Varanasi – A journey of 5000 years

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Namaste!

"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together," wrote the American novelist Mark Twain.


Referred to as the oldest living city, situated between Rivers Varuna and Assi, from where it derives its name, Varanasi. A city of thousand temples is also known as Kashi, which stands for "the city of light." According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi is the cosmic center of the universe. The British referred to Varanasi as Benaras or Banaras, and the Banarasi sari of this region is as famous as its temples and traditions. Introspect yourself deep in Varanasi with this short video.

So while visiting this ancient town, here is our guide to essential places to visit in Varanasi.

Evening Aarti Ceremony

One of the most spectacular things about Varanasi is the Great Ganga Aarti ceremony. It is a solace to seek divinity along the Ghats of Varanasi that brings heaven on earth.

Ganga Aarti is a reminder of the ancient Vedic Rituals of fire meeting water. It is a religious ritual and a lot more than that. It is a form of devotion to preserve nature by personifying the River Ganges as a Goddess. The Aarti begins with an offering to several prominent Hindu gods, while the priests chant Rigvedic hymns. This ritualistic performance makes you spiritual and connects your mind to the divine world.

Early morning Boat ride on the Ganges

If you want to experience the life of this ancient city, visit the Ganges River early in the morning. Enjoy the serene beauty of the rising sun on the River Ganges. Take the boat ride and witness the early morning rituals performed by hundreds of Hindus.

One of the rituals is to take a bath in the Ganges River. It is believed that a bath in the Ganges River would free you from the circle of rebirth. It is fascinating to see the pilgrims offering sweets, flowers, and holy water to the Sun God.


Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Also known as Golden Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of Varanasi's most famous Hindu temples. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (or the destroyer) stands tall on the Ganges River's western bank and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. (Jyotirlinga is the luminous beam that emits light. It is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva). This temple is considered as a central part of worship in the Shaiva philosophy in Hindu scriptures. It was destroyed and reconstructed several times in history.

The Maratha ruler, Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, built the temple in the present form in 1780 AD. While Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the original temple, there is a replica of the temple in Benaras Hindu University which can be visited by everyone.


Walkthrough the Ghats

Every ghat (a broad flight of steps leading down to the river) in Varanasi has a story - either religious, historical, or mythological. One of these is the Manikarnika ghat which is famous as the cremation ghat. It is said that on an average about 200 bodies are burnt at this ghat everyday. This ghat gives you a glimpse of the truth of life. On this ghat also lies a half-sunk temple into the river.

Legend has it that a nobleman decided to build a temple to repay the debt he owed to his mother to give birth to him and raise him. But the temple half sunk into the river - as no child can ever repay for his mother's sacrifices.

Amongst other famous ghats is another cremation Ghat Harishchandra Ghat. This ghat is named after Harishchandra, a king of the Suryavanshi (or the Solar) dynasty. The king was famous for his loyalty and adherence to justice. His dedication is reflected in the act when he did not cremate even his dead son without obtaining a fee.

Other notable Ghats of Varanasi are the Assi Ghat & Dasashwamedh Ghat where the morning & evening aarti, respectively, take place in Varanasi. Other ghats like Rana Mahal Ghat, Darbhanga Ghat have magnificent palaces. Get a glimpse of Ghats in Varanasi in this short video.

Take a walk to understand Life and Rebirth.

In Hinduism, there is a belief in rebirth. As per Hinduism, a soul reincarnates to serve negative karma and gets rewards for the positive. Another reason for rebirth is unfulfilled desires (or Maya). When a soul is free from desires, it will finally attain Moksha and live in a transcendent state of eternity.

Take a walk which begins with a fertility temple and ends on cremation grounds. While walking through the city, you will see a different aspect of Varanasi.

During this walk, you will get an insight into death & rebirth while discussing philosophy as you wander through Varanasi's narrow lanes, walking past Kali temple to the chai (tea) shop, eventually reaching one of the cremation grounds.

Visit Mukhti Bhawan

In Hindu Philosophy, Hindus give a lot of emphasis to Moksha. A term referring to various forms of liberation (or release). Moksha refers to freedom from the cycle of rebirth. It is freedom from ignorance, attained through self-realization and self-knowledge.

Mukti Bhawan is a unique guest house, or you can say a spiritual home, where Hindus come and are allowed to live so that they can die in Varanasi to attain Moksha. People on their death-bed can stay there for a maximum of two weeks. If a person does not die in these two weeks, he has to leave Mukti Bhavan to give his accomadation to someone else.

Visit Sarnath

Sarnath is one of the important pilgrimage sites in Buddhism. It is here the Lord Buddha, after achieving enlightenment in Bodhgaya, preached his message of "middle way" to nirvana.

There are several Buddhist structures built in Sarnath. One of the most important monuments here is a stupa erected by Emperor Ashoka, a great follower of Buddhism, around 234 BC. The Government of India later adopted the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar as the national emblem. Most of these monuments are located in extensive gardens making it quite pleasant for visitors to spend some time here. Explore Sarnath in this short video.

While visiting Sarnath, do not forget to visit the Archaeological Museum. The museum has the figures and sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushana, and Gupta periods discovered during Sarnath's excavations. Here you can have a glimpse of some of the oldest images of Buddha, dating from the 9th to 12th centuries.

A trip to Varanasi is going back to the time immemorial! We, at Indo Asia Tours, are all about the handcrafted tours, memories, and moments you take out of your trip, and believe us, this escapade will be a life-changing one!