Varanasi
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Varanasi - Famous amongst the travelers as the most ancient surviving city in the world. It also is the microcosmic mirror of India, as a whole, as the pilgrims and the travelers converge into this holy, old, perplexing, mesmerizing and overwhelming city to find their very own purposes. It's situated on the holiest river of India, Ganges.
Some basic info:
Common Name : Banaras, Kashi
Languages Spoken : Hindi, English, Bhojpuri(Local Dialect)
Weather : Hot(May-August), Temperate(September-October, February-April), Cold(November-January)
Contents |
Transportation
Varanasi is accessible by train, road and airways. For Railways please refer to the website [1]. India Railways connects Varanasi with all the major cities from North, South , East and West. All major airlines Indian, Jet Airways, Sahara have direct flights to Varanasi.
Local
For the movement in the city, shared Auto Rickshaws, Cycle Rickshaws ,City Buses and Taxis are available.
Places To Visit
Varanasi is primarily known for its religious fervor and ancient traditions. The city can be broadly divided into two parts; Ghats and the Main City.
Ghats:-
Ghats are the steps built on the banks of the river. It is here that locals and pilgrims come for the holy dip and perform the prayers and rituals. The famous and busy ghats are following and they are adjacently situated.
Assi Ghat:
Assi Ghat an important ghat of Varanasi traditionally constitutes the southern end of conventional city.
Tulsi Ghat:
It is named after the great poet Tulsi (1547-1622 A.D.) who wrote Ramcharitmanas.Krishna lila is also performed here with great conventional Rites, Music concerts, Wrestling, and spiritual discourses are regular features here.
Dasaswamedha Ghat:
This is the most busiest and the ancient most referred ghat. According to the myth related to Divodasa, Lord Brahma (" the creator" in the Hind trinity gods) performed the ten-horses sacrifice (dasa-asvamedha) at this site.
Mani Karnika Ghat or Harish Chandra Ghat:
This is one of the two cremation ghat, and some times referred as Adi Manikarnika. This is where the dead bodies are burnt, after the final rights are done. Kindly keep in mind that none is offended while photographs are being taken.
Raj Ghat:
Upto 1887 this was a famous ferry ghat. On 1st jan. 1887, Lord Duffrin bridge (road-cum-rail) was made and its importance as ferry points had lost. The bridge is named as Malaviya Bridge in 1948 after the founder of Banaras Hindu University, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaiya.
The above mentioned ghats can be covered by foot or else the boats can be hired from Assi Ghat, which will take the boat till Raj Ghat. The fare varies from 150 to 2oo INR.
Lanes/alleys (Gali in Hindi):-
Lanes cut the ghats perpendicularly. The small ghats have the access through the lanes, which are beaming with trade. Shops in these lanes sell everything from the groceries to locally made artifacts and other business items. These lanes are also the den for the gastronomical joy seeker, as the local delicacies such as dairy sweets and snack items such as Gulab Jamun, RasGulla, Cham Cham, Ras Malai, Samosa, Laung Lata , Jalebi, Rabri are sold . Famous and known lanes to visit are
More Lanes(galis) which can be visted are:
-Vishwanath Gali -Kachauri Gali -Khova Gali -Kalika Gal -Bangali Tola Gali -Kali Mohal Gali -Garhvasi Tola Gali -Gola Gali -Pathar Gali -Anandmai Lane -Sankata Gali
Main City
City can be mainly divided into three parts. Southern , Central and Northern.
Places to visit would be
Vishwanath Temple and Chowk
Vishwanath Temple is situated in Chowk Area, which means the intersection point. It is the oldest part of the city, best for the sights and souonds of the city. The alleys and lanes arefull os shops, offering goods and artifacts. Bargain is always favorable. This is also a very nice place to eat local food and buy used books , sold by the travelers. The temple is considered the oldest.
Bharat Hindu University
Bharat Hindu University is in the Southern part of the city. It has a huge and scenic campus.
Business District
Lahurabir, Cigra, Lanka, Bhelupur, RathYatra are the neighbourhoods, where banks, travel offices, hospitals are situated.
Outside the City.
Places to visit are
Ramnagar Fort:
It was formerly the seat of power, from where King Of Benares , ruled the city. It is situated across the river, which can be reached by road .
Sarnath:
Sarnath is famous for Buddha gave his first sermon after the enlightemment. Sarntah is approximately 2o kms out of the city. Taxis and Auto Rickshwas can be hired to visit Sarnath. Additionaly there are museums , which are of interest to travelers
RajDari Falls:
It is the falls situated in the Vindhya Ranges, fifty kilometers from the city. It is recommended to go there in a group of ten or more, by hiring a minibus or taxis.
Accomodation
Majority of the travelers prefer to stay in Guest Houses in Assi Ghat and the adjoining areas, as it is where the action is . Please refer to the following link for accomodation.
Food
-Shiva Cafe and German Bakery, D 26/4 Narad Ghat, (near Himalaya Lodge).
-Mona Lisa Cafe, (just south and opposite Shiva Cafe)
-Open Hand Cafe, Assi Ghat
-Bread of Life Bakery, Shivala Road, (a few hundred metres north of Assi Ghat)
-Pizzeria , Assi Ghat
-Basant Bahar, Lahurabir
-Banarasi Chat Bhandar, Godilia(Near Chowk)
-Kachauri Gali, Visheshar Ganj(near Chowk)
-Rath Yatra(McDonalds for the homesick And all the locally prepared dishes for the ones with the strong digestion.
