Top 10 places which everyone should visit in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi or Banaras is the oldest holy city in this world. It's lord Shiva's own city, it's believed that even if this world will come to its end, Varanasi will remain as it was. This city has everything that a wanderer needs, Peace, Joy, Devotion, Relaxation, Friends, Seclusion, and whatnot. Varanasi is also known as 'Kashi'. In Hinduism, it's one of the sacred places. They also say that we can find ourselves in this holy city we can find 'Moksha', which is everyone's desire afterlife. Varanasi has humanism's both faces which are 'Life' and 'Death', you can consider River 'Gange' or 'Ganga' as life and 'Manikarnika' as the place which is the place of a human being's last rites. this city holds joy and sorrow hand in hand. So let's go on a tour of this beautiful city.
1.KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the heart of this beautiful city. It's situated at the western bank of Ganga. It's a temple of Lord Shiva and a world-renowned temple. it's situated at ghats of Ganga near Dasha Ashwamedha Ghaat. It claimed that this temple has been located in Varanasi for many thousands of years. It's believed that this place has been an abode of Shiva-Parvati.
2.DASHA ASHWAMEDH GHAAT
Dasha Ashwamedh is a beautiful wharf at Ganga river. In Shivakhanda it's written that Hindu God Bramha did Ten Ygaya(Offering) called Dashaashwamedh Yagya over This Ghat(wharf). Meaning of Dasha is Ten. During excavation under temple "Rani Putiya", many yagya basins were found. 3.NEW VISHWANATH TEMPLE New Vishwanath Temple, is situated in the premises of BHU UNIVERSITY.It has the tallest temple tower in the world around 250 feet. It's a very beautiful and calm place for anyone who wants peace and inner calmness. Devotees come to offer their prayers at this incredible temple. The creator of this Temple is Birla Family, in 1996.
4.ASSI GHAAT
Assi Ghaat is a very Important place or we can say Ghaat, amongst all ghats in Varanasi at the Ganges. Assi means eighty. This 80th Wharf amongst all. People come here to see Ganga Arti in the evening and offer their prayers to Mother Ganga(Ganga River). After coming here you will forget all your burdens and sorrows and never want to leave this place. There is always a fair-like environment here, and people come for prayers and to enjoy in the evening time. You can play your favorite Musical Instrument, Sing your favorite song, Eat local food with lemon Chai and Milk Chai or you can enjoy the Boat Ride in the river or just sit on the Benches and enjoy the view of the Ganges, and absorb the beauty and divinity of this incredible place.
5.DURGA TEMPLE
Durga Temple is the temple of the power's goddess, Mother Durga. It's a place of worshipping for Hindus. It's the oldest temple amongst all the oldest temples. In the month of Savan(a major part of July), a very beautiful fair takes place in this temple. This temple is made of red rocks and it looks very pretty with the golden dome and a red flag on top of it.
According to a legend, Mother Durga Killed a Demon and rested here. There are so many yagya Kund(offering basins) in this temple for offerings and prayers. Near this temple, there is also a temple of Lord Ganesha( son of god and goddess, Shiva and Parvati) and a Beautiful Park named, Anand Park, the importance of this park is, here the first sastrartha, of the Araya Samaj, took place with the scholars of Kashi. People come in the evening time to enjoy, relax and offer their prayers to lord shiva in the temple which is also in the premises of this park.
6.HANUMAN TEMPLE(Sankat Mochan Mandir)
Hanuman Temple is a very important place amongst all the beautiful and divine places of Varanasi. It's situated near Banaras Hindu University. This temple's name is Sankat Mochan Mandir, the meaning of sankat mochan is(One who defeats troubles or sorrows). This temple is founded by Mr. Madan Mohan Malviya in 1900 AD. who also founded Banaras Hindu University. The idol of Hanuman ji is made of clay and it's situated in such a manner, opposite to the temple of Raam and Sita Ji, that he is looking at them. There is also a lord Shiva's temple adjacent to Hanuman Ji's temple, and an old well which is believed to be of Saint Tulasi Das Ji's era, amidst of temple. Devotees offer sweets, specially besan laddoo(a sort of sweet made of chickpea flour, sugar, and clarified butter) in the form of offerings.
7.RAMNAGAR FORT
Ramnagar Fort is the ancient monument that was the residence of Kashi Naresh(king of Kashi(Varanasi)). It has its own importance and beauty in history and current time. This fort is situated in Ramnagar at the eastern bank of river Ganga opposite Assi and Tulasi Ghaat. It was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh, Balwant Singh. Now the King of this Fort is Anant Narayan Singh.
8.BHARAT MATA TEMPLE
Bharat Mata Temple is located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus( a college). This Temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 and constructed by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, and shows the map of undivided India. Bharat Mata Temple or Bharat Mata Mandir has a map of Undivided India which is made of marble. The map shows Undivided India, amidst building including, Pakistan, Afganistan, Balochistan, Bangaladesh, Burma(current Mayanmar) and, Ceylon(current Srilanka).
9.GYAN VAPI WELL
Gyan Vapi Well(well of knowledge). This Gyan Vapi Well has a very important place in the list of sacred famous pilgrimage places of Hindus. This place is visited by many Hindu devotees. When Emperor Aurangzeb invaded this place a priest hid the Idol of Lord Shiva in the Gyan Vapi Well to save it from getting destroyed by invaders. From that point in time, the water of this well is considered as holy as the Hindus consider the water of the Ganges.
10.ALAMGIR MOSQUE
The Alamgir Mosque is situated at Panchganga Ghaat in Varanasi. This mosque is built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It's also known as Beni Madhav Ka Darera. Its beauty and architecture attracted so many outsiders and travelers. They say, that this Mosque is built on the ruins of a Lord Vishnu Temple(Beni Madhav Ka Darera).
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