How to Explore Kashi on a Shoestring: Ghats, Darshan and Dawn Boat Rides
Varanasi has a reputation as a city that rewards the curious more than the wealthy, and a wave of recent travel vlogs is proving the point. Solo travellers returning to Kashi after years away are finding that the essential experience of the world's oldest living city — the lanes, the ghats, the temple and the river — costs almost nothing beyond time and an open mind. The classic route begins in the old city, where narrow galis behind Godowlia wind past sweet shops, brass sellers and centuries-old homes toward the Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Since the corridor opened, walking from the ghats to the temple has become far easier, and darshan itself is free for every devotee. Early morning or late evening slots are the calmest for those who want a quieter visit. From the temple it is a short walk to Dashashwamedh Ghat, home to the evening Ganga Aarti. The ceremony is free to watch from the steps; arriving an hour early secures a good spot. Assi Ghat, at the southern end, offers the morning Subah-e-Banaras programme of aarti, yoga and classical music, again without a ticket. Manikarnika Ghat, between the two, is best experienced respectfully and quietly. The one worthwhile spend is a dawn boat ride. Shared boats along the ghats are inexpensive, and the view of the crescent riverfront turning gold as the sun rises is the image most visitors carry home. Add a plate of kachori-sabzi from a lane-side stall and a glass of lassi, and a full day in Banaras can be done for the price of a city bus ticket elsewhere.
Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources:
