For a middle-aged Indian, going to Varanasi is almost a given at some point in his or her life. Because of the place's long history and religious importance, as well as the architecture and art that have kept the past alive here. People say that Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India. It has a lot of temples and ghats where people come from all over the country to pray. Of course, the fact that the Ganges River flows through Varanasi makes it even more holy.
Varanasi has a lot of places to see, and this is just a short list of the 9 best ones you shouldn't miss if you find yourself in the land of mysticism.
New Temple of Vishwanath
This temple is inside Banaras Hindu University, and every day, lots of tourists come to see it. The Birla family is a very successful business family in India. They paid for its construction, so people in the area call it the Birla Temple. The fact that the temple is made up of seven separate temples that all work together to make one big religious complex is a great thing about it. The design of this temple was directly influenced by the famous old Vishwanath temple. Its walls are all covered with what Lord Krishna said when he read the Bhagwad Gita. It is a must-see when you travel to Varanasi because it is one of the most famous temples there.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Many people think it's the most important temple in Varanasi, and some even think it's the most important temple in the whole country. Its story goes back more than three thousand and five hundred years, which is a very long time. There has been so much going on in and around it that it's hard not to feel overwhelmed when you go there. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are statues of Lord Shiva called Shivalingas. All of the gold is on the spires and domes of the shrine. This was done by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was the ruler of Punjab at the time. It is a Punjabi tradition to cover temple domes in gold, as seen in the Golden Temple. Many devotees believe that just looking at the Shivalinga once purifies your soul and sets your life on the path to learning.
Durga Temple
This temple is a sign of female divinity because it is dedicated to Goddess Durga. People think that the deity in this temple just appeared out of thin air and wasn't made by anyone. The fact that this temple was paid for by a woman is also a sign of feminism. The Maharani of Bengal was in charge of making it, and she wanted it to be built in the Nagara style because that was what she wanted. But perhaps the most interesting thing about this temple is that many monkeys go there every day. Because there are so many monkeys here, people often call it "Monkey Temple." So, if you come here, watch out for those mischievous apes!
Alamgir Mosque
On a list of temples, the Alamgir mosque stands out as a proud symbol of the Muslims who have lived in this area for hundreds of years. This mosque is one of a kind because it is on the banks of the Ganga. It is known for its beautiful Islamic architecture. People think that it was built by the Mughal Sultan Aurangzeb, who was Akbar's great-grandchild. This mosque is called Alamgir because that was another name for Emperor Aurangzeb. In the past, it has been said that Aurangzeb was the one who tore down a temple to build the mosque. But the mosque still had a lot of Hindu ideas in it, which you can see in its unique architecture and art.
Bharat Mata Temple
It is one of the few temples in the country that is dedicated to the country itself. India is known for its many temples and strong sense of nationalism, but there aren't many places that honour India itself. And because this is such a unique temple, almost everyone who comes to Varanasi goes there. It is on the campus of the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, and Gandhi himself opened it in 1936. It was meant to be a symbol of love and hope for everyone fighting against the British. In this temple, there is not a statue of a god that looks like a person. Instead, there are statues of mountains, plains, and oceans.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
This ghat is thought to be the oldest one in the city, so it is special because of that. If you've seen videos of people praying with diyas in their hands while bathing in the Ganga, it's likely that you saw this ghat. It is always busy because so many people go there to pray and wash away their sins. Every day, ascetics, Hindu devotees, and tourists all gather at Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganga. It is a must-see on any trip to Varanasi because it is such an important landmark and where the famous Ganga aarti takes place.
Assi Ghat
People think that Tulsidas died at Assi Ghat, which is a place in India. As the most southern ghat in the area, it is one of the most visited by tourists. On a normal day, about 300 people visit it every hour, but on festival days, that number can go as high as 2500. Here, you can take a slow boat ride on the river or even a trip in a hot air balloon. People come here to take a bath before doing rituals because the water is said to cleanse their souls and get them ready for the task.
Manikarnika Ghat
This ghat is also important to Hindus because it is the main place where people are cremated in the city. People believe that if they are cremated here after they die, they will reach moksha. A myth says that when Lord Shiva brought Devi Parvati here, her earring fell right where this ghat is now. Even though most days are pretty sad here, it is still a great place to visit if you are in Varanasi because of its history. It's also called the "burning ghat," and it's a very important part of Varanasi, just like death is to life.
Manmandir Ghat
In the early 1600s, Raja Man Singh gave the order to make it. On the northern corner of the ghat, he had a large stone balcony built so he could sit there and enjoy the peace. Compared to other ghats, this one doesn't get as many people, so it's a great place to spend a day. It is a great place to watch the Ganga flow peacefully. It is just north of Dashashwamedh ghat. Another great thing about this ghat is that it is close to a number of important temples, so you can see a lot of places in one trip. Someshwar Temple, Rameshwar Temple, and Sthuladanta Vinayaka are some of the temples that are close by.
Gyan Vapi Well
People believe that the water from this well gives them wisdom, which is what the name of the well means. Its water is said to contain wisdom, and people who drink from it are said to benefit from it. Whether you believe in superstitions or not, the history of this legendary well is interesting. People think that at the bottom of this well is the Jyotirlinga, which was taken from the old Kashi Vishwanath Temple and destroyed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It has been there since the old temple next to it was torn down in the 1600s so that a mosque could be built. This place is interesting not only because of the myths that surround it, but also because of the architecture and art that went into building it.
Ramnagar Fort
It is across the Ganga River from Tulsi Ghat and was built out of sandstone in 1750 AD on the orders of Raja Balwant Singh, who was the king of Banaras at the time. He and his family have been living in that fort for a long time. The government got rid of the official position of king in 1971, but Pelu Bhiru Singh is still often called the Maharaja of Varanasi. Even though it was built by Hindu kings, the fact that it was built in the Mughal style shows how many different kinds of people live in the area. It has the Veda Vyasa Temple, the living quarters of the king, and a museum about the history of the area.
Banaras Hindu University
The Banaras Hindu University is one of the largest residential schools in the world. It has about 30,000 students living on campus. This famous school will make you fall in love with it because of its beautiful buildings and large lawns.
Varanasi is one of the holiest places in India. And that says a lot, because India is full of temples and other holy places. Hindu mythology goes back thousands of years, and a holy place like Varanasi needs to have a lot of history behind it. The map of Varanasi is full of places to visit, so if you are interested in the culture, traditions, art and history of India, you should definitely visit! So, when you come to Varanasi book a cab from Bharat Taxi, and go and enjoy all the places in Varanasi.
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