Varanasi: Where Spirituality Meets Serenity

Varanasi, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, is a city of immense spiritual and cultural significance located on the banks of the sacred River Ganges in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is often referred to as the "Spiritual Capital of India." The city is famous for its ancient temples, ghats (riverfront steps), and vibrant street life, making it a focal point for Hindu pilgrims and tourists.

Varanasi is home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the nearby Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, both of which attract devotees from all over the country. The city's numerous ghats, such as the Dashashwamedh Ghat, host daily ceremonies and rituals, including the Ganga Aarti, which is a mesmerizing spectacle at sunset. The city's narrow winding streets are filled with vibrant markets, selling everything from traditional silk sarees and jewelry to brassware and religious artifacts.

Apart from its spiritual and cultural importance, Varanasi is known for its role in the development of classical music, particularly the Benares Gharana. The city has been a muse for artists, poets, and musicians for centuries. Varanasi's timeless charm and deeply ingrained traditions offer an immersive experience for those seeking to explore the spiritual heart of India and its multifaceted cultural tapestry. It continues to be a place where ancient customs and modern life intersect in a unique and unforgettable way.

Tourist Places in Varanasi

Archaeological Museum

Visit Archaeological Museum, located in Sarnath. It houses the capitol from the Ashokan pillar, the symbol of which has been adopted as the state emblem of modern India. The museum also has the figures and the sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushana, and Gupta periods discovered during the excavations at Sarnath. You can have a look at the earliest Buddha image found at Sarnath and many images of Hindu Gods dating from the 9th to 12th centuries. It houses the capitol from the Ashokan pillar, the symbol of which has been adopted as the state emblem of modern India.

Banaras Hindu University

One of the oldest educational centers in India, Banaras Hindu University was built in 1917. The university was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya as a center for the study of Indian art, culture, music, and Sanskrit. The university campus is spread over five square kilometers and houses the Bharat Kala Bhavan. The Bhavan has a fine collection of miniature paintings, sculptures from first to fifteenth centuries, old photographs of Varanasi, and brocade textiles.

Bharat Kala Bhawan

Bharat Kala Bhavan lies within the sprawling grounds of Benaras Hindu University. Its outstanding collection of sculpture, paintings and textiles began with the private collection of the enlightened Raj Krishnadasa.

Bharat Mata Temple

This temple of Bharat Mata (Mother India), inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, lies about 3 kilometers west of Godaulia, outside the old city. Here, instead of gods and goddesses, one finds a huge relief map in marble of the whole of the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau. The map is said to be perfectly to scale both vertically and horizontally with mountains, rivers and the holy tirthas (pilgrimage centers) all clearly visible.

Boat Ride

Early morning you experience the life of this ancient city. See the beauty of the rising sun on the Ganges. Enjoy the boat ride, experience the early morning rituals of the Hindus being performed, thousands of people taking a bath in the holy river believing they will be free from the circle of rebirth. It is interesting to see the pilgrims offering sweets, flowers, and holy water to the Sun God.

Chunar Fort

The Chunar fort is situated in the Vindhya Range at a distance of about 45 odd km from Varanasi. The Chunar fort is located in the Mirzapur district. According to the Puranas, the oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri as Lord Vishnu had taken his first step in his Vaman incarnation in the dynasty of Great King Bali. It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar.

Durga Temple

Located 2 kilometers south of the old city, this eighteenth-century Durga Temple is also known as the Monkey Temple due to many aggressive monkeys that reside here. The temple was built in a common north Indian style with an ornate shikhara, consisting of five segments symbolizing the elements and supported by finely carved columns. Here Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red and riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, and a sword. Non-Hindus are admitted to the courtyard but not the inner sanctum.

Excursion to Chunnar

Chunargarh is located just 45 odd kilometers from Varanasi and falls in Mirzapur district. The city has a very deep historical importance because of the Chunar Fort that stands just off the town. It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar as back as 56 BC. King Sahdeo who also built a stone umbrella-like cenotaph inside the fort in order to commemorate his victory over 52 different rulers later inhabited it.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Entry restricted for foreigners.

Ramnagar Fort

Formerly the residence of Maharaja of Benaras, this 17th-century stronghold is best seen from the river. Reached via a dilapidated bridge or by ferry during the monsoon season, the fort also contains an interesting museum that contains some elaborate relics. Expect to see everything from gruesome elephant traps to astrological clocks and razor-sharp swords.

Sarnath

A major Buddhist center, Sarnath lies 10 kilometers northeast of Varanasi. It was here that Buddha preached his message of the 'middle way' to nirvana after achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya. In around 234 BC, Emperor Ashoka, a great follower of Buddhism, erected a stupa here. Between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, several Buddhist structures were built here in Sarnath. Most of the Sarnath's monuments are set in large gardens making it quite pleasant for a visitor to spend some time here.

Tulsi Manas Temple

Built-in 1964, the Tulsi Manas Temple stands about 150 m south of Durga Temple. The temple, dedicated to Lord Rama is situated at the place where Tulsidas, the great medieval seer, is believed to have lived and written the great epic "Shri Ramcharitmanas". The two-tier walls of the temple are engraved with the verses and scenes from this great epic.