- An Introduction to Varanasi
- Fairs & Festivals
- Local Excursions
- Out Station Excursions
An Introduction to Varanasi
The city of temples “Varanasi” or Banaras is said to be the oldest city in the face of the earth where human civilization was born, according to Hindu Mythology. It is epitome of culture, traditions, music and philosophical education in India. That is why, here you will find hundreds of temples dotted along the Holy River Ganges, dedicated to various gods and goddesses and is the number one pilgrimage station for the followers of Hindu religion, the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. The main temples to visit here are: Vishwanath Temple, Kal Bhairav Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, and Tulsi Manas Temple. 365 days, 24/7 the atmosphere of Varanasi is always filled with religious fests and festivals. Take pleasure in the evening prayers along the Ghats of Ganges to lighten to your spirit and release yourself in the intoxicating fragrance of incense and flowers. You can also come on the religiously important dates of Makar Sankranthi, Maha Shivrathri, Holi, Dhrupad Mela, Diwali and several other festivals to worship the deities, enjoy the pure local delicacies and take part in the local fairs offering a variety of handcrafted useful items and memorabilia.
Fairs & Festivals
Varanasi is known as Cultural Capital of India. The multitudinous vigour of the people is reflected in the colorful vibrancy of their fairs and festivals. Fairs and festivals are celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervor to invoke divine blessings as well as for the sheer joy of living. The unique festival calendar goes throughout the year, giving you the liberty to plan your tour to Varanasi India anytime and every time. These festivals keep the age old customs and traditions alive Some of the Important festivals celeberated here are:
Makar Sankranti celeberated on 14th January every year is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus , Millions of people take a holi dip in Ganges and pray to Lord Sun. It is the day when the glorious Sun-God of Hindus begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere. The co-relation of cosmic events with individual life and values is one of the most astounding traits of Hindu Masters. Of all the cosmic bodies Sun is the most glorious & important, thus every sun-centric cosmic event became very important spiritual, religious & cultural events. Thus from the religious point of view it is believed that on this day Sun visits the house of his son Shani- swami of Makar Rashi. These father & son do not get along nicely, but inspite of any difference between them Lord Sun makes it a point to meet his son on this day and stay at his sons place for a month. This day symbolized the importance of special relationship of father & son. It is the son who has the responsibility to carry forward his fathers dream and the continuity of the family.
Maha Shivratri usally falls in the month of Feb-march every year.According to Hindu mythology, Shivaratri symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Many however, believe, Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya - the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Celebrating the festival in a customary manner, devotees give a ritual bath to the Lingam with the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Celebrations mainly takes place at night. Devotees throng Shiva temples spend 'the Night of Lord Shiva' by chanting verses and hymns in praise of the Lord. The festival holds special meaning for the ladies as they pray to Goddess Parvati (Gaura) the giver of suhag' for good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life. City Varanasi dedicated to Shiva becomes shivmay and various processions are taken out from different parts of the city. Its worth watching.
Holi – the festival of colours is one of the most ancient festivals of India and bears religious, cultural and literary significance as well! It's the time to come closer in the spirit of renewal and it's also a time symbolizing the triumph of all Good over all Evil. There are a few myths and legends to which this Holi festival can be traced to. But the differences of the narratives notwithstanding, the all-encompassing spirit of goodness and virtue is the common thread in all these legends behind the festival of Holi.
Holi heralds the coming of the bountiful springtime and the end of the harsh winter months. Thus the spirit of renewal, happiness and merrymaking is at the heart of the Holi celebrations. It's celebrated on a full moon day in the month of 'Phalgun' (END OF FEB OR EARLY MARCH) .The festivities and rituals kick off the night before when the bonfires are lit up to symbolize the warding off of all evil from this world.
Dhrupad Mela. Usually celeberated in the month of March a five day long music festival is organised on the Tulsi Ghats. During the five days renowned artists from all over the country perform Dhrupad here. This festival is one of the major tourist attractions of Varanasi as music lovers from not only the country but from around the world come here to take part or be a part of the musical extravaganza.
Local Excursions
River Front – The Ghats of Varanasi
The great river banks at Varanasi, built high with eighteenth and nineteenth –century pavilions and palaces, temples and terraces are lined with an endless chain of stone steps-the ghats-progressing along the whole of water front. Each of the ghats is marked with a lingam big or small and occupies its own place in the religious geography of the city. Some of them have crumbled over the years and others continue to thrive with early morning bathers, Brahmin priests offering prayers and people practicing yoga and meditation.
A boat ride on a private hand rowing boat from Dasaswamedh ghat early in the morning is the best way to watch the sunrise and life around the ghats. Some of the important ghats which you shall see are Dasaswamedh ghat, kedar ghat harishchandra ghat, manmandir ghat, manikarnika ghat (cremation ghat), panchganga ghat.
Temples of Varanasi
Vishwanath Temple or the golden temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first 'Jyotir lingam', the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust and feared the heavens. And even the gaga, the Shilling installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Close by is also the Alamgir Mosque which is blend of Hindu and Muslim type of Architecture. Some say that the mosque was constructed by destroying the original Vishwanath temple and the present temple was constructed by Queen Ahilya Bai. Adjacent to the Golden temple is the temple of Annapurna Bhavani is dedicated to the supreme shanty(She , the being of Plenteous of food) the queen and divine mother of the three world. As the provider of substance she carries a cooking pot rather than the fearsome weapons borne by her horric forms of Durga or Kali.
The other important temples are the New Vishwanath temple at the Banaras Hindu University Campus dedicated to Shiva. Sankat Mochan Temple dedicated to hanuman is in the southern part of the city. Sankat Mochan means the one who removes the suffering, The temple was founded by Goswami Tulsi Das the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Tulsi manas temple constructed of white marble is another famous temple of Varanasi it is dedicated to Lord Rama .It was constructed in the year 1964 at the same spot where goswami Tulsidas wrote the famous Ramacharitmanas. Durga Temple or the monkey temple (due to presence of monkey) is dedicated to goddess Durga – wife of Shiva and the Goddess of power. It was constructed in the 18th Century and is said that goddess appeared in the temple of her own (i.e. it was not made by any individual).
Bharat mata Temple or the mother India Temple is dedicated to mother India and is situated in the university Campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth. There is no statue inside the temple but a relief map of Undivided India carved from a single piece of marble. Temple represents unity in diversity.
Kal Bhairav Temple is another ancient temple of Varanasi and is supposed to be the kotwal of Varanasi. It is believed that without the permission of Kal bhairav no one can stay in Varanasi.
Sarnath
Sarnath is approx 10 kms from Varanasi; it is the place where Buddha preached his first sermons at the sight Dhameek Stupa. There is also the mahabodhi temple and several monasteries. Sarnath museum (closed on Friday) is worth watching it houses several antique stone pieces/heads of Buddha. Our national emblem (the lion head) comes from this museum.
Bharat Kala Bhavan –Art Gallery & Banaras Hindu University.
Bharat Kala Bhavan is situated inside Banaras Hindu University. It is an art and Architecture museum and houses some of the finest miniature paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and materials of archeological importance. It was established in the year 1920. BHU is one of the largest residential universities of the world. It was founded by Mahamana Madan Mohan Malvia. The university imparts education in all fields of education and has contributed in a great deal in the growth of the nation.
Ramnagar fort
The Ramnagar fort is approx 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of river Ganges. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras and was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh in the eighteenth century. The fort is built in red sandstone.The Ramnagar fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds. The temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The fort houses a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal palkies, an armory of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. An interesting array of ornate palanquins, gold-plated howdahs and weapons are some of the artifacts on display in the Ramnagar fort-palace museum.
There is also a Durga Temple and Chhinnamastika Temple and a temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman. The most interesting is that inside the giant walls of the Ramnagar fort-palace, there is a big clock. This clock not only displays year, month, week and day but also astronomical facts about the sun, moon and constellation of stars.
Ganga Aarti
Ganga Aarti (ritual of prayer) at Dasaswamedh ghat. Aarti is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered and traditional Hindu devotional song is sung during the ritual. This is particularly interesting to see in Varanasi where elaborate Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh ghat is held every evening, just after sunset. As the aarti begins, young priests take their positions at the platform and begin swinging the lamp to the tune of chants.
Incenses are burnt, hundreds of floating candles, flowers, and food are released into the Ganges Dasaswamedh ghat becomes a hub of activity, with people sitting and waiting for the aarti, buying flowers and other things from nearby shops or performing pooja.
Out Station Excursions
There are many exhilarating out station excursions stations around Varanasi, the “city of temples”. These places hold archeological, historical and/or religious importance to the city dwellers. The main tourist points which can be visited are: Sarnath, Jaunpur, Chunar, Sita Samahit Sthal, Vindhyachal, Allahabad, Ayodhya, Chandraprabha wildlife sanctuary, and Kaimoor wildlife sanctuary.
Sarnath situated just 10 kms from Varanasi is one of the top three Buddhist pilgrimage centers as it is here, Buddha preached his first sermons after attaining enlightenment. There are several monasteries, Buddhist temples and learning centers present here where you can visit and learn more about the religion. The Ashoka Pillar, (printed on Indian currency coins), was built here by emperor Ashoka, who was an ardent follower of Gautama Buddha. Tourists can also stay at the monasteries and enjoy the way of life of the monks.
Jaunpur, founded by Feroz shah Tughlaq in 13th century in memory of his cousin Jauna Sultan Mohammed. Later it became the capital of independent Sharquie kingdom who were great enthusiasts of art, architecture and literature. They constructed many tombs, mosques and madarsas with distinct mughal styles. Due to the predominant Islamic community living here, the places of interest are Atala masjid (mosque), Jami Masjid and Lal Darwaza Masjid, each mosque made in their distinctive Islamic features for the prayer hall.
Situated at the right bank of the holy Ganges, is the Chunar Fort, 45 kms from Varanasi. The fort has been a topic of many battles in the Mughal era and British era. Tourists can witness a splendid view of the ganges from the fort. The main attractions at the fort are the Sonwa Mandap, Sun clock and a huge well.
Sita Samahit Sthal is the historic place where Mata Sita, wife of Lord Rama, descended into the lap of mother earth leaving the mortal world and join the heavens. The place is situated between Varanasi and Allahabad. The Ashram at the holy place also provides food and accommodation for overnight stay to tourists.
The next and one of the most important places of visit, especially for Hindus on out station excursions is the mighty Vindhyachal mountains where Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahisasura and established herself as one of the Shaktipeeths. The goddess is known as Vidhyavasini at this place. Other religious attractions here are the Ashtabhuja Temple, Sitakund (kund meaning pond), Brahmakund, Agastyakund and many smaller temples.
Allahabad is a very famous city among the hindu pilgrims for its rich traditional and religious legacy. It is situated at the point where the holy waters of ganges, Yamuna and Saraswathi rivers meet, called the Triveni sangam popularly. It is also one of the places where kumbh mela is held after every 12 years. Allahabad Fort built by Mughal emperor Akbar, Patalpuri temple, Ashoka pillar, Hanuman Temple, Mankameshwar Temple, Anand Bhawan museum and Khusru Bagh are some of the local thrilling tourist locations to be explored.
Ayodhya, the home town and birthplace of Lord Rama, is one of the popular Hindu pilgrims here in India. It holds a great value In the lives of Hindus, especially Lord Rama followers. It is a city of temples of various religions now and not only significant for just Hindus.
Apart from all the temples, mosques, and Buddhist monasteries, there are two big wildlife sanctuaries too which give us a break from the monotony of the religious journey. One is Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 70 kms from Varanasi. The forests of Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary are home to panthers, Chinkara, sambhar, nilgai, blackbucks, python, porcupine, gharial and wild boar. Around 150 species of birds are also found here. Rajdari and Devdari waterfalls increase the natural beauty of this sanctuary. Tourists can also find places to have picnic and relax amidst the beauty of wildlife and nature. Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 130 kms from Varanasi and is a home to variety of wildlife spread across 500 square kms. Mukha waterfall is one of the beauty spots for tourist attraction at this sanctuary.
The best thing about all the out station excursions is that all are within 100kms from the heart of Varanasi. All the places are well connected so, you can hire taxi, buses or trains to reach these places easily.