Begin your day with a leisurely breakfast at Blue Lassi Shop sampling thick sweet lassis and local kachori, then stroll through the winding lanes to explore the aromatic spice stalls of Bharat Mata Market and the colorful silk shops along Godowlia Road. Pause at Tulsi Ghat for a riverside tea and watch early boatmen prepare their boats-this calm morning scene sets a gentle contrast to the bustling afternoon ghats you'll visit later.
After settling in, head to Assi Ghat for a relaxed riverside walk where students and sadhus mingle; hire a boat there for a short downstream trip to watch river life up close and glimpse the evening preparations on the ghats. Continue on foot through the narrow lanes to Kedar Ghat and pause at a rooftop café overlooking the Ganges to sip masala chai while watching boats glide by, then stroll to Ramnagar Fort riverside gardens for a quiet sunset stroll before returning to freshen up for the aarti.
As dusk deepens, make your way to Dashashwamedh Ghat to soak in the dramatic aarti-arrive early to grab a front-row spot or watch from a boat for a glowing riverscape. After the ceremony, wander the nearby lanes to sample street bites at Deena Chaat Bhandar and enjoy a slow rooftop drink at Suryauday Haveli while listening to temple bells and the night rhythms of the Ganges, completing a full-day arc from tranquil morning to sacred evening.
Wake early for a serene sunrise boat ride launched from Manikarnika Ghat's quieter stretch, then disembark to walk the alleys toward New Vishwanath Temple (Banaras Hindu University) to admire its grand spire and peaceful campus gardens. Afterward, stop for a hearty breakfast at Kashi Chat Bhandar and browse the artisanal stalls around Benia Bagh for brassware and silk scarves, watching the city come alive with morning rituals and schoolchildren en route to their classes.
After a morning of sunrise rituals and BHU's calm gardens, spend the afternoon exploring the labyrinthine lanes around Kashi Vishwanath Temple Complex, including a guided visit to the inner temple corridors and the serene Gyanvapi Well courtyard; pause for a thali lunch at the historic Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe or a traditional meal at Baati Chokha nearby. Later, walk down to Harishchandra Ghat to observe cremation rituals from a respectful distance and then head to the adjacent Sarnath Archaeological Museum for quiet, contemplative time among Buddhist relics before returning to the ghats for sunset preparations.
As twilight settles, wander to Scindia Ghat to watch evening rituals and listen to local musicians playing classical ragas from the steps, then cross toward the quieter lanes to discover the atmospheric Brahmpuri Gali where tiny shops sell puja items and handcrafted incense. Finish with a leisurely rooftop meal at Purnima Restaurant overlooking the river, sampling seasonal kachori and jalebi while the ghats glow with lamps and evening prayers drift across the water.
Start your day with dawn darshan at Ram Janmabhoomi Complex, feeling the tranquil buzz of priests and pilgrims as the temples open; afterward stroll the peaceful riverside promenade by Sarayu Ghat to watch local morning rituals and fishermen setting out. Continue with a visit to the ornate Hanuman Garhi for panoramic views over the old city, then stop at Treta Ke Thakur for a quieter temple experience and a simple breakfast of local poha and kachori at a nearby stall, linking the spiritual mornings in Varanasi to Ayodhya's devotional rhythm.
After a devotional morning, spend the afternoon wandering the historic lanes around Naya Ghat, where you can join a guided heritage walk that explains local legends and climb the riverside steps to watch washermen and pilgrims along the Sarayu River. Then visit the tranquil Kanak Bhawan for its jewel-toned shrines and ornate courtyards, followed by a leisurely lunch at a nearby eatery sampling regional specialties like kachori-sabzi before pausing at Lal Bahadur Shastri Park to absorb quiet river views and local life as the day moves toward evening.
As dusk falls, head to Nageshwarnath Temple to join the evening aarti where brass lamps and bhajans draw local families and priests into a warm communal ceremony; linger afterward to stroll the nearby Ramlila Maidan where street performers often rehearse traditional scenes. Finish with a gentle riverside walk along Guptar Ghat, watching lamp-lit boats drift on the Sarayu and stopping at a riverside stall for steaming kulhad chai and seasonal sweets while local storytellers recount Ramayana episodes under soft floodlights.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Blue Lassi Shop (lassi & kachori) | ₹120 |
| Bharat Mata Market (explore) | Free |
| Godowlia Road (shopping browse) | Free |
| Tulsi Ghat (tea at riverside stall) | ₹40 |
| Assi Ghat (riverside walk) | Free |
| Boat hire from Assi Ghat (short downstream trip) | ₹300 |
| Kedar Ghat (rooftop café chai) | ₹80 |
| Ramnagar Fort (riverside gardens walk / exterior) | Free |
| Dashashwamedh Ghat (evening Ganga Aarti - general viewing) | Free |
| Boat for Dashashwamedh Aarti (front-row boat experience) | ₹600 |
| Deena Chaat Bhandar (street snacks) | ₹150 |
| Suryauday Haveli (rooftop drink) | ₹200 |
| Sunrise boat ride from Manikarnika-area (shared boat) | ₹350 |
| New Vishwanath Temple (BHU) visit | Free |
| Kashi Chat Bhandar (breakfast) | ₹120 |
| Benia Bagh (artisan browsing / brassware shopping) | Free |
| Kashi Vishwanath Temple Complex (temple visit) | Free |
| Gyanvapi Well courtyard (visit) | Free |
| Guided inner corridors visit (approx. donation/fee) | ₹200 |
| Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe (thali/lunch alternative) | ₹400 |
| Baati Chokha (traditional meal) | ₹350 |
| Harishchandra Ghat (observe cremation rituals respectfully) | Free |
| Sarnath Archaeological Museum (entry) | ₹50 |
| Scindia Ghat (evening rituals / music) | Free |
| Brahmpuri Gali (browse puja items/incense) | Free |
| Purnima Restaurant (rooftop meal) | ₹400 |
| Travel Varanasi to Ayodhya (one-way by train AC/fast, per person estimate) | ₹600 |
| Ram Janmabhoomi Complex (darshan) | Free |
| Sarayu Ghat (riverside promenade) | Free |
| Hanuman Garhi (visit & panoramic view) | Free |
| Treta Ke Thakur (temple visit) | Free |
| Local breakfast (poha & kachori stall) | ₹80 |
| Guided heritage walk Naya Ghat (local guide fee) | ₹300 |
| Kanak Bhawan (visit) | Free |
| Lunch (kachori-sabzi at local eatery) | ₹150 |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri Park (visit) | Free |
| Nageshwarnath Temple (evening aarti) | Free |
| Ramlila Maidan (street performance viewing) | Free |
| Guptar Ghat (riverside walk & kulhad chai) | ₹60 |
| Misc local transport within cities (per day average) | ₹200 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ₹6,430 |