Between Life and Death The Hidden World of the Aghori

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2 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

Step off the usual paths of Varanasi and enter the mysterious world of the Aghori, one of India’s most secretive and misunderstood spiritual orders. Your guide, Golu, once lived among them, giving you rare insight into a world few outsiders ever see.

Golu shares the truth behind their myths — their cremation ground rituals, devotion to Shiva, and their radical pursuit of spiritual freedom by embracing what others avoid. He brings to life a world where darkness and divinity exist side by side, and where ideas of purity and impurity lose all meaning.

You will visit places connected to the Aghori and learn about their sacred practices, symbols, and philosophy. While meeting an Aghori cannot be guaranteed, the knowledge you gain will stay with you long after the tour ends.

This is more than a tour — it is a rare chance to explore the edges of life, death, and spiritual transcendence, guided by someone who has truly experienced it firsthand.

What's Included

Coffee and/or Tea
Meals

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
  • 1
    Manikarnika Ghat

    At Manikarnika Ghat, the most sacred cremation site in Varanasi, funeral pyres burn day and night as families perform last rites for their loved ones — a powerful meeting point of life, death, and devotion. Here, the Aghori meditate and perform rituals among the ashes, seeking spiritual liberation by confronting mortality and transcending the boundaries of purity and fear.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2

    Baba Mashan Nath Mandir is an important site in Varanasi for the Aghori tradition. Located near the cremation grounds, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and serves as a place of meditation, rituals, and spiritual practice for those following the Aghori path. Visitors gain insight into the philosophy of confronting mortality, transcending fear, and seeking liberation. The temple’s atmosphere is both intense and serene, offering a rare glimpse into a side of Varanasi’s spirituality that few outsiders ever experience.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 3

    Baba Keenaram Ashram, the spiritual center and birthplace of the Aghori tradition. Dedicated to Baba Keenaram, the revered saint believed to be the first Aghori, this sacred place offers insight into their philosophy, rituals, and devotion to Lord Shiva. The ashram’s peaceful yet powerful atmosphere reveals the heart of a path that embraces both darkness and divinity in search of ultimate truth.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Golu's Spiritual Tours

Tags

Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Religious Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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