Varanasi, also known as Banaras is a sacred city in the Uttar Pradesh State of India. It is a major religious hub and the holiest of seven holy cities in India. A lot of devotees visit Varanasi throughout the year. There are plenty of big and small hotels in Varanasi. The town is famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.
The city has been a cultural centre of North India for thousands of years. It is believed that Buddha founded Buddhism here in around 528 BCE. The town is closely associated with River Ganga. The city is well known for its ghats. Pilgrims come to the ghats of Ganga to wash away their sins in the sacred waters of Ganga or to cremate their loved ones. Hindus believe that death in Varanasi brings salvation.
Following is listed some information on Varanasi, you would like to know:
1. It is one of the most colourful and vibrant cities of India. It is also one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities.
2. Mark Twain once said about Banaras—“Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
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3. A boat ride across the sacred Ganga is so fantastic that it captures the spirit of Varanasi.
4. A popular pilgrimage route of Varanasi is Nagara Pradakshina, which covers 72 shrines along the way.
5. Varanasi is a great centre for learning since ancient times. The holy city has been a symbol of spiritualism, philosophy and mysticism for thousands
of years.
6. Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi is one of Asia’s largest residential universities.
7. Varanasi is home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most important places of worship in the country. It is considered to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
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8. The city has produced great saints and personalities like Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Tulsidas, and Shankaracharya.
9. Varanasi is known for its fine-quality silks and ‘paan’.
10. The city is considered as the abode of Lord Shiva.
11. Varanasi is the oldest city in the world, more than 3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. The Jnana Vapi well is believed to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. The thirty-three hundred million shrines are found to have been at Varanasi.
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12. The Ganga Ghats are also the centres of music and learning.
13. The most sacred path of the city is Panchkoshi Parikrama that covers 108 shrines along the way with Panchkoshi Temple as its main shrine.
Varanasi is a city of temples, a city of abundant beliefs, a city of ancient culture, a city of India that genuinely captures the essence of the country. Visit Varanasi and uncover things you would never have imagined about India. There are plenty of hotels in Varanasi to intake visitors coming to discover this holy town.
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Varanasi Tour in 2-3 Days
Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is also an important city of India in terms of religious beliefs and traditions. According to the Hindu religion, people who die in Varanasi or whose last rites are performed in the sacred river of Ganges receives liberation from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. But religious traditions are not the only attractions of this city. There are also many other things to do in Varanasi.
The archaic buildings of the city gives it a unique appearance that is quite different from many of the other popular cities of the country. Though the city is quite ancient, it has a vibrant culture that gives the tourists a very positive vibe. This makes Varanasi quite a crowded tourist destination. Nevertheless, it continues to be one of the most visited places of the country.
Best Time to Visit Varanasi/ Banaras
Varanasi can be best explored between the months of October and March. This is the time of the year when the country experiences pleasant weather. You can avoid the hot and humid climate and enjoy the time spent across the river more peacefully. This is also the time when some of the popular festivals are celebrated in Varanasi. These include Diwali, Annakut, Chhath Puja, the Ganga Mahotsav, Makar Sankranti, Bharat Milap, Nakkatayya, Shivratri, and Holi.
Best Things to Do in Varanasi/ Banaras in 2-3 Days
Here are some of the most interesting things to do in Varanasi in 2-3 days.
#1. Watch the Aarti Ceremony:
There is no particularly best time to visit Varanasi if you are interested to catch a glimpse of the serene aarti ceremony. Aartis are performed in the morning as well as evening across the ghats of the city. You can gather at the Assi Ghat to enjoy a peaceful morning aarti ceremony and at the Dasaswamedh Ghat for a bright and colourful evening aarti.
#2. Visit to the Ghats
The ghats are an integral part of the city of Varanasi. You cannot think of making an unforgettable memory of your trip to Varanasi without paying a visit to its breathtakingly beautiful ghats. Since a lot of the traditional rituals are performed on the ghats, you can see the place buzzing with life throughout the day. Be it the rituals of cremation or taking a bath in the holy river to wash away sins, the lives of people in Varanasi are deeply tied to the ghats. Harishchandra and Manikarnika are the common ghats for pyre burning.
#3. Enjoy Classical Music
Varanasi is significant not just to the Hindu traditions, but also to the musical culture of the country. The famous Banaras Gharanas has given the world many notable musicians such as Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, and Ravi Shankar. The sounds of sitar, sarod and other instruments will accompany you in your journey across the streets of the city.
#4. Taste the Authentic Banarasi Foods
One of the biggest unavoidable things to do in Banaras is tasting the authentic street foods of the city. Allu-Tikki, Chena Dahi Vada, Baati Chokha, Tamatar Chaat, Choora Matar, Dahi-Chutney Gol Gappe, Kachori Sabzi, Lassi, and Banarasi Paan some of the delicacies that you must try when in Varanasi. With the settlement of Marwari traders here, you will also get to enjoy the mouth-watering Banarasi Marwari Thali.
#5. Shop at the Local Market
If you enjoy collecting souvenirs, then Thatheri Bazaar and the Temple Bazar are the places where you must spend at least a few hours. You can shop various beautifully handcrafted items from these places. Visiting the local market is also one of the best things to do in Varanasi.
Places to Visit in Varanasi/ Banaras in 2-3 Days
If you have 2 to 3 days to spend in Varanasi, there are several places in and around the city that you can explore.
#1. Burning Ghat
The burning ghat is one of the popular places to visit in Varanasi in 2-3 days. Photography is not allowed in this area. You need to keep your camera and smartphones packed in your bags. However, you can immerse yourself in the serenity of this place. The faith of human beings, especially the believers of Hindu traditions, that support the large number of cremation in this place is heart-warming. The ghat is accessible by both the streets as well as the river.
#2. Varanasi Temples
The establishment of more than 3,000 temples rightfully gives Varanasi the title of the City of Temples. Some of the popular temples that you can visit include Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir, Bharat Mata Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna Devi Mandir, Sankat Mochan Mandir, Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Mandir, and Kaal Bhairav Mandir. These and many other temples of the city witness a huge number of devotees gathering throughout the day. While there are many other spiritually significant temples in Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the best places to visit in Varanasi as it houses one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. A visit to this temple will offer you a spiritual upliftment along with a great view of the river Ganges.
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#3. Sarnath
If you travel a distance of 13 km from Varanasi, you will reach an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination called Sarnath. It serves as the birthplace of Buddhism and, hence, holds great significance for Buddhists across the world. The Sarnath Archaeological Museum, Buddha statue, Dhamek Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Jain temple, and the Chinese Temple are some of the prominent places to visit in Sarnath.
#4. Banaras Hindu University
The Banaras Hindu University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities of the country. The alumni of this university includes some of the most eminent scientists and scholars of the country. You can visit this iconic place to view an example of the marvellous ancient architecture of India. The university campus is open for tourists between 10am and 4pm. While the striking architecture and the greenery surrounding the university are the most prominent features of this place, the street foods that are available in the mall road, or Lanka, also serves as a big reason to include this place in your Varanasi itinerary.
FAQ’s
#1. How to reach Varanasi?
You can reach Varanasi via train and flight. Varanasi Cantt and Varanasi Junction are the two train stations located here. The nearest airport to Varanasi is the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport that is 18 km away from the city.
#2. What are the places to stay in Varanasi?
There are many hotels and resorts in Varanasi where you can find accommodations. The hotels are suitable for all kinds of budgets.
#3. What are the timings of temples and other tourist spots?
Different temples in Varanasi have different timings depending on the festivities and the time of the year. Also, the museums of the city are closed on Fridays.
#4. Is Varanasi safe for solo female travellers?
Varanasi is quite safe for solo women travellers. However, you must take the necessary precautions and avoid roaming around the city at odd hours.
#5. What are the things to do at night?
Many of the best places to visit in Banaras/ Varanasi are open till late night. This includes the food stalls, local market, and places where live classical musical concerts are organized.
