One of the oldest Indian cities, Varanasi is India's spiritual centre. To see the city in its entirety, it's best to take a walking tour where you come face to face with its many ghats, temples, cultural activities and events. It is believed that this city is the oldest city in the world and it has still managed to retain its original culture and tradition.
How to explore Varanasi: The state Tourism Department of Varanasi came up with the unique idea of taking visitors on heritage walks through Varanasi. They called this the ‘Circle of life’ walk, since this brought visitors up close and personal with the Varanasi way of life. This Varanasi Heritage Walk Tour spans about four to five hours and covers the 16 key attractions of this city. It begins at Assi Ghat and ends at Dal Mandi. By exploring Varanasi in this manner, tourists will get to experience the city's culture, history and rituals.
Yet another heritage walk in Varanasi begins at Adikeshaw Ghat in the heart of Varanasi and ends at the historic Lord Kaal Bhairon temple. Between these two ends, you will come across an old akhara, an ancient sari market, narrow lanes and several quaint but interesting spots. This tour lasts for two to three hours and usually starts very early in the morning.
Often, these heritage walks end up by the tour operator taking the group of visitors to a renowned restaurant to have an experience of eating authentic Varanasi food. This kind of a walk--a Varanasi Heritage Walk with Food Tour--is catching on here, since people also want to experience local cuisine. Morning tours end up with tourists being given lunch. Similarly, a Varanasi Heritage Walk with Dinner Tour is also becoming as popular, with people wanting to rest their weary legs and delight in the regional fare.
If you want to explore Varanasi for Buddhism, then take the Buddhist Trail that goes up to Sarnath Temple. The place where Buddha received enlightenment, Sarnath is an important spot on this trail. On this heritage walk, you will come across many Buddhist structures that were built between the third century BC and the 11th century AD.
This trail will take you 30 minutes away from Varanasi to Sarnath, and you will also explore Buddhist architecture in the Chaukhandi Stupa, Mugandha Kunti Vihara and Dhamek Stupa complex. Also check out the Archaeological Museum which includes facts about the Ashoka pillar. This walk goes on for about five to six hours and is taken by Buddhists from all over the world.
There's also a walk to the cremation grounds and ashrams of Varanasi. The cremation grounds here are the largest in the world, so it's worth a visit. People believe that anyone who is cremated here will be free from the cycle of rebirth.
Alternatively, if you have a week to spare, you can take a leisurely Allahabad Kumbh Mela with Varanasi Tour where you can explore both these amazing cities and imbibe their spectacular history and culture. This seven-day tour will be not just soul-enriching but enjoyable too. To know more details about any of the heritage walks of Varanasi, get in touch with reputed tour operators like optimatravels.com. Not only will we, at optimatravels, customize your walk with a good and knowledgeable guide, but we will ensure that you see all the spots well and are fully satisfied with it.
Book with us today, so that you get hefty discounts that will make a big difference to you. Trust us, we are in the business for decades, so we know the need for quality services to tourists, and we assure you of our best services while on this walking tour. To speak to us soon, call us on +00-91-9810222172 or email us at tours@optimatravels.com.