The Hindus’ holiest city teems with people. It is the dream of every devout Hindu to visit it once in a lifetime. Varanasi is a city as old as Babylon and in parts it looks like life has moved on very little. An absorbing place to visit, it is full of fascinating people and surprises at every turn. It can be reached by overnight train or 2 hour flight from Delhi.
Places of Interest:
GANGES AND GHATS
Absolutely the best way to view the city is by boat. Sunrise is calm and peaceful and allows visitors to watch people perform their ageless rituals in Holy Mother Ganges. At sunset you can sit aboard the boat, listen to the hypnotic bells and cymbals, smell the incense and sandalwood and watch the oil lamps illuminate the night sky as the priests perform evening aarti (prayers.) Life in and around the river epitomises the spirituality and mystique of Indian life.
VISHWANATH TEMPLE
In the heart of the old city lies the Vishwanatha Templex complex, also known as the Golden Temple because of the gold plating on its spire. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is usually busy. It is closed to non Hindus.
DURGA TEMPLE
This temple is popularly known as the Monkey Temple and has been stained red with ochre. (All Hindu temples are red, especially those dedicated to the monkey god Lord Hanuman who was red himself.) However the nickname is a misnomer since all the monkeys have moved to the nearby Hanuman Temple. where I am assured the monkey food is better. Non Hindus can only enter the courtyard.
SARNATH
Lies 6 miles north of Varanasi and is the place of pilgrimage of Buddhists. Around 530BC Buddha gave his first sermon at this site. It was discovered by Alexander Cunningham, head of the Archaeological Survey, in 1834 which excavated the site. The park is immaculate and the dominant Dhamekh Stupa is believed to mark the site of the first sermon. There is a fascinating museum here too, well worth a visit.
