Varanasi / Kashi / Banaras

Varanasi (also known as Banaras or Kashi) is regarded as the spiritual capital of India. Varanasi is the official name, known as Kashi from religious point of view and locals call it Banaras. This city is more than 3000 years old, draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites.  This place is famous for its unique life style along Ganga Ghat and narrow alleys. This city houses more than 2000 Hindu temples, more than 400 mosques, about 20 Buddhist temples, Gurudwaras, Churches and Jain Temples. Apart from Hinduism, this city respects all religions including Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity.

This city is a slow and lazy place unique of its kind. You don’t have to explore, you have to feel and experience this city to understand its culture and life style. Unless you come here, you cann’t imagine how beautiful and stunning this place is.  Can you imagine death is a celebration? Can you imagine cows, stray dogs and men sit side by side to enjoy a ceremony? Can you imagine one can spend whole day at a tea stall discussing national and international politics? Can you imagine kids playing at cremation ground? Can you imagine one can spend 4-5 hours every day in different temples since last 20-30 years? You can get answers of all these questions if you are already here. This city is the confluence of faith, belief and traditions. Once you are here, you will experience life and death at the same platform.  Life starts and ends in Banaras. Your perception of life will definitely change if you stay here for few days.

Mark Twain, a prominent figure of English Literature writes ‘Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together’.

Varanasi is located on the west bank of the river Ganga as it flows through the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This place is known as abode of lord Shiva. Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the twelve jyotirlinga, is among most important temples in Hinduism. After attaining Nirvana, Lord Buddha came to Sarnath, a place about 12 kilometers from main city, in search of his five disciples. This city is well connected by road, rail and air network with all major cities of India. Varanasi has 6 railway stations – Varanasi Cantt, Banaras, Kashi, Varanasi City, Sarnath and nearby city Mughal Sarai. Varanasi Airport, about 25 kilometers from main city, known as Lal Bahadur Shashtri International Airport, has daily direct flights from major cities of India and some international flights from Bangkok, Colombo and Sharjah. Being one of the oldest living cities of the world, Varanasi is held in high esteem by the Hindu devotees from all over the world. Varanasi gets its name from the two rivers, Varuna and Asi, a small stream near Assi Ghat. It is believed to be one of the seven holy cities or Sapt Puri – that can bring you Moksha. This makes it the pulse of the Hindu Universe.

This unique city has a wide acceptance for people from all walks of life, all parts of the world and creatures big and small. This city awakes at the crack of dawn. The prayers, chants, rituals and habits that are branded into the Hindu ideology are ingrained into the daily life of the people here.  Bathing, washing clothes, giving offerings, going for long walks, meditation or chanting all echoes in the early morning sky.