AirAsia heralded the year-end Buddhist pilgrimage season with the introduction of a direct flight between Bangkok Don Mueang and Varanasi, India. Commencing on 25 November 2019, the four-times-weekly service will allow travellers to reach the 4,000-year-old holy city by the Ganges and the site of the Buddha’s first sermon.
Varanasi, located in northern Uttar Pradesh state, is one of India’s holiest cities. It is home to a thriving Hindu community that lives along the Ganges, and visitors can cruise along the sacred river and stop at its many ports to witness aarti or Hindu fire ceremony, the faithful bathing in the Ganges and many more Hindu rites. Numerous other travel sites can also be found in and around Varanasi, including Ramnagar Fort, a fine example of Mughal architecture set beside the Ganges.