Visit the Wonderful City of Varanasi in India

While anybody thinks of the most important pilgrimage spots of Hindus in India, Varanasi comes to the mind first. Varanasi is said to be the oldest city of the world. It is said that if you die here at Varanasi, you will travel straight to heaven after your death. One of the 12 jyotirlingam of lord Shiva is here at Varanasi at the famous temple of Kashi Vishwanath. There is also a Shaktipith here at Varanasi. Famous Banaras University is also located here. Though city of Varanasi looks old and dirty at the first site, it has a very high importance due to its religious, educational, and musical importance.

Varanasi is well connected by all the three means of transport. The nearest airport is Babatpur, which is located only around 13 miles from Varanasi. It is also well connected by train from Delhi, Mumbai, and other metropolitan cities of India. There are regular buses available from all major cities of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi has the population of around 140 thousands as of in the year 2004. There are many hotels like Hindustan International, Pallavi international, Malati, and Ganges View. These are high class hotels, having the tariff range of Rs. 3000 ($75) per day for a double room. We had stayed at Hotel Malati, which is situated in the middle of the city and is a higher middle class hotel having tariff of Rs.1600 ($40) per day. There are many middle class hotels also along with the cheap class accommodations like dharmashalas. Such dharmashalas are available for stay at very nominal rates around Rs.20 ($50 cents) per day. However, only limited facilities are available at such dharmshalas and may not be preferred to stay if you are used to having lot of facilities.

There are many places of tourist attraction here at Varanasi. The temple of Kashi Vishwanath is the most important of all. This temple is also called as the golden temple as there is gold Kalash on the top of this famous temple. This gold Kalash was donated by the king of Punjab, Ranjitsinghji. This temple was built by Maharani Ahalyabai. It is really most pleasant to attend the arthi of lord Shiva here at this temple in the early morning and the evening hours. There are many famous ghats here on the river Ganga. Manikarnika ghat is the most famous of all. There are many temples on these ghats and the people start visiting these ghats right from very early morning hours. The other ghats like Smashsan ghat, Varnasangam ghat, and Kashi ghat are also very famous.

The view of river Ganga at early morning hours is simply superb. This view can prove the importance of Varanasi as the king of all the places of Hindu pilgrimage. There are many other temples in Varanasi like Annapurna, Sankatmochan, Dandpani, Kalbhairav, and Akshyaypat. Each of these temples has the ancient history of their own. You must visit these temples, one by one, peacefully, without any haste by completely understanding the history of each. Tulsi Manas Mandir is the next spot. This is the place, where Saint Tulsidas created famous Ramcharit Manas. The chopais of Ramcharit Manas is engraved on all the walls of this temple. Varanasi is famous for Banarasi saris that are sent to all the cities of India and imported in most of the foreign countries including the USA. Metallic utensils, hand woven carpets, wooden and earthen toys are also very famous here.

You need to stay for around 3 to 4 days here at Varanasi to have the real feel of its beauty. The experience of boating in the River Ganga, during early morning hours, has been really the most pleasant and peaceful in my life. One such experience can change your whole life just within a moment. Many dead bodies also are brought to Varanasi for their cremation as it is considered very holy and sacred to cremate the human body here. Many very sick and old people also come here and pass their last few days in the hope of peaceful death here at Varanasi. There is a ban here on all types of non-vegetarian food items and the alcoholic drinks within city limit of Varanasi.

You will be able to understand the depth and the main principles of Hindu religion during your visit to Varanasi due to its religious environment. Many foreigners come and stay here at Varanasi to learn Sanskrit language in various schools. I would recommend all my AC friends to visit this holy city of Varanasi to get mental peace and solace in today's life that is full of hassles and tensions.