Varanasi is a famous tourist spot for a good many reasons. The City of Ghats has in its store history which goes back to many centuries. Tourism in Varanasi is something very obvious, also because it is a renowned pilgrimage destination. The Holy City offers a vast range of holiday and pilgrimage destinations to the travelers.
The main attractions in Varanasi which is also known as Kashi are The Ghats of Vanarasi, St. Mary’s Church, Bharat Kala Museum, Ram Nagar Durg, Benaras Hindu University, Nandeshwar Kothi etc. Apart from these, the pilgrimage destinations in Kashi are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and Durga Temple. The tour to the neighborhood of Varanasi includes Chunar, Sarnath, Jaunpur. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary are the two tourist spots which are most likely to please the adventure lovers.
HOW TO REACH
By Air:-
Being an important destination in Uttar Pradesh, the city of Varanasi has an airport. Many public and private airlines operate regular flight service to Varanasi from important cities of India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Khajuraho. One can also reach Varanasi directly from Kathmandu. Flights to Varanasi
By Train:-
Varanasi has two railways stations namely- Varanasi Junction and Kashi Junction. Several important trains connect Varanasi to Kolkata, Delhi and many other cities. Trains to Varanasi
By Road:-
Varanasi is connected to many key cities in India. Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are well linked to the city by Road. NH-7, the longest National Highway in India connects Varanasi to the cities of Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Salem, Madurai and Kanyakumari.
WHAT TO SEE
Temples:-
Temples are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Varanasi. Most of the temples are located in the old city along the lanes and the lanes and by lanes. The most famous one is the temple of Kashi Vishwanatha, where Lord Shiva is the presiding deity. Catch up an evening aarti in the temple.
Ghats along the Ganges:-
The River Ganges is part and parcel of the sacred city. The riverbank is punctuated with huge pavilions made of series of concrete steps going down right into the water body of the river. These are called the Ghats, which are major tourist attractions in Varanasi.
Dashashwamedha Ghat, Asi, Barnasangam, Panchganga and Manikarnika are some notable Ghats in Varanasi. Several legends go into their makings. Take a boat ride in the early morning along the river to watch hordes of people come to take a dip in the river in the morning and worship the rising sun.
Sarnath:-
Close to Varanasi, lies Sarnath where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Ashoka the great later erected a stupa here. Several other Buddhist monuments were set up in Sarnath later. The remnants today lie in a serene ambience. Festival of Buddha Purnima is celebrated here with much fanfare.
SHOPPING:-
The city has a tremendously rich tradition of handicrafts, which makes for a wonderful shopping in Varanasi.
Since long, Varanasi has earned global acclaim for exquisite silk saris with intricate floral patterns and elaborate zari (golden thread) works. Strikingly smooth and vibrant colors almost epitomize the feminine grace. These are hugely adored by the Indian women of all corners and are considered precious possessions through out their lives. Do not forget to pick up one or two ‘Varanasi’ saris while shopping in Varanasi.
Stone carved items of Varanasi are also quite famous. The ace craftsmen of the city chisel out beautiful utility items and objets d’art from stone. Candle stands, ashtrays, jewelry boxes not to mention replicas of Taj Mahal serve as fantastic souvenirs of a Varanasi tour.
FOOD:-Varanasi cuisine is definitely worth a bite while touring this city and you can enjoy gorging on some lip smacking sweet savouries or spicy treats or simple snacks along the streets and restaurants of Varanasi. The traditional mix of Uttar Pradesh with a touch of Bihar is something that sets the food in Varanasi apart. The famous snow cone, roasted peanuts, the delicious chat items like Tamatar or Tomato Chat, Pani Puri, Kachoris, Aloo Tikki; Thandai or Lassi, Baati Chokha, variety of Mithais or sweets like Jalebis, Banarasi Kalakand, Rabri, etc. Another famous treat of Banaras is their Paan- almost every local will be seen savouring this speciality of Varanasi made of betel leaf and a mixture of tobacco depending on your taste and preference. Besides the traditional food in Varanasi there are a number of shops that have sprung in the recent past offering continental, western and other India delicacies as well.