It started on a great note.Ten of us started for Kolkata by catching Gour express from Malda town on the night of 23rd December 2023.

We reached Kolkata ,the morning of 24th December and rushed to the airport all 😊 excited to meet the other members of our travel team.

My mom was being picked up by our friends and they were meeting us at the airport.We reached early checked in our luggage and waited for them to arrive and then we had a good breakfast tuck in at the food court.Dosa ‘s were hot and fresh and right of the tawa and cups of chai from the tea junction stall .Plus there was a mandatory dessert sampling from Flurys ,right next door.I love their chocolate cube and it’s my must-have whenever I am at the airport!

After that we waited and waited and waited.The flight was delayed significantly .Indigo gave us food for lunch and finally the flight took off late afternoon and we reached Kashi in a blink.The flight was smooth .But the delay caused our plans to go a little haywire.

But it was the holidays and we were in a good mood.Plus I was remembering the Home Alone movies and how their Christmas holidays always ended up crazy.I was glad we skipped the crazy and it was just irritating in parts.

Now as soon as we reached Kashi we felt the vibe of this old sacred city.A place you can only visit if Kashi Vishwanath wants you to come.

We hopped onto the Tempo Traveller .A great one with comfortable reclining chairs,phone charging ports and AC vents next to each seat .It was a 16 seater Tempo and we were 14 people plus luggage for 14.There were three kids ,four senior citizen and everyone excited.

But before we could reach the hotel Dolphin Grand, the traffic situation just infront of the hotel meant we were ten minutes from the hotel struck in an impossible traffic jam in a 16 seater car and thinking what to do.The hotel told us due to some visiting dignitaries the road in front of the hotel was now a no vehicle zone and only foot traffic allowed.They were sending help to rescue us!

So guess what?Help came.They helped us carry our luggage ,helped the senior citizens and rest of us hopped out of the car with kids in tow.We stepped gingerly over covered drains,climbed over steps ,swung around waiting two wheelers,autos and cars and thankfully reached the hotel with smiles on our face,because we were finally here and everyone was okay.

We were so happy that the multiple delays and travel fatigue simply dropped away and we decided to have a quick dinner and go exploring the night streets of Kashi .Ghat hopping at night.It sounded like the perfect post dinner plan with only one problem .Strictly walking and no car because no one had the energy to wait through another traffic jam.Would the seniors in our group want to go for a night time stroll through the unfamiliar lanes of Kashi?Would the kids enjoy that?

Yes yes and yes.

Even my mom with arthritis was enthusiastic about exploring the Gali’s(lanes and bylanes) of Kashi.Serpentine and lined with shops and thronging with people .The weather was cool and pleasant .Not too cold and definitely pleasant.

A note here.Kashi is one of the important pilgrimage places for Hindus in India.There are so many temples,God’s and Goddesses all around the Kashi Viswanath Mandir that it’s impossible to visit all of them.So we would be going around with a guide the next day and he was coming to have a chat with us about the itinerary.

First temple hopping was at Kedarghat.

On 25th December morning it was first Kashi Vishwanath temple,followed by Kaal Bhairav temple,Sankat Mochan temple,Durga Kund and more.

That evening we went for launch ride in the Ganga and then watched the Ganga Aarti.That was mesmerizing and is one of the must-do things in Kashi.

That was followed by visit to Kashi chaat Bhandar which wasn’t successful.Everyone who was in Kashi was there and we couldn’t get in.That was disappointing .But what we did late at night was walk on the streets of Kashi enjoying the sights and sounds.

The next day (26th December) morning we went for a bath at the ghats (there were changing rooms there).Ask your local guide for the best ghat for bathing because there are specific ghats for specific reasons. Like at certain ghats bathingbis done only after offering last rites .

After catching a quick breakfast our car started for a day trip to Prayagraj.

Then we went by boat to Triveni sangam ,offered puja there to the Ganga river and watched birds flying all over.The biggest problem was the extensive begging on the ghats.Unlike Kashi there seemed to be less organizational capabilities of Prayagraj administration.It was a missed opportunity. But we enjoyed the trip.

Back to Kashi we went shopping for the famous Benarasi sari .I looked in wonder at the variety of Benarasi sarees.I never knew there was even cotton Benarasi.While my friends bought a pile of them what broke my heart was when I heard,they were all machine-made!Plus they looked nothing like those at Indian Silk House exclusive or B.K Fashions .While others went to try their luck at Kashi chaat bhandar we went to relax at the hotel.

Tamatar chaat was wonderful and they came back telling us about the wonders of flavors.S

We were at Kashi for 2 days and 2 nights .Ist night was when we reached.On the third day we visited Ayodhya en-route to Lucknow.Since it was a long route ,roadside food at local hotels were chosen depending on what ur driver suggested.At Kashi and Prayagraj we had strictly vegetarian food.Lucknow Hyatt has all varieties

Next day it was Ayodhya which I have described here .

My saree shopping got a new life in Lucknow where I finally bought a beautiful red chikankari saree.

But otherwise Lucknow for me didn’t have the best experience.Lucknow Hyatt overbooked us.10 rooms were reserved while we wanted 5.It took good paet pf an hour to clear the confusion.The room allotment was delayed and we loitered at the lounge while they unscrambled the mess.Rooms were spacious with zero view.The worst partHyatt charges extra for everything and wants you to get membership for accessing small indoor play areas for kids.Its breakfast buffet was complementary and they had Insufficient seating for the in house guests.The long wait was embarrassing and for kids difficult. Not family friendly according to my experience. Plus I suffered the worst food poisoning ever on my second day at Lucknow and didn’t want to try the food experiments. Be careful

🛕 Kolkata to Kashi: A Spiritual Sojourn through Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya & Lucknow ✨

From the ghats of Varanasi to the sacred banks of the Saryu, this week-long spiritual journey blends devotion, heritage, and culture across four holy cities. Here’s how our incredible 7-day trip unfolded — perfect for pilgrims, families, and explorers alike.

📅 Day 1: From City of Joy to City of Light

✈️ Morning Flight: Indigo Airlines from Kolkata to Varanasi – 9:30 AM departure
🏨 Check-in: Arrival & hotel check-in by noon

🕒 Afternoon:

A serene start with a walk along Kedar Ghat, one of the oldest and most peaceful ghats in Varanasi
Witness the timeless traditions and take in the atmosphere of sacred chants, bathing pilgrims, and temple bells

🌅 Day 2: Soulful Mornings & Ganga Evenings

🌄 Early Morning:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple – Attend the Mangala Aarti, seek blessings at one of the holiest Jyotirlingas
Visit the fierce Kal Bhairav Temple, known as the protector of Varanasi

🚶‍♂️ Mid-Morning:

Local sightseeing: Vishwanath Gali, Annapurna Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir

🚣 Afternoon:

Enjoy a peaceful boat safari on the Ganga, viewing all the major ghats from the river — a surreal experience

🪔 Evening:

Attend the famous Ganga Sandhya Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat — a mesmerizing visual and spiritual spectacle
Don’t miss the floating diyas, rhythmic chants, and crowd of devoted pilgrims

🕊️ Day 3: Onward to Prayagraj – Where Rivers Meet

🚗 Road Trip to Prayagraj

Visit the Triveni Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati
Optional: Take a holy dip and perform puja at the banks
Visit landmarks like Anand Bhavan, Bharadwaj Ashram, and Allahabad Fort (view from outside)

🛕 Day 4: Divine Vibes of Ayodhya

🚗 Drive to Ayodhya – Birthplace of Lord Rama

Highlights:

Ram Janmabhoomi & newly built Ram Mandir – Witness the majestic structure
Peaceful stroll along the Saryu River ghats
Visit Kanak Bhawan, Hanuman Garhi, and Ram Darbar temples
Evening darshan and light show if available at the temple complex

🕌 Day 5 & 6: Lucknow – Tehzeeb & Tunday

🚗 Drive to Lucknow – The City of Nawabs welcomes with culture and cuisine

Sightseeing:

Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara – Marvels of Awadhi architecture.I skipped the Bhul bhulaiya(I don’t like closed spaces) and our friends almost got lost there.Definitely take a guide otherwise the other guides won’t help you inside the Bhul bhulaiya.
Walk through Hazratganj Market for shopping & street food.We went saree shopping.
Don’t miss iconic Tunday Kababi, Idris Biryani, and Prakash Kulfi.Mentioning what I was told.I gave this all a missed because of tummy problems .Incidentally Hyatt was where we stayed but I am not recommending that particularly.
Optionally visit Rumi Darwaza, British Residency, and Ambedkar Park.We really enjoyed the walk at Ambedkar park.

🛫 Day 7: Farewell from the City of Nawabs

Check out and head to Lucknow Airport for return flight
Carry back memories of divine darshans, soulful ghats, and delicious food

🧳 Travel Tips:

Book puja slots online for Kashi Vishwanath Temple.A must.
Get a good guide.
Wear modest, temple-appropriate clothing
Start your day early for smoother darshans
Respect local traditions & photography rules at temples
Try local thalis and street snacks at every city

📍 Cities Covered:

Kolkata ➡️ Varanasi ➡️ Prayagraj ➡️ Ayodhya ➡️ Lucknow

A perfect route blending faith, food, and heritage, this itinerary is ideal for families looking for a sacred yet enjoyable North India tour.

Hello my dear readers! This is little miss A. Misra signing in to tell you my story of Christmas holidays!

My exams ended right on 23rd of December, and the holidays started from then. Simultaneously, we happened to go on our Kashi trip right that day!

I was jumping up and down in excitement. Me, Rui ( i wont tell his real name, but that’s what I call him) was 9, about to be 10, and Jaya, from our last trip, about to be 9, were all going together, along with my grandma, or Diduni.

We were going to Gour express. We arrived first, Rui a little later. Jaya and diduni would be waiting at Kolkata in the airport. While waiting for the train to arrive, me ad Rui chatted about Christmas, what we had plans, and how excited we were.

When we finally boarded, me and Rui played some travel games in the upper bunk– Word game, Rock-paper-scissors-drawing etc etc. I think it was about 11.20 pm when father called us saying– ” Kids you need to sleep!” I dont think anyone noticed his call because he forgot about it himself a minute later. After I think another 15 minutes he looked at the time and made us go to sleep.

Next day, we woke up at – 4 : 30am, I think? Oh right, it was 4:20am. Never mind, Same difference anyways.

So, anyway, Rui was refusing to wake up, and he was told ” Oh well, we might just leave you here and you will be kept in a train shelter .That’s all” I don’t think he believed it, but he got up anyways.

I sat up, yawning while pulling on socks. After wearing my jumper, I waited patiently while staring at a wall for us to arrive. Rui did the opposite. He lay down again! When the train jolted to a stop, my father called for a porter while we strapped on back-packs and bags.

Excited, we all bundled into cars together. Finally when we reached the airport we saw Jaya had not reached yet. We scuttled about to the baggage deposit, and got our security checks done. We went to the food court and had breakfast- buttery bread and maggi with a muffin for me, others wanted dosa. After a cup of tea, we headed out.

When we just got out, we spied Jaya’s father nearby! We excitedly ran up to him and saw Jaya, her mom, and diduni coming towards us. Finally we were together again!

We chattered excitedly while trying to find good seats. When that was done, we left Jaya and her parents to eat while we browsed W.H.Smiths. The book shop.

I bought an Agatha Christie ” The Hound of Death” and so did mother, ” The Spider’s web”. We bought one for Rui, too. ” The Listerdale mystery”. Turns out he did not like thrillers. So he bought another Asterix book. We kept the extra Agatha Christe for ourselves. Hurrah! We bought a book for Aadu. A Geronimo Stilton story. I have forgotten which. There are more that 200 to count from. Anyway, it had a cover of Geronimo racing about.

Rui was feeling a bit grumpy and sleepy, and we only got, I think, 5 seats in the waiting area for 14 people. Great. I perched on the handle reading, until Jaya came back. She joined me and soon Rui made an attempt at the Asterix comic too.

Unfortunately because of the intense fog and mist, our flight was delayed- by 3 hours. Yeah. Not fun. But we still did pass the time by drawing,reading and– well Rock paper scissors yet again.

Allof us were really grouchy. Finally when the time came for our flight we all cheered up a little. When we got inside , we had to wait,10- 15 mins before take off. When it did, the plane moved really quick and I was very excited. Suddenly, it launched into the sky and above the clouds. Off at last!

I ate the rest of my muffin sleepily and dozed a bit. The pilot announced after I think 40 minutes- “please remain seated we are preparing for landing”. I felt so Happy! When I felt the vibration and thud of landing, I looked out with shining eyes.

Kashi trip cloudscape

Hurray! We were in Varanasi!

We came out of the plane curiously. It was afternoon and too warm to wear coats. Nonetheless, I knew too well that if I tried to carry mine it would only fall, so on it went. At the airport, we patiently collected our luggage before bundling into the big Tempo traveller!

It was already some 2.30 pm or something. We went quite smoothly, except for bites of horrendous traffic in some areas. That kind of held us up a bit. We had eaten some rolls at the airport so we need not stop for lunch.

It was quite late when we reached the hotel ” Dolphin grand” I was already about to fall asleep, but everyone wanted to go and see the Ganga. After eating a food thali of rice, dal, naan, sabzi and gajar halwa, we travelled to the ganga ghat. It contained many steps and narrow winding passages to the big area. We touched the water and felt its coolness. We even collected some in a bottle.

Kedar Ghat Visit and the mandatory group pics !

When we went to the hotel, I changed my dress and plopped on the bed and fell asleep almost in a second.

That was Kashi trip part 1! Watch out for the next one.

Kashi Bishwanath Darshan

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