Varanasi Ganges Festival - Special Group Tour from Heathrow

Overview

This group tour can be arranged without international flights from Heathrow but including flights Delhi to Varanasi return from £977.00 per person. For our American clients the cost without international flights is from $1,577.00 per person.

About the Festival
The Ganga Festival is dedicated to the city's very important goddess Ganga (Ganges) and involves a number of different rituals, including worshiping the great river itself, which has brought the state of Uttar Pradesh much prosperity over the years.

Varanasi or Benares is known to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. It is also considered the cradle to several traditions and culture legacies. It also happens to be one of the most religious cities of the country. Whether you take a boat ride over the holy Ganges or just aimlessly walk in the by lanes of the city, whether you spontaneously stop at a roadside stall to taste the traditional snacks or sit back  for an impromptu music session at one of the old music families or gharanas as they are called. Whether the morning sun or the sunset, this city promises to offer an experience like nowhere.

The Varanasi Ganga Festival is one such auspicious occasion, which attracts people from all over the country, and also tourists who visit this place for this festival for the sheer magnificence of the event and the visual delight that it is. It is celebrated in the month of November and is a traditional time to worship the River Ganges for its glorious existence since ancient times. People throng the river banks to offer the sacred puja with devotion and reverence. The most remarkable spectacle happens to be the Evening Aarti when after the chants and prayers, the devotees send lit up clay lamps on a lotus leaf afloat on the Holy Waters.

It looks fabulous and magical to hear the loud cymbals, chants, golden hued waters and the floating diyas as if the stars have descended on the Ganges!! 

Outlined Itinerary

Day 01 - Delhi

25 Nov - Arrive Delhi, meet and transfer to your hotel. Once you have settled in and freshened up you are taken on a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. This evening is then at leisure.

Day 02 - Varanasi

26 Nov - After breakfast, in time the group will be met and transferred to Delhi airport to board the flight for Varanasi 1030-1145. Upon arrival meet and greet then transfer to the Hotel. This afternoon we enjoy a leisurely guided-tour walk around the hotel and its location on the bank 'Ghats' of the most holy river the Ganges. We will share expert views on Ganges and it’s spiritual significance with our guide. Varanasi being a great centre of Indian Classical Music, this evening, we will enjoy a cultural music concert at our hotel on the terrace, while having dinner.

Day 03 - Varanasi

27 Nov - Before breakfast, at sunrise you can enjoy the teachings of some yoga-exercises, which would include some breathing, relaxation & meditation techniques. After breakfast, we enjoy a half day excursion to Sarnath: the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon to his first disciple. We also enjoy a walk through the Archaeological museum at Sarnath. On our way back from Sarnath, we shall stop at a Silk textile weaving factory to catch up with the popular brocade textile of Varanasi, which is still being hand made at Varanasi as wedding ‘Saaris’. Lunch would be at our hotel. Afternoon shall be at leisure for us to rest & relax. This evening we set out for a spiritual journey vide a boat ride on the river Ganges, to witness the evening ‘Aarti’ This wonderful ritual takes places every evening at the main ‘ghat’. Our group shall be the guests of honour this evening as we will do a very special ritual to initiate the ceremony. We return to our hotel for dinner & overnight stay.

Day 04 - Varanasi

28 Nov - This morning we continue on our spiritual journey with a boat ride on river Ganges. We experience the mesmerising sunrise of Varanasi – known for its spiritual peace, this may be best felt with the sunrise on the boat. We also witness the individual rituals practised by all casts of the society. We return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we enjoy a guided-tour walk through the narrow lanes of Varanasi, which are popular for its traditional activities. Our walk culminates at the Golden Temple, which is above hundred years old Lord Shiva’s temple. Lunch would be at our hotel of stay. Afternoon attend a lecture on sacred geography of Varanasi (pilgrimage circles) by Prof. Rana P.B.Singh. This evening you may wish to check your future through an astrology session with a renowned palmist of Varanasi. Alternatively, we could also visit the closest ‘Akhara or Kushti’, which is the traditional gymnasium / wrestling in India – found rarely in any other cities of India, than Varanasi – www.kushtiwrestling.blogspot.com Dinner at our hotel or Kabab-factory, Radisson.

Day 05 - Varanasi

29 Nov - This morning, we once again repeat our Yoga-exercises, practicing it further to enhance our skill on the subject! After breakfast, we cross the river on a boat to visit the Ramgarh Fort. We should be able to return to our hotel in time for lunch. We shall have the afternoon at leisure to pursue independent activities. We enjoy a farewell gala-dinner on the terrace of our hotel this evening. The evening is enjoyed through the local folk dances of the region, with live demonstration of food being prepared.

Day 06 - Delhi

30 Nov - Our check-out at the hotel is done in the traditional Hindu way, by offering sweet-curd & basil leaves, which is considered most auspicious to begin a journey. We will be transferred on time to Varanasi airport for our onward flights to Delhi. 1450-1620. On arrival meet and transfer to our Delhi Hotel. This evening our group is taken to see the new attraction in Delhi called Kingdom of Dreams. www.kingdomofdreams.in

Day 07 - Delhi

01 Dec - Breakfast is at the Hotel. Today at an appropriate time, you will be met and transferred to Delhi International airport to connect with your homebound or onwards flight... or travel to your next destination if you would like to add to this tour.

All our tours and holidays are tailor made so can be amended to suite your budget. Click on our from prices below to see what hotels you can expect based on the cheapest time to travel in High Season per person based on two people sharing a room. We can design this tour for you at a lower or higher price, basically to suite your budget, style and comfort. Contact a specialist to discuss your requirements. International flights are not included.