Dev Deepawali 2026 - Boat & Beyond

If you're reaching Varanasi on 22 November, you're welcome to come a day early.

And if your train or flight gets you in early and you need somewhere to go before the normal check-in time, I've got early check-in handled too.

All I need from you is to pre-inform me of your arrival time, so I can coordinate it properly.

Early check-in is arranged separately and is subject to availability and additional charges. Kashi full experience

Once you've arrived, you have two ways to spend the day.

OPTION A

EXPLORE KASHI AT YOUR OWN PACE

If you want to arrive, breathe and settle in, that's completely fine.

Spend the day doing whatever feels right.

You could:

• Walk through the old lanes
• Visit a temple
• Wander around the ghats
• Spend time by the Ganga
• Find a café
• Try local Banarasi food
• Shop around the old city
• Take a sunset walk
• Rest at the stay
• Or simply do nothing

There is no pressure to turn your arrival day into a sightseeing marathon.

OPTION B

JOIN THE OPTIONAL HOSTED KASHI DAY

If you'd rather start exploring with the group, you can join an optional city exploration inspired by the more structured Kashi route.

BHU

We'll visit Banaras Hindu University and the Vishwanath Temple within the campus.

LOCAL KASHI FOOD

Along the way, we can stop for some of the city's favourites: cold coffee · dosa · lassi · kachori

These are part of the structured Kashi route we're using as an optional reference. 

SANKAT MOCHAN

We'll then head towards Sankat Mochan Temple for Hanuman Ji's blessings.

DASHASHWAMEDH GHAT

If timings allow, we'll continue towards Dashashwamedh Ghat for the evening Ganga Aarti.

DINNER

We'll have dinner and some time to rest.

LATE NIGHT OPTION

For those who want to experience another side of Kashi, there is also the option of joining the Kaal Bhairava midnight Aarti.

The group heads out around midnight for the 12:30 AM Aarti and returns around 2 AM. 

This is completely optional.

If you've travelled all day and would rather sleep, please sleep.

A day to discover the city before it lights up

We'll officially come together today.

Start with breakfast, settle into the private stay, meet everyone and ease into the group.

Then, depending on what you feel like doing, you can either explore independently or join me for the day's optional Kashi trail.

THE CORE PLAN

We'll keep the day relaxed with time for:

• Old-city lanes
• Temples
• Local food
• Ganga & ghats
• Shopping
• Cafés and local spots
• Time to rest at the stay
•  

WANT A MORE STRUCTURED DAY?

Join the optional hosted exploration covering:

Sarnath → Kashi Vishwanath area → Vishalakshi Mata → Dashashwamedh Ghat

This gives you a chance to see another side of Kashi before Dev Deepawali, including Sarnath, the main Ganga Aarti and the Kashi Vishwanath area. Travel With Pro

You don't have to follow the entire route.

If you'd rather spend the afternoon wandering through Banaras on your own, that's completely fine too.

EVENING

WELCOME DINNER

Whether you've spent the day with the group or explored Kashi independently, we'll come together for our welcome dinner.

This is deliberately simple.

Good food.

Good conversations.

Meeting everyone.

Sharing stories.

Getting comfortable with the people you'll be spending the next few days with.

No formalities.

Just a warm beginning to the experience.

Your core itinerary specifically keeps this as a relaxed evening to meet, talk, eat and settle into the days ahead. Kashi full experience

The night you came to Kashi for.

Today, the city changes. The morning is deliberately slow because tonight is going to be a long one.

9:00 AM | Wake-up call
Breakfast will be served by 9:30 AM, and after that, the morning is completely yours.

Use the time to shop, relax, get ready in your best ethnic look because today is the day you came for. Keep your comfortable footwear. get ready for the evening.

2:30 PM | Head to the ghats
By 2 PM, everyone should be ready and we’ll head towards the ghats together.

BEFORE WE BOARD | A LITTLE KASHI RITUAL

Before we step onto the Bajra, we’ll gather by the Ganga for Deep Daan.

Light your diya, offer it to the river, say a little prayer, and make a wish. It’s a quiet, beautiful moment to pause and take in where we are before the evening begins.

Then, we board the Bajra Boat, where you’ll be welcomed with a traditional Tilak and Banarasi Paan.

And from there, we sail into the heart of Dev Deepawali Celebrations.

BOARD THE BAJRA | WELCOME TO THE EVENING

Step onboard our premium Bajra boat, where you’ll be welcomed with:

• Tilak
• Banarasi Paan
• Lanterns
• Dedicated seating
• Music & festive onboard atmosphere
• Host & guide assistance

ON THE GANGA | KASHI IN FULL GLOW

We’ll sail along the river as the ghats transform into a sea of lights and diyas.

• Watch all the 84 Illuminated ghats
• Grand Ganga Aarti viewed from the river
• Laser & Light Show
• Dev Deepawali fireworks
• Snacks & beverages
• Bottled drinking water
• Professional event photography

You’ll have time to sit back, take photographs, talk, enjoy the music, or simply watch Kashi glow around you.

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME

Before the evening comes to an end, there’s also a Surprise Goodie Box waiting for you. There’ll be plenty of time to sit back, take photographs, talk to people, or simply watch Kashi glow around you.

Boat experience: approximately 7 hours, including the evening celebrations.

And yes, safety is taken seriously. Life jackets, safety equipment, trained boat crew, controlled guest capacity and our organiser team will be onboard throughout.

After the boat

We return to the stay, freshen up and have dinner together. And then there’s a little something extra planned for you. Nothing formal. Nothing you need to prepare for, a curated experience planned for you to wind down after one of the biggest nights in Kashi. Jamming night to sing your heart out with some of the finest musicians. Grab your drinks and chill together. 

After Dev Deepawali, we slow things right down.

No early alarms. No packed sightseeing list.

OPTIONAL | SUBAH-E-BANARAS

For the early birds, there’s also an optional sunrise experience.

4:30 AM
Wake-up

5:30 AM
Head to Assi Ghat for Subah-e-Banaras

Chai by the river, followed by a sunrise boat ride before returning for breakfast.

Completely optional. Sleep is also a perfectly valid Kashi experience.

Your day, your Kashi.

Sleep in.

Have a leisurely breakfast and decide what you feel like doing.

You could:

• Wander through the old lanes
• Visit a temple
• Explore BHU
• Head to Sarnath or Ramnagar
• Try local food
• Find a café
• Walk along the ghats
• Shop for Banarasi sarees and souvenirs
• Follow our local recommendations
• Or do absolutely nothing

Kashi has enough to keep you occupied. And enough to make doing nothing feel like a plan.

Evening onwards

Come back to the stay by 7 PM, take your time getting ready and glam up. I’m keeping this one slightly mysterious.

You’ll know the plan once you are onboard. Expect a crazy DJ night with good music, drinks, conversations, food, a relaxed setting and one last evening together that feels very different from the chaos of Dev Deepawali night.

The night starts around 7:30 PM.

No dramatic goodbye. Just a slow final morning.

Wake up when you want. (11 am check out timing hehehehe)

Take a final walk on ghats. Look at the Ganga.

Maybe buy that thing you kept saying you’d come back for.

Have breakfast.

Then it’s time to check out and head home.

Hopefully, you leave with a little bit of Kashi staying with you.