December 5, 2020/
Photographers, take note: Darbhanga Ghat offers the best opportunity to get amazing shots of Varanasi. The stairs leading down to…
Known as the world’s oldest and continually inhabited city, Varanasi is a time-honoured city of spiritual bliss and historic remnants. The city is marked with a labyrinth of narrow alleyways lined with houses, myriad of shops, innumerable holy Ghats, crowded streets, heritage monuments and age-revered temples. Varanasi offers a spiritual charm along with the essence of a simple and ritualistic lifestyle. It is a unique example of ‘Unity in diversity’ from the religious point of view; the multi-religious aspect of the place will astonish you. The ethereal blaze of the evening aarti along the banks of River Ganges is a mesmerizing sight. Behold the glory of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat, Benares Hindu University, Ramnagar Fort and Museum and many more heritage sites. Soak in the holistic eternity that this old city adorns. Discover the spiritual activities and erstwhile grandeur of the city. If you are planning for a city tour, do keep Varanasi on your to-visit list, and unfold the mystical resplendence of the city.
How To Reach Varanasi ?
By Air
By Road
Tab Train
By Air
Located just half km away from the Hotel Dharohar, Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport serves Varanasi. It is the nearest airport to the city, situated in the north-west direction. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways and Vistara are the domestic airlines operating in this city. They directly connect Varanasi with the other Indian cities like Agra, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad. In 2005, the airport was granted international status and since then it is well-connected with few of the international cities like Sharjah, Kathmandu, Colombo and Bangkok. The international lines that operate in this airport are the Air India Express, Buddha Air, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia.
By Road
Varanasi is well connected by national highway, Hotel Dharohar is situated at NH 56 (Varanasi Lucknow Highway) and connected with Varanasi Ring Road. No matter from where you are coming you will reach at hotel without facing city trafic.
Tab Train
Varanasi Junction, or the Varanasi Cant. Railway Station is the largest railhead in the city that serves almost 360,000 passengers daily. 240 trains pass through the city connecting it with some of the major cities like Surat, New Delhi, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kolkata and many others.
Must visit place…
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- Varanasi
December 5, 2020/
Hindu pilgrims and tourists alike travel for thousands of miles to reach the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a sacred attraction…
December 5, 2020/
Plumes of smoke swirl toward the sky at Manikarnika Ghat. No, it’s not from a factory — it’s from the…
December 5, 2020/
There are few destinations in India without a fort, and Varanasi is no exception. About 14 kilometers from the city…
December 5, 2020/
Banaras Hindu University has been a central part of Varanasi’s identity since its inception in 1916. The well-respected public university…
December 5, 2020/
The lively atmosphere of the Dasaswamedh Ghat makes it one of the best places to visit in Varanasi. This tourist…
December 5, 2020/
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Named after the Hindu goddess Ganga, the Ganges River is one of the most revered natural sites in India. The…
Witness Grandeur Evening Aarti Ceremony
Watching Evening Aarti Ceremony is certainly once in a lifetime experience. The spectacular event must be viewed from the Dasawamedh Ghat, where beautiful rituals unfold themselves in front of your eyes. Brass lamps of large sizes are used during this event, which is accompanied by chants and crowds of people waiting to pray.
Visit at least an hour before the Aarti if you want to gather the experience at its best. At this time, you can witness how five elevated planks are placed at the edge of the steps of the Ghats and brass lamps are cleaned and readied for the occasion.
It is also interesting to watch how priests don identical dhotis and kurta for prayer and Aarti ceremony. Those who wish to click pictures from their cameras should visit the Ghats in evening boats, as this will allow one to easily capture everything in attention.
Morning Boat Ride in Ganges River
Rowing boat rides during the dawn is perhaps one of the best things to do in Varanasi. The ride along Ganges River offers the quintessential Varanasi experience. It takes one through different Ghats and former palaces situated close to the banks of Ganges, giving a panoramic view of this River and the region.
The best time to enjoy boat ride of the Ganges River is from 5:30 AM to 8 AM. This is when the colour and clamour of the place will enthral you. Travellers will be surprised to see that the city is awake and cheery even during 5 in the morning.
Morning experience of the boat ride will leave an indelible imprint on your heart, especially because you will get to see the faith that people have in River Ganges. During the ride, don’t be surprised to see Sadhus and pilgrims bathing and performing prayers in front of you. This entire ride will unfold the religious significance of Varanasi and why River Ganges is revered all over the world.
Mostly, an hour long boat ride is ideal to give the traveller a taste of what this city has to offer. It usually starts from Dasawamedh Ghat, goes to the Harishchandra Ghat and then back. In the evening, you can see how women from all over the world light lotus flower candles and set it adrift in water. You can also opt for Ganges Aarti ceremony at the Dasawamedh Ghat. Travellers can access boats from Manmandir area.
Stroll Along the Ghats
Exploring the Ghats is one of the best things to do in Varanasi. The city has almost a hundred Ghats, the steps of each leading the banks of River Ganges. These are bathing Ghats, praying Ghats and cremation sites for Hindus from all over the world. It makes them alluring and enthralling for a traveller as it is associated with some legend or mythologies.
The privately owned ones here are known for morning boat rides which provide impeccable, panoramic views of the place. Some of the major Ghats that one can visit during their trip to Varanasi includes the Mata Anandamai Ghat, Assi Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Munshi Ghat, Raj Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Scindia Ghat and Raj Ghat.
Savour Local Street Food
If you are a gastronome, relishing the local food on the streets is one of the best things to do in Varanasi. Here you can start with a sumptuous breakfast of Kachori Sabzi at Ram Bhandar or Thatheri Bazaar or relish a plate of Baati Chokha.
If you are in a mood for snacking, Choora Matar and Meethe Gol Gappe will send you into a food coma. For your sweet tooth, there is the popular Makhan Malaiyoo or Nimish that is offered during the winter season in Varanasi.
Have Lassi
One of the most famous lassi shops in Varanasi, this place offers something unique for all the foodies. Here, you can get lassi with a twist as it is offered being infused with different flavors like apple, banana, custard apple etc.
This humble shop in Varanasi is a wonderful place to hang out with loved ones and savor a glass that will have a blast of flavors in your mouth. You can choose among various toppings like mango, papaya, ice cream or rose syrup to add to the flavors. Remember, it has very little seating space. So make sure to choose a time to avoid the crowds and make the most of your food trail in Varanasi.
Visit Weaver’s Village
Sarai Mohana, or the weaver’s village is one of the best offbeat things to do in Varanasi. It is flocked with locals who have churned out the most amazing Banarasi silk sarees in India. Their work is well-known for many different characteristics like zari (gold and silver brocade), embroidery work et cans saris which are completed in time spanning from 15 days to months.
These sarees are famous all over the world and represent an integral part of the culture of the city. So, when you are in Varanasi, don’t forget to buy a dazzling silk sari to wear on your next festival celebration or marriage party from Sarai Mohana as a souvenir of vacation in Varanasi