Day 10 : 18.03.2025 : VARANASI

Take a boat trip on the Ganges in the morning, then join a walking tour of the old city with a specialist local guide. In the afternoon, visit the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Sarnath. South Varanasi hasal ways been considered the city’s more serene, contemplative flank. For centuries, poets, philosophers and musicians have tended to congregate in the neighbour hood, whose ancient cultural legacy you can experience on this fascinating walking tour. Sarnath was where the Buddha gave his first sermon in 530BC, revealing the ‘Eight- Fold Path’to his five disciples. The exact spotis marked by the cylindrical DhamekhStupa, builtin500AD on the remnant sofa much older one commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The structure–the most impressive among as cattering of ancient vestiges on the site–takes pride of place in animmaculately kept park of well- tended lawn sand flower beds.Mission temples representing countries from across the Buddhist world provide additional interest.After exploring temples with your guide, you’ll return to Dashashwamedh Ghatto watch GangaAarti, in which teams of young priests in splen did ceremonial dress wave blazing oil lamps next tothe Ganges. Devotionalhymns, chants,drumming,bellringingandgongs combine tocreateanintense atmosphere.