Walking Tours
The ancient city fronting the holy Ganga River has been a source of cultural and anthropological intrigue since the times of Alexander the Great. It is still, for many, the “consummate Indian city”, whose bewildering landscape of ghats, temples and Hindu rituals represents an alternative modernity, as much anachronistic to some as contemporary to others. This is the Varanasi that continues to fascinate pilgrims, tourists, scholars and artists alike. This is the phenomenon of Varanasi we all see from outside.
If you 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. Real Varanasi lives inside the alleys which looks different than any other place found on our planet. Narrow and puzzled alleys, beautiful temples and shrines, monasteries, old buildings, cultural and religious diversity, all the major old markets, real Varanasi-food, people, cows and bulls…all is found inside the alleys which are not possible to visit by any vehicle. Varanasi people do all of their business inside the alleys on foot. Groovy Tours gives you an opportunity to experience the real Varanasi, talk with the locals, visit hidden and old alleys and temples, ponds, ashrams, and the old business district… just by walking with us.
Our Walks
Walk 1- Learning and Burning Walk
Varanasi is called the city of Learning and Burning because of its intellectuals who have made great contribution in the civilization of Indian culture and the on going cremation 24 hours a day. Have you ever heard of a city where people intentionally move to die? No, right? But Varanasi is the only place which has always attracted thousands of people to die here because of their belief that only dying in this city can get them moksha. Lets explore the idea of life and death in Varanasi by visiting the Ashrams where Sadhus (The holy men) live, cremation grounds, a sacred pond which is believed to have power of treating infertility and one of the most important Hindu temples.
Time spent on the tour : 3 hours . Wear sport shoes and be comfortable when walking!
Price of the tour : Rs. 1500 per person
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Walk 2- Magical ponds, ashrams and temples of Southern Varanasi
The southern part of Varanasi is known as the Gauri Kedareshwar Khand in the Shiva Mahapurana : the most important sacred text about Lord Shiva, and is considered as the most sacred part of Varanasi. A walk through the magical ponds : as old as 2200 years, ashrams and temples like the Monkey Temple, Tusli Manas Temple and the site where great poet Tulsi Das wrote Ramcharit Manasa situated around Assi Ghat will take you to the magical world of sacred Varanasi.
Time spent on the tour : 3 hours . Wear sport shoes and be comfortable when walking!
Price of the tour : Rs. 1500 per person
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Walk 3- Cultural diversity of Varanasi
Banaras (Varanasi/Kashi) is the mosaic of Indian culture with respect to representing the diversity and the distinctiveness of the regional cultures of India through superimposition in the passage of time. People from all parts of India, speaking different languages and dialects and carrying their own traits, taboos and traditions have settled in this city. In Varanasi alone, there are over 3600 Hindu shrines and temples, 1388 Muslim shrines and mosques, 42 Sikh temples, 12 churches, 3 Jain temples, 9 Buddhist temples and several other sacred site and places. Lets explore this most culturally diverse city of India by walking with us!
Time spent on the tour : 3 hours . Wear sport shoes and be comfortable when walking!
Price of the tour : Rs. 1500 per person
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Walk 4- The Golden Temple walk
Walking around the Golden Temple area is always a unique experience as it has always been the most important cultural and financial area of Varanasi. A visit to the most beautiful piece of temple art in the whole city at Gautameshwar Mahadev, the Golden Temple: the most important Shiva temple in whole India, historical mosques, old and hidden alleys, bazaars, ancient Varanasi building architecture along with the biggest crematorium on the planet situated at Manikarnika ghat will give you an unforgettable and unique walking experience.
Time spent on the tour : 3 hours . Wear sport shoes and be comfortable when walking!
Price of the tour : Rs. 1500 per person
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Walk 5- Kashi, older than the oldest
Walk in a five feet wide alley which used to be widest road of Varanasi in the ancient time is our walk 5. Walking in the oldest markets, narrow and puzzled alleys of Varanasi will take you to an entirely different world. Seeing a 400-year-old saree market, the spice and grains market, a magnificent mosque built by the Mughals along the river and the temple of Lord Kaal Bhairao, known as the Kotwal or the Police Chief of Varanasi will give you a real sense of the old city “Kashi”.
Time spent on the tour : 3 hours . Wear sport shoes and be comfortable when walking!
Price of the tour : Rs. 1500 per person