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India > Varanasi Tourism
Varanasi Tourism
State : Uttar Pradesh
Area : 83.05 sq km
Temperature : 32 C – 46 C (Summer)5 C – 15
C (Winter)
Rainfall : 11.1 cm
Altitude : 80.71 mts
Language : Hindi, English
Best Season : October – March
Imagine rising up to the tinkling of half a dozen temple bells. Or witnessing
a daily show of sheer beauty, simplicity, mysticism as the sun wakes up
to the sounds of a shehnai (a pipe shaped musical instrument) or the hundreds
or prayers being released into the world above.
The holy city of Varanasi, known as the City of Temples
and Learning, is a place of great historical and cultural significance.
This religious capital of India is situated on the banks of the holy river
Ganges and is presided over by Lord Shiva. The river-front of the city
is adorned by hundreds of well built ghats which is a unique feature.
The holy Buddhist place, Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon
on attaining enlightenment, is in its vicinity. Varanasi is the premiere
most place of oriental learning, as well as modern advanced knowledge
. It has several universities and colleges teaching varied
subjects from engineering and medicine to dance and music. Banaras Hindu
University, a university of world repute, is situated here. Little wonder
then, that this place is also called Kashi, meaning City of Spiritual
Light.
The city is reputed for silk fabrics, perfumes, artistic
brass and copper wares and a variety of handicrafts. Products of the city
include shawls, saris, gold-embroidered cloth, hand-hammered brassware,
and heavy gold and silver jewellery. Varanasi is especially known for
its fine silk fabrics. The Banarasi silk sarees and brocades are cherished
as collector's items across the world. It is also home to the Diesel Locomotive
Works of Indian Railways, one of the largest locomotive manufacturing
plants in the World.
As an eternal city with a rich and vibrant past, it has
no exquisitely carved palaces, no impregnable fort, no architectural splendour
but still the city has an inherent charm of its own. The ghats dotted
with temples, the maze of alleys along the ghats, what ever Varanasi has
is enough to attract you again and again.
History
Almost halfway in its long journey from the slopes of the grand Himalayas
to the inflamed shore of Bay of Bengal, the muddy waters of the Ganges
flow by a city that is five centuries older than Christ. The city finds
mention in the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is a city of
temples and for more than 2,500 years, it has attracted pilgrims from
near and far. According to Hindu belief, Benaras or Varanasi as it is
known, is the cosmic center of the Universe. Its known history dates back
to about 3500 hundred years, during which it has continuously been populated.
However, Hindus believe that the city is eternal. Varanasi has also been
known as Kashi and Benares, but its present name is restoration of an
ancient name meaning the city between two rivers - the Varuna and Asi.
For the pious Hindu the city has always had a special place.
Down the ages, Varanasi has remained a symbol of Hindu
renaissance. Enveloped in an aura of history, religion, and tradition,
Varanasi preserved the rituals and traditions of Hindu philosophy. From
a time stretching beyond human memory, pilgrims from distant lands have
come to Varanasi in search of divine blessings.
