Dev Diwali 2026 3-Day Itinerary – Varanasi

Arrive at Varanasi Junction (BSB) or Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. Check into your hotel near the ghats — the Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh Ghat area gives you the most convenient access to both temples and the Ganga. Have a light breakfast, freshen up, and get ready for the days ahead.

Take a comfortable rest after your journey. Varanasi's temple trail is extensive and energetic — recharge well before the evening, which begins at 3:00 PM with Kal Bhairav.

Begin your Varanasi spiritual journey at Kal Bhairav — the fierce guardian deity and divine "Kotwal" (police chief) of Kashi. This ancient tantric temple is one of the most unusual and powerful in India, where devotees offer madira (wine) as prasad to the deity. The energy here is raw, mystical, and deeply spiritual. According to belief, no journey through Kashi is auspicious without Kal Bhairav's blessings first.

The crown jewel of Varanasi — Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The newly built Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is a monumental achievement that stretches from the temple all the way to the Ganga ghats, offering a grand and reverential darshan experience. The golden spire glowing above the city skyline is a sight that stays with you forever.

Adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath, the revered Maa Annapurna Devi temple is dedicated to the goddess of food, abundance, and nourishment. The new Kashi Vishwanath Corridor seamlessly connects both shrines. Seek Annapurna Devi's blessings for health, prosperity, and abundance — especially meaningful on the eve of Dev Diwali.

End Day 1 on the most delicious note — a Varanasi street food walk through the glowing, lantern-lit lanes of Vishwanath Gali and Assi Ghat. Must-try: Tamatar Chaat, Dahi Vada, Baati Chokha, Rava Kachori, and the melt-in-mouth Malaiyo (winter only). The evening closes perfectly with a Banarasi Mitha Paan and Blue Lassi.

Head back to your hotel and rest well. Day 2 starts at 5:30 AM with the Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat — a sunrise experience you absolutely cannot miss. Set your alarm tonight!

Wake before sunrise and walk to Assi Ghat for the morning Ganga Aarti — a deeply intimate and soulful ritual performed by priests as the first light kisses the Ganga. Unlike the more crowded Dashashwamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat's morning aarti is quiet, meditative, and profoundly moving. Watch the oil lamps flicker on the dark river, hear the Sanskrit chants echo across the ghats, and feel the divine energy that makes Varanasi unlike any other city on Earth.

After the Ganga Aarti, enjoy a hearty, authentic Varanasi breakfast near Assi Ghat. Try crispy Kachori with spicy aloo sabzi, Puri Sabzi & Jalebi at a local dhaba, or a steaming glass of Banarasi Chai at the ghat. This morning food scene is an experience in itself — the flavours of Varanasi at their freshest and most local.

Visit the vibrant Durgakund Temple — dedicated to Goddess Durga and commonly called the Monkey Temple due to the resident monkey population around its sacred pond (kund). The red-ochre architecture is striking, and the kund reflects the temple in a beautiful mirror image. During the pre-Dev Diwali period, this temple is especially bustling with devotees preparing for Kartik Purnima rituals.

A 5-minute walk from Durgakund brings you to the serene Tulsi Manas Mandir — built on the exact spot where the poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas composed the immortal Ramcharitmanas. Every wall of this pristine white marble temple is inscribed with verses from this sacred scripture. The atmosphere is calm, clean, and deeply inspiring — a perfect pause before the busy afternoon ahead.

A short drive brings you to Banaras Hindu University — one of Asia's largest and most beautiful residential university campuses. Inside, the New Vishwanath Temple (Birla Mandir) is a magnificent white marble structure welcoming devotees of all faiths. The peaceful campus grounds, museums, and architecture make this a must-visit cultural experience.

Continue to Sankat Mochan — the beloved Hanuman temple founded by Tulsidas himself, set amid gardens on the banks of the Ganga. The temple radiates immense peace and positive energy. After darshan, enjoy lunch at a nearby vegetarian restaurant. This area has some of Varanasi's best pure-veg food options.

Take a well-deserved rest at your hotel after the morning temple circuit, OR use this time to explore Varanasi's legendary shopping scene. Browse authorized silk emporiums for authentic Banarasi sarees, brocade dupattas, brass diyas, handmade wooden toys, and crafts. Vishwanath Gali for silk, Thatheri Bazaar for exquisite brassware.

A 12 km drive brings you to Sarnath — the sacred site where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Visit the Dhamek Stupa (5th century CE), Deer Park, Chaukhandi Stupa, and the stunning Sarnath Museum which houses the original Lion Capital of Ashoka — the national emblem of India. A deeply moving and historically significant excursion.

Return to your hotel, enjoy a light dinner, and sleep early. November 24 is Kartik Purnima — Dev Diwali. Charge your cameras, power banks, and prepare everything you need for tomorrow. Your VisitKashi boat departs from Ravidas Ghat at 5:30 PM sharp — and you need to arrive there by 3:30 PM at the latest.

On Kartik Purnima, a holy dip in the Ganga is considered as auspicious as performing a complete Kashi Yatra. Even if you choose not to take a dip, the morning ghat walk is extraordinary — thousands of devotees bathe in ritualistic reverence while priests chant and flower garlands float downstream. The pre-Dev Diwali festivity saturating the ghats this morning is something no camera can fully capture.

Spend the morning and early afternoon leisurely at the ghats — watch artisans carefully placing rows of earthen diyas, vendors selling flower garlands and lamps, priests rehearsing formations for the Maha Ganga Aarti. The entire 7 km stretch of ghats hums with spiritual excitement. This pre-sunset atmosphere is itself a rare and beautiful experience.

This is the single most important instruction of your entire Dev Diwali trip. Varanasi receives over 1 million visitors on Dev Diwali night. By 4:00 PM, every road near the ghats is sealed by police. Vehicles — including auto-rickshaws — cannot pass. Thousands walk on foot through completely clogged lanes. If you are not already at Ravidas Ghat by 3:30 PM, you will likely miss your boat — and there are no refunds for late arrival. VisitKashi boats depart exactly on schedule, every year, without exception.

Meet your VisitKashi representative at Ravidas Ghat, Nagwa. Show your e-ticket, collect your life jacket, and settle comfortably onboard. The ghat is electric with energy — thousands of diyas are already being lit along the steps. Your VisitKashi guide will brief you on the evening's schedule, safety protocol, and the best photography positions on the boat.

Your boat glides onto the sacred Ganga as darkness falls. All 84 ghats stretching 7 kilometres light up at once — a million earthen diyas casting a golden cascade that mirrors in the sacred river like a sea of stars. Fireworks explode above Dashashwamedh Ghat at 7:30 PM. The grand Maha Ganga Aarti, performed by 21 priests wielding fire, flowers, and conch shells, reaches its magnificent crescendo. This is India's most spectacular festival night — and you're experiencing it from the best seat in the world: a VisitKashi boat on the Ganga.

Your boat returns safely to Ravidas Ghat. VisitKashi crew assist with smooth disembarkation. The city celebrates into the night. Enjoy a memorable celebratory dinner at a riverside restaurant and relive the incredible night with your travel companions. Har Har Mahadev!

VisitKashi — Varanasi's most experienced and trusted Dev Diwali boat operator since 2017 with 2500+ successful bookings — has one non-negotiable rule: book your Dev Diwali boat BEFORE you finalize any other travel arrangements. Boats sell out months before the festival. On Dev Diwali night, walk-in bookings are simply not available. Don't leave it to chance.