Varanasi being one of the oldest living cities in the world and so the houses in its by-lanes are at least 500 years old. Composed between 1500-1200 BC, Rigveda an ancient Indian text, talk about Kashi as the luminous. As Varanasi is known worldwide as the spiritual capital of India, it provides liberation or Moksha to those who die at the bank of the sacred river Ganges. Religiously, Kashi has been the centre for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. Abode of Lord Shiv, it is probably the only cosmopolitan where temples and mosques share the same boundary, a sight quite rare in this post-modern world.
Under UNESCO’s creative cities network Kashi is listed as the city of music and is a paradise for cultural enthusiasts, scholars and artists. Kashi is the hometown of several great persons like Tulsidas, Kabir, Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar and it has also attracted great minds including Mahatma Gandhi, Mark Twain, Annie Besant and Swami Vivekananda, and inspired their work. The narrow pathways of Kashi consists of echoing sounds of bells and classical music, traditional architecture of closely-spaced houses, aromas of delicious chaat and sweets and vibrant colours of Banarasi artefacts such as the silk sarees. Welcome to this living museum of Indian cultural heritage.
All those who really want to get a sense of real Varanasi the only possible way is to explore the river side and the area behind the ghats which is setup in form of narrow and puzzled alleys. Inside the alleys the real Varanasi lives looks different than any other place found on our planet. All such sights or things like narrow and puzzled alleys, beautiful temples and shrines, old buildings, monasteries, all the major old markets, cultural and religious diversity, real Varanasi-food, people, cows and bulls…all is found inside the alleys which are not possible to visit by any vehicle can be easily covered through walking tours. All the businesses are done by the Varanasi people inside these alleys on foot. Heritage walk in Varanasi offers you an opportunity to experience the real Varanasi, talk with the locals and visit hidden and old alleys and temples, ponds, ashrams, and the old business district… just by walking with us.
The Walk
By means of walking tour you will get a chance to:-
- Walk through the Narrow Lanes
- Explore the Old City
- Temple Walk
- Exursion to Sarnath
- Walking through Bazaars
- Rickshaw Tour
- Boat Rides
- Special Tours
Timings of walking tour of Varanasi
From October to March: 11am to 13:30, 16:00 to 18:30
From April to September:7am to 9:30am, 16:00 to 18:30