Varanasi is Popularly known as the “Spiritual Capital of India”, this city invites every traveler to experience its mystical aura, visit the most beautiful Ghats and enjoy the artistic excellence of its temples and historical monuments.The best time to visit this city is from October to March. So what are you waiting for? Come along, as I take you to the highly recommended places to visit if you are in Kashi.
places to visit in Varanasi
Assi Ghat
This ghat could be seen bustling with locals and tourists throughout the year. You must be wondering why? Well, no answer could justify the bewitching beauty of this ghat both at sunrise and sunset. You personally need to visit this ghat to know what I am talking about. The cold breeze with the clanking of bells and the sound of water along with the emerging sun from the horizon of Ganga, will sure make you want to just stay there forever.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Any devotee or tourist, who sets foot in this holy city of Varanasi has to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Known as the Golden temple dedicated to Lord Shiva,the peace and calm of this place will make you forget the distractions of your daily life. So come here and surrender yourself to the gentle caress of the lord Almighty and enjoy this trip with your loved ones.
Dasashwamedh Ghat
As the name itself suggests, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Brahma performed Das- Ashwamedh sacrifice. I highly recommend visiting this place during Kartik Purnima to witness a celestial manifestation in the city of lights- Dev Deepavali.
Tibetan Temple
If you want to witness stunning Tibetan architecture, do visit this shrine. It is believed that Lord Buddha taught his disciples the four truths of life here. It has a beautiful statue of Shakyamuni, prayer wheels and is decorated with traditional Buddhist paintings. But the feature that appeals to the tourists is the prayer wheels. These wheels when turned clockwise release paper scrolls with prayers written on them.
Ramnagar Fort
This edifice sits on the eastern bank of river Ganga. It is a sandstone fortified structure that is famous for its Mughal-style architecture. One fascinating feature of this fort is its Astronomical Clock. This clock shows day, week, month, and astronomical details about the position of the planets, moon, and sun. When you are here do not forget to visit the museum-Sarawati Bhawan. You would be able to see some vintage cars of America, medieval costumes, gold ornaments, ivory works, and old guns.
Some must-do things when in Varanasi:
World Famous Banarasi Paan
Varanasi also known as Banaras is famous for its paan. The refreshing taste and the sweet flavor of the paan make for a perfect dessert post-dinner.
Boat Ride - Assi Ghat
When visiting Assi Ghat I would recommend you to not miss out on the boat ride. Assi Ghat as the name suggests is the confluence of River Ganga and eighty(Assi) other rivers. It is said that the width of the river is maximum near this ghat. So witness River Ganga at its magnificence. The price to rent a boat would be around 2k to 3k and it could increase as well during the time of festivities.
Cold Coffee - Vishwanath Temple.
There is a shop just outside the entrance of Vishwanath Temple that serves cold coffee with a big dollop of Vanilla Ice cream. You must be thinking what’s amazing in that. Well don’t get surprised when I tell you that you can get this people’s favorite drink for just INR 25. It’s quite famous in the region and hence again a must try for the visitors.
Banarasi Saree - Vishwanath Gali
All the ladies, kindly make a note and don’t forget to give yourself this absolute beauty of Banaras- Banarasi Saree. Leave your friends speechless by donning these beautifully embroidered silk sarees on special occasions.
Frequently Asked Question
Varanasi, also called Banaras or Kashi, is a city situated in the southeastern part of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
It is located on the left bank of the Ganga River.
Varanasi is the oldest city of India and is known as the spiritual capital of the country. Every year, Varanasi attracts tons of visitors and pilgrims from India as well as the world.
Some famous delicacies of Varanasi are the Chooda Matar, Tamatar Chaat, Dahi Chutney Golgappe, Samose, Kachori Sabzi.
Beverages like Thandai and Lassi and sweets like Laung Latika, Motichoor ki Laddoo and Gulab Jamun are also very popular here.
The Banarasi Paan is a local favorite that you should try while staying in Varanasi.
By Air: Varanasi Airport, or Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is linked to the major cities of India and many domestic flights also land here.
By Train: The Varanasi railway junction and Kashi railway station are the two main railheads in Varanasi. Both these railway stations are well linked with prime Indian cities via extensive rail networks.
By Road: Varanasi enjoys excellent connectivity by road with cities like Allahabad, Lucknow, Patna, Gorakhpur and Ranchi. A number of state buses and private services ply frequently via highways like NH-2 and NH-28 from Lucknow to Varanasi.
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