Best of Cochin Shore Excursion: Culture, Cuisine & Coast

Early morning (5am approx) pick up from your hotel.

Sunrise Boat Cruise along the Ganges and catch the scene of devotees bathing and praying in the sacred water. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins.

"Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganga River. It is located close to Vishwanath Temple and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu legends are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another legend, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses during Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna performed here.
The present ghat was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao in the year 1748. A few decades later, Ahilyabahi Holkar, the Queen of Indore rebuilt the ghat in the year 1774. Close to the ghat, overlooking the Ganga lies the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in the year 1737."

situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has 800 kg of gold plating on its tower. Other than Hindus cannot enter the temple complex, they can only see the temple tower from Mankarnika ghat corridor. There is also a well present within the temple complex called Jnana Vapi where too only Hindus are allowed to enter.

Walk in Vishwanath Gali famous for local snacks & sweets and street shopping in Varanasi. One can easily find modern & traditional apparel, household items, home decor items, brass idols of deities, etc.

a 17th century structure built by Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, on a land which once had a Shiva Temple and was demolished by him. The mosque is an architecturally stunning building built according to the Indo-Islamic style with beautiful minarets and high domes.

with 5.3 sq kms campus and 30,000 residing students it is the largest residential university in the continent.

The New Vishwanath Temple is located in Banaras Hindu University and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. New Vishwanath Temple has the tallest temple tower in the world with the Shikhara's height being around 250 feet.

an archaeological and art museum, that exhibits a beautiful collection of sculptures, artefacts, paintings, jewellery, pottery, textiles, etc. ranging between the 1st and the 15th century.

Bharat Mata Temple built in 1936 houses a relief map of undivided India carved out of marble. The temple was the brainchild of Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, a freedom fighter.

Tulsi Manas Mandir one of the most famous temples in Varanasi. The temple has beautiful images of Lord Rama, Mother Sita, Lakshman and Lord Hanuman. The walls of temple are adorned with verses from Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the epic Ramayana.

situated by the River Assi was built in the 1900s by the freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. It is dedicated to Lord Rama and Hanuman. The monkeys who throng the temple premises and tend to steal away the prasad are totally harmless if you let them be on their own.

located near the Durga Ghat on the bank of the River Ganga, was built in the 18th century. It houses an imposing idol of Goddess Durga and is one of the main temples in Varanasi.

Nepali Temple one of the oldest temples in the city, made of stone, terracotta and wood carvings is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The Assi Ghat the confluence of the Rivers Assi and Ganga is famous for the large Shiva Lingam installed under a peepal tree. It has immense religious importance and has been mentioned in the Puranas and various legends as well.

Sarnath it was here Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The great Dhamekh Stupa and glistening pillar established by Emperor Ashoka in 273-232 BC stand testimony to the importance the place enjoyed at that time.