|
 |
|
|
|
Varanasi
or Banaras is one of the oldest
cities of India. This city has
found place in the Buddhist
scriptures as well the epic of
Mahabharata. In Pali language
Varanasi was called Banarasi
hence it got the name 'Banaras'.
Varanasi is also called 'Kashi'
or the city of spiritual light.
Kashi is the place where Shiva
and Parvati stood when the "time
started ticking".
This ancient city of India is
located on holiest river of
India--Ganga. This relation is
unique and has attracted
thousands of pilgrims. One
theory also goes that Varanasi
is located on the land between
the river Varuna and Assi hence
the name Varanasi.
This
town also has its place in
history with many events and
incidents being related with it.
From time immemorial Varanasi
has been the center of
education, religion, art and
culture. For every visitor
Varanasi has different
experiences to offer. The
shimmering red and golden water
of the Ganges when rays of dawn
falls on them, the high banks,
the temples, the Ashrams, the
pavilions all are an experience
in themselves. |
|
|
Prime
Attractions of Varanasi |
|
|
|
» The Ghats Of Varanasi
|
In this ancient city of
pilgrimage, the bathing
ghats are main
attraction. People flock
here in large numbers
every day to take bath
and worship in the
temples built beside the
river bank. Centuries
old tradition to offer
puja to the rising Sun
is still maintained.
» St. Mary's Church
Situated in the
cantonment area of
Benaras (Varanasi) the
St. Mary's Church has a
low tower, spire and
projecting poitico.
Instead of windows tile,
church has louvred doors
to the sides and hooded
ventilation slots
beneath the cornice. |
 |
» The Kashi Vishwanath Temple /
Gyanvapi Mosque
This temple is dedicated to Lord
Shiva. It is popularly known as
the golden Temple due the Gold
plating done on its 15.5 meter
high spire. One tonne of gold
donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
has been used in the gold
plating of the spire. The temple
was destroyed in the various
invasions and was rebuilt in
1776 by Rani Ahilyabai of
Indore.
|
» Bharat Mata Temple
This temple is dedicated
to Mother India. Just
one kilometer from the
Varanasi station. The
temple is built in the
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi
Vidyapeeth which was
built by Babu Shiv
Prasad Gupt. This temple
was inaugurated by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1936
so that the citizens
could respect Mother
India in statue form.
The statute is built in
marble. The statue is a
replica of undivided
India in three dimension
which has the mountains,
plains and oceans in
right proportion. |
 |
» Tulsi Manas Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord
Rama. The temple is built in the
place where Goswami Tulsidas
composed the epic 'Ramacharitramanas'
which provides us with detailed
description of the history and
deeds of Lord Rama. Tulsi Manas
Temple was constructed by a
philanthropist family in 1964. |
|
|
|
Other
Attractions of Varanasi |
|
|
|
» Benaras Hindu University
|
This is the largest and
oldest university in
north India. Spread over
an area of 2,000 acres,
this great place of
education was
established by Pt. Madan
Mohan Malaviya. Today
the campus has faculties
of Arts, Science, Music,
Sanskrit, Languages,
Engineering, Statistics
and Medical to name a
few of them.
The university also has
the huge Vishwanath
temple which was built
and maintained by the
Birla family. The
Sunderlal Medical center
has all the modern
facilities of medical
field is also located in
the university campus. |
 |
» Nandeshwar Kothi
Nandeshwari Kothi, designed by
James Prinsep is a typical
building of the early 19th
century in Benaras.
|
» Jantar Mantar
The ruler of Jaisingh
built an observatory in
Varanasi in line with
those built in Delhi,
Mathura, Ujjain and
Jaipur observatories.
The Varanasi observatory
has all the instruments
which were required to
record the motion ,
speed and properties of
various stars and
planets and other cosmic
objects. The observatory
was built in 1600 and
still the instruments
give the exact
measurements which can
match any modern
instrument. |
 |
|
|
|
|
A Stay To Remember |
|
There are number of hotels in
Varanasi which provide comfortable
stay to its visitors. The hotel
category may vary from deluxe to
budget. All the hotels are
present with requisite
facilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
