Varanasi also Known as Benares is one of the oldest, “continuously inhabited” cities in the entire world. It is supposed to have been existing for more than three thousand years. Historians and archeological experts have reported that this city existed even one thousand years before the advent of Jesus Christ. It is also one of the seven holiest cities in India. It has also a different name which is Kashi.
Varanasi is very well known for several reasons. Some of these are
1. Excellent quality and very fine silk products such as saris. They are quite expensive but quality, fineness and wearing comfort remains for many years.Most female members of our team spent several hours in those sari markets and bought quite a few.
2. The world famous Benares Hindu University,the biggest residential University in Asia, with 124 independent departments.We were taken aback by its grandeur.
3. The holiest of holy Hindu shrines called the Kashi Vishwanath temple. We went there at 3 a.m and took part in the Mangala Arati.
4. The most important centre of religious pilgrimage for the Hindu religion. The every day scene of thousands and thousands of pilgrims doing their prayers in the holy river Ganges at sunrise, set against the divine profile of centuries-old temples, is a most impressive sight. We certainly were not losers,we realised as we were returning.
The city of Varanasi is located on the banks of the holy river Ganges. A bath in the Ganges is believed to wash away all sins.Thousands of pilgrims visit Varanasi every day, every year for this purpose.We were a few dots in that ocean of humanity.
Varanasi is easily reachable as there are several trains and buses to this destination from many important places in India. There is also an airport in Varanasi situated about 25 kilometers away from the city centre.
The climate is extremely hot in the summer. Therefore the best time to visit Varanasi is between October and March. It can be cold in this period, especially at night and a little bit of warm clothing will help.
Varanasi does not have many tourist attractions for the Western traveler. But it is worthwhile watching an entirely different life style and see how demographic variations or cultural complexities play no hindrance in uniting human beings in their effort to reach the ultimate. We were from South india with different customs compared to the North Indians,but somehow we easily merged with them.Thr unity in diversity of India is a wonderful experience.
Worth seeing places in Varanasi include the following.
1. Kashi Vishwanath temple
2. Kall Bhairav temple
3. Nepali golden temple.
4. Tulsi manas temple.
5. Durga temple.
Some of the famous bathing Ghats such as the Manikarnika ghat is also worth visiting. Another brilliant sight as Varanasi is that of the famous Ganga Arati at the time of dusk as the sun sets. This is when thousands of small lamps are lit and allowed to float on the vast waters of the holy Ganges river. Arati for the Ganga is also performed at this time at several ghats simultaneously. Altogether it is an experience by itself for any visitor. There is an eerie divine brilliance which engulfs the entire atmosphere with a vast mass of humanity acting in unison and offer their silent prayers for the benefit of the whole world.Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu; which means let the entire world be at peace in happiness.We had a sense of ulfillment as we boarded our return trains.
