Varanasi
Pilgrims and devotees call it the ‘City of Light’. Also referred to as Kashi, the pilgrimage city of Varanasi stands on the banks of River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. The city has featured as an important seat of learning since the dawn of time. During the Gautam Budh era, Varanasi served as the capital city of the Kashi kingdom. Besides being a capital city in the olden days, the 3000-year-old city was also an important commercial centre. Traders arrived here to deal in products like silk, muslin, ivory and sculpture. Famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang has written in his travelogues about Varanasi being a major centre of spiritualism, art and education.
Tourist Attractions
Being one of the holiest cities in India, Varanasi offers innumerable attractions to see and experience. The temples, ghats, educational institutions and festivals of the city known the world over. Some of the most widely known tourist attractions in Varanasi are as follows. |
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Temples in Varanasi
Small and large temples abound in Varanasi. All of these temples are redolent with myths, legends and history. The 18th-century Durga Temple, located at Ramnagar in Varanasi is a much visited one. The most populat temple in the city, however, is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Standing on the outskirts of River Ganga, the temple was constructed in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. Other must-see temples in Varanasi include Sankat Mochan Temple, Birla Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple and Kaal Bhairav Temple among others.
Ghats of Varanasi
The city shares a deep spiritual relationship with Ganga ghats. Here, the Ganges features more than 100 ghats used for different religious rites and rituals. Some of the most widely popular ghats in Varanasi include the Tulsi Ghat, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarna Ghat and Assi Ghat among others. A dawn boat ride along the Ganges would open up a whole world of rituals and rites performed at these ghats right from dawn to dusk.
Fairs & Festivals in Varanasi
Religious celebrations continue in the city all the year round. Varanasi celebrates both religious and tourist festivals. Bharat Milap Festival, Dev Deepavali Festival, Mahashivratri Festival, Makar Sankranti Festival, Holi Festival, Buddha Purnima and Ram Leela are some of those festivals that provide a window to the religious and cultural wealth of the city. For tourists, the State Tourism Department organises Ganga Mahotsav every year. Renowned artists from all across India perform in this festival, which is actually a tribute to Mother Ganga. The performances are staged at Dasaswamedh Ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi.
Reaching Varanasi
Varanasi features its own domestic airport - the Babatpur Airport. A 45 minutes drive from the airport takes you to the city centre. Flights of Kingfisher Airlines, Spicejet, Alliance Air and Jet Airways connect Varanasi to all the major destinations in the country. By rail routes too, the city remains excellently connected with all the major cities of the country. Auto-rickshaws, taxis and buses are the main means of local transport within the city of Varanasi. |
