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Varanasi
Distance (K.M.) |
Time taken in hours |
Height above sea level |
Temperature |
Clothing |
From
Delhi- 765 kms
From Kolkata - 677 Km
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20 hrs.
18 Hrs |
80.71 mts. |
Max. –
45 o C(summers)
Min.- 8 0 (winters) |
Cottons in summers
Woolens in winters |
Varanasi View
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Formerly known as Benares, the holy city of Hindus on the banks of the sacred, purifying river Ganga. 10 kilometers away is Sarnath where the Buddha preached his first sermon of enlightenment, 25 centuries ago. Varanasi is one of the most important pilgrim sites in India. An 'eternal' city, it abounds with a rich and vibrant past. Varanasi is another holy spot on the life giving Mother Ganges. As a religious centre, it is beyond compare. It is one of the foremost 'tirthas' (place of pilgrimage). Varanasi, as the legend goes was created by Shiva, the cosmic lord. It figures prominently in the epic Mahabharat. Puranic Literature dates its existence to at least three millennia.
Situated on the West Bank of the Ganges, it extends from the riverbank ghats to a winding maze of picturesque alleys overlooking tall houses alongside, dotted with temples. Summers can be quite harsh in Varanasi with the temperatures going up to 45°C. The monsoon season, which starts by late June or early July, brings in the torrential rains and high humidity. Winters are quite pleasant with temperatures remaining at around 20°C in the day. However, the early part of the day can remain enveloped in the fog.
How to Reach
Varanasi is well connected by air, rail and buses with all the important places of India. Its distance from Delhi is about 700 Kms. The airport is about 25 km from the city center.
One of the major factors for sustainment of Varanasi for such a long time as an inhabited city, is its effective transport between different cities. From ancient times the city was connected to cities like Taxila, Gazipur, Pataliputra, Vaishali, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Agra etc.
The city was connected through a single road from Taxila going through Pataliputra during Mauryan empire. This road was later renovated and extended by Sher Shah Suri during 16th century, which was later to be known as the famous Grand Trunk Road.
Places of Interest
Varanasi is a city of temples. Almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. Such small temples are the basis of daily local prayers and other rituals. But there are many large temples too, erected at different times through out the history of Varanasi.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called Golden Temple, which in its present shape was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, is located on the outskirts of the Ganga. This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the Hindus, as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, the aforementioned Jyotirlinga of the Lord Shiva is enshrined here. It is said that a single view of Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than that of other jyotirlingas. A Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple by the collector Mohammed Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings in 1785. In 1839, Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the ruler of Punjab donated gold to cover the two domes of the temple. On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with Late Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then Kashi Naresh, as president and an executive committee with Divisional Commissioner as chairman.[19]
Varanasi Ghat
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The temple was once destroyed by Aurangzeb who built a mosque on it. It was later resurrected at a location near the mosque, and is many times a cause of local strain among Hindus and Muslims.
Durga Temple, also called Monkey temple, was bulit at some point of time in 18th century by a Bengali Maharani. The temple got its name as 'Monkey temple' because of the presence of large number of monkeys in the temple. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum.
The architecture is of Nagara Style, which is typical of North India. The temple is accompanied by a rectangular tank of water called Durga Kund. The temple has multi-tiered spires and is stained red with ochre, signifying the red colour of Durga. The Kund was earlier connected to the river itself thus refreshing the water. This tunnel was later closed, leading to locked water which is replenished only by rain or drainage from the Temple. Every year on the occasion of Nag panchami, the act of depicting Lord Vishnu reclining on the coiled-up Shesha Naga, with his consort Lakshmi, seated at his feet; the assemblage resting on the "Kshira Sagar" is repeated in the Kund.
(New) Vishwanath Temple, also called Birla Temple was built by Birla family of industrialists. It was built as a replica of the old Kashi Vishwanath Temple.[20]. The temple was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who wanted the temple to stand for national revival. The temple is open to people from all castes and religions.
You can also visit:
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Kashi Mutt
Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath
Chaukhandi Stupa at Sarnath
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