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Varanasi is one of the oldest cities of India situated on the banks of River Ganges. People used to mean this city as one of the holiest cities from India. The place is believed to be a sacred city with very old tradition and culture. Varanasi or Banaras is a place which still yet hasn’t flown down by the western culture. It is still very orthodox but also booming as modern cities. The city has all those major amenities which a modern advance city requires.

Varanasi is famous for spiritualism, mysticism, Indian philosophy and Hinduism. All these are reflected in numerous sects, temples, Ashrams and Ghats. Varanasi is associated not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism and Jainism. Varanasi also boasts of Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples. Varanasi is mainly associated with Hinduism, temples form the main attraction. The Ganges Ghats (river fronts) are the main center of religious activities and rituals and also form one of the main attractions of Varanasi. The most important temples of Varanasi are Durga temple, Vishwanath temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Tulsi Manas temple and the Bharat Mata temple.

Temples of Varanasi:

Varanasi is a place can be considered as the place especially for different temples. The place has great spiritual importance with so many other attractions. Varanasi is home to about 2,000 temples, and also known as the city of temples. Many important and famous temples are located at the Ghats of Ganges. The holy river Ganges in the place is like icing on the cake. Varanasi is also called Kashi, “the City of Light”. The “Kashi Vishwanath temple”, located near the Ganga Ghats, is the most famous and important temple of Varanasi.
Here is a detailed coverage of the Temples of Varanasi.

Ghats:

Spiritual life in Varanasi revolves around the ghats, the long string of bathing steps leading down to the water on the western bank of the Ganges. Most are used for bathing but there are also several ‘burning ghats’ where bodies are cremated in public. The main burning ghat is ‘Manikarnika’. There, one can often experience watching funeral processions threading their way through the backstreets to this ghat. The best time to visit the ghats is at dawn when the river is bathed in a mellow light as pilgrims come to perform puja (literally ‘respect’; offering or prayers) to the rising sun, and at sunset when the main ‘ganga aarti’ ceremony takes place at Dasaswamedh Ghat. One can explore a trip from Dasaswamedh Ghat south to Harishchandra Ghat and can have a great knowledge about the place Varanasi.

Varanasi is mainly popular for these ghats and the spiritual environment over here. People here come to explore about the Hindu culture, tradition and religion. Thus this place is very famous and caters a good quantity of visitors every year.

Bharat Kala Bhavan:

Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the BHU campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. Bharat Kala Bhavan was established in the year 1920 A.D. In the main hall of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand.

Bharat Kala Bhavan also has a great collection of miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and other Kingdoms and principalities. Some of the important sections in the Bharat Kala Bhavan are Mahamana Malaviya gallery, Nicholas Roerich gallery, Chhavi (Painting Gallery), sculpture gallery, Nidhi (Treasures) gallery, sculpture gallery, archaeological gallery, decorative art gallery and Banaras through age’s gallery.

Banaras Hindu University:

The Banaras Hindu University or BHU is an internationally reputed University and is situated in Varanasi. The great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, founded the Banaras Hindu University in the year 1916. Dr Annie Besant also played an important role in the formation of the BHU. The Banaras Hindu University played an important role in the Indian independence movement. Over a period of time, it has developed into one of the greatest centers of learning in India. The BHU has produced many great freedom fighters and Nation builders. It has immensely contributed to the progress of the nation through a large number of renowned scholars, artists and scientists.

Jantar Mantar:

Jantar Mantar is an observatory, built by Jai Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur  in the year 1737. Jai Singh was a great admirer of science and technology and he was particularly passionate about astronomy. Before the commencement of construction (of observatories) he sent scholars abroad to study the foreign observatories. The emissaries returned with many manuals on astronomy. The Jantar Mantar at Varanasi was built in line with Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain and Jaipur observatories. There are Jantar Mantar Clones in Delhi and Jaipur as well.

Ramnagar Fort:

The Ramnagar fort lies about 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of river Ganga. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. Maharaja Balwant Singh built this fort-palace in the eighteenth century. The fort is built in red sandstone. The Ramnagar fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds and the temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Legends have it that Ved Vyasa stayed here for a brief period.

The Ramnagar fort is a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal ‘palkies’, an armory of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. The ‘Durga Temple’ and ‘Chhinnamastika Temple’ are also located at Ramnagar. A temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman is there. Inside the giant walls of the Ramnagar fort-palace, there is a big clock. This particular clock shows of the movement of the stars. An interesting array of ornate palanquins, gold-plated howdahs and weapons are some of the artifacts on display in the Ramnagar fort-palace museum.

Besides these places you can also look for places like; Sarnath Museum, Ashoka Lion Capital, Buddhist Temples, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamekh Stupa, Dharamrajika Stupa etc.

Night Life and Entertainment Elements:

Varanasi is a place which basically carries the tradition or the old Indian Culture. So, you can’t expect any rocking night life over here. But for amusement purpose you can roam in the city. There you are able to find many sorts of restaurants or multi cuisine foods and beverages. Along these you can also able to see different branded costume stores, stores of traditional Banarasi Saree Houses, Cinema Halls and many other things.

Are you thinking to come to Varanasi? Then, don’t think, just come and know the Mythology and all the Purans related to Hinduism. This is one of the most sacred places which can make you feel revive surely, after coming.

Bharat Mata Temple:

The Bharat Mata temple at Varanasi is the only temple dedicated to Mother India. It is located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus. The Bharat Mata temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The statute of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting the mountains, plains and oceans. The most peculiar thing about the Bharat Mata Temple is that instead of the customary gods and goddesses, it houses a relief map of India, carved out of marble.

Durga Mata Temple:

Durga Mata temple, also known as the “monkey temple”, because of presence of large number of monkeys, is one of the important temples of Varanasi. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga temple in Nagara Style (the North Indian style of temple architecture). It is stained red with ochre and has a multi-tiered shikhara (spire). The Durga temple is situated on a rectangular tank, called the Durga Kund. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga has kept this place for many centuries and protects the holy city, Varanasi, from the South.

The present idol of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple.  According to Hindu Mythology, Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during “Navaratri” and other auspicious occasions.

New Vishwanath Temple:

New Vishwanath temple of Varanasi is located in the premises of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The temple is also known as Birla Temple. New Vishwanath temple is a replica of the old version of Vishwanath temple situated at Varanasi in another place.   The temple is built in white marbles, and was planned by Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of the Banaras Hindu University. The specialty of the temple is that it is open for the all cast and communities and built in beautiful white marbles, and was planned by Madan Mohan Malviya, founder of BHU.

Sankat Mochan Temple:

Sankat Mochan temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The word “Sankat Mochan” implies one who helps in removing sufferings, according to Hindu mythology. The famous author of ‘Ramcharitamanas’, Tulsidas was the founder of the temple. It is one of the most sacred temples of Varanasi, and always remains crowded by worshipers and visitors.

Tulsi Manas Temple:

Tulsi Manas Temple is a very famous temple of Varanasi. The temple can be considered as one of the importance place to visit in Varanasi. Tulsi Manas temple is located near the famous Durga temple. It was built in the year 1964 with white marble. There is a magnificent arranged landscape around the temple. It increases the attraction quotient of the place. Tulsi Manas temple is dedicated to lord Ram. It is believed to be built at the same place where Tulsidas wrote the famous Indian epic, Ramcharitamanasa. The walls of the Tulsi Manas temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the Ramayana.

Vishwanath Temple:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated in the heart of spiritual capital of India, Varanasi.  The temple is situated on the western bank of India’s holiest river Ganges. Kashi Vishwanath temple is the center of faith for millions of Hindus. The Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, is enshrined in the Kashi Vishwanath temple, considered as one of the holiest temples of India. It is believed that a simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life. “Darshan” of Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than the visit of other jyotirlingas, situated in various parts of India.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts Hindu devotees and other visitors not only from India but also the world over. Lord Vishwanath is considered the supreme repository of the spiritual truth and strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood.