Sunrise boat along the ghats, Assi Ghat to Manikarnika
- 10:00 AM · Kashi Vishwanath and the old lanes, Vishwanath Gali
- 5:30 PM · Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Dashashwamedh
Day 2: Sarnath and the silk weavers
- 8:30 AM · Sarnath, Sarnath
- 1:00 PM · Banarasi silk weavers, Madanpura
- 5:00 PM · Assi Ghat evening, Assi Ghat
2 days · GoRoam travel package · Couple
Varanasi
Two intense, beautiful days in one of the world's oldest living cities: a dawn boat along the ghats, the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, old-city food lanes, the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh and a quiet morning at Sarnath.
From
Anywhere
to Varanasi
Travellers
2 travellers
2 adults
Pace
Balanced
Comfort spending
Staying in
Hotel
1 night
Into
Culture, History
+1 more
Don't miss
The big moments.
4 highlights · tap one to see its day
Where to stay
Pick your base.
Hand-picked for a hotel stay · Nov 19 Nov 20
The plan
Day by day.
Day 01 · Thu, Nov 19
River and fire
A sunrise boat, the old city, and the evening aarti.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 5:45 AM - 8:30 AMEst.$105:45 AM - 8:30 AM 2.5 hours
Sunrise boat along the ghats
Culture Assi Ghat to ManikarnikaRow from Assi Ghat downstream at dawn as bathers, priests and washermen start the day, past Manikarnika, the burning ghat that never goes out.
Local tip · Agree the boat price and route at Assi the night before; photography at the cremation ghats is not allowed.
- 3.1 km~15 min by taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 10:00 AM - 1:30 PMEst.$1010:00 AM - 1:30 PM 3.5 hours
Kashi Vishwanath and the old lanes
Culture Vishwanath GaliWalk the rebuilt corridor to the golden-spired Shiva temple, then lose yourself in the galis for kachori-sabzi and lassi at Blue Lassi.
Local tip · Phones, bags and pens aren't allowed inside the temple; use the lockers near the gate.
- 600 m8 min walkDirections
- 3Evening· 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMEst.$85:30 PM - 7:30 PM 2 hours
Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Culture DashashwamedhSeven priests perform the fire ritual in unison with lamps, conch shells and chants. Watch from the steps or from a boat on the river.
Local tip · A boat view (₹100-200 each) avoids the crush on the steps.
Today's trickWear slip-on shoes; you'll take them off often.
Day 01 · Thu, Nov 19
River and fire
A sunrise boat, the old city, and the evening aarti.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 5:45 AM - 8:30 AMEst.$105:45 AM - 8:30 AM 2.5 hours
Sunrise boat along the ghats
Culture Assi Ghat to ManikarnikaRow from Assi Ghat downstream at dawn as bathers, priests and washermen start the day, past Manikarnika, the burning ghat that never goes out.
Local tip · Agree the boat price and route at Assi the night before; photography at the cremation ghats is not allowed.
- 3.1 km~15 min by taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 10:00 AM - 1:30 PMEst.$1010:00 AM - 1:30 PM 3.5 hours
Kashi Vishwanath and the old lanes
Culture Vishwanath GaliWalk the rebuilt corridor to the golden-spired Shiva temple, then lose yourself in the galis for kachori-sabzi and lassi at Blue Lassi.
Local tip · Phones, bags and pens aren't allowed inside the temple; use the lockers near the gate.
- 600 m8 min walkDirections
- 3Evening· 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMEst.$85:30 PM - 7:30 PM 2 hours
Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Culture DashashwamedhSeven priests perform the fire ritual in unison with lamps, conch shells and chants. Watch from the steps or from a boat on the river.
Local tip · A boat view (₹100-200 each) avoids the crush on the steps.
Today's trickWear slip-on shoes; you'll take them off often.
Day 02 · Fri, Nov 20
Sarnath and the silk weavers
The Buddha's first sermon site, silk workshops, and a last walk on the ghats.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 8:30 AM - 12:00 PMEst.$108:30 AM - 12:00 PM 3.5 hours
Sarnath
Culture SarnathTen kilometres north, the deer park where the Buddha gave his first teaching, with the great Dhamek Stupa and a museum holding the Lion Capital, India's national emblem.
Local tip · The museum is closed on Fridays.
- 12 km~35 min by taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 1:00 PM - 3:30 PMEst.$401:00 PM - 3:30 PM 2.5 hours
Banarasi silk weavers
Shopping MadanpuraVisit a family handloom workshop to see Banarasi brocade being woven thread by thread, and buy direct from the weavers.
Local tip · Ask to see the GI tag for genuine Banarasi silk.
- 2.2 km~10 min by taxiDirections
- 3Evening· 5:00 PM - 8:00 PMEst.$205:00 PM - 8:00 PM 3 hours
Assi Ghat evening
Culture Assi GhatA gentler aarti and evening music at Assi Ghat, then dinner at a rooftop café overlooking the river.
Local tip · Try malaiyo, saffron milk foam, if you're here Nov-Feb; it's only made in winter.
Know before you go
Sorted before take-off.
Entry & visaCan you get in?
Check what your passport needs: visas, e-visas and any arrival forms.
Check your passportStay connectedData from the moment you land
A travel eSIM installs before you fly: maps, rides and WhatsApp work at the airport, without roaming bills.
Get an eSIMTravel insuranceCovered if plans change
Medical care, cancelled flights and lost bags, for a few dollars a day.
Good to know
The essentials.
Weather
Oct-Mar is best (8-28°C); winter mornings are foggy and atmospheric.
Money
Indian Rupee (INR). UPI and cards work in towns; carry cash for small temples, coracles and rural stalls.
Language
Hindi and Bhojpuri; English understood in tourist areas
Har Har Mahadev: the city's greeting to Shiva
Plugs
Type C/D, 230V
Tipping
Small tips for boatmen and guides
Getting around
Walk the ghats; cycle-rickshaws and e-ricks for the city; a cab for Sarnath.
Make it yours.
Change the dates, budget, pace or who's coming, and GoRoam re-plans every day around you.
Questions about this trip
Is 2 days enough for Varanasi?
Two days lets you see a sunrise and a sunset on the Ganga, the main temples, the old city and Sarnath. A third day adds Ramnagar Fort and more time on the ghats.
What time is the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi?
The evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat starts around 6:00-7:00 PM depending on the season. Arrive 45 minutes early for a good spot, or watch from a boat.
Can you take photos at the burning ghats?
No. Photographing cremations at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats is not allowed and is deeply disrespectful.
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
October to March. Winter dawns are foggy and atmospheric; Dev Deepawali in November lights every ghat with lamps.