India - Extension 3: Ganges & Temples
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**PLEASE NOTE: To do this trip you must also book the "Ultimate India - in Style", "Taste of India" or "Sunderbans Smiles" trip
Trip Highlights
- Varanasi – sunrise boat trip along the Ganges, abuzz with Hindu devotees
- Vishwanath temple
- The site of Buddha’s first teachings
- Khajuraho’s temples and erotic carvings
Trip Summary
Fly to the most sacred city in Hinduism, Varanasi, and take an afternoon to orientate yourselves.It is a fascinating place where you can spend hours just watching the wheel of life. The western banks of the Ganges has a string of Ghats - the chain of stone steps, surrounded by pavilions, palaces and terraces, as well as ‘Dharamsalas’ (rest houses) where the pilgrims stay during their visit to the holy city.
At dawn, the Ghats are abuzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the rising sun or performing other religious rituals. It is an amazing sight – not to be missed, but please be respectful.
A boat ride along the Ghats gives you excellent vantage points of this activity. The sunrise on the Ganges is a soul-lifting experience. Later, you will visit the Vishwanath temple, also called the ‘golden temple’ because of the gold-plating on its roof.
In the afternoon you go to Sarnath, the fabled place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples, expounding the principles of Buddhism.
The next morning you will visit Varanasi’s most important temples before flying to colorful Khajuraho in the afternoon.
In Khajuraho, the morning tour will explore temples adorned with sculptures, carved in stone, depicting gods, goddesses and amorous couples.
Later visit the Eastern Group of temples dedicated to the "Vamana" or dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
* Comfort Level: Your accommodation is in high quality 5* hotels for 2 nights in Varanasi, and a 4* hotel for 1 night in Khajuraho.
For a full trip description in PDF format, click here.
Other Fantastic Extension Trips
India - Extension 1: Colors of Rajasthan
India - Extension 2: Rajasthan Adventure
India - Extension 4: Chillin in Goa
India - Extension 5: Kerala Kruising
India - Extension 6: Nepalese Encounter
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
