Holy Cities of Varanasi and Sarnath Small Group Tour Including Lunch
Your tour will begin with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in an air conditioned car.
Our first stop will be the Flower Market near Dashashwamedha Ghat in Varanasi. Here you can take in the fragrant floral aromas and discover why flowers are so important to the residents of this very spiritual city.
Next we will head over to the Ghat, a place where pilgrims flock to seek blessings from the Ganges by taking a holy dip in it. We will chat with a local sadhu, dressed in saffron-coloured robes, who will most likely happily pose with you for a memorable entry in your holiday photo album.
Next up, we will take a walk to the highly revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, ruler of the universe. The temple, with its stunning golden domes, is said to have been founded in 1490.
As we pass through more narrow lanes in this ancient city you will get a true sense of local life. We will make a quick stop for a hot cup of local tea before driving north to our next port of call, the magical Buddhist city of Sarnath.
Sarnath is one of the four most important pilgrimage sites in the world for Buddhists and is dotted with an abundance of ancient heritage icons. Chaukhandi stupa is the first monument that welcomes you, built between 4th and 6th century by Emperor Ashoka after he decided to convert to Buddhism.
We will then move on to one of the most iconic and most visited Buddhist structures in the world, the giant Dhamek stupa, marking the spot where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon.
The Sarnath Archaeological Museum is next on our hit list, offering you the chance to view the rich collection of sculptures, artifacts and images of Buddha and Boddhisatva that have been excavated in this sacred area in recent years.
While we are here, we can also go and see the Thai and the Tibetan temples. The former is worth a look for its peaceful gardens and a huge Buddha statue, and the latter is worth a visit for its exquisite paintings and frescoes.
After exploring the treasures of Sarnath we will drive you back to Varanasi just in time for lunch at one of our favourite local restaurants. Here we will try authentic dishes from the Uttar Pradesh region and beyond.
After a full morning of sightseeing and a hearty lunch, we will drop you back at your hotel. Don’t forget to talk to your local guide about what else there is to see and do in Varanasi and beyond.
