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The city of Varanasi is situated along the west bank of the Ganges in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Called Benaras by the British, Varanasi is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. The city finds mention in the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was a flourishing trade center when Buddha came to Sarnath, about 10 kilometres away, to preach his first sermon in 500 BC. The renowned American novelist Mark Twain once wrote, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
Right from the ancient times, Varanasi has stood as a symbol of Hindu renaissance and preserved the rituals and traditions of Hindu philosophy. Down the ages, pilgrims from distant lands have come to Varanasi in search of divine blessings.
Temples form the major source of attraction in this ancient city. The banks of the Ganges, considered to be a sacred river by the Hindus, are the centre of much of the religious activity that occurs in the city. The ghats built along the banks of the river for such religious activity also form a major source of attraction here. The Alamgir Mosque is a blend of the Hindu and Mughal styles of the architecture. The Durga Temple is built in the North Indian style with an ornate shikhara, consisting of five segments symbolizing the elements and supported by finely carved columns. The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas, was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata Temple houses, instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief map in marble of the whole of Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau. The Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964, is dedicated to Lord Rama. The Banaras Hindu University, built in 1917, is one of the oldest educational centres in India. The Archaeological Museum, located at Sarnath, houses the capitol from the Ashokan pillar besides the figures and the sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushana and Gupta periods.
Excursions around Varanasi get you further acquainted with the mystic religion of Hinduism besides presenting an insight into the Buddhism. Sarnath is a major Buddhist centre about 10 kilometres north east of Varanasi. It was here that Buddha preached his message of the 'middle way' in order to achieve nirvana. Bodhgaya, located in Bihar, is the place where Buddha is supposed to have attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. Allahabad is one of India's holiest cities and the site of the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years. Kushinagar is a place famous for the Mahaparinirvana (death) of Lord Buddha. The 17th-century Ramnagar Fort was the home of the former Maharaja of Benaras.
The festive magic never ends in Varanasi. If Poornima cleanses, Maha Shivratri blesses. If Holika-Dahan is a celebration, Dhrupad Mela is a revelation…. One does not require making his itinerary according to the dates and months of the festivals. One can come and enjoy the festive season anytime of the year here.
History:
Almost midway in its long journey from the slopes of the mighty Himalayas to the inflamed shore of Bay of Bengal, the muddy waters of the Ganges flow by a city that is five centuries older than Christ. The city finds mention in the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was already an old city when Rome was founded, and was a flourishing center of trade when Buddha came to Sarnath, some 10 km away, to preach his first sermon in 500 BC. It is a city of temples and for more than 2,500 years, it has attracted pilgrims from near and far. According to Hindu belief, Benaras or Varanasi as it is known, is the cosmic center of the Universe. The renowned American novelist Mark Twain once wrote, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
Down the ages, Varanasi has stood as a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Swathed in an aura of history, religion, and tradition, Varanasi preserved the rituals and traditions of Hindu philosophy. From a time stretching beyond human memory, pilgrims from distant lands have come to Varanasi in search of divine blessings.
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