Soaking in Spirituality: A Visit to the Holy City of Varanasi

Varanasi is the oldest surviving city in the world. Standing on the western bank of the River Ganges, it is the cultural capital of India. The town bustles with tourists and devotees, all lining up to experience spirituality and holiness. So make sure your domestic tour package in India includes this sacred town. Here is a list of a few places you should visit when on a tour in Varanasi.

The Holy River Ganges

The River Ganges rises in the Himalayas, flows over 2500 km and runs through India and Bangladesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The mighty Ganges is sacred to Hindus, who believe that it flows from heaven to purify mortal humans. The river banks of the Great Ganges have been built with 18th and 19th-century palaces, pavilions, and temples. River Ganga will be a major inclusion in your domestic tour package in India.

As the sun sets, the riverside temples and ghats see locals arriving on the steps to offer prayers and flowers to the river. The river has around a hundred ghats, big and small, that are visited by early-morning bathers, people practising meditation and yoga, and Brahmin priests offering puja.

Ganga Aarti Ceremony

Another thing you cannot miss in Varanasi is the Ganga Arti ceremony, which is performed every evening as dusk descends. It is said to be a very powerful and uplifting ritual that ends with a spellbinding display of candles and flowers floating in the river. The holy ceremony takes place every sunset at the sacred Dasaswamedh Ghat near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. When in Varanasi, there is no way you can miss this spectacular event.

Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the oldest and most famous ghats in Varanasi and attracts both devotees and tourists. Two mythological beliefs surround the name. One is that Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva, and the other says that Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses during Ashawemedha Yajna. The Ghat attracts a large number of visitors due to its immense religious significance.

Assi Ghat

This is the southernmost Ghat in Varanasi and is known for being a place where researchers, international students, and tourists live. Assi Ghat hosts the Subah-e-Banaras in the morning and provides a spectacular view of the river Ganga. It is one of the most popular and biggest ghats in Varanasi that can accommodate about 22,500 people at once during festivals like Shivratri. More than 600,000 tourists visit the Ghat during the Dev Deepawali festival. Tourists can engage in a lot of activities like boat rides, hot-air balloons for an aerial view, daily talent shows in the evening, etc.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Vishwanath Gali in Varanasi. It is a Hindu pilgrimage site and is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. Vishwanath literally means Lord of the Universe. A legend says that this is the place where Lord Shiva manifested as an infinite column of light in front of Brahma and Vishnu when they had an argument about their supremacy.

Conclusion

These are only a few places in Varanasi that you should visit on your upcoming Varanasi trip. There are many other holy destinations that you just cannot miss out on. Contact our travel specialists to book your Varanasi tour now!