The Most Underrated Slot on the River
Almost everyone books sunrise or the aarti. The ninety minutes in between get overlooked, and they are arguably the most pleasant time to be on the Ganga.
Varanasi's ghats face east, so at sunset the light comes over your shoulder from the west and lands flat on the façades. Every temple spire, palace wall and flight of steps is lit warm and even — the opposite of the backlit, contrasty conditions you fight at midday. The river is calm, the day boats have gone in and the aarti boats have not yet come out.
It is also the easiest ride for anyone who finds a 5 AM start difficult. No pre-dawn alarm, no crowd, no rush. And if you want the aarti as well, you simply stay on the water — your boat drifts down to Dashashwamedh and takes a front position before the evening fleet arrives.
- 🌇Flat, Warm LightWest-facing sun lands directly on the east-facing ghats. The most even light of the day for architecture.
- 🤫An Empty RiverDay traffic has finished, aarti traffic has not begun. Frequently you have whole stretches to yourself.
- ⏭️Roll Straight Into the AartiAdd the aarti to a sunset ride and you take position before the crowd — the best value combination we sell.
- 🛌No Early AlarmThe whole experience without a 4:30 AM wake-up. Popular with families and older guests.
- 🪔Diya Floating at DuskFloat lamps from the boat as the light goes. Better at dusk than in full dark.
- 🎻Live Flute OptionA flute player on board as the sun drops. Add with 72 hours' notice.
