Varanasi

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Overview		Tourist Attraction		How to Reach

Introduction Varanasi is solace. Varanasi is peace. Varanasi is serene. Varanasi is everything a troubled heart seeks for and much more. Nobody knows when this city was established, leave alone who established it. Hindus maintain that the city is outside the earth and is situated on the 'Trident' of Lord Shiva. Varanasi has been named after the two tributaries of Ganges that flows through the city named Varuna and Assi rivers. It was later changed to Benaras and re-christened Varanasi. Any discussion on Varanasi is incomplete without mentioning its Ghats. There are more than 80 different ghats in Varanasi. The city is also famous for its silk embroidery work and has a specialty in Sarees. The city is also renowned for its musical instruments such as Sitar, Tabla and Shehnai. Best Time to travel Round the year Bharat Mata Mandir Bharat Mata Mandir or Bharat Mata Temple is one of its kinds in Varanasi. Contrary to what most of the tourists believe, this temple is not dedicated to any God, Goddess or certain deity for that matter. It is dedicated to the human manifestation of India popularly called Mother India or Bharat Mata in Hindi. Banaras Hindu University BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Durga Mandir Goddess Durga is a significant manifestation of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. In fact she is said to be Shakti, or the manifestation of Parvati that signifies the female element of Power and harmony in nature. This is precisely because a Bengali Maharani built this temple in the 18th century. Kashi Vishwanath Mandir The Vishwanath temple is synonymous to Varanasi. Vishwanath Temple is the most sacred and the most famous temple in Varanasi. In fact, Vishwanath Temple is extremely popular in other parts of India too. A considerable chunk of foreign visitors in India come to Varanasi every year to get a glimpse of the Vishwanath Temple even though the followers of Semitic religions are not allowed to enter the sanctum of the temple. Ramnagar Fort Ramnagar Fort is the former as well as the present residence of the Maharaja of Kashi also known at times as Raja of Banaras. It is situated on the opposite bank of the Ganges along which the city of Varanasi thrives. The most important construction inside the fort is the 'Durbar Hall' or the Hall of public audience. Sankat Mochan Mandir Sankat Mochan Mandir do not have much historical significance but is a good place to visit at least once. No body knows who established this temple. It was actually very small in its early phase. In the due course various 'Mahants' collected funds to upgrade the structure and today it boasts off a large complex. Tulsi Manas Mandir Tulsi Manas Temple has a very historical as well as cultural importance for not only Varanasi but also for the whole of India. This is because Ramayana was composed at this very place. Goswami Tulsi Das was the man who composed Ramayana in Hindi in the form of "Ram Charit Manas". Introduction Varanasi is solace. Varanasi is peace. Varanasi is serene. Varanasi is everything a troubled heart seeks for and much more. Nobody knows when this city was established, leave alone who established it. Hindus maintain that the city is outside the earth and is situated on the 'Trident' of Lord Shiva. Varanasi has been named after the two tributaries of Ganges that flows through the city named Varuna and Assi rivers. It was later changed to Benaras and re-christened Varanasi. Any discussion on Varanasi is incomplete without mentioning its Ghats. There are more than 80 different ghats in Varanasi. The city is also famous for its silk embroidery work and has a specialty in Sarees. The city is also renowned for its musical instruments such as Sitar, Tabla and Shehnai. Best Time to travel Round the year How To Reach Air Varanasi is well connected to major Indian cities and tourist spots through air service. There are daily domestic flights to and from Varanasi to several cities in India. Road Situated in the flat Ganga plains, Varanasi has a good network of roads. Numerous public and private buses ply to and from nearby and far-flung cities. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation runs a fleet of well-maintained buses apart from the luxury coaches offered by private operators. Rail Since Varanasi lies in the heartland of the North Indian plains, it is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other parts of India. There are two railway stations in Varanasi, the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction that is also called Varanasi Cantonment.