There is something very special about the mornings of Varanasi that attract millions of tourists every year. The mystical morning which goes by the name of “Subah-e-Banaras” or simply “A Morning in Varanasi” is something one should experience once in their life.
The mornings in Varanasi are best experienced if you walk around the Ghats with no plan at all. The true essence of it lies in just observing life as it flows with the Ganges while losing the sense of time. But if you’re tight on schedule or slowing down is really not your thing then below is a list of things which you can do to make most of your trip.
- Morning Aarti at Assi Ghat
- Watch Wrestling at Tulsi Akhada
- Visit Lolark Kund
- Boat Ride from Tulsi Ghat to Dashaswamedh Ghat
- Try your hands on Ghat Photography!
- Visit the Nepali Temple at Lalita Ghat
- Eat Street Food
- Walk from Manikarnika Ghat to Gaay Ghat
- City Skyline From Roof of Alamgir Mosque
- Explore and Capture Old Streets of Varanasi
Morning Aarti at Assi Ghat
The morning in Varanasi starts early with an Aarti at the Assi Ghat. It’s performed at 5:30 AM every day and unlike the evening aarti, it is a peaceful affair.
Imagine starting your day afresh with the fragrance of flowers, sweet chimes of bells mixed with the chants, and all while looking at the dawn across the Ganges.
Watch Wrestling at Tulsi Akhada
Witnessing a tradition that is more than 500 years old is not something you get to see everywhere in this world. Every morning at 6 AM at Tulsi Akhada about 20 wrestlers of different age groups practise the art of Kushti.
Visit Lolark Kund
Just next to the Tulsi Akhada lies an ancient water stepwell Lolark Kund. The 50 feet deep stepwell is one of the oldest sites in Varanasi and according to folklore, it is believed to be blessed by the Sun.
Boat Ride from Tulsi Ghat to Dashaswamedh Ghat
A boat ride is a perfect way to enjoy a morning in Varanasi. On one side you have the sun rising and on the other side, you have ancient Ghats of Kashi bathing in the golden light of the sun.
If you are boating in winters then you will be joined by hundreds of seagulls gliding over you!
Try your hands on Ghat Photography!
Varanasi mornings are best to try your hands on ghat/street photography. Varanasi is also called the Mecca of Photographers because it is said that nobody goes without a good picture from here.
If you click some pictures and decide to share them on your gram then do use our hashtag #VaranasiGuru, we would love to see what you got!
Visit the Nepali Temple at Lalita Ghat
Nepali temple also known as Pashupati Nath or mini Kujarao is a little piece of Nepal hidden atop Lalita Ghat. The temple isn’t easily visible from the Ghats so most of the travelers never reach this gem.
Once you go upstairs you will notice that the architecture of the temple is totally different than the ones you see in Varanasi. The more you look at it the better it gets!
Eat Street Food
What could be a better way to start your morning other than hogging on some Banarasi Street Food! Nothing gives a better hit than yummy Kachori and Jalebi.
If you wish to go on a street food spree then check out ten best places to eat street food in Varanasi.
Walk from Manikarnika Ghat to Gaay Ghat
Traverse this section of Ghats if the noise of boats and flock of tourists is too much for you to take. In contrast to the stretch from Assi to Dashashwamedh, this side remains silent and only a handful of tourists go beyond the Scindia Ghat.
This stretch is blessed with architecture like the leaning temple, Balcony of Bhosale Ghat, Alamgir Mosque, etc.
If you wish to know the history and stories of all the places, you can book a walk with us.
City Skyline From Roof of Alamgir Mosque
The Alamgir Mosque appears like an Arabian fort as you start walking beyond the Bhosale Ghat. It’s a beautiful piece of Mughal architecture situated above the Panch Ganga Ghat.
If you want to see the skyline or the beautiful curvature of the Ganges you can climb up to the roof of the mosque with the help of caretakers who will charge you a small fee(Rs50-100).
Explore and Capture Old Streets of Varanasi
Once the sun is up it gets a little hot at the Ghats but the streets come to rescue. The streets of Varanasi are a blessing for the photographers there is so much to see and cover in the streets that it is almost impossible not to miss a good frame.
And after an eventful morning if you still got some energy left then you can visit these offbeat places in Varanasi to satisfy your wanderlust.