Varanasi tourism and travel guide
Overview
Varanasi, also known as Banaras, is one of the oldest cities in India and over the world. It is also referred as ‘Kashi’ or ‘Shiv ki Nagri’ that is attracted a large number of devotees. Being a leading center, the city is most popular for Banarasi silk, Gold brocades, silver articles, and many more. In the city, you will find over 3000 Varanasi temples which are dedicated to different Gods of Hindu religion. Besides, it also has numerous Buddhist temples, churches, Jain temples, Gurudwaras, and mosques. It was an epicenter for studying medicine, yoga, natural science, and healing science. Since ages, it is also the epitome of music. Some popular dance forms of Varanasi are Kathak, Ramlila, and Raslila. The place is famous for 5-day musical Drupad festival which is held at Tulsi Ghat. To make your trip hassle-free, you should your Varanasi travel packages in advance.
+moreBy Air
It has Lal Bahadur Shastri airport which is linked to some main cities like Delhi and Mumbai. You can also catch flights for Kathmandu from here.
By Road
The city offers great connectivity by road with cities like Lucknow, Allahabad, Ranchi, Gorakhpur and Patna. Many state buses and private luxurious buses ply from Lucknow to Varanasi which takes around six to seven hours.
By Train
The two main railheads in the town are Kashi railway station and Varanasi railway station. If you are coming from Delhi, then you can book several trains in advance.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Situated on the Western bank of the River Ganges, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is considered one of the sacred Jyotirlinga temples all over the world. It is known for intricate carvings, 800 kg gold-plated towers, rituals, and architectural beauty. If we talk about the main Shivalinga of the temple, it is made of black stone. Some nearby attractions of this temple are Dashashvamedh Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Nepali Temple, and Man Mandir Ghat.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
It is the most sacred and interesting Ghat in Varanasi that is associated with many mythological stories. Built-in 18th century, it is popular for Varanasi Ganga Aarti. Besides, you can also visit here to watch rituals, boating, and photography.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, it was built in the 20th century by a freedom fighter – Madan Mohan Malviya. Here, you will get a chance to spot a few monkeys. April month is the best time to visit this place when the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh festival is held.
Tulsi Manas Temple
This temple was built in 1964 and is famous for inscriptions of Ram Charit Manas and Shikhara architecture on the temple walls. During Sawaan month, you will find special rituals and puppet displays.
Shri Durga Temple
In Varanasi, Shri Durga temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga which has a great architectural design. Other names of this temple are Lal Mandir and Durga Kund. When we talk about its architectural style, you will find it a multi-tiered Nagara and shikhara.
Kedar Ghat
Visiting Kedar Ghat is a great option if you want to enjoy beautiful scenery and spiritual atmosphere. Being the oldest ghat in the city, it is referred as cleaner to take a bath in the revered Ganga and thereafter, pray at the Kedareshwar temple. It is a great example of Hindu architecture which is loved by South Indians and Bengalis.
Culture
Being a powerful city, Varanasi is famous for art, history, mythology, geography, archaeology, and other classes of culture. If we talk about Varanasi, it is affiliated with civilization, divinity and modern culture birthplace. The specialities of this city are the Banarasi saree, the handmade carpet of Bhadohi, Banaras metal repousse craft, wooden lacquerware & toys, soft stone jail work, etc.
Varanasi Weather
The Best Time to Visit Winter season is the best time to explore Varanasi when the temperature is low. On the other hand, you can experience high and dry temperatures during summers. So, it is suggested that you should avoid visiting during the Summer season.
If we talk about Varanasi food culture, you will find it diverse which reflects the religious and cultural heritage of the city. Here, you can find a lot of top-rated restaurants, hotels, street shops, and local eateries. Some must-visit places to eat in Varanasi where you can visit to relish Varanasi food and cuisine are:
Blue lassi shop – A must-visit place to drink sweet and savoury creamy lassi!
Kachori wali gali – It is a narrow lane near Kashi Vishwanath temple that is most popular for crispy kachoris with spicy potato curry. Here, you can try local breakfast dishes.
Deena Chaat Bhandar – The best place for chaat lovers! Here, you can try a range of chaat dishes that include tamatar chaat, aloo chaat, and palak chaat.
Baati Chokha – Visit this place to try this authentic North Indian cuisine!
El Parador – If you are interested in trying something new, then visiting El Parador is the right answer. This restaurant has rooftop seating from where you can enjoy great views of the river. It offers delicious Mexican cuisine.
Brown Bread Bakery – For those who want to enjoy freshly baked sandwiches, bread and other International treats, visiting Brown Bread Bakery is the best option.
Varanasi is a holy and religious city in Uttar Pradesh that has a lot of shopping places from where you can purchase clothes, handicrafts, idols, accessories, and more. By visiting here, you can have a memorable shopping experience. Let’s check out what are the best shopping places in Varanasi: -
Vishwanath Lane:
This is the main market in Varanasi that remains always crowded with a large number of people and visitors. Here, you can find stalls on the roadside. From this market, you can purchase items like beautiful yet designer sarees, dupattas and bangles. For those who love to collect wooden toys, they can visit here.
Godowlia Market
This market always remains crowded with visitors as well as local people. Its main attraction is household items. If you are interested in buying décor materials, then you should visit Godowlia Market. Located at the vicinity of Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, it is the perfect place to buy hardware, grocery, household items and silk embroidery fabrics.
Thatheri Bazar
Located near to Sankat Mochan Temple, Thatheri Bazar is the must-visit place if you want t0 buy items with metal and brass work. The specialty of this market is clay toys, handcrafted carpets, vases, copperware, home decoration items, etc.
Rajan Silk Store
Your shopping will be incomplete without purchasing Banarasi sarees. For this, visiting the Rajan Silk Store is the best place to buy an exquisite selection of authentic banarasi saree, dress materials, stoles, etc. It is also a great place to buy Banarasi dupattas.
Golghar
Golghar is the major shopping place in Varanasi where most people prefer to visit to buy a majority of necessities. From this place, you can purchase designer shoes at extremely affordable prices. For all wants and needs, this can be a one-stop shop.
