Best of Varanasi

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Varanasi
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A Hindu sadhu observing the city of Varanasi from the Ganges River
Map of Culture & Spiritualism in Northern India: Delhi, Agra & Varanasi - 6 Days
Culture & Spiritualism in Northern India: Delhi, Agra & Varanasi - 6 Days

Immerse yourself in Northern India's rich cultural and spiritual heritage on a six-day tour of Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi. Enjoy several different perspectives on the Taj Mahal, sample delicious street food in Agra Bazaar, experience a spiritual ceremony on the banks of the Ganges, take a yoga class in Varanasi and visit the birthplace of Buddhism in Sarnath. End your journey with a visit to a traditional market to watch sari weaving.

Prayer flags at Bodhgaya
Map of Highlights of Buddhist India - 7 Days
Highlights of Buddhist India - 7 Days

Take a spiritual journey through Buddhist India with this itinerary that will take you to some of the most important places in Buddha's life. The birthplace of Buddhism, India is home to some of the religion's most significant sites, including the place of Buddha's enlightenment at Bodhgaya, his first sermon at Sarnath, and last sermon at Vaishali, all easily accessed with a weeklong trip out of Delhi.

Enjoy the cuisine of India's north
Map of A Culinary Tour of North India: Delhi, Agra, Lucknow & Varanasi  - 9 Days
A Culinary Tour of North India: Delhi, Agra, Lucknow & Varanasi - 9 Days

Spend nine days in northern India, learning all about its food, culture, and history. Start in Delhi sightseeing and tasting its street food, feast on Peshawari cuisine in Agra after visiting its red sandstone fort, and dine with a descendant of the Nawabs in Lucknow. Your tour finishes in Varanasi on the River Ganges, where you'll try treats in a local market before you head back to Delhi for a final day of exploring.

An Indian worship offering
Map of Highlights of Buddhist India: Varanasi & Bodhgaya - 7 Days
Highlights of Buddhist India: Varanasi & Bodhgaya - 7 Days

Follow the trail of Buddhism as you explore the northeastern part of India, not far from Nepal. Land in Delhi before visiting Varanasi to witness the evening prayer ceremony. Float along the Ganges at sunrise as you observe Hindu pilgrims offer prayers on the ghats (stairs leading to the river) before purifying themselves in the river. Head to Bodhgaya to walk in the steps of Lord Buddha as you discover a circuit of holy bodhi trees and crucial sites linked to Buddhism in India.

North India's Golden Triangle
Map of North India's Golden Triangle - 10 Days
North India's Golden Triangle - 10 Days

The Golden Triangle in North India symbolizes three pinnacles: culture, heritage, and metamorphosis. Your 10-day journey begins in the capital city of New Delhi, where you can learn about both Islamic and Hindu influences. In Agra, which symbolizes love, you will visit the grand wonder that is the Taj Mahal. A trip to Jaipur will reveal the beauty of the Pink City and its textile industry. On the final leg of your trip, you will visit Varanasi, where you will experience the live, iconic rituals along the Ganges, and visit the sacred Buddhist town of Sarnath.

Sunrise over the Taj Mahal in Agra
Highlights of Northern India: Delhi to Kolkata - 12 Days

Immerse yourself in the magic of northern India on this spectacular 12-day cultural tour. Setting out from Delhi, you'll delve into the famed Golden Triangle as you learn to cook with locals in Jaipur, watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal in Agra, and explore the ancient wonders of Orchha and Khajuraho. After floating down the Ganges in Varanasi and walking in the Buddha's footsteps at Sarnath, continue east to end in the West Bengal capital of Kolkata.

The grand statue of Buddha in Bodhgaya
In the Buddha’s Footsteps: Spiritual Tour of Northern India & Nepal - 14 Days

Discover the birthplace of Buddhism on this enlightening two-week journey through some of northern India's most important spiritual sites. Setting off from Delhi, you'll boat down the Ganges River in Varanasi, meditate under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, and hop over the Nepalese border to visit the Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini. After touring the markets and sampling the local delicacies of Lucknow, your trip draws to a close with a train ride back to Delhi.

Capture a glimpse of life along Mother Ganga on this trip through northern India
Splendid North India: Golden Triangle, Varanasi & Kolkata - 16 Days

Experience the magic of northern India on this amazing 16-day trip from Delhi to Kolkata. Visit the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, before following the holy Ganges River as it flows through Uttar Pradesh to Varanasi. From sunrise boat trips to breathtaking sunsets, ancient palaces, religious rituals, historic hotspots, and the chance to visit some of India's most incredible and influential cities, this trip has it all.

Watch the world go by on a boat trip down the holy river Ganges in Varanasi
Map of Highlights of North India: Golden Triangle, Taj Mahal, Varanasi, & More - 10 Days
Highlights of North India: Golden Triangle, Taj Mahal, Varanasi, & More - 10 Days

From tigers to temples, and ancient palaces to bazaars, India is one of the most magical places in the world. This 10-day trip takes you all the way from the bustling capital and the holy city of Varanasi to Rajasthan, where we'll wander in the footsteps of past kings. Top that off with a trip to the Taj Mahal at sunrise and a tiger safari through one of northern India's biggest and most beautiful national parks and you're in for a whirlwind adventure through the heart of this amazing country.

Experience the history and beauty of India from Rajasthan to Varanasi
Map of Best of North India: Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Rajasthan & Mumbai - 15 Days
Best of North India: Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Rajasthan & Mumbai - 15 Days

With its vivid colors, glittering heritage, fascinating cities, and beautiful countryside from lush green oases to the Thar desert, North India is like nowhere else on earth. This 15-day trip will take you to some of the north's top destinations, including the palaces and temples of Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodphur, the Taj Mahal—the world's most famous monument to love—and one of the holiest cities in the world, Varanasi, before winding up in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai.

Other popular travel destinations in India
Delhi · Agra · Rajasthan · Ladakh · West Bengal · Kerala · Himachal Pradesh