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| A Series of Ghats in Varanasi © Ninara / Flickr |
It is the mythical city of the world, which is the capital of all spiritual pilgrimage sites and has been attracting pilgrims to the city for centuries. It is considered one of the holiest cities of Hinduism. Apart from this, the city is also considered sacred in Buddhism and Jainism. The culture of Varanasi has an unbreakable connection with the Ganges River, Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and its religious significance. The city has been a cultural and religious center of India, especially North India, for thousands of years. Varanasi is often referred to with adjectives such as 'city of temples', 'religious capital of India', 'city of Lord Shiva', 'city of lamps', 'city of knowledge'.
A visit to this mythical city will be one of the most delightful visits you can make. Because it is one of the seven holy (Saptapuri) cities of Hinduism and the birthplace of four Jain Tirthankaras (saints). This mythological city is situated on the western side of the Ganges. When you travel on foot in Varanasi, you have to get lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets of Varanasi, on foot you are welcomed by a herd of sacred cows. The most special thing about the city is that you will have a glimpse of the temple at almost every turn, but the Kashi Vishwanath temple is the most popular and also the most ancient here.
Banaras is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, it is his city. There is no doubt about it. Kashi is considered the largest tirtha (pilgrimage) between earth and heaven. Here a person comes and takes a bath in the Ganges water and washes away all the sins of his millions of past rebirths. According to the belief of Hinduism, it is considered an auspicious place to die because salvation is attained here by the cycle of life and death. The city holds a distinct importance for the numerous visitors to the city. For a traveler, this is the mythological aura that eclipses, for a devotee it is the gateway to salvation, the best educational institution for a student. And the city is also the center of various cultural and religious activities including history, philosophy, yoga, Ayurveda, astrology, music, literature, learning, tradition and art. Which is most spectacular in its ghats (situated on the banks of a river). The city has developed into a number of industrial centers, especially in the weaving, hand-loom sector. Apart from this it is world famous for muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, micro-carpets, and sculpture. From the famous Ganga Aarti to the cremation ceremonies are performed here at the ghat till date. A grand ceremony is held at the time of Ganga Aarti.
Varanasi is also one of the holiest sites for Buddhism, as Buddha is believed to have established Buddhism here around 528 BCE. When he gave his first sermon, ""The Setting of Motion of the Wheel of Dharma"" at nearby Sarnath. Which is located only 12 km away. In the same city, the 15th-century mystic poet and saint Kabir was also born. The city has also revered the works of prose writers like Kabir's couplets, DN Khatri, Hazari Dwivedi and Jaishankar Prasad. And Goswami Tulsidas Ji, a famous poet of India and a devotee of Rama, also composed an epic called Ram Charit Manas on the life of Rama in Varanasi. Undoubtedly, no other city in the world can parallel this holy city.
History of Varanasi (Banaras)
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| Ramnagar Fort located near the Ganga River on its eastern bank © Tanuj Handa / Pixabay |
Varanasi is a very ancient city whose history is also ancient. Many writers and historians give evidence that this city was established then, but this is not true because people only present arguments, not evidence. If we describe according to Hindu mythology, then this city is the home of Lord Shiva, which he himself founded. The city is popular as Kashi or Banaras, which is formed by the confluence of two sacred rivers. According to the Vamana Purana, Varanasi is situated between two rivers, Varuna in the north and eighty on the banks of the Ganges in the south, Varanasi was derived by combining the names of these two rivers. The mention of the city is seen in many Hindu texts including the ancient Rigveda, including the Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
It is also seen in poems that the Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata in Dwapar, came to this city in search of Shiva so that he could atone for the sin of brahmahatya which he committed during the Kurukshetra war. This is because this city is considered to be one of the seven holy cities (Sapta Puri) that offer salvation; Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti, and Dwarka are the seven cities. Apart from this, the city is also described as Banaras in the Upanishads (sacred Hindu scriptures) and has been an important center of trade and education. Some great signs of the antiquity of this city are found in the time of Lord Buddha in 500 BCE. Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after becoming an enlightened one.
It is also mentioned here that the Aryans came to the city and made their home, which is the first history of the first Aryan settlement in the central Ganges valley. By the second millennium, Varanasi became a major site of Aryan religion and philosophy. Varanasi was a part of the Kannauj state during the Middle Ages and later the Pala kings of Bengal took control over it. In 1194, Shahabuddin Ghori looted and damaged this city. During the Afghan invasion and Muslim rule, Varanasi faced a devastating phase that included the demolition and destruction of temples. During this period, it was renamed as Muhammadabad. Later the city came under the control of the Awadh court. Raja Balwant Singh supported Varanasi in the battle of Buxar and made Varanasi independent from the Awadh court. In 1911, the British made Maharaj Prabhunarayan Singh the king of Varanasi. After independence in 1947, this state voluntarily joined the Republic of India in 1950. This city is very amazing, its glory is unique, for a long time, writers have been trying to capture the essence of Varanasi in books. This city has been the cultural and religious center of India, especially North India, for thousands of years. This supernatural and eternal city has attracted religious gurus, reformers and preachers for centuries. Apart from Lord Buddha and Shankaracharya, many saints like Ramanuja, Vallabhacharya, Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak, Tulsidas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Raidas etc. came to this city and were blessed.
Famous American writer Mark Twain, who visited India in the last decade of the 19th century, describes Banaras as writing: ""Banaras is older than history, older than traditions, older than legends and when collected all these If done, it is twice as ancient as that collection.
Places and attractions to visit in Varanasi
Temples and Mosque in Varanasi (Mandir)
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple - Vishwanath Temple is one of the most popular attractions in Varanasi which is situated on the western bank of the holy Ganges River. Also known as Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and this temple is dedicated to the ghost god Bhagwan Shiva, the Jyotirlinga present here is considered to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, he is also known as Vishwanath or Vishveshwara which means 'Lord of the Universe'. Lord Bhoot Bhavana is very fond of Kashi, hence the temple is also known as Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The major religious center of Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history but the final structure of this temple was demolished by the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb built the Gyanvapi Mosque in place of this temple. The present temple was constructed by Ahalya Bai of Indore in 1776 with about 800 kg gold platen on the main towers of the temple, due to which the Kashi Vishwanath temple is also known as the Golden Temple.
To clarify one thing, the time of darshan (normal journey) in the temple is from 6 am to 6 pm. No bags, cameras, cell phones, electronic devices or pens are allowed in the temple premises. These have to be stored in a locker outside the temple. A Gyan Kund or Gyan Kuan is also present inside the temple premises where only Hindus are allowed to enter.
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| New Shri Vishwanath Temple is located in Banaras Hindu University © WCities / Flickr |
New Shri Vishwanath Temple, BHU - Shri Vishwanath Temple is also known as Vishwanath Temple, New Vishwanath Temple and Birla Temple. This temple is located in Banaras Hindu University which is dedicated to Lord Mahadev. It is the most famous temples in Varanasi and the center of faith for devotees. There are a total of 9 temples within the entire temple complex, below which Baba Vishwanathji (Shiva Linga), besides Natrajji, Mata Parvatiji and Ganesh ji, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Mata Saraswatiji, Hanumanji and Nandiji Maharaj are seated. The idol of Lord Shankar and Lakshmi Narayanji is reputed on the first floor.
Durga Kund Temple - Durga Temple, also known as Durga Kund Temple and Monkey Temple. It is located near Durga Ghat on the banks of river Ganges, and this temple is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple was constructed by a queen of Bengal in the 18th century, the temple was reddened with ocher.
Sankat Mochan Temple - Sankat Mochan Temple is one of the most popular temples in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. This temple is dedicated to Shri Ram Bhakta Hanuman Ji Maharaj. Sankat Mochan means "deliverer from troubles". This temple is situated to the south of the city of Varanasi, on the Durga Kund Road. Another name of the temple is also "Vanar Mandir", this is because there is a large number of monkeys here as if it seems that the entire monkey army stays with Hanuman ji. The ancient construction of this temple was built in the 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas ji, the poet of the Ram Charit Manas and the present one is built in the early 1900s by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University. Hanuman ji is very fond of laddus, hence laddus is offered to Lord Hanuman here.
Shitala mata Temple - Sheetla Temple is a major religious center in Varanasi, dedicated to the goddess Sheetla. The structure of the temple is white in color and is located on the Sheetla Ghat in the southern part of the Dasavamedha Ghat. There is also a temple of Santoshi Mata inside this temple complex. Devotees visit the temple in large numbers on Sheetlashtami and pray to protect themselves from diseases.
Chausath Yogini Temple - Chausath Yogini is a major religious center of faith where the number of devotees doubles on the holy day of Amavasya. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Which is located just above the Chausath Yogini Ghat.
Kaal Bhairav Temple - Kaal Bhairav Temple is one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva located in Vishwanathganj, Varanasi, India. This temple is dedicated to Bhairav (Kaal Bhairav), the incarnation of Lord Shiva, the symbol of death. Kaal Bhairava wears a garland of skulls and the Bhairava temple has a unique connection with the city's history and culture. The word "Kaal" means "death". It is believed that death is afraid of this form of Lord Shiva himself. This place is considered highly religious for Aghoris and Tantrikas. All the creatures living in this city of Lord Shiva are very dear to Lord Bhoot Bhavana and Kaal Bhairav is their form. For this reason, the people of Varanasi take permission from Bhairav Baba before leaving the city for any reason and anyone coming to Varanasi should visit the temple and seek permission to visit Varanasi as per folklore.
Kedareshvara Temple - Kedareshwar Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is situated on top of the Kedar Ghat on the banks of the holy Ganges River. The Kedareshwar temple of Kasi is considered equivalent to the Kedareshwar of the Himalayas as the stone Shivalinga here spontaneously appeared.
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| Tulsi Manas Temple, Built in 1964, named after the saint poet Tulsi Das ji © Juggadery / Flickr |
Tulsi Manas Temple - Tulsi Manas Temple is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi which is dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple was built in 1964 and the temple is named after the saint poet Tulsi Das ji. And the great feature of this temple is that the temple is a simple structure of white color. The temple is said to have been constructed at the same place where the saint poet Tulsi Das ji wrote the ancient Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas originally at this place in the 16th century. The walls of the temple are decorated with shlokas of Ram Charit Manas. The atmosphere of the temple is very calm and comforting.
Bharat Mata Temple - Bharat Mata Temple is located in the Kashi Vidyapeeth campus in Varanasi, India which is dedicated to Bharat Mata. One of the characteristics of this temple is that instead of traditional statues of any deities in the temple complex, inside the temple is a huge undivided map of India carved in marble. The map is carved on a white marble stone purchased from Makrana. The temple was constructed in 1936 and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Sarnath - Sarnath is one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, located only 10 km from Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and Varuna rivers. It is believed that Lord Buddha gave the first sermon here to his disciples after attaining enlightenment. There are some ancient structures here - such as Dhemakh Stupa, it marks the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and the Chaukhandi Stupa, where Lord Buddha met his first five disciples. Sarnath is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four pilgrimage centers and is also considered the birthplace of the 11th Jain Tirthankara (saint).
Alamagir Mosque - The Alamgir Mosque is a mosque built during the Mughal rule, known as Beni Madhav's Pass and Aurangzeb's Mosque. The mosque is situated on the Panchganga Ghat. It was built at this place after the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb destroyed the temple in 1682. Before 1682, it used to be a Vishnu temple.
Tibetan Temple - Located in Sarnath is the Tibetan temple where Lord Buddha taught the four truths of life to his disciples. Sarnath has many Buddhist temples but is the center of most Buddhist devotees. A beautiful statue of Shakyamuni or a statue of Buddha is installed inside the temple. The walls and ceilings of the temple are decorated with traditional Buddhist paintings also known as Thangska. The temple has a series of prayer wheels.
Nepali Temple - Nepali Temple is a temple built in Nepali style architecture in Varanasi built by the King of Nepal. Located on the Lalitha Ghat, which is also known as Kaithawala Temple, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati husband Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the oldest temples in the city whose image resembles that of the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. The temple is constructed of exquisite wood, the workers were brought here from Nepal while constructing the temple to give the temple a touch of Nepali design.
ISKCON Varanasi - The ISKCON temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna located in Varanasi, built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It was established in the year 1966 to promote the consciousness of Lord Krishna. Regular worship, kirtan and chanting sessions are very popular here.
Ghats in Varanasi
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| Hanuman Ghat which is in honour of the monkey god Hanuman © Jean-Pierre / Flickr |
Hanuman Ghat - There is a number of ghats in Varanasi, one of them is Hanuman Ghat which is located in Juna Arena, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh. This ghat is associated with the epic Ramayana because it is said that this ghat was built by Lord Shri Ram himself with his own hands for his beloved devotee Hanuman. Its ghat was also called Rameswaram Ghat. A clear distinction is found between Hanuman Ghat and other ghats of Varanasi because the ghat is very clean and more solid. Two temples are located near the ghat, one of which is the temple of Lord Hanuman and the other is dedicated to Tulsi Das ji. Apart from this, there is a temple established by the saint-poet Tulsidas in the Ghat, in which the epic of Ramayana is written. You will be amazed to see the excellent picture of Ruru Bhairava here, it is one of the eight popular Bhairavas. It is a very holy religious place.
Assi Ghat - Assi Ghat is one of the largest ghats in Varanasi, which lies to the south of the main ghats. The ghat is situated at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Asi River and is famous for worshiping the large Shiva Lingam of Lord Shiva installed under the Peepal tree. The Ghat is called eighty because it is the 80th Ghat, which is closest to the Banaras Hindu University. And in a small marble temple situated a short distance from the ghat, Asirangameshwara, the lord of the confluence of Asi, sits. The evening aarti, held daily at the ghat, appears to be a unique blissful scene when the aarti is performed here, chants are chanted, the sound of conch shells in the ears and even the wind is filled with a spiritual zeal. It feels amazing with Tourists at the ghat come here to enjoy the amazing view of sunset and sunrise in the Ganges.
Dashashwamedh Ghat - Dashashwamedh Ghat One of the oldest and most sacred ghats in Varanasi is Dashashwamedh, it is located close to the Vishwanath temple and is probably one of the most magnificent and extremely popular ghats. As the name suggests, this is the place where Lord Brahma performed the Ashwamedha Yagna and Hindu mythology is associated with this ghat. According to one legend, Brahma Ji built this ghat to welcome Lord Shiva and according to another story, Brahma Ji sacrificed ten horses and performed the Das-Ashwamedha yagna here. This Yajna was so perfect that Brahma Ji established Brahmeshwar Lingam here and since then Dashashwamedha has become one of the most famous pilgrimages on earth. This ghat is most famous for the Ganga Aarti held every evening, which includes ringing of conch, ringing of bells, strumming of brass cymbals and chanting of mantras, worship of Ganga, the lifeline of Varanasi, etc. This ghat is very accessible for bathing and you will see rows of priests sitting on wooden platforms under bamboo canopies. This ghat is a religious holy and many rituals are performed here.
Harish Chandra Ghat - Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the two cremation ghats of cremation, also known as Adi Manikarnika. This ghat is named after the legendary king Harishchandra who performed the last rites of his son at this ghat. King Harishchandra had lost everything for his self-sacrifice, truth and perseverance of charity. However, Hindus visit this ghat from far and wide at this place, as they believe that they attain moksha (salvation) at this ghat.
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| Manikarnika Ghat is an important one for cremation © Varanasi / Flickr |
Manikarnika Ghat - Manikarnika Ghat situated in Varanasi is one of the most auspicious and sacred ghats on the banks of the holy Ganges River and is an important one for cremation, it is situated between Dashashwamedh Ghat and Scindia Ghat. The ghat is crowded with funeral activities taking place, as well as attendants who also know it by the name of Dom. It is believed that the soul of the person who dies in Kashi attains salvation and hence the cycle of rebirth breaks when the cremation is done here. The ghat is named after the earrings of Mata Sati, when Lord Shankar was immersed in mourning when the goddess Sati herself entered the fire in her father's yagna. He took the corpse of his wife on his shoulder and explored the entire universe, then Lord Hari cut off Shakti's body from his Sudarshan Chakra. The place where her earrings fell is called Manikarnika.
Apart from these, There are many Holy Ghats here.
- Narad Ghat
- Jain Ghat
- Man Mandir Ghat and Lalita Ghat
- Kedar Ghat
- Chauki Ghat to Chausathi Ghat
- Panchganga Ghat to Adi Keshva Ghat
- Shivala Ghat
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| Divine river offers salvation to everyone who bathes in the water © Manish / Pixabay |
Take Holy Bath in Ganges - The holy ganges river supplies Varanasi with spiritual charm. The waters of Ganges River are Sacred. The divine river offers salvation to everyone who bathes in the water. Pilgrims from all over in the world no matter their age take a dip in the water to absolve their sins and attain moksha, liberation form the cycle of birth and death. Varanasi has more than 88 Ghats with stairs leading to the waters. After taking bath people chant prayers to appease the River Goddess.
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| A Family enjoying boat ride of the Ganga river © Balouriarajesh / Pixabay |
Enjoy Boat Ride of the Ganga - The best time to enjoy boat ride of the Ganga river is the dawn hour as well as the dusk hour. Early morning from 5:30 AM to 8 AM is a good way to see the sun rise and the city engulf you in its charm. A sunset boat ride especially during the Aarti is also spectacular.
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| Aarti ceremony is held every evening for 45 minutes at 6:45 pm © Tanuj Handa / Pixabay |
Evening Aarti Ceremony at Ganges River - Evening aarti is one of the top activities when you are visiting Varanasi. The Arti ceremony is performed every evening 45 minute ritual is held at 6:45 PM. Brass lamps of large sizes of almost 4.5 kgs are used during the spiritual greeting. chants, aromas of flowers and incense creates a heavenly blessing.
Gather with God at temples of Varanasi - Varanasi is holy land of Gods. The ancient city has a temple in every corner and most popular of the temples here is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. A Jyotirlinga of Lord shiva Known as the Vishwanath. Other popular temples are the 18th-century Durga Temple, Annspura Temple, Ankatha Temple, Kalbhairav Temple, Mritunjay Mahadev Temple, Sankatmochan,Bharat Mata Temple, etc.
Food in Varanasi - There are some amazing delicious food in Varanasi i.e. The famous snow cone, roasted peanuts, the delicious chat item like Tamatar Chat, Pani Puri, Kachoris, Aloo Tikki, Variety of sweets like Jalebis, Banarasi Kalakand, Rabri, etc. Another famous treat of Banaras is their Paan. It is a speciality of varanasi mode of betel leaf and should be definitely on your list.
Shopping in Varanasi - Its Amazing feeling to shop in Varanasi. The city is widely famous for its silk saris and ornate jewels, visit the local market to explore the plethora of colours, intricate pattern and elaborate design.
Apart from saris, one can buy shawls, carpets, stone inlay work, bangles and idols of Hindu or Buddhist deities. The Main shopping areas to explore in this city include Vishwanath Lane, Thateri Bazaar, chowk and Godowilia.
How to reach Varanasi
By Road - Chaudhary Charan Singh Bus Stand Roadways Depot is major bus stands in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Which is connected by state and UPSRTC roadways buses by road to many cities like like Prayagraj - 128 km, Agra - 565 km, Kanpur - 330 km, Lucknow - 286 km, and Sarnath - 10 Km (Uttar Pradesh), Delhi - 863 km, Bodhgaya - 240 km, Patna - 246 km (Bihar), Khajuraho - 405 km, Bhopal - 791 km (Madhya Pradesh). Within the state, the city is connected to all other major cities of Uttar Pradesh by an excellent road network and is well connected with the rest of the country by good motorable roads.
By Train - Varanasi has three major railway stations - Varanasi Junction, Manduadih Railway Station and nearby Mughal Sarai Railway Station. Varanasi Cantt and Mughal Sarai are the main stations that connect Varanasi to all the major cities of India. Which is connected by state and other railway stations to many cities like Delhi (13 hours), Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra (13 hours) and Lucknow (7 hours) (Uttar Pradesh) by rail. These trains are operated on time by the Indian Railways. Varanasi is easily accessible from other cities.
By Air - The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Babatpur which is 25 km from Varanasi and 30 km from Sarnath. Regular flights are available to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Agra, Khajuraho, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar and Kathmandu (Nepal). And one can easily reach the city via buses, taxis and tuk-tuk / auto rickshaws which run between the airport and the city.
Best travel time to visit Varanasi
October and March is the best time to visit in Varanasi because In those days teperatures are very comfortable and winter season are also the occasion of festivals in Varanasi. The most important festival is Ganga Festival celebrated in November.
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