Varanasi: A Temple Pilgrimage for Every Religion

Retreat to Varanasi and immerse yourself in the spiritual and political history of this ancient city, which is one of India's favorite destinations.

Varanasi is one of those places where you can find a perfect balance of ancient and modern civilization, and it should be a top priority for your next best holiday packages in India itinerary.

Varanasi's History (Kashi)

Varanasi appears in the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as the Buddhist Jataka stories. During the second millennium BC, Varanasi was the seat of the Aryan civilization and an important center of trade and commerce. During the sixth century BC, Varanasi was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi. Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath, just 10 kilometres from Varanasi. The famous Chinese traveller Xuan Zang, who visited Varanasi in 635 BC, attested to Varanasi's glory and prosperity.

Varanasi's prosperity dwindled during Mughal rule but was restored by the Marathas. It remained a religious and commercial center during British rule. The city's eventful history can be seen in Varanasi's various ghats.

Varanasi today

We associate Varanasi with ghats, Banarasi silk sarees, temples, and food. However, Varanasi has grown significantly during Modi's five-year reign; after all, it is his constituency.

For the first time in Varanasi, our Prime Minister Modi inaugurated India's first multi-modal terminal on the Ganga, Ring Roads, Rail Overbridges, and, of course, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which has made the Ghats of Varanasi even more beautiful. Beautiful. created. Furthermore, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital has been established.

Places to visit:

Temple of Kashi Vishwanath

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, located on the west bank of the sacred Ganges River, is considered one of India's divine temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of Lord Shiva's twelve Jyotirlingas. According to Shaivism, the Kashi Vishwanath temple has long been a focal point of worship.

Throughout history, the temple has been demolished and rebuilt numerous times. Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, destroyed the last structure. Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Maratha ruler of Indore, built the current structure in 1780.

A visit to the temple and a bath in the Ganges is thought to put a person on the path to salvation (liberation). As a result, Hindus from all over the world, as well as people of other

religions who have little interest in spirituality, prioritize these places when looking for a Cultural destination in India and try to visit these places at least once in their lives. Kashi Naresh (King of Kashi) visits the temple for worship during special festivals such as Shivratri.

It attracts approximately 3,000 devotees per day because it is one of Varanasi's most famous temples. The Kaal Bhairav, Virupaksha Gauri, Avimukteshwar, Vishu, and Vinayaka temples surround the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Hanuman, was founded in the early 16th century by the famous Hindu preacher and poet-saint Sri Goswami Tulsidas.

It is believed that anyone who visits the temple and prays with dedication will have his worries removed by Lord Hanuman, the remover of worries. Every Tuesday and Saturday, the temple is packed with devotees.

Annapurna Devi Temple

Maa Annapurna Temple is one of Varanasi's most well-known Hindu temples. Annapurna Dei is thought to be a manifestation (avatar) of Goddess Parvati. He is revered as the source of nutrition and food.

The goddess is represented by two idols, one made of gold and the other of brass, in the temple. The bronze statue is visible every day of the year. On the other hand, you must plan your trip to see the gold idol on Annakoot, which is a day before Diwali.

Temple of Kaal Bhairav

The Kaal Bhairav Temple is an ancient temple in Varanasi that depicts Lord Shiva in his aggressive form. The Kaal Bhairav Temple in Visheshar Ganj is only 10 minutes away from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

It is believed that Kaal Bhairav is the city's patron, and permission from the idol is required before leaving the city.

Temple of Durga Kund

Durga Kund Temple honors Goddess Durga and is located next to a rectangular pond (kund). Rani Bhabani of Natore built the Durga Kund Temple in the 18th century. It is believed that the current goddess symbol has manifested itself in the temple. The Durga Kund temple is built in the well-known Nagara style.

Visit Varanasi's Ghats.

In Varanasi, there are over 70 Ghats! Ghats are riverside steps that lead to the Ganges' banks. But Varanasi's Ghats are unlike any other Ghats. They are history in their own right. The massive structures of the Ghats reveal much about the history of this region.

Varanasi's most important and well-known ghat is Dashashwamedh Ghat. It is the busiest, and you will always see a large number of people there taking a holy bath, shaving their heads, or performing puja. One of the main draws of this ghat is the evening aarti.

The Assi Ghat, located at the southern end, is less congested but equally important. This location is primarily visited and inhabited by long-term students, researchers, and international students. The morning aarti at Assi Ghat is spectacular.

Cremation takes place in two places: Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat. At any time of the day, you can see the pyre burning here.

Participate in the Ganga Aarti

One of the most spectacular sights in Varanasi is Ganga Aarti. We'd seen the aarti before in Haridwar. Both Dashashwamedh Ghat and Rajendra Prasad Ghat hold evening Ganga Aarti. At Assi Ghat, morning aarti is performed. The evening aarti begins around 6:30 p.m. It lasts 45 minutes. The morning aarti begins around 5:45 a.m.

The aarti can be seen by booking special seats or taking a boat ride. Even if you don't, the aarti will be visible from the ghat. Believe me, Ganga Aarti is quite impressive.

I hope the above article has inspired you to visit Varanasi. I assure you that you will be pleased to be here. You can have a pleasant, comfortable, and stress-free India trip by choosing Epiconic Travel Company, a trusted company in India for the best cultural trips in India.