Day 2 – Sunrise Aarti, City Temples, Sarnath, Departure
Pre-dawn to Breakfast (5:30 – 9:00 AM)
- Subah-e-Banaras Boat Ride – Sunrise over the Ganga, morning rituals, Assi Ghat aarti, yoga sessions, and respectful view of cremation ghats.
- Old City Walk – Catch morning markets, chai stalls, and revisit Kashi Vishwanath if desired.
- Breakfast – Hotel buffet or local kachori-sabzi + jalebi at Ram Bhandar / Chachi ki Kachori.
Morning Temple Trail (9:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple – Beloved shrine founded by Tulsidas.
- Durga Kund Temple – Iconic red structure with adjacent pond.
- Tulsi Manas Temple – Scripted walls reenact the Ramcharitmanas; combine with BHU stop for New Vishwanath Temple and Bharat Kala Bhavan.
Sarnath Excursion (12:30 – 3:00 PM)
Drive 10 km to Buddha’s first sermon site: Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara, 80-foot Buddha statue, and Archaeological Museum (closed Fridays).
Afternoon Add-ons (3:30 – 5:00 PM)
- Banarasi Silk Weaving Workshop – Meet master weavers and shop authentic brocades.
- Local Markets – Handicrafts, brassware, spices, and temple souvenirs.
- Optional: Ramnagar Fort or café downtime near Assi Ghat.
Departure (5:00 PM onwards)
Return to hotel, freshen up, check out, and transfer to airport/rail station. Late-night departures can add a second evening stroll or food crawl.
