The City - Varanasi

Varanasi - The Religious capital. A place where we find lots of temples, thousands of devotees and many ghats each having its own significance. My long lasting wish to be at Kumbhmela just didn't happen. So, I took out some time out in August to be in Varanasi. An important thing in my wish list is to spend my early mornings at ghats watching the waters and its shades as the Sun rose and a boat ride. With all the things ready in mind booked my tickets ahead of time and managed rest of the things.

Map of city Varanasi - River Ganges flowing touching the city. 

Main Junction on Luxa Road

But Unfortunately, just a week before, news busted that the holy river Ganges is flooding. As the days come closer for my trip I hoped that floods will go down but to my dismay news remained unchanged and boat rides were also cancelled. Feeling Determined, I did not change my mind. :D With the same determination, I boarded the train from Hyderabad and travelled for 28 hours to reach the city in the evening. I was very happy initially to see good sunlight but realised later that it is terribly hot.

After a quick break I am on the busy streets of Varanasi understanding the routes, busy junctions, watching locales, having lassi, long walks crossing cows and dogs. ( Together they are equally populated as people in Varanasi :)) High security every where.

High security everywhere     

Roads the lead to temple and ghats are quite small, laid by stones, occupied on either side with enthusiastic entrepreneurs selling goods, food and offerings to God. Not forgetting Sadhus in saffron clothes chanting some mantras and few of them playing pungi to cobra.

My visit to Ghats.
I am truly happy for the floods.(Please don't take it otherwise. I only meant to say, we know how bad the ghats of Varanasi are maintained. And these water levels cleaned them and gave a pleasant appearance.) As the waters levels raised, it cleaned the ghats and the water is clean.

Kedar Ghat: Ghat named after Kedareshwar temple located on the ghat. Hundreds of people doing different rituals, dips and prayers. Of course I too had a dip and some fun in the waters. Few men we seriously swimming deep into waters and coming back. Just got curious and observed them for a while and understood that they were collecting coins (money) people offered to the river. Finally after an hour they filled few covers with lots of coins and went away. When I sat on the steps before the temple enjoying the breeze, a women started shouting at the tourists on my left. She is collecting money people offered to Shiva linga's and scolding people to offer money to the Shiva linga's which were placed on the steps of the ghats. This reminded me of Oh My God movie :)

Manikarnika Ghat: Ghat said it was built by Lord Vishnu and 40 to 50 cremations happen here round the clock. As it is said that it is good to get a dip at noon in this ghat we are there at noon. This ghat had its own beauty of few temples drowned into Ganges and could see only the temple top architectures. Also we can notice huge piles of logs and wood around that ghat which are used for cremations. The ashes from this ghat were picked every morning for Shiva aarti. Interesting!

Temple drowned in water

Cremation taking place

Cremation - closer view

Tulsi Ghat: Ghat famous for giving good health and also place where Tulsidas spent some of his life time. Most wonderful place I felt after Vishwanth's temple is Tulsi Ghat. As said my wish is to spend early hours in ghat. I loved this place for that.

One km from there is Tulsi Manas Mandir where tulsidas lived and wrote Sri Ramacharitams. Its a beautiful place. And two km from there is Sankata Mochana Hanuman temple - one of the famous Hanuman temples. It is another must see in Varanasi. Another couple of kilometers we were in BHU - Benaras Hindu University. Visited the Birla temple inside it but missed the museum as it was August 15th. And yes, I am delighted to see tri colored flags on almost every vehicles, pan shops and few people greeting each other 'sare jaha se acha' Tri colored baloons flying everywhere. Took many pictures inside BHU. For more pictures check out my Facebook album and Flickr

MAP of BHU

The famous cyber central library

Birla Temple inside BHU built similar to main Vishwanath temple in Varanasi

Man Behind BHU - Statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

My other visits are one of the two Kala Bhirava temples located inside the city, Dashwamedha Ghat, few other temples. I missed boat ride, as they were cancelled due to floods.

Nevertheless to say the wonderful part of my trip is the journey in Indian railways on the way back crossing green farms, small streams flowing down the hills and much more fun.