The city of Varanasi is also referred by
other names such as Kashi and Benaras. Kashi is a city which is known as the
city of Moksha. It is also famous for its paan, fine-quality silks and also the
Benares Hindu University since the ancient days. It is also considered to be an
important pilgrimage place for the Hindus. It is one of the seven holiest
cities as well as a Shakti Peetha.
History
Varanasi is regarded as the home of Lord
Shiva. The beautiful and pious city of Varanasi is situated on the banks of
River Ganges and is said to possess the powers of washing away all of one's
sins. Whatever mantra is chanted here whatever is sacrificed here or even given
in charity is able to provide the devotees with its fruits a thousand times
more than those good deeds which are performed at other places. This is the
power of Varanasi. If a person fasts for three nights in Varanasi city, it will
be able to provide him many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism. Kashi has
been the ultimate pilgrimage city for the Hindus for ages. It is considered to
be the oldest living city in the world. Being the home of Parvati and Lord
Shiva, the origins of Varanasi which are yet unknown.
Nearby
Attractions
A
boat ride in the Ganges: When in Varanasi, you must
have a boat ride in the Ganges. In order to have the boat ride you will have to
negotiate the price. The reason for this is that the boats are in high demand.
When you start your boat ride, you should start it up river; this means that
you should walk upstream up till the University complex and then negotiate a
boat ride from there.
A
stroll along the ghats: In Varanasi, all of the
ghats have their own usage and meaning. There are many ghats which have been
earmarked for washing clothes. An instance is that of the Assi Ghat which is an
important bathing Ghat, while others are dedicated to worshiping. You will also
come across many ghats which meant for cremation such as that of the Manikarnika
Ghat, downstream from the Dasadwamedh which is the main Ghat. When you bathe in
Tulsi Ghat, it is believed that it will help you to eradicate leprosy. Asides
from sightseeing, there is also lots to learn about each Ghat along the Ganges
River.
Experiencing Varanasi during a festival:
Lots of people who have all been dressed up in orange throng in every little
street corner during the many different festivals held in Varanasi.
Temples: One of the important of all tourist attractions in Varanasi is its
temples. You will find that many of the temples are in the old city along its
lanes. One such temple is that of temple of Kashi Vishwanath. It is in this
temple that the Lord Shiva resides. When in this temple, you must try and
attend the aarti.
Sarnath: Near to Varanasi is Sarnath. This is the place where Lord Buddha
gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. It is at Sarnath that the
festival of Buddha Purnima is celebrated with much fanfare.
VishwanathTemple: It is also referred to as the Golden
Temple.
Durga
Temple: This temple has been built in the memory of
Goddess Durga and is considered to be a monkey temple. The Durga Temple was
built by a Bengali Maharani in the 18th century. It is popular for its North
Indian or Nagara style of architecture.
When
to Visit
The ideal time to visit Varanasi is
during winters from October to March.