Banaras, currently known as varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
And various ghats.
Last year through a cleaning drive, i got to visit banaras for 4 days with 10 complete strangers.
And what fun 5 days!
Starting from the very amazing stay at the house of gypsy to Ganga arti and banarasi pan.. Everything was just perfect.
If you're travelling in a group with your friends and looking out for some great stay in your budget, do try " house of gypsy", this complete hostel with library inside and a terrace with kitchen is perfect for group gossips!
And it is very near to the very famous dasaswamedh ghat.
Jump to Ganga aarti · Ganga Aarti (ritual of offering prayer to the Ganges river) is held daily at dusk. Several priests perform this ritual by carrying deepam and moving it up and down in a rhythmic tune of bhajans.Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.
The Ganga Aarti starts soon after sunset and lasts for about 45 minutes. In summer the Aarti begins at about 7pm due to late sunsets and in winter it starts at around 6pm. Hundreds of people gather at the ghat every evening to watch the event.
Except for Ganga arti and temples banaras is also famous for it's street food and pan.
So, i urge you to stop finding extravagant restaurants and go for decent street food,trust me you won't regret it.
Dear banaras
You're way more than the Ganga and the ghats! You are an emotion which finds home in the heart of people who residing in you. You're the sound of different mantras which echo all over the gullies to wake people up before their alarm clocks. You're the beauty of walking through unknown streets which all feel like home. You're the smell of kachori-sabji which tickles our nostrils every morning, you've music in your mornings, marvelous taste in your afternoons and peace in your evenings.
The beginning of an eternity.
Banaras, a city later a muse first ❤️
