At Assi Ghat, leave your bags at the hotel if your room isn’t ready, then take a brief rest and head down to the river. With six people and a 5 am arrival, keep this first stop simple: confirm your boat plan before anyone drifts off for a longer nap. November sunrise is roughly 6 am, though the sky brightens gradually.
Board near Assi Ghat for the planned 1.5-hour Ganges sunrise boat ride. Agree the route, duration and total fare for all six before boarding; prices vary by boat and negotiation, and a private boat will cost more than sharing. Afterward, allow time for the ride from Assi to the Old City—traffic and the narrow lanes mean you may need to walk part of the way. At Kashi Vishwanath Temple, budget 2–3 hours for travel, security and queues. Check current entry rules and any available booking options in advance; access and waiting times can change, and special darshan arrangements should not be assumed. Then pause at Blue Lassi Shop for about 45 minutes; budget roughly ₹100–₹250 per person, and check the day’s opening hours before setting out.
Make your way to Dashashwamedh Ghat well before the evening Ganga Aarti—in November it is generally around dusk, but check that day’s timing and arrangements locally. Allow about 1.5 hours and arrive early to find a place to watch; the ghat gets very crowded, so follow local directions and keep your group together. If you’re travelling by auto-rickshaw, agree the fare before starting; near the Old City, walking the final stretch is often easier than trying to get dropped right at the ghat.
Aim to leave around 8:30–9:00 am for Sarnath, about 10 km from the riverfront; allow 30–45 minutes by cab or auto, longer if traffic is heavy. Start at the Sarnath Archaeological Museum for about 1½ hours, then walk to Dhamek Stupa and allow another hour for the grounds. The museum is generally open Tuesday and closed Friday, but check its current hours, entry rules and ticket arrangements before setting out. Keep shoulders and knees covered at the religious site, and carry water; the stupa grounds are mostly outdoors.
Take a cab from Sarnath to Banaras Hindu University—roughly 45–60 minutes depending on traffic—and have lunch near the campus before visiting Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum for about 1½ hours. Then walk or take a short campus auto ride to New Vishwanath Temple; allow 45 minutes, including security checks. Confirm museum hours and visitor access at both university stops before you go, as access or timings can change. Keep passports or other ID handy, and follow the temple’s rules on phones, bags and photography.
Head to Brown Bread Bakery near Dashashwamedh Ghat for an early dinner; budget roughly ₹300–₹700 per person. From BHU, allow about 30–45 minutes by cab, and expect to walk the final stretch if traffic restrictions make the lanes inaccessible. With six people, agree on a meeting point before entering the busy ghat-side lanes, and leave enough time after dinner for your plans that night.
No packing list attached yet.