Varanasi Walking Tour

Decipher the mystic essence that paints the kaleidoscopic backdrop of Varanasi’s history, culture, and spirituality.

Set off on a guided walk and become one with the quintessential holy mess that embraces time-honored temples, puzzling alleys, vibrant bazaars, pilgrims, saffron rubbed holy men and cows alike.

Stroll along the stretch of river ghats (sets of steps leading down to the river), which define the life and identity of Varanasi. Besides chai sellers, boatmen, masseurs, and street barbers, the divine riverfront is home to fortune tellers, priests, yoga practitioners, wrestlers, and sketch artists. In the morning, you may run into a laughter club!The birthplace of countless saints, philosophers, poets, and artists, the city of lights boasts a long history and rich tradition of academic, artistic, and spiritual excellence.

An ode to the timeless legacy of the mighty Ganges, here’s a settlement where life and death are equally celebrated!

Kashi-Banaras or Varanasi – doesn’t mean much if you call it by any name but one thing will never change and i.e. and one should never miss the heritage walk of this city.The Varanasi Heritage Walk begins from Godaulia intersection and heads towards the Marwari Trust Hospital. We then turn right into one of the streets just before Tedhi Neem wali street. You will soon experience a sudden change in the atmosphere which is a lot more relaxed and calmer compared to the hustle and bustle of the main street.

First on our list of visits is the Mata Kali temple, one of the highly revered places of worship in the city. Built by the Maharaja of Varanasi in 1885, the temple features profusely carved pillars that capture visitors’ attention instantly.We’ll now visit the Ganesh temple. The Main Door of the sanctum sanctorum has beautifully carved leaves of Saraca Asoka which is considered auspicious in Hinduism. Depicted in a semi-sitting pose, the Nandi (bull) is the only statue in India, carved out of Italian marble, and is definitely one of the highlights.

Next, we move into the Tedhi Neem Gali and walk through the colorful market dotted with a multitude of shops selling a variety of stuff, ranging from mouth fresheners, vibrant textiles, and bangles to a myriad of religious paraphernalia.  Afterward, we will go towards the Kashi Vishwanath corridor and witness Varanasi’s principal cremation site – the Manikarnika Ghat!

Nearly 300 dead bodies are cremated at this spot and the sacred fire is alive for the last 3000 years.We’ll walk past the Alam Gir mosque. Overlooking the Panchganga Ghat, the structure was built in 1673 AD by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing the Bindu Madhav Temple. We will also visit the shrine of a Hindu Yogi and mystic Guru Shri Tailang Swami who survived for 280 years (1607-1887) and is known as ‘The Walking Shiva of Varanasi’.

Next on our walk is the Mangla Gauri Temple. Visited by thousands of young girls on Tuesday, the temple deity is believed to bless them with the best soulmates. After some more walking and navigating the alleys of the city, we’ll visit the Sankatha Mata Temple. Founded by the five Pandav brothers (3229 BCE) during their exile, the temple is visited by thousands of devotees on Fridays.

At the last leg of our walk, we will take a break to try the famous white butter toast with tea at Laxmi Chai shop or Dwarika Lassi to satiate our taste buds. We’ll now make our way to a Pan shop – the quintessential specialist of Varanasi popular the world over!This walk focuses more on the local life in Varanasi and its philosophical and cultural values. The Pilgrims are ready to bathe in mother Ganges and locals are walking in their traditional morning dress (Loin Cloth and Vest) and looking for the Masala Chai. Right after chai, the next stop will be Pan Shop.

Varanasi is also known as “Mini-India”, it is the only place on earth that has been the origin of many “Philosophical thoughts and ISM” and a place where they flourish in the different directions of the world. Many people think that it’s known as the Hindu Pilgrimage center but it is equally important to other religious groups too; may it is Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, or Christianity.This is the only city where people arrived from different parts of India and lived here for incalculable years and generations. They submerged into the culture here and yet continued their hereditarily and state customs and culture.

Our walking trips are so apt for Solo travelers; photographers; writers and those who are comfortable leaving their comfort zone. There are plenty of photography opportunities and feel the essence of Varanasi as it is.Charge your Mobile Phone; Camera Battery if you really do not want to regret it later. And most importantly take a good sleep before commencing this trip; which means make sure you are physically and mentally recharged too.

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