Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti, Boating & Witnessing the GOD
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
It’s a city with deep cultural experience, The sacred river of Ganga preserves the memory of thousands of years in her motherly water which flows just in the center of the city. Our tours will take you to a magnificent Sunset with Ganga Aarti (Praying to the God of the river –The Ganges) where life starts at the bank of Mother Ganga with morning eye-opener prayers by the scared priest, you can enjoy these spectacular scenes on the boat. This is a lifetime cultural experience to not MISS!
While at the same places while exploring cultural heritage you will find THE END of life at Manikarnika Ghat where people are burning the dead body of loved ones. Our tours will bring you to the life and death experiences at the cultural heritage sites of Mother Ganges.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The tour starts at 5:00 PM in winter and at 5:30 PM in summer.
What To Expect
Assi Ghat
Meeting Point: Agrawal Radio Chauraha Shivala4+GG4, Road, Shivala Ghat, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India. We welcome our travelers at Green Ganga Café, located just opposite the entrance of Assi Ghat. From here, you begin by watching the evening Ganga Aarti and then continue with a boat ride to the popular ghats (piers) of Varanasi. The Varanasi Ganga Aarti is one of the most powerful spiritual ceremonies in India. Held every evening along the banks of the sacred River Ganga, this ritual is performed by trained priests who offer fire, incense, and rhythmic prayers to the holy river. The atmosphere becomes magical as lamps glow against the dark sky, devotional chants fill the air, and hundreds of devotees gather to witness the ceremony. Watching the aarti from a boat adds a truly unforgettable perspective, allowing you to experience the devotion and energy from the heart of the river itself.
Dasaswamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most vibrant and famous ghat in Varanasi. It is located close to Vishwanath Temple. According to legend, Lord Brahma performed a grand sacrifice of ten horses here, which is how the ghat got its name. Today, it is the main site of the evening Ganga Aarti and remains constantly alive with pilgrims, sadhus, street performers, and visitors from around the world. The steps leading to the river are always active with rituals, prayers, and cultural activities, making it the spiritual heart of the city.
Options
Only Guide
Guide
Guide and Boat Ride
Guided Tour: In this option only you and your group can join this tour.
What‘s Included
Experience operates everyday
Bottled water
Professional English speaking guide
Hotel pickup & drop off
Personal Expenses
Meals & Beverages
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
151 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unforgettable memories
SARBAJIT2013,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was my second visit to Varanasi. The city has changed altogether, but it has not lost its aura. The rush of people throughout the day, the unruly traffic everywhere, gives it a different atmosphere. The cruise in the evening, covering the "Artis" on the famous ghats of the river Ganges is just awesome ! I will love to visit Varanasi again and again.
WARNING, NOT reliable!
EvanCon,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00FAILED to communicate with us all day to confirm plans, then failed to show up at meeting site, had to call Trip Advisor for help, DO NOT USE!
A great experience.
SARBAJIT2013,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We took the "Alaknanda" cruise. It was really good and witnessing the "Namo Ghat Arti" from the boat was awesome. The cruise charges a fancy price, but I believe it's worth the money.
Colorful experience
Kathleen T,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Definitely need support navigating the old city of Varanasi and finding the meeting spot. Be prepared to walk on rough surfaces.
Great tour!
Przemyslaw K,Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Rahul was a great guide! Very friendly and helpful. He was explaining everything in a very interesting way. He also was answering to all our questions and showed us a few interesting places on the bank of the river.
Great tour!
Culture114518,Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rahul was very friendly and helpful. He was answering to all our questions. He also showed us some interesting places on the bank of the river. Excellent experience!
Not up to the mark
Asim P,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00The boat was very small that too uncovered. It was about to rain so we wanted a covered boat. With the price we paid we did not expect a boat like that.
Cancelled 4 minutes before start of tour - total scam and waste of time
Sophie N,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00We booked and travelled 1 hour to the meeting point for a 5:00pm start. We waited for 20 minutes and no one arrived only to check my email to find a cancellation notification at 4:56pm (4 minutes before the tour was meant to start). No prior warning or communication. Terrible
Adapt the tour to the corconstances
AudyLi,Feb 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Because of the unusual traffic in Varanasi, it was necessary to shorten the boat tour, on the orders of the authorities. To “kill time” Rahul gave me a guided walking tour around the absolutely fascinating Tulsi ghat, off the beaten track. It was very interesting. The rest of the tour according to my expectations, with the nice boat tour, and all the surprising information about the cremation, among others. Thank you Rahul!
These guys bailed on us....
Rachel W,Feb 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00These guys bailed on us. We showed up at the meetup and waited and waited. I had to call their head office in Bangkok to get ahold of someone, and when they finally reached out, they said that their boat had been damaged two days earlier and they couldn't give us a tour. They told us they tried reaching out via WhatsApp, and couldn't get through to us. It is true, we had given them our American cell phone number, and not the number we were using on WhatsApp. However, we booked through this app —why not reach out here? It was very disappointing.
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Operated by Sun Leisure World India