Varanasi City Information

History of Varanasi
The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.
Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts has all flourished here for centuries. Also a pilgrimage place for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar.
Vaishnavism and Shaivism have co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously. With a number of temples, Mrs. Annie Besant chose Varanasi as the home for her 'Theosophical Society' and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, to institute 'Benares Hindu University, the biggest University in Asia. Ayurveda is said to be originated at Varanasi and is believed to be the basis of modern medical sciences such as Plastic surgery, Cataract and Calculus operations. Maharshi Patanjali, the preceptor of Ayurveda and Yoga, was also affiliated with Varanasi, the holy city. Varanasi is also famous for its trade and commerce, especially for the finest silks and gold and silver brocades, since the early days.
Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives.

Climate of Varanasi
Situated in Uttar Pradesh, in northern part of India, Varanasi is located on the banks of the holy river, Ganges. During summers, weather can be as hot as 45° C and humid too as Varanasi lies at the Tropic of cancer. Torrential rains and high humidity accompanies the monsoons that usually come in late June or early July for about two months. Delicious and juicy mangoes offer little relief from the sweating weather. On the other hand, winters are pleasant and temperature dips down to about 7°C. In Varanasi, the climatic conditions are most favorable for the tourists between Octobers to April. For those who are ready to face a sun and don't mind the odor of sweat, Varanasi is a place to visit all the year round.

General Facts about Varanasi

Country:	India (north-east)
Location:	Uttar Pradesh

Status:	city
STD Code:	0542
Population:	About 14 lakh.
Distance From:
Jaunpur:	65 km
Chunar:	40 km
Sarnath:	10 km
Kaushambi:	180 km

Varanasi Sightseeing

Alamgir Mosque
Also known as Beni Madhav Ka Darera, this mosque was originally built in the Vishnu architectural style but now displays Hindu and Mughal architectural influences. Perhaps best seen from a boat, the mosque sits picturesquely on the banks of the Rover Ganges.

Bharat Mata Temple
Unusual for its absence of images of gods and goddesses, this temple is dedicated to ‘Mother India’ and instead contains a relief of a map of India. A fairly recent construction when compared to other temples in the city, the building was sponsored by Shiv Prashad Gupt, completed in 1936, and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. One of the most interesting facets of the temple is that it is open to people of all creeds.

Ghats
With over 100 ghats to explore, it is unlikely any visitor will have time to see them all. Each of the primary ghats (steps leading down to the river) are indicated by a lingam, or a phallic symbol of lord Shiva. Many of the ghats double as morning bathing spots for pilgrims, an amazing sight at dawn. The ghats are also a popular hangout for religious men, some of which spend their time practicing yoga or smoking ganja for religious purposes. These colourful characters are often willing to engage in conversation with visitors and are even willing to be photographed for a small donation. Highlights include Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats, which are commonly referred to as ‘burning ghats’ for their function as the site of Hindu cremations. Visitors can pause to take in this sight, but are not encouraged to linger for long or to take photographs. One of the most relaxing ways to take in the ghats from a distance is to hire a boat for a trip along the river.

Government Museum Mathura
One of Varanasi’s museum highlights is this interesting collection of antiques, largely gathered by archaeologists Cunnigham, Growse, and Fuhrer. Of great importance is the museum’s collection of pieces that are associated with the Mathura School of Sculptures and dating from the 3rd to the 12th century. Other works include paintings, clay objects, pottery and bronze items.

Great Mosque of Aurangzeb
The last Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb, is well known for his destruction of temples and their replacement with mosques during his 48-year rule over Hindustan. The Bineswar Temple in Varanasi did not escape this same fate and was replaced by the Great Mosque of Aurangzeb in the second half of the 17th century. Nestled on the banks of the Ganges, its minarets are 71 metres high and can be seen from afar.

Pandit Malaviya Temple
Unique in that it is open to people of all castes and religions, the Pandit Malaviya Temple was inspired by the man of the same name, who wanted to see Hinduism eliminate caste distinctions. The interior is said to be a reconstruction of the now destroyed Vishwanath Temple, which was toppled by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in the 17th century.

Ram Nagar Fort and Museum
Formerly the residence of Maharaja of Benaras, this 17th century stronghold is best seen from the river. Reached via a dilapidated bridge or by ferry during the monsoon season, the fort also contains an interesting museum that contains some elaborate relics. Expect to see everything from gruesome elephant traps to astrological clocks and razor-sharp swords.

Varanasi Excursions

Jaunpur:
Jaunpur is a bustling town 58 kilometers from Varanasi. The place has a great architectural relevance. There are some beautiful mosques that were built in a unique style that is part Islamic and part Hindu and Jain. Founded by Feroze Shah Tughlaq in 1360 on an ancient site, Jaunpur became the capital of the independent Muslim Sharqui kingdom. The most impressive mosques were constructed between 1394 and 1478. Kaimur Sanctuary is another famous excursion destination. Spread over an area of 500 sq. kilometers the sanctuary has a variety of wildlife. The Mukha waterfall is a major tourist attraction. Other famous excursions are as follows: -

Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary:
Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 70 kilometers Southeast of the cultural city of Varanasi. It can be plainly established that Chandraprabha is one of the less known and neglected wildlife sanctuary of India. Nevertheless is the best place around Varanasi to break the monotony. The place is a strict no-no for the "Karma-chameleons" but if all those talks about 'Karma' and 'Nimit Matra' have started taking toll on your otherwise nascent brain, then Chandraprabha is a place to be.

Chunargarh:
Chunargarh is located just 45 odd kilometers from Varanasi and falls in Mirzapur district. The city has a very deep historical importance because of the Chunar Fort that stands just off the town. It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar as back as 56 BC. King Sahdeo who also built a stone umbrella like cenotaph inside the fort in order to commemorate his victory over 52 different rulers later inhabited it.

Vindhyachal :
There is a concept of Shaktipeeth in India. Shaktipeeth are actually places where the Goddess of power or the female part of power is supposed to be residing. The female part of Power has been named Shakti and is worshiped in the form of Goddess Durga. Situated at the distance of 90 Km from Varanasi, Vindhyachal is famous for its temples namely Vindhyavasini, Asthbhuja and Kalikhoh.

How to Reach Varanasi
Varanasi is the cultural capital of India and the melting pot of Indian civilization. Varanasi or Benaras has a well-developed transport network and is well connected to all the major Indian cities and states by air, road and rail.

By Air
Varanasi is well connected and accessible to major Indian cities and tourist spots. There are daily domestic flights to and from Varanasi to several cities in India. Apart from the state owned Indian Airlines, there are many private air taxi operators that offer their services from Varanasi to other Indian cities. In fact, the daily flights on Delhi-Varanasi-Khajuraho-Varanasi route are quite popular among the tourists.

By Rail
Since Varanasi lies in the heartland of the North Indian plains, it is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other parts of India. There are two railway stations in Varanasi, the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction (also known as Varanasi Cantonment). Rajdhani Express from Delhi or from Calcutta passes through Varanasi too. One can also catch trains from Mughalsarai, just 10 km south of Varanasi.

By Road
Situated in the flat Ganga plains, Varanasi has a good network of roads. Frequent public and private buses and road transport to all the major towns of Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas.

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