Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya & Lucknow Cultural Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Varanasi

Morning: Arrival flight lands late night, so morning activities are not scheduled.

Afternoon: Payload waiting & travel time at the airport after your journey before check-in.

Evening: At 9:45 PM, arrive at Varanasi Airport. By approximately 10:15 PM, transfer to your accommodation at DIG Colony, Varanasi for check-in and overnight rest.

Day 2: Gokarna Math Visit, Ghats & Ganga Aarti

Morning: Freshen up starting at 7:00 AM. From 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM, spend your morning visiting Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir, the 1st Shaka Math of Gokarna Math, engaging in darshan and local rituals.

Afternoon: From 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, explore the iconic ghats along the Ganges: Dashashwamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat, and Scindia Ghat. Optionally, visit Manikarnika Ghat to observe the cremation rituals respectfully.

Evening: At 7:00 PM, attend the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Follow up with a group dinner featuring local delicacies such as Kachori Sabzi and Malaiyo, before returning to DIG Colony.

Day 3: Kashi Darshan & Sarnath Visit

Morning: From 7:00 AM to noon, tour major temples in the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor: Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Annapurna Devi Temple, Kal Bhairav Temple, and Vishalakshi Shaktipeeth.

Afternoon: Post lunch, travel (approx. 30 mins) to Sarnath to visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites including Dhamek Stupa, Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath Archaeological Museum, and Mulagandha Kuti Vihar.

Evening: Return to DIG Colony for overnight stay and savor traditional Varanasi thali dinner.

Day 4: Prayagraj & Ayodhya Journey

Morning: Depart from Varanasi at 7:00 AM to reach Prayagraj in about 3 hours. Visit Triveni Sangam for a holy dip, Bade Hanuman Mandir, and view Allahabad Fort from the outside.

Afternoon: If time permits, explore the Akshayavat Tree and Anand Bhawan. At 1:00 PM, begin your 4.5-hour journey to Ayodhya.

Evening: Arrive around 6:00 PM and visit Kanak Bhawan, Hanuman Garhi, and optionally attend the Saryu River Ghat Aarti. Check into Treebo Ramayana Suite for overnight stay.

Day 5: Ram Mandir Visit & Lucknow Sightseeing

Morning: From 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM, explore Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir and optionally Treta Ke Thakur, Nageshwarnath Temple, and Dashrath Mahal.

Afternoon: Depart at 1:00 PM for Lucknow (approx. 3 hours). Once arrived around 4:00 PM, enjoy light sightseeing including Ambedkar Memorial Park and Gomti Riverfront.

Evening: Optionally visit Hazratganj for shopping and dinner. Overnight at Treebo Silver Suite in Gomti Nagar.

Day 6: Lucknow Sightseeing & Return to Varanasi

Morning: Explore key sites from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM: Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, and British Residency.

Afternoon: After lunch at 1:00 PM, begin the 6-hour drive back to Varanasi.

Evening: Arrive at DIG Colony around 7:30 PM for rest. Enjoy a farewell dinner featuring Banarasi paan and other regional specialties.

Day 7: Departure from Varanasi

Morning: At 9:30 AM, check out and transfer to Varanasi Airport to catch your 11:45 AM flight departure.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Varanasi Airport to DIG Colony - 30 mins travel, ₹500 approx. for group transfer
• Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir Visit - 7.5 hrs, Free entry
• Ghats Exploration (Dashashwamedh, Assi, Scindia) - 3 hrs, Free entry
• Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat - 1 hr, Free
• Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Temples - 5 hrs, Entry free (donations optional)
• Sarnath Complex (Stupa, Museum, Temples) - 4 hrs, Entry ₹50 per person
• Varanasi to Prayagraj Travel - 3 hrs, ₹6000 approx. for group bus
• Prayagraj Local Sightseeing - 2 hrs, Mostly free
• Prayagraj to Ayodhya Transfer - 4.5 hrs, ₹8000 approx. for group bus
• Ayodhya Sightseeing (Temples and Aarti) - 3 hrs, Free entry
• Ayodhya to Lucknow Travel - 3 hrs, ₹6000 approx. group bus
• Lucknow Sightseeing (Evening + Day 6) - 8 hrs, Entry mostly free
• Lucknow to Varanasi Return - 6 hrs, ₹10,000 approx. for group bus
• Food and Miscellaneous - Approx. ₹500 per person per day (local delicacies like Kachori, Malaiyo, Banarasi paan etc.)
• Total Estimated Cost - ₹45,000 approx. per person (including transport, entry fees, and meals)

Tips

To extend your trip, consider adding an extra day in Varanasi or Lucknow to explore local markets, attend cultural shows, or visit lesser-known temples and museums. Conversely, shorten by skipping Prayagraj or limiting sightseeing in Lucknow. Traveling in a group of 13 adults via private transport like Urbania vans optimizes travel comfort and timing. Don’t miss local specialties like Banarasi paan, Kachori Sabzi, and Malaiyo during your stays to enrich your cultural experience.