My first Solo Trip to VARANASI !

Tripoto
1st Aug 2019
Photo of My first Solo Trip to VARANASI ! by Urgan spaldon

Varanasi is one of the main tourist attraction in India.  Also known as " Kashi ", it  is popular among the locals as the Spiritual City or the salvation city. Varanasi is situated on the bank of river Ganga , which is a sacred river.  Hindus bath in there / Holy dip to wash away their sins and also performs rituals and funeral rites. It has numbers of ghats ( steps leading to the banks ) of Ganga , which witness huge numbers of visitors everyday. Manikarnika Ghat is specifically known for cremation , dead bodies keeps burning there for 24hours. I saw them burning and a shiver ran down through my spine . Ganga Aarti held on the Ghats daily in the evening which brings crowd of people together .  Varanasi is also known for having many  temples , some being very famous. It is also home to the largest Residential campus in the whole Asia , known as BHU ( Banaras Hindu University ).
I took my first solo trip to varanasi and it turned out to be one of the best trip ever .

Day 1

I was super excited as it was my first solo trip . I boarded the train from New Delhi Railway station . Actually it was a budget backpacking trip and I wanted to book a sleeper non AC ticket but my friends told me UP is not safe to travel in Sleeper alone for a girl and I booked the 3rd tier Ac which cost me double price but the myth turned out to be false. It was very safe even for a solo female traveler. I met many friendly faces, they guided me with the routes and places to visit.

Day 2

By morning I reached Manduadhi Railway station and I  headed to Hog Hostel ( Home of Gypsy). My Google Maps lost its way through the narrow lanes of Varanasi which were painted with Red stain of Paan.  An uncle came to my  rescue and I offered him to buy paan which he denied .I have always preferred staying in Hostels than Hotels because first the bunk beds are affordable ( I paid 199 per night including breakfast ) and Unlike hotel's private space , hostels offers you a Common Space to  connect with travellers around the Globe.
I set off on my first tour of the day towards the Ghats . I preferred walking wherever possible as a beginner , new in town , it offers a better vision of the place. 

Enroute ! The girl on the train.

Photo of HOG Varanasi Hostel, Nai Sarak, Purana Pandariba, Near Hanuman Mandir, Nai Sarak, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

My stay in Varanasi

Photo of HOG Varanasi Hostel, Nai Sarak, Purana Pandariba, Near Hanuman Mandir, Nai Sarak, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Books

Photo of HOG Varanasi Hostel, Nai Sarak, Purana Pandariba, Near Hanuman Mandir, Nai Sarak, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Bunk beds Rs 199 per night

Photo of HOG Varanasi Hostel, Nai Sarak, Purana Pandariba, Near Hanuman Mandir, Nai Sarak, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

My partner for the journey

Photo of HOG Varanasi Hostel, Nai Sarak, Purana Pandariba, Near Hanuman Mandir, Nai Sarak, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Adjacent to Dashwametghat there is an observatory by the name Man Singh Mandir  , this fort perfectly gave me a glimpse of Varanasi with it's art galleries , movie  screening about orgin of river Ganga, and an  observatory on the terrace from the times of Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur. From the terrace , we  can have look at the  majestic view of River Ganga. It started raining abruptly and I sheltered myself for an hour in the fort and made some local girlfriends who were very sweet and they invite me to join them for the rest of the evening and I said a " Big Yes " .

On the way to Ghats , spotted this platoon

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

A pretty yellow church in the middle of Bazaar

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Your's truly is left amazed by the architecture of the fort .

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

The observatory used for calculations of time and weather . From the times of Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

The salvation city , funeral Rites of MANIKARNIKA Ghats.

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

It started Raining and your's truly is enjoying the Rain and Shamelessly stopped visitors to take a photo .

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Trying some selfies which I am very bad at.

Photo of Man Singh Observatory, Observatory, Man मंदिर ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Observatory, Man mandir, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Your's truly is Drenched as it started Raining abruptly

Photo of My first Solo Trip to VARANASI ! by Urgan spaldon

Post Rain,  we strolled on the ghat for a while and drank tea in the lovely weather.  My local friends hunted the right price Boat as my bargaining skill sucks and in places like Varanasi my Mongoloid feature acts as a prey for them . So we sail off in a huge boat of around 15 people , our boat bhaiya started narrating us stories about different Ghats , one that I liked was the story about King Harish Chandra who once worked at the  cremation ground for the perseverance of Truth and Charity.  It is one of the two cremation Ghats of Varanasi , the other being Manikarnika Ghat. I saw dead Bodies burning, they told me it keeps burning for 24/7 as Hindus Performs the last rites here to seek Salvation " Moksha". I got goosebumps as we passed by  the Manikarnika Ghat.  By the fall of the evening , the city looks beautiful and we were in the boat ready for Ganga Aarti to begin.  Ganga Aarti brings together lot of visitors around the globe , Hindus offers prayer by sending lighted lamp in the river. I also noticed a huge ship behind our boat with some foriegners on the deck.  By the time Ganga Aarti finished it was 8:30 pm , even after a late dinner the streets were storming with people returning back to thier homes.  It was a like broad daylight at 9:30 pm and for a solo female traveler I completely felt safe and secure in UP. 
The night was followed by some good music on the hostel's terrace with some amazing backpackers around the globe.  Listening to their Travel stories, I felt how tiny is me and my problems are and the world stretch beyond infinity.

Post Rain scene !

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Prayers to Ganga Mata

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Platoon

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Solo travel selfie

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Ghats

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Sailing

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Boating

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Let me pose

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Ghats in the evening

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Manikarnika Ghats with dead Bodies burning !!

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

This ship came to visit Ganga Arti

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

My dinner thali

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Away from the Chaos

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

I made some local friends .

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

This is my messy face after being drenched in Rain

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Lemme pose on the boat

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

A Happy Traveller

Photo of Dashashwamegh ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Day 3

Varanasi is home for Asia's largest Residential University , with around 30,000 students residing in Banaras Hindu University . I went there to attend a  counseling session which last upto lunch time and afterwards me and Loaraine ( new French friend from hostel ) , we explored the campus which was really huge.  They have a huge museum (Bharat Kala Bhavan) , which is one of the top tourist attraction in Varanasi  and a temple ( Shri Vishwanath Temple )  in the campus which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.   We were in the museum for almost 2 hours as I was guiding  Loaraine through the history, Culture and Tradition of India. After the museum we headed off to Vishwanath Temple , I being a Buddhist and Loraine being an atheist , we were left Amazed by the two storey temple . The  architecture was magnificent filled with devotees. We covered our head with scarfs and I knew the story behind Nandi Bull being the wagon/vahana of Lord Shiva , there is tradition of talking one's wish to Nandi's ears that is then beleived to be granted.
At night I took Loaraine to an Indian Restaurant and a funny incident happened.  So it was like a Dhaba kind of popular Restaurant with huge numbers of people coming in.  Three guys Sat opposite us and while we were eating silently they started speaking Broken English like I love you , girlfriend etc among themselves.  It was a very funny situation and Loaraine told me that they are talking about her and she was getting uneasy.  I spoke to the  waiter in fluent Hindi and the boys Expression dropped ! Isko toh Hindi aati Hy , then they apologized for their behaviour and we finished our dinner in peace .

The museum of Bhu

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Lorraine offering her wish in Nandi's ears.

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Headscarf is needed in Temples

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Outfit of the day .

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Colorful Markets

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

What travel has taught me to Respect other Relegion and Culture

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Golden hour

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Bhu temple

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

My wish in Nandi's ears

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Traditons

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Loraine's Clicked photos

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Candid

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Loaraine

Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Banaras Hindu University, Ajagara, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Day 4

                                                                                       My last day in Varanasi, I wanted to start the day early as I had to leave for Sarnath which is  10 km away at north east of Varanasi but then it started raining cats and dogs. As I cannot waste my day , I had to commute in the rain.  I changed two autos to reach Sarnath.  My first stop was a Tibetan Monastery and I was at peace in there.  There was no monk ( attendant) , so I had the whole place to myself. I prayed for a while , went through some pages of  a prayer book , later I practiced Circumambulation around the stupas and the monastery. Circumambulation is the act of going around a object clockwise , be it Stupa or Monastery which houses holy relics of Buddha or  Sanga Masters. In Sarnath all the tourist attractions are close to each other , I checked in the tourist center and they guided me with the routes .

Lord Buddha !

Photo of Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

At the Monastery with school kids .

Photo of Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Hey , hey the kids took this photo !

Photo of Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Sarnath is a must visit place for Buddhist as It is the home to " the deer Park " where Lord Buddha gave his first Sermon/ Dhamma to his first five disciple.  I went to the Deer Park which they have converted into a mini zoo . I spotted some deer , ducks and birds. Adjacent to Mulangandhi  kuti  monastery , there was the Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. In front of the Bodhi tree ,there  was a statue of Lord Buddha and his disciples.

The forced smile though * Mulagandhi kuti vihar at the back.

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Oh ! Solo selfies

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

So I stopped passing by folks for a picture ..Lol.

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Deer in Deer park .

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Zoo members

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Back of Mulagandhi Kuti Vihar

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Bodhi tree at the back!

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Bodhi tree

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Interior of Mulagandhi Kuti

Photo of Deer Park, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Archeological Survey of India ( ASI ) have maintained the archeological excavation of colossal ruins and huge numbers of carved pillars dating back to Ashokan dynasty.  Dhamek stupa is also located in the same compound which mark the spot where the sermon took place.

ASI on work !

Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Selfie series continues.

Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon
Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Ashokan Pillars

Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Dhamek stupa

Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Dhamek stupa at the back

Photo of Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Archeological musuem of Sarnath houses our National Emblem , the Ashokan Pillar from 3rd Century with it's four headed lion. The national emblem of India , showing the horse on the left and bull at the right of Ashokan Chakra in circular base on which the four_headed lion is standing . Also this museum is home to more than 6000 excavated sculptures and Artefacts.  Sadly no electronics were  allowed inside. 

Thai temple with it's impressive architecture was very attractive. Statues of lord Buddha was seated inside and outside which was 80 mt standing Buddha.

Thai temple

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

80 mt standing Buddha

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Ok ! Strangers clicked ugly picture 3rd

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Thai temple complex

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Okay. This is me trying to be aesthetic .

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Lotus flowers. Padma

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Ok ! Wanna be selfie with the Lord himself

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Lord Buddha

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Inside Thai temple

Photo of Wat Thai Sarnath Temple, Rishpattan Road, Near Sarnath Museum, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Sarnath being one of the important must visit sacred place for Buddhists around the globe , it is home to many diverse temples like Tibetan , Thai, Chinese , Japanese and Jain.
Inside the Japanese temple , lord Buddha statue was in reclining position indicating Mahaparinirvana.

Japanese temple

Photo of Japanese Temple, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Inside the Jain temple , Lord Buddha !

Photo of Japanese Temple, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Chinese temple

Photo of Japanese Temple, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

A monk offering evening prayer

Photo of Japanese Temple, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

Inside Chinese temple

Photo of Japanese Temple, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India by Urgan spaldon

By evening it started raining again , after a long day I dinned alone and charged my phone which almost died by the end of the day . Travelling alone demands your phone to be on all the time , you might fall in any kind of emergency. I headed off to Railway station and boarded my train back to Delhi . This trip was my first solo ever and I had the best time , met so many happy faces, learnt a lot , faced unique experiences and moreover I spent time with myself.  Looking forward for more solo trips. Until then take care.  Good bye.

On my way back to Delhi

Photo of My first Solo Trip to VARANASI ! by Urgan spaldon

Hello Delhi , New Delhi railway station.

Photo of My first Solo Trip to VARANASI ! by Urgan spaldon