The city of Varanasi is located in northern India in the state of Uttar Predash. This city has a sacred meaning for Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists. The city is located on the banks of the Ganges River, which is considered sacred to the people of India.
Varanasi is the most ancient city on Earth, in which people still live. According to Hindu beliefs from the place where the city is located, the creation of the universe began. Varanasi is a place where the physical and spiritual worlds are closely intertwined. Here rituals of life and death are performed right in front of passersby.
Varanasi How to get there?
The easiest and fastest way to get to Varanasi is by plane. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport accepts regular flights from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Canada and the United States. If there are no direct flights from your city, then you can get to Varanasi with a transfer in Delhi. From here you can reach the city by plane, train or bus.
Varanasi Airport is only 25 km from the city, and you can get to the center by taxi or shuttle.
Urban transport in Varanasi is presented in the form of buses and rickshaws.
Sights in Varanasi
Varanasi is called the City of the Dead, since life and death are intertwined here surprisingly tightly. According to the Hindus, to die here is considered a great honor and good fortune. Death in the holy city means that the endless cycle of rebirth will finally stop and the soul will fall into the best of worlds. That is why all the old and sick Hindus, when they feel the imminent death, come to Varanasi.
If a person is not fortunate enough to leave the world in the City of the Dead, relatives will bring his body here to perform ritual cremation. These funeral pyres became the main local attraction. Crematoriums are located on the ghats (steps that lead from the embankment down to the river). There are many of them in Varanasi, but Manikarnika Nhat is considered the most important. The body wrapped in a sheet is burned at the stake, and the ashes are then scattered over the Ganges.
Of great interest are the temples in Varanasi. Here they are located more than 2 thousand. There is a nightlife in Varanasi. You will find bars and clubs away from the Ganges. Drinking alcohol on the banks of the sacred river is prohibited. The best bars and discos are located in hotels far from ghat.
Other interesting places to visit include:
- Viswanath (Golden Temple)
- Temple of Durga (Monkey Temple)
- Archaeological Museum in Sarnath
- Fort Ram Nagar
- Ganges Quay
- Chowk Market
Hotels in Varanasi
Hotels in Varanasi offer a huge selection of accommodation for every taste and budget. Most tourists prefer budget guesthouses and hostels close to city attractions. There are also expensive hotels in the city, and they are located in the area behind the railway station.
