Mornings begin with the melodious chime of temple bells as dawn settles into day; evenings fade into nights at the banks of Ganga, with spectacular aartis as the priests chant in unison. A day in Varanasi, and you wouldn't wonder why it is considered to be India's most spiritual city. To the unaccustomed, this city is a riot of vibrant colors and blaring sounds, swarming with an unrelenting mass of people all around. But as you stroll along the enormous ghats or find your way around the tiny back alleys, the chaos will slowly settle in and this ancient city will charm you. Brimming with color and etched in tradition, Varanasi has a lively spirit that is in equal parts overwhelming and captivating.
Said to be one of the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi or Banaras as it was formerly known, is a brilliant mesh of history, culture, and religion. From Kabir Das' soulful poetry to the mellifluous rhythms of Pandit Ravi Shankar's sitar, all find a home in Varanasi. Hidden among its narrow galis and numerous temples is the beautiful soul of this endearing city.
With all its noise and bustle, Varanasi can get a bit tiring for travelers. You can take in the city in at your own pace as you row down the deep waters of Ganga, away from the crowds gathered at the banks. On the other hand, the soulful and rhythmic aartis in temples thronged by thousands, and cleansing rituals at the Ganga ghats are not to be missed either. Often called the 'City of Gods', Varanasi is the ideal spiritual getaway.
Considered one of the holiest cities in the world according to Hindu tradition, Varanasi is alive with light and color during the celebrations of major festivals such as Diwali and Holi. The city provides a delightful experience during these festive periods. While you're at it, give your taste buds a treat with the mouth-watering yogurt drink lassi, or the delicious sweet malaiyo. At the corner of almost every street in Varanasi, you will find stalls of the popular paan, which is a mix of marvelous condiments wrapped in betel leaves. Fine muslins and silks are a specialty of the city and the famous ‘Banarsi Saree’ makes for a great souvenir or keepsake of your visit. Apart from the ghats and temples, Varanasi also offers a slice of history with the majestic Ramanagar Fort.
Simply put, Varanasi is an adventure ride with a hoard of experiences unfolding with every step you take.
With the seemingly unending maze of its narrow streets and tiny alleys, getting around in Varanasi can get perplexing. But the city has the perfect solution to this problem in the form of cycle-drawn rickshaws. Driven by locals familiar with every nook and cranny, a ride in a cycle-rickshaw is the best way to drive through Varanasi's galis. Buses and auto-rickshaws are convenient travel options for longer distances.
On a daily basis there are approximately 33 flights that operate at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport.Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Varanasi through train.Varanasi Jn, Varanasi City, Kashiare some of the most popular train stations in Varanasi.On an average about 200+ trains pass through Varanasi on a daily basis.Lucknow to Varanasi, Mughalsarai to Varanasi, Moradabad to Varanasiare some of the most popular routes to Varanasi with 185, 144, 139 trains weekly respectively.
By road Varanasi is surrounded by Mughalsarai, Chunar, Bhadohi which are 8.92 km, 13.55 km, 25.54 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Varanasi has a total of 103 hotels.There are 103 hotels in Varanasi with the popular ones being The Taj Gateway Hotel Ganges, Radisson Hotel Varanasi, Rashmi Guest House, Hotel Surya, Ramada Plaza JHV, Palace On Ganges etc.
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