This is the written version of the Varanasi Bodhgaya 2 Nights 3 Days Itinerary, for anyone who would rather read every stop in order than scan the day cards above.
Day 1 in Detail: Old-City Temples & the Evening Aarti
Land in Varanasi, settle in, then work through the three old-city temples before the river takes over at dusk.
1. Check in and get your bearings
On arrivalWhether you land at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport or arrive by train at Varanasi Junction or Manduadih, head to your hotel first and drop your bags. This itinerary saves its early starts for Day 2 — Day 1 is the unhurried one.
2. Kal Bhairav Temple
Late morningLocal custom has visitors seek the blessing of Kal Bhairav, considered the guardian of the city, before the other old-city temples. Open roughly 5:00 AM–1:30 PM and 4:30–9:30 PM; darshan is free and 30–45 minutes covers it.
The lane to the shrine is on foot — no auto or cab reaches the door.
3. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Late morningThe centre of the day. Reached through the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, opened in December 2021. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside — use a locker or leave them at the hotel.
Budget 1.5–3 hours depending on the queue; Mondays and the month of Shravan are the busiest.
4. Annapurna Temple
MiddayA short walk from Vishwanath. Hours run roughly 4:00–11:30 AM and 7:00–11:00 PM, so it is closed for much of the afternoon — worth doing before you linger elsewhere.
5. Break, or a walk through Vishwanath Gali
AfternoonThree temples on foot in old-city heat is enough for most people. Rest at the hotel, or browse Vishwanath Gali and the Godowlia market for Banarasi silk — there is no obligation to buy anything.
6. A boat ride before the aarti
Evening, optionalNot essential, but worth the extra if you have the time. Boats leave from ghats such as Assi, Dashashwamedh, Namo and Kedar, and the aarti looks better from the water than from the crowded steps.
Agree the fare before boarding if you are hiring one on the spot, or book ahead through us.
7. Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Around duskThe ritual begins around dusk — roughly 5:45–6:00 PM in winter, 6:45–7:00 PM in summer — and runs about 45 minutes.
Get to the ghat steps at least 45 minutes early if you want to sit rather than stand at the back.
8. Manikarnika Ghat from the water
After the aarti, optionalIf your boat passes it, Varanasi's main cremation ghat is visible from the river. It is a place of mourning — do not photograph the cremations, and skip this stop if you would rather not see it.
9. Dinner and street food
NightTamatar chaat, kachori-sabzi and a glass of thick Banarasi lassi are worth seeking out before an early night — Day 2 is the longest day of the trip.
Overnight in Varanasi. Book a hotel near the ghats so the Day 2 drive into Bihar starts without delay — our own budget hotel near Assi Ghat is one option.
Day 2 in Detail: Sarnath, Then the Road to Bodh Gaya
Breakfast and check-out, Sarnath in the morning, then the long drive into Bihar and an evening at the Mahabodhi Temple.
1. Breakfast and check-out
MorningEat before you go — the next proper meal stop is well down the road. Keep your bags ready so the day starts on time; this one has a lot of driving in it.
2. Sarnath
MorningAbout 10 km out, and where the Buddha is said to have given his first sermon after his enlightenment. See the Dhamek Stupa, the Deer Park, the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Museum if you have an extra half hour.
Give it 2–3 hours including the drive out — it is the last stop before Bihar.
3. The drive to Bodh Gaya
After SarnathAbout 250 km and roughly 5 to 6 hours by road, with a stop on the way for a meal. This is the only genuinely long drive on the itinerary — it is also why the route starts from Sarnath rather than heading straight out of Varanasi.
4. Check in at Bodh Gaya
Evening, on arrivalBodh Gaya is in Bihar, one of Buddhism's four most important pilgrimage sites alongside Lumbini, Sarnath and Kushinagar. Check in, freshen up, and give yourself a few minutes before heading back out for the temple.
5. Mahabodhi Temple & the Bodhi Tree
EveningThe UNESCO-listed temple stands around a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree, with the Vajrasana marking the spot of the Buddha's enlightenment. Modest clothing and a quiet manner are expected.
Rules on phones and cameras inside the complex can change — worth confirming locally on the day.
Overnight in Bodh Gaya. There is no fixed hotel tied to this guide — tell us your budget on WhatsApp and we will suggest a property near the Mahabodhi Temple.
Day 3 in Detail: The Great Buddha, the Monasteries & Your Drop at Gaya
A slower morning: the Great Buddha Statue and the international monasteries, before the drive to Gaya for your onward journey.
1. Great Buddha Statue
MorningAn 80-foot statue of the Buddha in meditation, consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1989. Quiet, and an easy walk from most Bodh Gaya hotels.
2. The international monasteries
Late morningCountries across the Buddhist world have built temples here in their own styles — the golden-roofed Thai Monastery, the Japanese Indosan Nippon-ji, a Tibetan monastery with a large prayer wheel, and a Chinese temple with a tranquil prayer hall.
Each keeps its own hours; dress modestly and remove footwear where you are asked to.
3. Archaeological Museum
If time allowsSculptures and artefacts recovered from the Bodh Gaya region. Worth the half hour if the history interests you more than a relaxed morning does.
4. Drop at Gaya Airport or Gaya Junction
AfternoonThe trip ends here rather than back in Varanasi. Build in buffer time for the short drive from Bodh Gaya to Gaya, and share your flight or train time in advance so the drop is timed well.
Trip ends with your drop at Gaya Airport or Gaya Junction.
Good to Know Before You Go
- Phones and cameras are not always allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath or the Mahabodhi Temple complex — travel light and check locally.
- Dress modestly for every stop: shoulders and knees covered, at temples and monasteries alike.
- The old-city lanes to Kal Bhairav, Annapurna and Kashi Vishwanath are walked, not driven — factor in the extra time.
- Day 2 is genuinely long — Sarnath in the morning, then a 250 km drive. Build in a proper lunch stop rather than rushing it.
- Bodh Gaya's monasteries and museum keep their own hours and get busiest around Buddha Purnima in May — confirm locally if your dates are close to it.
- Timings here come from published visitor guides and shift on festival days — confirm locally if your dates fall near one.