Varanasi India Travel Guide

Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India, and is located on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. The city is an important part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city’s name means “land between the rivers Asi and Varuna”.According to legend, Shiva had settled in the city after his marriage to Parvati, thus making it a Shivaite worship destination. The city also has been referred to in the Mahabharat and Ramayana, and has been visited by The Buddha. Varanasi is a renowned pilgrimage site and is famous for its ghats. The city is also popular for its quality brassware in markets like the Thatheri Bazaar, where bargaining is a must. The city has a domestic airport, which is well connected to major cities of India, and it also has a good link of railways and roadways, so getting to the city is not a problem.

Varanasi Things To Do and Attractions

Varanasi has many holy sites, which pilgrims from all over the world come to visit. The important pilgrimage is the Pancha Tritha meaning five crossing. The pilgrimage involves five ghats - Asi, Dashashwamedha, Adi, Keshava, Panchganga and Manikarnika - which have to be covered. The city is full of ghats, each with its own importance. Other Varanasi attractions include the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which has one of the finest miniature paintings, sculptures, and artifacts of all the religions in India. The Vishwanath temple, another popular thing to do in Varanasi, is one-thousand years old and is a must see for tourists to the city.Excursions from Varanasi include Sarthan, a holy place that is about 10 kilometers away, where it is believed that The Buddha delivered his first teachings. About seventy kilometeres from the city is the Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary. Next to the sanctuary are picturesque waterfalls like the Rajdari and Devdari falls, making the place a perfect picnic spot. About one-hundred-thirty kilometers from the city is another mystic city of India, Allahbad.

Varanasi Latest Traveler Activity


A peaceful place a review for Varanasi
We stayed at the Golden Buddha hotel in Sarnath, on our trip around the Buddhist sector in winters. It is a family runed friendly hotel. They have large gardens and a Mediterranean restaurant too. Stay there while in Varanasi.
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