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Varanasi, extensive along the
left bank of the river Ganga is the sacred city of Hindus. It is
also called Banaras.With its array of holy places, and temples
rising in several tiers from the water's edge, Varanasi are one
of the most charming cities in the North India. It is also a
city of fairs and festivals, celebrating about four hundred of
them throughout the year. Since time immemorial, Banaras has
been a centre of education and the tradition is kept alive today
by the Banaras Hindu University founded in 1916.
The respected and ancient city Varanasi/Banaras is the religious
centre of the world for Hindus. A wonderful city, with many
attractions, both as a high place of pilgrimage and a
microcosmic centre of belief. Thousands of pilgrims trip the
city from all parts of India and from across the world. An
exclusive city where the past and present, infinity and
continuity live side by side. The city rises from the high
northern bank on the exterior curve of Ganga, the holiest of all
Indian rivers, to form a wonderful scene of buildings in many
varieties of Indian architecture. The unique relationship
between the holy river and the city is the heart of Varanasi,
the land of blessed light. The Ganga is supposed to have flown
from the heaven to wash away the worldly sins of the people.
Thus, to be in Varanasi is an out of this world experience, and
experience of self sighting, a journey during the present and
the past in search of immortality.
According to the historians, the city was founded some ten
centuries before the birth of Christ. Located between the two
tributaries of the Gangas Varuna to the north and Asia to the
south, it has attained immortality. The city is mentioned in
sacred scriptures like ' Vamana Purana', Buddhist texts and in
the classic 'Mahabharata'. Varanasi inspires one to reflect
about life, to consider about creation and the unimportance of
temporal wealth in the face of death. Along the watre's edge,
there are the blazing ghats. The most blessed one is Manikarnika,
linked with Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva's wife.
Most Popular Attraction in Varanasi:
The Ghats:
Varanasi Ghats are the main attractions of Varanasi. There are
about hundred ghats in the city and each of them is visible by a
lingam and occupies its own unique place in the spiritual
geography of the city. The ghats, though some of them have
crumbled over the years, continue to succeed with early morning
bathers, Brahmin priests presenting puja and people working
meditation and yoga. Though most of the ghats are used for
bathing, there are several 'blazing ghats' were bodies are
cremated.
Alamgir Mosque:
Also known as Beni Madhav Ka Darera, the Alamgir Mosque is a
combine of the Hindu and Mughal styles of the architecture. The
mosque, built by Aurangzeb on the site of the Vishnu Temple,
overlooks the Panchganga Ghat.
Durga Temple:
Situated 2 kilometers south of the old city, this 18th century
Durga Temple is also known as the Monkey Temple due to many
destructive monkeys that reside here. The temple was built in a
general north Indian style with an elaborate shikhara,
consisting of five segments symbolizing the elements and
supported by finely carved columns.
Bharat Mata Temple:
This temple of Bharat Mata instated by Mahatma Gandhi, lies
about 3 km west of Godaulia, outside the old city. It is also
called Mother India. The map is said to be completely to scale
both vertically and horizontally with mountains, rivers and the
holy pilgrimage centres all obviously visible.
Tulsi Manas:
Temple Built in 1964, the Tulsi Manas Temple stands about 150 m
south of Durga Temple. The temple, devoted to Lord Rama is
located at the place where Tulsidas, the great medieval psychic,
is believed to have lived and written the great epic "Shri
Ramcharitmanas". The two level walls of the temple are imprinted
with the verses and scenes from this great epic.
How to Reach:
Air:
Well linked to Delhi, Khauraho, Lucknow, and Mumbai by air.
Rail:
Ahmedabad, Cochin, Delhi, Gwalior, Kolkata, Madras,
Mumbai, Tirupati, Puri are well connected by railways to Varanasi.
Road:
Varanasi, on NH - 2 from Kolkata to Delhi, and NH - 29 to
Gorakhpur is well linked to the rest of the country by good
motor able roads.
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