Varanasi: Guided Tour of Varanasi & Sarnath by Car

Memories of Varanasi: After leaving your hotel at 5:30 a.m. Take a sunrise boat ride on the sacred river Ganges. Witness the morning rituals on the banks of the river. Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Next, follow your guide on a short walking tour through the streets of the old city and visit one of the most sacred Hindu temples, Kashi Vishwanath. Banaras Hindu University: Banaras Hindu University (Pass By) Stop for breakfast (at your own expense), then depart for Banaras Hindu University at 10 a.m. Founded in 1916, BHU is the largest university in Asia continent. Tour the complex and see the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum and the new Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple), which is an exact replica of the original Vishwanath Temple. Bharat Mata Mandir: Mother India Temple, built in 1918, houses an unusual marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent. At 12:30 pm, learn about the silk weaving traditions of Varanasi, then break for lunch (at your own expense). Next, drive about eight miles (13 km) to Sarnath to see the Dhamekha Stupa, known as the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. You will also visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses treasures dating back to the 3rd century BC (closed on Fridays). Dashashwamedh Ghat: 5 PM to visit Ganga Cremation Ghat, then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening to watch Ganga Aarti Ceremony. Your tour will end with you returning to your hotel around 8 p.m. Sarnath: Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometers north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Deer Park in Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.