Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi is a famous tourist spot for a good many reasons. The City of Ghats has in its store history which goes back to many centuries. Tourism in Varanasi is something very obvious, also because it is a renowned pilgrimage destination. The Holy City offers a vast range of holiday and pilgrimage destinations to the travelers.
The main attractions in Varanasi which is also known as Kashi are The Ghats of Vanarasi, St. Mary’s Church, Bharat Kala Museum, Ram Nagar Durg, Benaras Hindu University, Nandeshwar Kothi etc. Apart from these, the pilgrimage destinations in Kashi are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and Durga Temple. The tour to the neighborhood of Varanasi includes Chunar, Sarnath, Jaunpur. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary are the two tourist spots which are most likely to please the adventure lovers.
Accommodation in most parts of Varanasi is highly equipped with the most updated amenities. There are all kinds of lodging options for the travelers. Starting from the tourist lodge, Varanasi has loads of mid-range and Dharmshalas which offer lodging and dining in reasonable rates Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
Fairs and Festivals are on the cards all round the year in Varanasi. To name some of these are Kartik Purnima, Buddh Purnima, Ganga Festival, Ramlila, Bharat Milap, Hanumat Jayanti, Nakkatyya, Panch Koshi Parikrama and Mahashivratri.
Ganges River
Named after the Hindu goddess Ganga, the Ganges River is one of the most revered natural sites in India. The river extends southeast from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal. Between 400 million and 600 million people rely on the Ganges River to provide water for daily bathing and drinking Varanasi Tour Packages.
Hindus come to Varanasi from all around the world to purify themselves in the holy Ganges water and perform rituals along the dozens of ghats along the river. For tourists, the river helps provide a fixed point of orientation for navigating around the city, and you’ll no doubt spend lots of time sightseeing and watching life happen around the Ganges.
Consider waking up early and taking a sunrise cruise along the river – negotiate with one of the countless boatman hanging out along the ghats Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
In the afternoon or early evening, one of the top things to do in Varanasi is purchase a small floating offering filled with fresh flowers and a candle, and release it onto the Ganges River. The blissful experience will connect you more deeply with Hindu culture and stay in your mind for years to come.
Dasaswamedh Ghat
The lively atmosphere of the Dasaswamedh Ghat makes it one of the best places to visit in Varanasi. This tourist attraction is a swirling hodgepodge of flower sellers touting bright blossoms, boat operators hawking rides along the Ganges River, and sadhus (holy men) with face paint. You can spend hours people watching in this area during the day.
Hindu priests put on the Ganga Aarti every night at the Dasaswamedh Ghat, starting at around 7pm. Donning saffron-hued robes, the priests spread out plates of flower petals and other offerings and blow a conch shell to signal the start of the spiritual ceremony. Thousands of tourists gather to watch the priests chant and wave tiered plates of sandalwood-scented incense in intricate patterns for about 45 minutes. It’s an extravagant sight and one of the top things to do here Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
Manikarnika Ghat
Plumes of smoke swirl toward the sky at Manikarnika Ghat. No, it’s not from a factory – it’s from the perpetual cremations that happen on this ghat. Hindus believe that Manikarnika Ghat is one of the most auspicious places for the departed to reach moksha (emancipation from the cycle of spiritual rebirth). The funeral pyre at this ghat burns 24/7, and dozens of cremations take place every day.
Priests or guides frequently offer to lead tourists through the fascinating ghat, however some can be aggressive in their demands for money. You may see doms (members of an untouchable caste) carrying cloth-wrapped bodies on makeshift stretchers, along with piles of firewood stacked up, ready to feed the pyre.
You may also be offered the chance to see a cremation up close – for a fee, of course. While profound, the experience is not for the faint of heart, nor is it a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. Know your limits; be respectful; and avoid taking photos of the funerals, mourners, and the departed Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Hindu pilgrims and tourists alike travel for thousands of miles to reach the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a sacred attraction around four kilometers from the Varanasi Junction railway station near the Manikarnika Ghat. The impressive structure, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, has earned the nickname “The Golden Temple” for its striking spire – plated in some 800 kilograms of pure gold. The distinctive design of this temple has gone on to inspire the architecture of hundreds of other temples across India.
Strict security measures around the complex require that tourists stash their cameras, phones, bags, and other belongings in a rentable locker nearby. Expect to ditch your shoes and wait in line with hundreds of other visitors, all eager to touch the 60-centimeter-tall, sin-absolving Shiva lingam in a silver alter. It’s an intense, yet rewarding experience Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi
Dhamek Stupa
Hinduism certainly has a stronghold on Varanasi, but Buddhism has a major presence less than 12 kilometers away in the village of Sarnath. Here, you’ll find the Dhamek Stupa, a massive stone and brick structure that’s 43.6 meters tall and 28 meters in diameter. The stupa was built more than 1,500 years ago as a replacement for a structure that dated back to 249 BCE Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
The devout believe that the Buddha came to Dhamek Stupa to give his first sermon, which revealed the Eightfold Path, after he achieved enlightenment. Take a look at the elegant carvings of birds, people, and flowers that cover the walls of the stupa as you wander around the attraction.
Sarnath also has plenty of other tourist places that make it a worthwhile day trip destination from Varanasi. Check out the Chaukhandi Stupa (a Buddhist shrine that dates back to at least the 6th century), then make your way to the Sarnath Museum to see the Lion Capital of Ashoka, a sculpture that used to sit atop the Ashoka Pillar in 250 BCE and became the official Emblem of India in 1950. Round out the day with sightseeing at the peaceful Tibetan Temple before making your way back to Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University has been a central part of Varanasi’s identity since its inception in 1916. The well-respected public university is home to more than 25,000 students, making it one of Asia’s largest residential universities Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
There are no hill stations near Varanasi, so if you’re looking for an escape from the crowds and busy city, come to this lush 1,300-acre campus. The serene area is shaded by hundreds of tall trees and offers a breath of fresh air from the hectic atmosphere at the Banaras Ghats.
While on campus, swing by the New Vishwanath Temple, a famous temple that finally finished its decades-long construction in 1966. Standing 77 meters high, the temple is one of the tallest in India and draws architectural inspiration from the nearby Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Visitors to the university should also make a point to explore the on-campus museum, Bharat Kala Bhavan. The cultural institution features a spectacular collection of miniature paintings, along with over 100,000 other artifacts of archeological and artistic importance Top 6 Places to Visit in Varanasi.
