VARANASI
PLACES TO VISIT 
The antiquity of Varanasi is veiled
in immortal time. An 'eternal' city, it abounds with a rich and vibrant
past.Varanasi is another holy dot on the life giving Mother Ganges.
As a religious centre, it is beyond compare. It is one of the foremost
'tirthas' (place of pilgrimage) Varanasi, as the legend goes was created
by Shiva, the cosmic lord. It figures prominently in the epic Mahabharat.
Puranic literature dates its existence to at least three millennia.
Varanasi has been a great centre for learning and civilization and
is sacred to the Hindus. It has an endearing universal mystique which
has to be experienced to be understood. Varanasi's original name Kashi,
is said to have been derived from the word 'Kasha' .meaning bright
which defines its significance as the' city of light' or its spiritual
luminance. The present name is believed to be a combination of Varuna
and Asi, the two rivers on its northern and southern periphery. Benaras,
as it is popularly known, is only a corruption of the name by an ever
changing culture. But such is the invigorating strength of the holy
waters of the Ganges, that Varanasi refused to die. However, Varanasi
is most reputed for its silk brocade sarees and carpets. The Benarasi
saree is more than a garment, it is sheer poetry in five yards of
silk that comes to life with zari brocading in gold and silver and
fine metal wires. There is no Indian attraction like Varanasi. There
are no architectural splendours, no exquisitely carved palaces or
impregnable forts, and yet the city has an inherent charm. Situated
on the west bank of the Ganges, it extends back from the riverbank
ghats to a winding maze of picturesque alleys overlooking tall houses
alongside, dotted with temple It is a fascinating area to wanc around.Varanasi
today, is also a centre of education, art and craft. The city has
given birth to many academicians, musicians and artists of world acclaim.
As a centre of art and craft it has a vast repertoire, right from
silver,brass, copper artifacts to perfumeries and trinkets.
Alamgir Mosque
It was built by Aurangzeb and is a
curious Hindu/Muslim mixture.
Bharat Mata Temple 
Dedicated to 'Mother India', this
temple has a marble relief map of India. It gives an excellent impression
of the high isolation of the Tibetan plateau. The temple was opened
by Mahatma Gandhi.
Ram Nagar Fort and Museum
This 17th century fort is the home
of the Maharaja of Benares. The interesting museum contains old
silver and brocade palanquins for the ladies of the court, elephant
howdahs made of silver,old brocades and an armoury of swords and
old guns.
The Ghats
Many a story has been told of the
Ghats of Varanasi. Quite an amazing experience as you either walk
along or brave the waters. This is the real Varanasi, with its godmen
in saffron, the echoes of the shlokas, bathing pilgrims with prayers
on their chilled and stuttering lips, the shoreline with flames
lapping up towards the sky where the dead are sent to heaven - a
thousand sights and smells assault and overwhelm you. The more famous
of the Ghats are the Dasashwamedha, Manikarnika, Assi, Panch Ganga
and Harishchandra Ghats.
Vishwanath Temple
With the only constraint being that
only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, the Vishwanath Temple
was built in 1777, by Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. Aurangzeb's destruction
of the temple and the rebuilding of it on the same site gives its
history value and the temple has been the principal Shiva Temple
in Varanasi for more than a thousand years. Known as the 'Golden
Temple', because of the 800 kgs of gold, which adorns its shikharas,
the roof was gold-plated by the blessing of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
in 1835. In the inner sanctum, the shivling is enshrined atop a
golden altar.
Gyan Kup
Said to date back to well before the
birth of the Ganges, Gyan Kup literally translates into the 'Well
of Knowledge and Wisdom'. The kup is conveniently situated next
to the main temple and the water from the well is believed to 'indicate
the highest spiritual illumination'
Gyanvapi Mosque
In an act that was typical of its
eccentric and destructive builder Aurangzeb, this great mosque was
built with materials salvaged from plundered Hindu temples. The
monument is an architectural wonder, with minarets, which are 71
m in height. It is only the rear portions of the mosque that give
away its Hindu origins.
Benares Hindu University
The BHU, as it is popularly known,
was founded in 1917 by well-known nationalist Pt Malviya. The largest
residential university in India, it houses an excellent Sanskrit
School as also a museum within its campus, the Bharat Kala Bhavan
Museum. The Museum has an amazing collection of old manuscripts,
ancient sculptures and paintings. |
