Defined by the madness of its streets, the tranquility of its ghats, and the eccentricity of its lifestyle, the antediluvian city of Varanasi is India summarised
Marked by experiences and places you will find nowhere else, the holy city Banaras holds a unique, must-know charm to it. River Ganga splashes on its 52 ghats, which stay swarmed with pilgrims, saints, residents, and mourners alike. Ashes of the dead flow in the water, commingling with flowers and diyas of worship. On one ghat, dead bodies burn, on the other, thousands of people pay homage to Goddess Ganga, and on yet another, a young child is blessed with a splatter of the holy water. Such is life in Varanasi, full of energy, irony, love, salvation, congestion, and every other feeling you can muster. As they say, there is no city like Benaras.
The ghats of Varanasi bring you a hundred different stories at a time. Here, bodies are cremated. Here, a grand arati is held to worship Lordess Ganga. Here, saints in their orange clothes stroll and even camp. Here, worshippers send afloat diyas and flowers.Here, travellers spend hours together taking in the view and bustle. In all, ghats of Varanasi are a different world altogether, one which is as enchanting as it is busy.
Bringing to you countryās most delectable chaats, Varanasi is a grand treat to your taste buds. From innovative tamatar chaat to pani puri, which was invented here,10-rupees breakfast plates of poori-bhaji-jalebis, and rich lassis to delicious South Indian food, Banaras is a cheap food affair full of wonders.
The labyrinthine streets of Varanasi tend to suck travellers in. And theyāre a delight of their own, thatās for sure. These streets open up a distinct lifestyle, the one with tapered stacked-up houses, minuscule shops that sell groceries and sweets and other everyday items, music and dance classes, and everything else youād find in an average Indian neighbourhood, only more colourful, more pinched, and more crazy.
Remember how Varanasi is called a holy city? There are around 23 thousand temples in Varanasi (yep, you read that right), all dedicated to various Hindu Gods, while one also being a temple of Mother India!
There are a total of 52 ghats in Varanasi by the banks of River Ganga, each one named uniquely after a local story. For example, the Tulsi Ghat is named after the historic Indian poet Tulsidasji, who used to write his poems under a peepal tree near this ghat.
Author Mark Twain wrote about Varanasi in 1897, āBenares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.ā
People of Varanasi celebrate all festivals with zest, while Maha Shivratri and Dev Deepawali hold a special importance in this city. During Dev Deepawali, many of the 52 ghats light up with innumerable diyas in enchanting patterns, accompanied by firecrackers in the sky and low-key boat parties amongst backpackers. On Maha Shivratri, the whole city celebrates a happy high of legally sold cannabis drink, talk about adventures!