Varanasi 1 Night 2 Days Tour Package Temples, Ganga Aarti & Sarnath in Two Days

This is the written version of the Varanasi 1 night 2 days tour package, for anyone who likes to read every detail before deciding. It follows the same plan as the itinerary above, stop by stop, with what happens at each place, roughly how long it takes and what to carry or avoid.

In short: Day 1 is the old city — Kal Bhairav, Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna, an afternoon break, an optional boat ride and the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Day 2 is the southern half of the city — the Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Sankat Mochan and Banaras Hindu University — followed by Sarnath and your drop. The order here is the one we recommend, and we adjust it to your arrival and departure times.

Day 1 in Detail: Arrival, old-city temples & the Ganga Aarti

Day 1 is the old-city day. After you arrive and check in, the three temples that are always visited together — Kal Bhairav, Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna — are all in the same area, so they fit into a single stretch of the day. The evening belongs to the river: the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, with a boat ride if you want one.

The exact order depends on when you land. An early arrival leaves room for the temples before the aarti; on a late arrival we move the temple visits around and keep the evening aarti.

1. Pick-up and hotel check-in

Your driver meets you at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, or at Varanasi Junction or Manduadih railway station, and drives you to your hotel. Share your flight or train details and arrival time when you message us, so the driver is waiting when you come out.

Once you have checked in, freshen up and rest. Day 1 is planned around your arrival time, so tell us early if you are landing late in the day.

2. Kal Bhairav Temple

Baba Kal Bhairav is the kotwal, or guardian, of Kashi, and by tradition visitors seek his permission first and then go on to Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna. The temple is in Bharonath, in the Visheshwarganj area of the old city, and the silver face of the deity is what you see at the shrine.

Published timings are roughly 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:30 to 9:30 PM. Darshan is free and 30 to 45 minutes is enough. The last stretch is through narrow lanes, so the driver leaves you at the nearest practical point and you walk. Our Kal Bhairav Temple guide has the full details.

3. Mritunjay Mahadev TempleOptional

This is an optional extra darshan for those who have the time and energy before the main temples. It is not part of the fixed plan: tell us if you would like it included and we will fit it into the route.

4. Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and the centre of Varanasi’s temple trail. The present temple was built in 1780 by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and it is reached today through the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, which was inaugurated in December 2021.

Phones, cameras, smartwatches and power banks are not allowed inside, so leave them at the hotel or use the lockers, and wear modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees. General darshan is free and the queue decides the time: allow roughly 1.5 to 3 hours. Mondays, the month of Shravan and Maha Shivaratri are the busiest times. Read the Kashi Vishwanath Temple guide for timings and rules.

5. Annapurna Temple

Annapurna Devi, the goddess of food and a form of Parvati, has her temple about 15 metres from Kashi Vishwanath. It was built in 1729 by the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I. Kashi Vishwanath represents Shiva, the lord of Kashi, and Annapurna the nourishment that sustains the city, which is why the two temples are visited together.

Published hours are roughly 4:00 to 11:30 AM and 7:00 to 11:00 PM, so the temple is closed for much of the afternoon; that is why we plan the order of the temples around your arrival. Darshan is free and takes 20 to 30 minutes. See the Annapurna Temple guide.

6. Rest, or browse Vishwanath Gali

With the temples done, the afternoon is yours. Rest at the hotel, or walk through the narrow Vishwanath Gali and the Godowlia market, which are known for silk sarees, jewellery and handicrafts. Banarasi silk is the classic Varanasi buy. There is no pressure to shop: a slow walk and a cup of tea is a good way to spend the break before the evening.

7. Boat ride on the GangaAdd-on

A boat ride shows the ghats of Varanasi from the river, and it is the most comfortable way to watch the Ganga Aarti, with more room than the crowded steps. Boats leave from ghats such as Assi, Dashashwamedh, Namo and Kedar.

The boat ride is not part of the package, so you add it only if you want it. You can book it on the spot at the ghat or ask us to arrange it: use the WhatsApp button and tell us how many of you there are, and we will plan the timing so that you are on the water before the aarti begins. You can also see our Ganga boat ride booking page.

8. Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat

The Ganga Aarti is the daily evening worship of the river, performed with lamps, chants and conch shells. The main aarti is at Dashashwamedh Ghat. It begins around dusk, at roughly 5:45–6:00 PM in winter (October to March) and 6:45–7:00 PM in summer (April to September), and lasts about 45 minutes.

Watching from the ghat steps is free and atmospheric but crowded, so arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a place on the steps. From a boat you get a wider view and more space. Tuesdays and religious festivals bring special aartis, and on Dev Diwali the ghat is far more crowded. Our Ganga Aarti guide compares all the venues.

9. Manikarnika Ghat

Manikarnika is the main cremation ghat of Varanasi, where cremation is believed to lead to moksha. It stands on the ghats near the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Annapurna Temple, and the most comfortable way to see it is from a boat, at a respectful distance.

This is a place of mourning. Do not photograph the cremations, and keep a respectful distance. If you would rather not see it, tell us and we will skip the stop. Allow 20 to 30 minutes. See the Manikarnika Ghat guide.

10. Dinner and street food

Varanasi’s street food is part of the trip: tamatar chaat, rabri and lassi are local favourites. Dinner is not included in the package, so you choose what and where you eat. Ask your driver or message our team if you would like suggestions.

Overnight stay in Varanasi. Your hotel category is agreed with our team when you book.

Questions about Day 1? Message our team

Day 2 in Detail: Southern temples, BHU & Sarnath

Day 2 covers the southern part of the city and Sarnath. Be ready by 7 AM, because the temples in the south are calmest in the morning and Sarnath is kept for the afternoon. It is a full day, so tell us your departure time and we plan the last hours around it.

1. Sunrise aarti at Assi GhatOptional

Early risers can begin the day at Assi Ghat, at the southern end of the ghats where the Assi stream meets the Ganga. Subah-e-Banaras is a free morning programme started in 2014 by the Uttar Pradesh government, and the morning aarti takes place around sunrise, at about 5:30 AM. The time moves with the season.

This stop is optional. Tell us in advance so that we plan an early pick-up, and read the Assi Ghat guide for what to expect.

2. Durga Temple, Durgakund

The Durga Temple is a red Nagara-style temple beside Durga Kund on Sankat Mochan Road, built in the 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore. It is also called the Monkey Temple, so keep food and small items out of the monkeys’ reach.

Published hours are roughly 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 to 9:00 PM. Darshan is free and about 30 minutes is enough. The temple is extremely busy during Navratri. See the Durga Temple guide.

3. Tulsi Manas Mandir

Tulsi Manas Mandir, also known as the Tulsi Birla Manas Mandir, stands in the Durgakund area right next to the Durga Temple, so it is a short walk from the previous stop. It is dedicated to Lord Rama, and inside you see statues of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman.

The temple was built on the spot where the saint Goswami Tulsidas is said to have written the Ramcharitmanas, the epic that gives it its name. Published timings are roughly 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM in winter and 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM in summer. Our Tulsi Manas Mandir page has more.

4. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is dedicated to Hanuman as the reliever of troubles, and the founding of the temple is traditionally credited to the poet-saint Tulsidas. It stands in southern Varanasi, near Assi Ghat and Banaras Hindu University. The prasad is besan ke laddu.

Phones and cameras are not allowed inside, so use the lockers. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest days. Opening hours are roughly 4:30–5:00 AM to 10:00–10:30 PM, but some sources report a mid-day closure, so we confirm on the day. Allow 30 to 45 minutes, and longer on the busiest days. See the Sankat Mochan guide.

5. BHU campus and the New Vishwanath Temple

Banaras Hindu University is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, known for its architecture and its green campus. The drive through the campus is part of the visit, and the highlight is the New Vishwanath Temple, also called the Birla Temple.

If time allows, add the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum on the campus to learn more about the history and culture of Varanasi. It may close on some holidays, so we check before we plan it in.

6. Breakfast, paan and the saree market

Breakfast at the hotel is included in the package. If you would like to eat like a local instead, kachori-sabzi and jalebi on the street is the Varanasi breakfast, followed by a Banarasi paan.

If you want to shop, this is the time to browse the local handloom and handicraft market for Banarasi sarees. Otherwise, use the break to rest before the drive to Sarnath.

7. Sarnath

Sarnath is about 10 km from the city and can be explored in half a day. It is the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment, to his five disciples, and it is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

The main sights are the Dhamek Stupa, a massive cylindrical structure about 43 metres tall; the Chaukhandi Stupa, which marks where the Buddha met his five disciples; the Deer Park and the ruins around it; and the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar temple, known for its murals of the Buddha’s life. The Archaeological Museum holds sculptures, coins and inscriptions, some dating back to the 3rd century BCE, and there is an 80-foot Buddha statue. The museum keeps its own days and hours, so we check them before you go. Read our full Sarnath guide.

8. Drop at the airport or railway station

We take you to the airport or railway station with time in hand, and the tour ends there. Share your flight or train time when you message us, so that we can plan the last stops of Day 2 to fit around it.

Tour ends with your airport or railway station drop.

Questions about Day 2? Message our team

Good to Know Before You Go

• Phones and cameras are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath and Sankat Mochan. Travel light and use the lockers.
• Dress modestly for the temples, with shoulders and knees covered, and wear footwear that is easy to take off.
• The old-city lanes are walked on foot. Vehicles stop outside the pedestrian zone, so the last stretch to Kal Bhairav, Annapurna and Kashi Vishwanath is walking.
• Arrive early for the Ganga Aarti — at least 45 minutes before the start — if you want a place on the ghat steps.
• Do not photograph cremations at Manikarnika Ghat.
• Meals: breakfast on Day 2 is included; other meals are not, and you can choose freely.
• Timings in this itinerary come from published visitor guides and change on festival days, so we confirm them for your dates.
• Tell us your arrival and departure times when you message us, so that we can set the order of the stops for you.