Varanasi tour and travel : City of LORD SHIVA

Varanasi is a famous city in the world. It is known as the city of lord shiva. Varanasi and Kashi attract the tourism in all over world. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements.varanasi is famous for the river ganges ghats and hindu religious temples.There are over 100 ghats in Varanasi that line the western bank of the River Ganges.The Ganga is the hub of life in Varanasi. The holiest of cities, Varanasi is known as the city of light, but is really the city of death. Believed to have been founded by the Hindu goddess Shiva, the city is a mecca for those seeking religious enlightenment.



Atterection of the city:

ghats:
Dasasvamedha Ghat: Dasaswamedh literally means the Ghat (river front) of ten sacrificed horses. According to legends ten horses were sacrificed by Lord Brahma to allow Lord Shiva to return from a period of banishment. it presents the clorful views of the river.

Manikarnika Ghat: Lying at the center of the five tirthas, Manikarnika Ghat symbolizes both creation and destruction. At Manikarnika Ghat, the mortal remains are consigned to flames with the prayers that the souls rest in eternal peace. Since Shiva is said to have resided in Varanasi, the entire holy area is considered Mahashmashana (great cremation ground). It is said that the funeral fires never die at the Manikarnika ghat.

Harishchandra Ghat: Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the two cremation Ghats (the other being Manikarnika Ghat) and is some times referred as Adi Manikarnika (the original creation ground). Hindus from distant places bring the dead bodies of their near and dear ones to the Harish Chandra Ghat for cremation. In Hindu mythology it is believed that if a person is cremated at the Harish Chandra Ghat, that person gets salvation or "moksha".


Panch-Ganga Ghat : The Ganga, the Yamuna, the Sarsvati the Kirana and the Dhupapapa, among which only the first one is visible and rest are vanished, or assumed in the form of manifestation. The merit and glory of this ghat are described in an eleventh century text and also in the KKh (59;116-144). This was the chief resort of a great teacher of Vadanta, Ramananda ) to whom Kabira a great reformist bhakit poet, accepted as guru. Ramananda's monastery is still there.

Assi Ghat: There are numerous references of Assi Ghat in early literature of the Hindus. We find the mention of Assi Ghat in matsya purana, Agni purana, kurma purana, padma purana and kashi khanda.

Tulsi Ghat: Tulsi Ghat was known as Lolark Ghat (mentioned in Gaharwa Danpatra and Girvanapadamanjari). It was in the year 1941 when Tulsi Ghat was made pucca (cemented) by the famous industrialist, Baldeo Das Birla.Tulsi ghat, dedicated to the 16th century poet saint Tulsidas is crumbling.

Temples:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Annapurna temple

Bharat Mata temple

Tulsi Manas temple

Durga temple

Festivals of Varanasi

Kartik Purnima

Panch Koshi Parikrama

Mahashivratri

Buddha Purnima

Bharat Milap




Banaras Hindu University: Famous for Hindu Shastras and Sanskrit literature as means of preserving and popularizing the best thought and culture of the Hindus and all that was good and great in the ancient civilization of India.

Sarnath: After the Bouddha attanined enlightenment in Bodh Gaya he came to sarnath. Here in the Deer Park, he delivered his first sermon, or in religious language, set in motion the wheel of Law.

Getting There

By Air
Varanasi is connected by air with major cities like Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhubaneshwar.
India Airlines,
Jet Airways,
Air Sahara and
Air Deccan connect Varanasi
The airport is at Babatpur , 23 km from the city centre and is about 30 km from the ghats.


By Rail
Varanasi Cantt. is the main railway station of the city. Varanasi is linked to all major cities of the country and is the focal point for the Northern and North-Eastern Railways in India. From Delhi, Kashi-Vishwanath Express(18 hours) is most convenient train to reach Varanasi.



By Road

Varanasi is situated at the junction of three national highways -NH2 from Kolkata to Delhi, NH 7 to Kanyakumari and Nh29 to Gorakhpur and undoubtedly it is one of the busiest roads of India.