Everyone has their own way of celebrating the ritual contact with the holy Ganga: some bathe; other dip themselves entirely into the water once, thrice or any number of times; some drink the water; other make water offerings to the sun; while others fill their pots with holy water to take back to their homes to perform rituals and purification. The offerings to the sacred waters vary. Pilgrims give flowers, fruits, lamps and their respectful prayers. On festival days and religious occasions the riverside is thick with their colorful bobbing up and down on the waters...
Day 1 : Varanasi
Afternoon arrival in Varanasi from Delhi/Haridwar by train. Watch evening arati (Hindu ritual) at the Ganges Stay at Hotel, or option to stay in a riverside guesthouse.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple - Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Entry restricted for foreigners.
Day 2 : Varanasi
Opportunities for a dawn boat ride on the river, to observe the devotions to Surya, the rising sun. Afternoon visit to nearby Sarnath, where the Buddha began his teachings 2500 years ago. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 3 : Varanasi
Morning for sightseeing in Varanasi. Afternoon free for relaxation and boat ride. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 4 : Varanasi - Allahabad (122 Km / 4 Hours)
Morning drive to Allahabad to see the Sangam (Meeting point) of the three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna & Saraswati. Here the Maha Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years which is a major Hindu festival. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Sangam - Around 7 km from Civil Lines, overlooked by the eastern ramparts of the fort, wide flood plains and muddy banks protrude towards the sacred Sangam. At the point at which the brown Ganges meets the Greenish Yamuna, pandas (priests) perch on small platforms to perform puja and assist the devout in their ritual ablutions in the shallow waters. Beaches and ghats are littered with the shorn hair of pilgrims who come to offer pind for their deceased parents.
Day 5 : Allahabad
Day at Allahabad. Morning enjoy the Holy dip at the Sangam. Later, reach the point on a boat, half day sightseeing. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 6 : Allahabad - Delhi
Morning free. Later board Prayagraj Express Train back to Delhi. Night on Train.