Varanasi – From Meetha Paan to Finding Nirvan
It’s one of
the holiest, it’s one of the oldest and it is by far one of the most
fascinating destinations not only in India, but in the world. From the dark
river to those bathing in its water or praying along its banks, to the holy men
meditating on the steps, to the simple wooden rowboats passing by, makes it
seem as if life in this 3000 year old city has stood relatively still for a
long, really long time.
Varanasi (Kashi or Benaras), this holiest of cities for those of the
Hindu and Jain faiths, is just the kind of place where even a twenty minute
walk will lead you to a lifetime’s worth of travel experiences as you uncover
an unfathomably diverse range of sights and encounters around every corner.
Those who visit Varanasi often describe it as a city unlike any other on the
planet, a mind-blowing city that one wants to visit over and over again…
Have you been to Varanasi? Is it the kind of destination
you’d want to visit? Here are few things about Varanasi that you must know,
What
to Expect on a Visit to Varanasi
Brace yourself. You’re about to enter one of the most blindingly
colourful, unrelentingly chaotic and unapologetically indiscreet places on
earth. But if you’re ready for it, this may just turn out to be your favourite
stop of all. Varanasi is a highly congested maze of narrow alleys winding
behind its waterfront ghats, at once highly sacred yet physically often far
from clean. As an image, an idea and a symbol of Hinduism’s central realities,
the city draws pilgrims from around the world, to worship, to meditate, and
above all to bathe. It is a place to be born and a place to die. In the cold
mists of a winter’s dawn, you can see life and death laid bare. For an outside
observer it can be an uncomfortable, albeit unmissable experience, juxtaposing
the inner philosophical mysteries of Hinduism with the practical complications
of living literally and metaphorically on the edge.
Best Time to Visit Varanasi
Winter season is the best
time to visit. The reason is two folded. The first reason is the
climate. The climate will be mild and there will be no rainfall and thus,
sightseeing and travelling becomes easier. The second reason is the festivals that are enjoyed during
this season.
· Deepawali – November
· Makar Sankranti – January
· Mahashivratri – Around March
Many other festivals and rituals are common during the winter season. November and December are
the migration months for Siberian birds. You can find many migration birds
during winter. If you are a birdwatcher or if you love nature, you ought to
choose winter to spot these birds. The
peak tourism season in the city is from November to February.
Varanasi Clothing Tip
Varanasi is a spiritual place and it is very closely
linked with Indian culture. Wear decent clothing
throughout your trip. Modest cloths would avoid awkward stares from locals.
Some temples like Kashi Vishwanath Temple has a strict code of wearing saree to
enter the temple. Temporary wrap-around sarees are available in the temple.
During
Summer
During summer, the temperature will be very
high and humid. It is advisable to wear light clothing. Cotton is the best
material to choose. Since you would be doing a lot of walking around the city,
it is better to choose walking shoes or flip-flops. You would be requested to
leave your footwear outside the temples and the safety of your footwear is not
guaranteed. Thus, do not wear any expensive footwear. Carry a hat or umbrella
to protect yourself from sun rays. Sunscreen lotions is also advisable. The summer
nights are also considerably hot and thus, you need not worry about packing
thick quilts. Light nightwear will be sufficient.
During
Rainy
The showers will not be heavy and harsh but
there will be continuous showers, which makes the place, slippery. Choose
strong gripped shoes and avoid heals. Boots can be preferred. Carry an umbrella
or raincoat with you. Thick cotton is enough during daytime. If you are
planning to tour during evening, stick to mild wool dresses. A thin jacket over
your dress will be sufficient too.
During
Winter
Jackets and warm wear are essential. Winter
nights will be very cold and thus, thick jackets and shawls are necessary. If
you are planning to take an early morning trip in winter, beware of the foggy
climate. Carry Vaseline or moisturizer with you during winter.
Super Tip
for Varanasi Clothing
o Leave your
footwear outside before entering anyone’s house or temple.
o Sunglasses
are recommended while visiting in summer.
o Both men
and women should choose clothing that falls below one’s knees.
o Carry a
towel with you if you are planning to take a bath in the river. Changing rooms
are not available near the river.
o Varanasi is a
crowded place, especially during festivals. Do not wear expensive
jewelry and loose hanging expensive accessories. Beware of snatchers.
Things You Cannot Miss in
Varanasi
o UNESCO has recognized Varanasi as the City of
Music. It is a wonder place where you can find a lot happening.
Life starts very early in the morning and it becomes more colorful in the
evening.
o Street food
of Varanasi will be available as early as 6:30 in the morning. There are
numerous lip smacking delicacies to enjoy.
o Although Ganga
Aarti takes place
in three different places in India, the one in Varanasi attracts thousands of international tourists
and locals. Shine or rain, the Ganga Aarti will be conducted every day. If you
are a photo enthusiast, this is the right event for you.
o For
architecture lovers, there are numerous temples in this city that are several
centuries old. If you want to witness Hindu rituals, you can find numerous
temples being more welcoming to foreign travelers of different religion too.
o If you love
yoga, you can find many centers here. It is easy to hire a yoga master in Varanasi.
o There is a
sea of shops to enjoy shopping here. Top things to buy are silk, woodworks,
brassworks, statues, carpets, copper vessels with Ganga water and others.
During festivals,
the shops can be found in every inch of the city.
o You can
always find musicians performing in this city. There are many concert halls
where different instruments and vocal performances will be staged. There are
numerous schools where you can learn music and instruments inVaranasi.
o Being one
of the oldest cities, you will not be surprised to find old forts here.
o Varanasi is not just for Hindus. Just less
than 10 km away, Sarnath is an important Buddhist
pilgrim spot. It
is the place where Buddha preached for the first time. There are many stupas
and monuments here.
o Evening
boat ride, sunrise boat ride and cruise on River Ganges have no match. Especially, when you
are boating during Ganga Aarti.
o Do you know
that bathing in a ghat can cure leprosy? There are numerous beliefs interlinked
with the river in this city. Each ghat is famous for one super power.
Varanasi Festivals
It is worth scheduling a visit to Varanasi during one of their
fairs or festivals that are held on a grand scale as the city is the most
colourful and liveliest at this time. Be prepared for throngs of tourists, both
local and foreigners, during this time.
- Makara
Sankranti during
January and Basant Panchami during
January-February are the popular festivals celebrated in Varanasi.
- Maha
Shivaratri held
during February-March is a very special religious festival in Varanasi. It
is marked with many rituals and festivities all through Varanasi and is a
good time to explore the local culture of the city.
Getting
Around Varanasi
Most of the places to visit in Varanasi are situated in and around the
Varanasi ghats which can be accessed on foot. Boat trips along the Ganges are a
great way to see the ghats from the water; you can also get to Ramnagar Fort by
boat. If you want to go further afield, there are auto rickshaws that ply
around Varanasi and can be picked up near the Archway at the end of Bengali
Tola. It is advisable to get a return trip with them as they tend to charge
double for a single trip (as they usually return empty).
How to Reach
Varanasi
Varanasi is well connected by air, train and bus, with multiple trains
and buses heading in every direction daily.
By Air – Varanasi Airport is 23km from the Cantonment area, where the large
chain hotels are located, and 30km from the riverfront. There are daily
domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Khajuraho and
Visakhapatnam. Allow plenty of time to get to the airport as it can take an
hour or more depending on traffic. A taxi (from the pre-paid stand just outside
the terminal) should cost about Rs 600-700 (plus Rs 60 parking toll) or about
Rs 125 in an auto-rickshaw, but most drivers will want to charge double since
it is likely they will return empty.
By Train – Trains are the easiest way
to reach Varanasi, with multiple daily services to cities including Delhi,
Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata. Varanasi is served by two major railway
stations. Many trains arrive at Varanasi Junction in the heart of the city, and many others
arrive at Mughal Sarai Junction about 15
km away from the city.
By Road – Unless you have a lot of
time on your hands, driving to Varanasi means spending too much time on a bumpy
road with no interesting stops. There are buses run by the state government
from Lucknow (8hrs), Gorakphur (8hrs) Kanpur (9hrs) and Allahabad (3hrs). we
suggest, Avoid road travel if you are not very passionate about it.
Varanasi History
Origin of
Varanasi is closely linked
with origin of Ganga. The city had been the center of civilization and higher
education for more than 5000 years. It is said that Varanasi
was the first spot created by Lord Shiva. When Lord Brahma and
Lord Shiva dueled, Lord Shiva tore off one of the heads of Lord Brahma. He held
the torn head as a symbol of victory and walked through the earth. When he reached
Varanasi, the head dropped from his hand and disappeared into
the ground. Thereby removing sins from Lord Shiva. Thus, the land is considered
as a holy spot where sins of the current and previous births can be washed
away. In Mahabharata, Pandavas went in search for Lord Shiva in Varanasi to
wash off their sin committed during the epic war.
The above stated
stories are linked with mythology. Archaeological findings have dug deep to
2000 BC. Varanasi was a bustling urban settlement during this period. With the
river flowing through it, the land flourished. Vedic people lived in this city
and many rituals were a part of their life. The birth of Vedas is also dated to
this period.
By 500 BC, numerous rulers
who ruled Benaras built many temples. In 528 BC, Lord
Buddha visited Sarnath to give his first sermon.
This section can be endless. I guess I will write a separate article
about this soon.
Interesting
Facts About Varanasi
§ Varanasi or Benaras is the oldest living city of the
world, it being a chief centre of civilization for more than 3000 years.
§ It is thought that the person who takes his last breath in
Old Varanasi will surely attain salvation. Considered as “Mahashamshana” or
“the great cremation ground”; dead bodies are brought here from far – off
places for cremation at Manikarnika Ghat.
§ It is the birth place of twenty - third Tirthankara,
Parsvanath.
§ It is the only place in the world which has got 84 ghats ,
making it the city with highest number of river banks in the world.
§ Banaras Hindu University of Benaras is the one of the
biggest universities in the world offering studies in Hindu scriptures – Vedas.
§ It is the place where marriage of Frog is carried out with
much pomp and show. Hundreds gather at Ashwamegh Ghat every year to see this
interesting frog marriage in the rainy season duly carried out by Hindu priest.
§ It is the birthplace to world – renowned artists and
musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan.
§ Each year thousands of tourists come just as tourists and
hundreds of them make this place their home – such is the richness of this
pious place!
§ This place is famous for its five – day musical drupad
festival held at Tulsi Ghat and Ganga Mahotsav festival held in November and
Nag Nathaiya festival.
§ The largest seller of Benarsi silk , it’s can take upto 6
months to complete a single piece of saree. The best known ones are Katan,
Organza, Ggeorgette and Shattir.
Explore holy Varanasi - an atmospheric blend of temples,
river ghats and bazaars. Sail on the Ganges at dawn for a magical experience as
the sun rises over pilgrims absolving sins in the river. Explore the city and
nearby Sarnath, and wander independently through the bright bustle of the
backstreets of Benares.
Discover Benaras – From Meetha Pan to
Finding Nirvan.
Comments
Post a Comment