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VARANASI
:: VARANASI
CITY GUIDE |
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Varanasi
General Information |
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Area |
73.89 sq. km. |
| Altitude |
80.71 meters |
| Temperature |
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Summer |
430C-320C |
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Winter |
150C-50C |
| Clothing |
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Summer |
Light
Cottons |
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Winter |
Woollens |
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Languages |
Hindi,
English |
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Varanasi
History |
Varanasi is one of the most important pilgrimage
in India and also a major tourist attraction.
Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, Varanasi
has been a center of learning and civilisation
for over 2000 years. 25 centuries ago Lord Buddha
preached his message of enlightment for the first
time in Sarnath which is just 10kms away from
Varanasi.
Later Varanasi became a great Hindu center, but
was looted a number of times by Muslim invaders
from the 11th century on. These destructive visits
climaxed with that of the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb,
who destroyed almost all the temples and converted
the most famous one into a mosque. Varanasi has
also been known as Kashi and Benares, but its
present name is restoration of an ancient name
meaning the city between two rivers - the Varuna
and Asi. For the pious Hindu the city has always
had a special place.
Besides being a pilgrimage center, it is considered
as auspicious place to die, ensuring an instant
route to heaven. To this day Varanasi is a center
of learning, especially for Sanskrit scholars,
and students flock here from all over India. The
well - known novelist Prem Chand and the literary
figure Bharatendu Harischand have played their
parts in this development. Tulsi Das, the famous
poet who wrote the Hindi version of the Ramayana
known as the Ram Charit Manas, also lived in this
city for many years.
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How
to reach Varanasi ? |
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Air |
Indian
Airlines flights to Babatpur airport which is 22 km.
from Varanasi and 30 km. from Sarnath There is a.
direct, daily flight connection between Varanasi and
New Delhi. It also connects Varanasi to Delhi, Agra,
Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhuvaneshwar.
For travel reservations contact Indian Airlines.
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Rail |
Varanasi
is an important and major rail junction. The city
is served by trains from all metros and major cities
across the country. New Delhi, mumbai, Calcutta. |
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Bus |
Varanasi,
on (National Highway) NH2 from Calcutta to Delhi,
NH7 to Kanya Kumari and NH29 to GoraKhpur is connected
literally to the rest of the country by good motorable,
all – weather roads. Some important road distances
are: Agra 565 km., Allahabad 128 km., Bhopal 791 km.,
Bodhgaya 240 km., Kanpur 330 km., Khajuraho 405 km.,
Lucknow 286 km., patna 246 km., Sarnath 10 km., Lumbini
(Napal) 386 km., Kushi Nagar 250 km. (via Gorkhpur),
UPSRTC Bus Stand, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Golgadda Bus
Stand. |
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| VARANASI
SIGHT SEEING |
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| Ghats |
|  Life
in the city of Varanasi revolves around its over
one hundred Ghats (river landings). The River
Ganga flows from north to south, and the city
forms a circular shape from the Asi ghat in the
south up to the confluence of the Varuna river
with the Ganga.
The Asi River meets the Ganga
at Asi Ghat. There is a lingam under a peepul
tree and a marble temple to Asisangameshwara (lord
of the confluence of Asi). An ancient tank dedicated
to sun worship, the Lolarka Kund (pool) lies 15
metres below the ground and is approached by a
steep flight of steps. The Tulsi ghat, dedicated
to the 16th century poet saint Tulsidas is crumbling
now. Further north is the Harishchandra ghat,
one of the two important cremation grounds in
Varanasi. Named after the king Harishchandra,
it is considered the most sacred cremation ground.
The Kedar ghat has links with the Kedarnath shrine
located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas.
The Dhobi ghat is a washerman’s area, while
the Chausathi (64) ghat has a shrine dedicated
to Chausath Yoginis, the multiple manifestations
of the female force Durga.
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| Vishwanath
Temple |
 The
Vishwanath temple, or Golden Temple, is the
most sacred temple in Varanasi and is dedicated
to Vishveswara-Shiva as lord of the universe.
The original temple was destroyed by the Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb, and the present temple was
built in 1776 by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore .
800kg of gold plating on the towers, which gives
the temple its colloquial name, was provided
by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore some 50 years
later.
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| Tulsi
Manas Temple |
|  Only
150m south of Durga Temple is the modern marble
shikhara-style Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964.
Its two tier walls are engraved with verves and
scenes from the Ram Charit Manas, the Hindi version
of the Ramayana. Its author , poet Tulsi Das,
lived here while writting it.This Temple is on
the spot where Saint Tulsidas composed the Ramayana
in Hindi (The Ramacharitamanas).
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| Durga
Temple |
 The
Durga temple is one of the most important temples
in Varanasi and is built in the 18th century,
by Bengali maharani and is stained red with
ochre . This temple is built in north Indian
Nagara style with a multi-tiered shikhara (spire).
The shikhara of the temple is formed by many
small spires which are built one on top of the
other. Durga is the 'terrible' form of Shiva's
consort Parvati, so at festivals there are often
sacrifices of goats. It is commonly known as
Monkey Temple due to many frisky monkey that
have made it their home.
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| Ram
Nagar Fort & Museum
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 On
the opposite bank of river, this 17th century
fort is the home of the former maharaja of Benaras.
It looks most impressive from the river, though
the decrepit planking of the pantoon bridge
you cross to reach it is somewhat of a distraction.
During the mansoon access is by ferry. The intresting
museum here contains old silver & brocade
palanquins for the ladies of the court, gold-plated
elephant howdahs, an astrological clock, marcabre
elephant traps and an armoury of swords and
old guns.
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OTHER
USEFUL LINKS |
Hotels in Varanasi |
Tour Packages for Varanasi |
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