A trip down the cultural lane..

Paan stained walls, Ganga swarmed with waste, boundless bribes, polluted streets, snobbish locals, sluggish political parties – were my first thoughts of Banaras/Varanasi. Thanks to Bollywood for painting this picture for me. It’s rightly said: Travel brings a fresh perspective. After having toured the city, the pleasant experiences blew away all the cobwebs.

In fact, the array of incidents compelling us to improve our outlook started off from the airport itself. As a general practice, you’d want to tip the porters for carrying your heavy multi-pieced luggage, isn’t it? To our surprise, they happily refused. Even more impressive was how this trend continued at all the tourist places in and around Banaras!

Such is the generosity that …yahan ke log gaali bhi itne pyaar se dete hai. It’s more like a way of life for them!

What followed was the extra-ordinary hospitality by the staff of Ramada. While the North is already famous for its “Khatirdaari”, this imposing warmth surpassed all our expectations. The chef recommendations and their signature “Bamboo Biryani” (yes, literally cooked in a bamboo vessel) left us awestruck by such exemplary culinary skills.

After a sumptuous lunch, we set off for darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Despite being destroyed and rebuilt time and again by different rulers, this temple continues to retain its original sanctity. Coincidentally, we visited Kashi on the holy day of Maha Shivratri. It is said to rain every year on this day and, is believed to be the most populous time of the year. Bhajans resonating through the streets, passersby chanting hymns, locals absorbed in selling mithais, chaats and idols, took me back to one of those scenic movies set in the rustic north side.

Be it the Bhairavnath temple or the Sankat Mochan temple, the feel continues throughout the city. Well, Varanasi is called the city of temples for a reason!

The next day was reserved for Sarnath. Located at the confluence of the Ganga and Varuna River, this spot is famous for being the first place where Lord Buddha preached after gaining enlightenment. Oh, when at this place, do not miss the appetizing road side Paani Puris. The other local chaats can be given a miss, found them a bit overrated. Probably, Mumbai street food seldom makes you crave outside delicacies!

Then came the highlight of the trip – the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti! It was always a dream to watch it live, having fancied about it since so many years. At last, there we were! At the very ghat, lighting diyas and soaking in, in the sacred air. It was way more enthralling than I imagined and so well-coordinated for an action of this magnitude. Unlike the Indian “Janta”, the foreigners were all decked in life jackets and, it was fascinating to see them follow the rituals so enthusiastically.

Not to forget the panoramic sunset at dusk as we sailed serenely through the Ganga to reach Dashashwamedh Ghat – the Aarti spot. It was such a visual delight. Another experience ticked off the bucket list, I’d say!

After visiting the major landmarks, we spent the remaining time discovering the city, its life and culture!

The haphazard roads and traffic sense of Banaras is worth a mention. Just take a handful of noodles and drop them from the air, random isn’t it? But, that’s exactly how desultory the roadways are. Having said that, I was glad to see the locals being so appreciative of what their city has to offer. The optimism towards their political leaders and constant acknowledgment of the leaders’ small, but potent efforts, gave very inspiring vibes. A much needed spirit.

A visit to a traditional city is incomplete without a halt at the shopping boutiques. As a piece of advice, make sure to clarify to all the vendors that you’re an “Indian tourist”. There is a wide difference between the prices for local and foreign tourists. This observation was actually followed by an equally poised debate within my family on the ethicality of the practice. What’s your take?

So, instead of behaving like one of those avant-garde English speaking urbanites, be as local as you can!

With all these indelible memories and experiences, the long overdue trip eventually came to an end. Varanasi definitely deserves a visit once in a lifetime!