Varanasi

VARANASI

Varansi , Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi, also known as Banaras or Kashi, is a city on the banks of the river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India.

How to reach:

The Varanasi railway junction and Kashi railway station are the two main railheads in Varanasi. Both these railway stations are well linked with prime Indian cities via extensive rail network. Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport or Varanasi Airport is linked to some prime Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi.

Khasi Railway Station              

Varanasi Railway Station         

Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport

History:

A major religious hub in India, it is the holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism, and played an important role in the development of Buddhism and Ravidassia. Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.

Sapta Puri , India 

 Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon, "The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma", at nearby Sarnath.

Sarnath

During the Muslim rule through the Middle Ages, the city continued as an important centre of Hindu devotion, pilgrimage, mysticism and poetry which further contributed to its reputation as a centre of cultural importance and religious education. Tulsidas wrote his epic poem on Rama's life called Ram Charit Manas in Varanasi.

Tulsi Das

                                                                                         

 Guru Nanak visited Varanasi for Maha Shivaratri in 1507, a trip that played a large role in the founding of Sikhism. In the 16th century, Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the Mughal emperor Akbar who patronised the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, though much of modern Varanasi was built during the 18th century, by the Maratha and Bhumihar Brahmin kings.

Places of interest:

•    Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Kashi Vishwanath Temple is regarded as one of the most popular Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva’

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

•    Dashashwamedh Ghat: As the name suggests, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Brahma performed the Dasa Ashwamedha sacrifice. This ghat is a religious spot and many rituals are performed here.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

•    The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple: The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is situated by the River Assi and was built in the 1900s by the freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

•    Assi ghat: The Asi Ghat is placed at the confluence of the Rivers Assi and Ganga and is famous for the large Shiva Lingam installed under a peepal tree.

Assi Ghat

•    New Vishwanath Temple: Situated within the campus of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva along with the sculptures of multiple Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

New Vishwanath Temple

•    Tulsi Mansa Temple: Constructed in 1964, this temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is named after the saint poet Tulsi Das.

Tulsi Manasa Temple

Interesting facts:

•    Hindus believe that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the "holy" Ganges river allows one to break the cycle of rebirth and attain salvation.

•    It is believed that this holy city is one of the oldest living cities in the world.

•    One of Asia's largest residential universities is Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

•    Not only is Varanasi the spiritual capital of the nation, it is also a leading trading center as a great amount of trade is done here.

•    Ravi Shankar and the shehnai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan, the leading legends of the industry also have their roots in this place.

•    A very uncanny and astonishing custom is practiced in this city – frog marriage, which is particularly done in the rainy season at the Ashwamedh Ghat. The priest performs the ceremony of wedding a couple of frogs and then they are then left into the river.

BHU