VARANASI OVERVIEW-

Banaras or Kashi is the holy city of Varanasi is located on the banks of river Ganga. This city has religious importance. It is  a place where pilgrims visit the temples. Varanasi is the oldest  inhabited places of the world and oldest in India. Its narrow lanes are filled with temples, amazing food outlets, cows and bulls standing midway and numerous people flocking here and there. The Benares Hindu University is the oldest Indian universities. Varanasi includes Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath. The prominent place is the River Ganga. The evening ritual is called the Ganga Aarti.

PLACES TO VISIT IN VARANASI-

New Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath/Golden Temple

Tulsi Manas Temple

Alamgir Mosque

Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum

Sarnath–

Dasaswamedh Ghat-

ACCOMODATION-

BEST TIME TO VISIT VARANASI-

November – February

HOW TO VISIT VARANASI-

Varanasi airport is linked with all the major cities of the country. The city is connected by rail and has two major railway stations that connect it to all the major cities of the country. Varanasi railway station and Kashi railway station  are the main railheads to reach the city with ease.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF VARANASI-

The Aryans first settled in the Ganges valley. Varanasi became the centre of Aryan religion and philosophy. The city comprised muslin and silk fabrics, ivory works, perfumery and sculptures. It became the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. Lord Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath. This is a center of religious, educational, cultural and artistic activities. In Emperor Akbar’s accession to the Mughal throne, some religious respite was restored to the city. All that disappeared when the tyrannical Mughal ruler Aurangzeb came to power. It became an independent kingdom , when the British declared it a new Indian state. After India’s independence in 1947, Varanasi became part of the Uttar Pradesh.

TIPS-

1.  Visit Sarnath, Banaras Hindu University, and Bharat Kala Museum.
2. In the evening, Visit the grand aarti performed by several priests on the banks of River Ganges.
3. In the early morning, move across the Ganges on a boat.
4. Visit the temples alongside river Ganga.
5. Visit the Tulsi Manas Temple.

I will be writing this post for the#AtoZChallenge 2017   at  #Blogchatter  , #blogboost