Varanasi Excursions

Walk In Varanasi – Discover The Southern Temples & Sacred Ponds
A walk through the mystical landscape of poets, sacred temples and holy ponds near Assi ghat, the southernmost embankment of the holy Ganga river. Walk in the footsteps of 16th century Banaras poet and mystic Pandit Goswami Tulsidas, translator of the sacred Ramanyana text.

You will hear about the history and special culture of Varanasi while visiting the amazing temples of the Southern edge of Varanasi! The walk ends with a special darshan, meaning ‘taking sight’ of a hidden sun temple.

This walk lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours meeting point is Harmony Bookshop is located at Assi Ghat.

Walk In Varanasi – The Bengali Tola Riverside Walk
Winding through the streets and popping out onto the riverside will give you an insider’s look at the symbiotic life of the riverside people of Varanasi. Eventually you will end up on Bengali Tola, the street of the Bengalis, visiting hidden Mother Goddess Kali shrines and the vistas of life along the riverside. The tour ends at the historic ritual bathing site called Dashaswamedh, the ten-horse sacrifice ghat.

Bengali's have immigrated to Varanasi for hundreds of years and eventually a settlement of riverside priests and shopkeepers sprung up. They are immortalized in the Academy Award winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Apu Sansar (The World of Apu). With few changes in these historic lanes over the years you too may slip into the world of Apu!

This walk lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours meeting point is Harmony Bookshop is located at Assi Ghat.

Walk In Varanasi – Kashi The City Of Light Walks
Beginning at the cosmic centre of the city, Kashi, the city of light, you will get familiar with rite and ritual by exploring ancient pathways to the temples and mosques of Hindus & Muslims as well as observe the age old cremation rituals of Manikarnika, the burning ghat.

The highlight is Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Mandir which is said to hold the first of the jyotirlingas, the sacred shafts of light, that self emanated from the earth, but how many know that this temple has been rebuilt not just once but four times in three different locations, two of which have mosques perched on top! Come seek the original foundations of the city of light as we wind our through the place Shiva hold court! (Bring your passport to enter the main temple)

This walk lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours

Walk In Varanasi – Northern Bazaars & Hidden Alleys
Few tourists ever wind their way through the bazaars in the Northern gallis of the old city where you will find hidden alleys leading directly through the sacred zone of Banaras to the oldest buildings of the city. As you enter the lanes of the Northern part of the city you will get to peep inside the shops, temples and lives of people who have never left their street for years. Eventually we find ourselves in the least traversed part of the city and riverside where the great mystic Kabir himself wrote poetry, the 8th century Krishna temple was demolished and a mosque perched on the top. This bazaar has so many twists and turns we even get confused.

This walk lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours

Varanasi In Walk : Banaras Artisans & Weavers
Walk with us into the alleys of the Ansari weavers, sari makers and see the beautiful detail work done by hand in homes and courtyards by traditional Banaras artisans. A short history of the silk trade and elite artist courtesans’ role in the city is given as well.

You will also see people handcrafting images of gods & goddesses and stretching silk strings to be woven in the park. As you walk through the inner lanes you will end up strolling down Dal Mandi, the former courtesan’s street, to the tabla drum makers, which is now a vibrant Muslim bazaar!

This walk lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours meeting point is Harmony Bookshop is located at Assi Ghat.

Varanasi In Walk : Death & Rebirth In Banaras
Beginning only in the early evening (8:30PM - 11:30PM) this walk takes you through Death & Rebirth in Banaras as Mahashramstana, the great cremation ground of Shiva. You will visit sacred ponds that house healing waters, visit the home of Kali, a powerful mother goddess who drinks the blood of sinners and then you take a step into the abode of the Aghor's, renunciants who practice Tantric death rituals, at Manikarnika burning ghat. As you hear the stories of the Bhairavas, ferocious forms of Shiva who protect the city, your experience with culminate with a visit to the temple of Sankata Devi, the Goddess of Trouble who slays demons and destroy's sorrow.