Overview

Itinerary

Inclusions

₹ 24,500

/ person

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4 Days in Benares

Flights Not Included

4 Days in Benares

White Collar Hippie

4 Days · 3 Nights

₹ 24,500

/ person

Location

Uttar Pradesh+ 1 More

Highlights

Meals

Bus

Sightseeing

Hotel

Homestay

Guesthouse

Guide

Overview

Visit the city that worships taboos, life and death during one of the big festivals of the year. There are only a handful of places that have managed to hold on to their old-world charm and mystique. One of them is Varanasi, and we are getting up close and personal on this Dussehra trip. We will “begin again” by exploring the world-famous ghats and ancient pathways to temples and mosques, eat local delicacies and walk hidden alleys. We will also go to the famous university and the site of Buddha, learn about the unique traditions of the sadhus, especially the Aghoris, and celebrate Dussehra like a local.

Itinerary

Day 1

We will drive in from the airport and reach the guesthouse by 2 pm. We settle in, get refreshed and go for the first of the 3 major exploratory walks in this trip
During Walk, we will explore the hidden lanes of the city, ancient pathways to temples and mosques and observe old cremation rituals of Manikarnika, the burning ghat. A high point will be Kashi Vishwanath Mandir
In the evening we will go for Arti at the ghats and since it is nearing Dusshera, we will catch a local Ramlila
Varanasi is famous for its elaborate Ramlila and it is unlike any other show in the cities
We will then have dinner and head to our lovely guesthouse to relax

Day 2

Wake up to catch the sunrise in our second walk of the trip, where we explore the ghats and the Ganga not only on foot but also by boat
After this expedition, we will have breakfast, unwind and explore nearby areas.
After lunch, we will head to BHU with one of its Professors to know more about the legendary institution
Apart from being known for academics, the BHU campus houses one of Asia’s biggest libraries of manuscripts, and the tallest Hindu temple in North India - The Birla Vishwanath
Later, we will head across the water to see the museum and the Harishchandra Palace
We will spend the rest of the evening walking around before going for dinner at the unlikeliest of places – a Japanese restaurant
After dinner, we will go for one of the most intriguing cultural explorations in darkness – the Aghori Walk

Day 3

Have a relaxed breakfast and head to Lamhi, the weavers’ village and the birthplace of Munshi Premchand. We explore the village, meet some locals and eat lunch there
After lunch, we will drive to Sarnath, one of the major Buddhism centres of India where Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment
We will wander the stupas, temples, monastery ruins and the archaeological museum
After Sarnath, we will get back to the main city, and in the evening we will visit the ghats for one last Arti and celebrate Dusshera with the Ravana burning ceremony. This ritual is much larger-than-life in Varanasi than anywhere else in India
Overall drive time will be 2.5 hours
We will have dinner and turn in for the night

Day 4

Wake up before sunrise to experience yoga on a boat on the ghats. After that, we will eat breakfast and spend some time walking and shopping
We will then leave Varanasi and head home

Inclusions

Stay on twin sharing basis (3-star+ homestays, guesthouse, hotels)
All meals
Internal travel
Local guides where required
Entry fees if any
Tips

Exclusions

Travel to and from the base city
All transfers
Alcohol
5% additional taxes
All expenses of personal nature
Anything not mentioned in inclusions

Terms and Conditions

Please note that the above-quoted amounts may change without notice.

If the tour/itinerary price is quoted as a package, no partial refunds or credit will be given for services not used.

White Collar Hippie reserves the right to cancel any trip or booking in which case participants will be given a refund in full.

However, you will not be entitled to make any further claim for any injury, loss, expenses or damage (either direct or consequential) or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation (including but not limited to any travel reservation, visa, passport and vaccination charges, or departure, gear purchases, airport and airline taxes).

We strongly recommend that you book refundable tickets. We also recommend that you obtain travel insurance upon booking.

Cancellation Policy

If it becomes necessary to cancel your booking, you must notify White Collar Hippie immediately by mail.

Cancellation will take effect only after we receive the email from you. Following is the cancellation policy.

20 days prior to departure - 100% total amount and/or trip deposit refunded.

10 to 19 days prior to departure - 50% refund.

3 to 9 days prior to departure - 20% refund.

0 to 2 days prior to departure - no refund.