Varanasi or – Kashi, Banaras, or Benares – isn’t just a tourist destination. It’s a timeless experience and a place of spiritual awakening. Nestled on the sacred banks of the River Ganga, this ancient city vibrates with devotion, ancient rituals, chantings, temple bells, and the eternal flame of faith.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Varanasi or are already in the city, there’s an overwhelming richness to explore from the ghats and temples to Ganga aarti and Ganga Snan (bath) to sunrise and sunset prayers!
In this post, I will tell you the 5 deeply spiritual things to do in Varanasi – unique spiritual experiences that touch your heart and stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
Kashi Vishwanath Sparsh Darshan
Many devotees visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi every day. But only a few select ones get the chance to touch the sacred Vishveshwara Shivalinga inside the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
As per Kashi Khand, touching this Shivalinga grants punya equal to performing 1000 Ashwamedh Yagya.
As of today, there is no special fee or ticket for doing the Sparsh Darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. And you cannot book this experience online. You just need to join the darshan queue before the inner sanctum is opened for Sparsh Darshan, that’s all! It is free of cost; do not pay anything to anyone.
Timings of Kashi Vishwanath Sparsh Darshan:
- Morning slot 4 AM to 5 AM
- Afternoon slot 4 PM to 5 PM
- Evening slot 8 PM to 8.30 PM
Your chance of Sparsh Darshan is highly dependent on the crowd levels inside the temple when you are visiting. I visited on a Monday afternoon in August, and it wasn’t crowded that day. So, I easily got the chance of doing Kashi Vishwanath Sparsh Darshan.
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Ganga Aarti on Dashashwamedh Ghat
This is one of the best things to do in Varanasi – perfect for anyone seeking a heart-opening spiritual experience. It is one of the most grand and famous rituals of Varanasi, in which priests worship the River Ganga with lamps, bells, conches, incense and chanting of Aarti and mantras.
Imagine hundreds of lamps swaying to the rhythm of conch shells, Aarti hymns, and rhythmic mantra chanting, with thousands of people watching in the audience. Everyone is connected to the divine at once. This is the Ganga Aarti on Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, a breathtaking ritual performed every evening on the banks of the sacred Ganga River.
Ganga Aarti Timings:
Ganga Aarti is performed at sunset time every day.
- In Winter, it starts around 5:30 PM
- In Summer, it starts around 6:30 PM
The Ganga Aarti ceremony lasts about 45 minutes and attracts devotees, pilgrims and tourists alike into a unifying moment of prayer and gratitude towards the sacred River Ganga. Arrive at least 1 hour before the Ganga aarti begins to get a good spot for watching the whole Aarti ritual. You can also witness the Ganga Aarti from a floating boat on the Ganga River.
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Saturday morning at Sankatmochan
This temple in Kashi is a place where all your fears melt away. One of my most unforgettable experiences in Varanasi was a Saturday morning at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. Hundreds of locals and devotees visit this temple with pure devotion in their hearts.
In the 16th century, Goswami Tulsidasji built this temple dedicated to God Hanuman, the God of strength and courage. On Saturday mornings, the atmosphere here is extraordinarily divine.
Locals, young students from BHU and pilgrims gather together in devotion. Live Bhajans are performed in the background, and small booklets of Hanuman Chalisa are freely available. You will find many people sitting and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa from these small booklets. Make sure you join them in reciting Hanuman Chalisa and spend some time in the temple just soaking up all the positive energy.
Evening Aarti at Gauri Kedareshwar
On one evening in Varanasi, I found myself at the Kedar Ghat near the Gauri Kedareshwar temple. As the sun set in front of me and the Ganga river, the evening aarti began inside the Gauri Kedareshwar temple.
The priests and sages play the Damru (God Shiva’s drum) along with Shankha (conches) and temple bells, creating an enchanting atmosphere that feels like an invocation to God Shiva himself. The combination of these simple musical instruments, aarti chantings and the immense devotion of pilgrims transports you into another world – a world where you can feel the presence of God Shiva. The evening aarti inside Gauri Kedareshwar temple is followed by a small Ganga Aarti on the Kedar Ghat outside this temple.
This is one of those unique things to do in Varanasi – perfect for devotees looking for quiet, immersive spiritual experiences beyond the major tourist attractions in Varanasi.
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Subah-e-Banaras on Assi Ghat
There is something magical about the first light of dawn on the Ganga River in Varanasi. And this morning magic is amplified in the Subah-e-Banaras program performed every day. It is a famous cultural and spiritual program that begins before sunrise on the Assi Ghat in Varanasi.
It features Vedic mantra chantings, morning Ganga Aarti and classical performances, which allow the visitors to experience the early morning beauty of Kashi. This program honours the River Ganga and the rising sun, and it’s attended by pilgrims and tourists both. You can see the entire Varanasi with all the ghats slowly waking up from this spot on the Assi Ghat. This is one of the best things to do in Varanasi, India, if you like the magic of early mornings.
If you visit here, then don’t miss the Kulhad Coffee on Assi Ghat.
Let Kashi Transform You
Kashi is not a tourist destination that you simply visit – it’s a unique spiritual experience that you must feel. While visiting Varanasi, take some time to slow down, because Kashi only reveals itself when you do not rush around. Each of these spiritual things to do in Varanasi gives you a unique experience that you will not forget in this lifetime.
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