7-Day Family-Friendly Itinerary for Varanasi, Gaya, Bodhgaya, Prayagraj, and Lucknow

  1. Day 1: Varanasi
    20 minutes (5.6 km) from Varanasi Airport

    Explore the Ghats of Varanasi for a spiritual experience, then visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple for a glimpse of Hinduism culture.

  2. Day 2: Gaya
    3 hours (100 km) from Varanasi

    Visit the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to learn about the life of Buddha. Then, visit Dungeshwari Cave Temples for a peaceful escape.

  3. Day 3: Prayagraj
    3 hours 30 minutes (170 km) from Gaya

    Visit Triveni Sangam to witness the confluence of the three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. After that, visit the Allahabad Fort for a glimpse of Mughal architecture.

  4. Day 4: Bodhgaya
    4 hours (180 km) from Prayagraj

    Visit the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. After that, visit the Thai Monastery to witness the beautiful Thai architecture.

  5. Day 5: Lucknow
    6 hours (270 km) from Bodhgaya

    Visit the Bara Imambara , an architectural masterpiece of Lucknow. Later, explore the Rumi Darwaza for a glimpse of Awadhi architecture.

  6. Day 6: Lucknow
    In and around Lucknow

    Visit the Chota Imambara , a beautiful mausoleum with exquisite chandeliers. Later, head to La Martiniere College , which has a rich history and beautiful architecture.

  7. Day 7: Lucknow
    In and around Lucknow

    Visit the Ambedkar Memorial Park , a beautiful park with grand architecture and statues. Later, head to Hazratganj for some shopping and local street food.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Ghats of Varanasi (2 hours, free)
  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple (1 hour, free)
  • Mahabodhi Temple (2 hours, INR 20)
  • Dungeshwari Cave Temples (1 hour, INR 5)
  • Triveni Sangam (1 hour, free)
  • Allahabad Fort (2 hours, INR 35)
  • Bodhi Tree (1 hour, free)
  • Thai Monastery (1 hour, free)
  • Bara Imambara (2 hours, INR 50)
  • Rumi Darwaza (1 hour, free)
  • Chota Imambara (1 hour, INR 25)
  • La Martiniere College (1 hour, INR 50)
  • Ambedkar Memorial Park (1 hour, free)
  • Hazratganj (2 hours, depends on shopping and food choices)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 185
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