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Long before the city wakes, the ghats of Varanasi are already alive. Bells ring softly from riverside temples, the first pilgrims wade in for their morning dip, and the sky over the eastern bank slowly turns from grey to gold. There is no better way to take it all in than from the middle of the river itself, aboard a simple wooden rowboat.
Guests staying with us often ask when to go, where to start, and what the ride actually involves so here is everything you need to plan a calm, unhurried sunrise on the Ganges.
Boats begin gathering along the ghats around 5:00 5:30 AM, roughly forty minutes before sunrise. Arriving a little early means you get a boat to yourself rather than sharing with a larger group, and you'll watch the ghats light up one by one as priests and residents begin their day.
Dashashwamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat are the two most popular starting points, both easily reached from the hotel. Dashashwamedh gets you close to the main aarti platform and Manikarnika, while Assi offers a quieter launch with fewer boats jostling for space.
The boat drifts past dozens of ghats bathing ghats crowded with pilgrims, cremation ghats where sacred fires burn around the clock, and quiet stretches where laundry dries in long colourful rows. Photographers should keep a camera ready for the light bouncing off the water as the sun clears the far bank.
A Few Practical Tips
Carry a light shawl mornings on the water are cooler than they look from the ghats. Agree on the price and route with the boatman before setting off, and always ask our front desk if you'd like the ride arranged in advance; we work with a small group of trusted boatmen who know the river well.
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We offer assistance with a River Ganges boat ride and city tours of Varanasi — ask our travel desk to arrange your sunrise boat ride along the ghats or a guided tour of the old city.
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