Varanasi and Sarnath Heritage

Day by day

1. Day 1 — Arrive and an evening at Assi Ghat

   Transfer from the airport or station to a hotel in the Assi or Lanka area, which is more spacious and car-friendly than the central ghat lanes and convenient for BHU. Rest in the afternoon. In the early evening, walk down to Assi Ghat — wider and generally calmer than Dashashwamedh — to watch the aarti and the river settle into night. Dinner nearby.

2. Day 2 — Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa, the ruins and the museum

   Drive to Sarnath, about 10–12 km north of the city; allow 40 minutes to an hour. Start at the Dhamek Stupa and the excavated monastery ruins, where the paths are mostly flat and there are lawns to rest beside. Then visit the Sarnath Museum, home of the Lion Capital of Ashoka; the museum has historically been closed on Fridays, so check before you plan, and note that photography inside is restricted. The nearby Mulagandha Kuti Vihara and the Thai and Tibetan temples are optional additions. Return for lunch and a long rest. The evening is free.

3. Day 3 — BHU, Bharat Kala Bhavan and Ramnagar Fort

   Morning at Banaras Hindu University's leafy campus, starting with the New Vishwanath Temple — spacious, calm and step-light compared with the old city temples. Continue to Bharat Kala Bhavan, the university museum with miniature paintings, textiles and sculpture; opening days and hours can change, so check in advance. If time and energy allow before your departure, cross the river to Ramnagar Fort, the Maharaja of Benares' residence, whose museum displays vintage cars, palanquins and arms. Early lunch and transfer to the airport or station.

Places on this trip