The Sens of Kolkata went to Varanasi to observe the 5th death anniversary of their grandfather. They also wanted to soak in the ancient culture of the city and explore the ghats and gallis of Kashi.
The magic that is inter-twined with the ancient city cannot be explained. It draws millions of worshippers from all over India, who believe a dip in the Ganga will release them from the cycle of re-birth. It attracts thousands of tourists, who come to this city to experience the 3,000 year-old culture. Even the vast number of foreigners who are drawn here, in spite of the crowds, narrow alleys and pollution, speaks for the magnetic aura that this city exerts on all.
Highlights
Boat ride on the Ganga - you cannot leave Varanasi without experiencing this - and if you do it at dawn, the feeling is sublime
Asi Ghat - the first ghat in the south of the city where the River Asi meets the Ganga
Tulsi Ghat - one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi where the saint Tulsidas lived - his hut and temple can still be seen.
Anandmayi Ghat - the ashram set up by the saint from Bengal draws thousands of pilgrims
Darbhanga Ghat - the flamboyant palace of the maharaja from Darbhanga, Bihar dominates this ghat
Dasashvamedha Ghat - the most holy and important ghat of Varanasi, people flock here to offer prayers for their ancestors
Vishwanath temple - the holy temple of Shiva in the heart of the city is reached through the narrow and crowded Kashi ki gallis.
Evening
aarti - this is a sight to behold at the ghats where priests perform an
aarti to Ganga Mai, in rhythm to drums and chanting hymns.
These twin cities are traditionally known as Brajbhoomi ? the land where Krishna was born and grew up, and where he played his pranks and danced with his ?gopis?.It is visited by thousands of devout Hindu pilgrims from all over India.
MATHURA - This city is on the banks of the Yamuna and close to Agra. Its outskirts are dominated by the Indian Oil refinery, but the inner heartland is the holy region filled with temples, ghats and ashrams. If you really want to be secular, do explore the Jami Masjid and the Church of the Sacred Heart, built in 1860, in the cantonment area.
BRINDAVAN - The short drive from Mathura to here, takes you through the typical Brajboomi landscape with small acacia shrubs and tulsi bushes, and vast herds of cattle grazing. There are probably more temples and ashrams here than humans ? all built by rich traders who wished to atone their sins. Visit the ancient GovindeojiTemple, Ranganathji temple, Madan Mohan temple and Jugal Kishore temple, among others.
Know Uttar Pradesh - The history of the State of Uttar Pradesh is very ancient and interesting. It is recognised in the later Vedic Age as Brahmarshi Desha or Madhya Desha.
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh - Travel Blog about Sarnath & its Buddhist monasteries, Culture, Traditions, Links, News, Articles, Tourism, Places etc.,
Official Websites
Government of Uttar Pradesh - Uttar Pradesh Government portal covering diverse topics including health, tourism, culture, climate, Tenders and e-Governance.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism - Uttar Pradesh Tourism Government portal - Official website of Dept. of Tourism, covers Places of Interest in Uttar Pradesh, Lists of Hotels in Uttar Pradesh and Historic places in Uttar Pradesh.
Other Useful Links
Uttar Pradesh at a Glance - In this Web site, you will find information on all aspects of Uttar Pradesh: History of Uttar Pradesh, Geography of Uttar Pradesh, Economy of Uttar Pradesh etc.,
World Heritage Sites - Agra - Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
