Evening Ganga Aarti Boat Ride (7+ Aartis)

Aartis are performed at several ghats each evening, not only at Dashashwamedh. Your private boat moves along the river so you see more than seven of them, one after another, along with the full stretch of ghats lit up at dusk.

Every booking also comes with 3 diyas for deep daan (floating lamps on the Ganga), life jackets for everyone on board, and memorable photos of your evening. Send us a video review afterwards and we add 300 KashiGo coins to your account — worth ₹300 off your next booking.

It's the most panoramic way to see it. You get the full width of the ceremony, space around you, and it's cooler and calmer than the packed steps. You can turn around and see the entire illuminated riverfront.

The trade-off: you're an observer rather than in the crowd, so you won't feel the heat of the lamps or smell the incense. Many visitors do the boat one night and the steps another.

The Aarti follows sunset, so the time changes through the year: around 6:00 p.m. from October to February (sometimes 5:45 p.m. in December), around 6:30 p.m. from March to May, and around 7:00 p.m. from June to September.

Boats start taking positions 60 to 90 minutes before the ceremony. We set off early so you're in a good spot before the river fills up.

October to February is peak season and the best spots on the water go early. Bargaining with a boatman on the night usually means paying double for a poor position at the back. Booking online locks the price and the boat.

After the Aarti, it's traditional to light a diya — a small leaf cup with marigolds and a candle — make a silent wish and float it on the river. Children sell them for ₹10–20. Do it; it's one of the most beautiful things you can do in Varanasi.