Just over a two-hour flight from Delhi, Varanasi is the sacred heart of India and a point of enlightenment for knowledge seekers and spiritual travelers. It is an important pilgrimage destination and holy cremation site for Hindus, and there are more than one hundred ghats, or steps, that provide access to the Ganges river, which is believed to be the source of life. Varanasi is a place of overwhelming sights, smells and sounds, where the energy vibrates through the stones underfoot.
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Perfect forAdventurers | Do Gooders | Soul Searchers
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When to goDecember-February | March-May
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Ideal length of stay1-2 Nights
Where To Stay
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities, including upgrades, early check-in, breakfast, spa credits and more. Look for the Indagare Plus logo in the reviews.
Courtesy Taj Nadesar PalaceRead MoreTaj Nadesar Palace
As the ten-room former residence of the Maharaja, the Taj Nadesar Palace is the go-to luxury hotel in Varanasi. Located on forty-three private acres just a twenty-minute drive away from the sacred River Ganges, it is a peaceful, intimate retreat.
Courtesy Brijrama Palace, VaranasiRead MoreBrijrama Palace
Opened in 2016 in one of the former riverside fortresses, the Brijrama commands a central location in Varanasi with views over the sacred Ganges River.
What To See & Do
Read MoreWhat To See & Do
Indagare Tours: Evening Ganges Aarti Ceremony
Each evening at dusk, the Ganges aarti prayer is performed by five Brahmin priests at the Dashashwamedh ghat in the center of Old Kashi. During the ceremony, which attracts crowds of pilgrims and visitors, the priests perform a special ritual...
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Indagare Tours: Sunrise Boat Cruise on the Ganges
In the early mornings on the Ganges, the ghats are crowded with people performing a wide variety of rituals. You will board a wooden rowboat with a guide and head along the river to see multiple ghats filled with ashrams...
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Sarnath
Only eight miles from Varanasi is an auspicious Hindu site known as Sarnath, a deer park where the Buddha (as Siddhartha) is believed to have made his first public sermon to his disciples after achieving enlightenment. Here, he revealed the...
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Kashi Old City Tour
Join an expert guide to explore the labyrinth of streets that make up Old Kashi, dodging cows, carts and pilgrims going about their daily life as you walk by vendors and old havelis with centuries-old facades. You will walk by...
Ready to go and in need of expert trip planning? Contact us today.What To Read
Everything we recommend is sourced first-hand by our well-traveled team and incredible network of insiders and resources around the world. Here are some the latest articles, interviews, and book and film recommendations not to be missed.
Kim Dempster, taken while on safari with her family in BotswanaRead MoreBest of...
10 Transformative Trips: In Our Members' Words
For 10 years, our community of travelers has explored the globe on exciting, immersive journeys, then shared their findings with us in Member Postcards. Here, we round up some favorite memories.
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, Courtesy Oberoi Hotels & ResortsRead MoreTravel Spotlight
7 Places to Honeymoon Like a Royal
With the weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank this year, we have honeymoons on the mind—especially the royal, fanciful kind. Here are a few of our favorite royal honeymoon spots of the past,...
Read MoreInsiders
Falling in Love with India
Australian-born Fiona Caulfield had lived all over the world, but it wasn’t until she first visited India there her “eyes, ears and heart opened,” she says. With a background in marketing and an interest in consulting, she recalls, “part of...
Read MoreSlideshows
India In My Eyes
Art specialist and gallery owner Barbara Macklowe (whose Macklowe Gallery is on New York City’s Madison Avenue) is an expert in color, line and design. When she first visited India, in 2004, she became instantly enamored of the country, and...
Read MoreSlideshows
India through Photographs
A compilation of our favorite staff photographs from journeys throughout India.
The Taj Mahal at sunriseRead MoreSlideshows
Splendor of India
A collection of photographs from staff travels to India (from Marley Lynch and Gina Paoloni ). For help planning your trip, contact our Bookings Team.
Great Combinations
A trip here can easily be combined with these amazing destinations and more. Contact our team to craft the perfect itinerary.
Photo by Gursimran SinghRead MoreDelhi
Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th through 19th centuries, and is a city filled with mosques, monuments and forts. New Delhi was created by the British as the capital of India. In 1911, Sir Edwin...
Read MoreAgra
Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal, a sight as beautiful as it is imposing. We recommend arriving in the evening and staying overnight (Agra is a 3-1/2 hour drive from Delhi), so you can visit the Taj Mahal at...
Courtesy of Leela PalaceRead MoreUdaipur
Known as the “City of Lakes” or “Venice of the East,” Udaipur is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, 250 miles southwest of Jaipur. Founded in 1559, Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar, famous...
