{"id":1959,"date":"2021-02-06T06:47:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T06:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ynorme.com\/blog\/?p=1959"},"modified":"2021-02-06T06:47:45","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T06:47:45","slug":"the-holy-city-of-varanasi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ynorme.com\/blog\/the-holy-city-of-varanasi\/","title":{"rendered":"The Holy City of Varanasi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its early history is that of the first\u00a0Aryan\u00a0settlement in the middle Ganges valley. By the 2nd millennium\u00a0BCE, Varanasi was a seat of Aryan religion and philosophy and was also a commercial and industrial centre famous for its\u00a0muslin\u00a0and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Varanasi was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi during the time of the\u00a0Buddha\u00a0(6th century\u00a0BCE), who gave his first sermon nearby at\u00a0Sarnath. The city remained a centre of religious, educational, and artistic activities as attested by the celebrated Chinese Buddhist pilgrim\u00a0Xuanzang, who visited it in about 635\u00a0CE\u00a0and said that the city extended for about 3 miles (5 km) along the western bank of the Ganges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At six in the morning, the alleys of old Varanasi gleam with last night’s rain. One path just wide enough for two men to walk abreast leads past shops down to the holy river Ganges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s barely sunrise, but the alleys are already in chaos. Men jostle women, women jostle fat bullocks, bullocks narrowly avoid stepping on children. Everything is for sale \u2013 small bottles of holy Ganges water, larger bottles of branded mineral water, tiny figurines of the Lord Shiva, whose town this is. Tourists, almost invariably wearing colorful harem pants, brush shoulders with locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Varanasi is a city in Northern India also known as Benares or Kashi. The city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is not only the spiritual capital of India, but also the holiest of seven sacred cities in Hinduism, and it played a significant role in the development of Buddhism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddha is said to have founded Buddhism in Varanasi around 528 BC when he gave his first sermon at\u00a0Sarnath, a nearby city located about 10km away. The city continued to grow in its religious significance and was under Muslim rule for three centuries from 1194, until a tolerant emperor restored some religious respite to Varanasi, which still remains a center of activity for Hindus.Book stays and experiences,
hand-picked by our travel experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For centuries, education, philosophy, culture, arts and religion have flourished here, and when you visit the religious center of Varanasi, you\u2019ll see that this is what fuels the city and keeps it vibrant.Bathing in the Ganges \u00a9 Lauren Marinigh\/Twirl The Globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ganges<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A 2,525 kilometer river that flows through India and Bangladesh, the Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus, and although it is\u00a0ranked\u00a0as one of the most polluted rivers of the world, it is still home to hundreds of species, and many locals that live along the river depend on it for everyday life. Once densely forested and home to animals like elephants, rhinos, lions, and tigers, over the years, the river and area surrounding has had to adapt to the ever-growing population, and now, large wild animals are few and far between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ganges, much like the city of Varanasi, is said to be one of the holiest places in the world. People believe that bathing in the Ganges washes away sins and cleanses you of all evil, and when visiting, you\u2019ll see hundreds of people every morning bathing along the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cremations are also a tradition along the Ganges River, as Hindus believe cremation on the banks of the river frees the soul from the cycle of death and rebirth. Due to the population density and belief in this tradition, the famous cremation ghat in Varanasi operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Lining up for the nightly aarti \u00a9 Lauren Marinigh\/Twirl The Globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ghats<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Much of the daily life in Varanasi takes place on its 87+ ghats\u2014stone steps that descent steeply towards the river and stretch northward into a crescent. Most of these ghats were built after 1700 AD and are associated with legends or mythologies, while others are privately owned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you take one of the popular boat rides along the shore, you\u2019ll get a better view of all the ghats from the water.\u00a0Assi Ghat\u00a0is where the Ganges meets river Assi, and although it is not as popular for tourists and visitors, it is an important ghat for Hindus, as pilgrims bathe here before worshiping Lord Shiva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dashashwamedh Ghat\u00a0:-<\/strong> is one of the oldest and important ghats and is where the famous\u00a0Ganga Aarti\u00a0ceremony takes place every evening. A great place for people watching, this ghat is constantly lined with beggars, sellers, pilgrims, and everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manikarnika Ghat\u00a0:-<\/strong> is the popular cremation ghat in Varanasi. Best seen at a respectful distance from a boat on the water, you\u2019ll come face to face with death at this ghat, which will leave you with a strange feeling \u2014 one that almost makes you appreciate the traditions and celebrations of Hinduism even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scindia Ghat\u00a0:-<\/strong> located nearby the Manikarnika Ghat, Schidia is known for its particular site of interest\u2014the partially submerged Shiva temple at the edge of the water that sunk during the construction of the ghat in 1830.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it\u2019s next to impossible to make it to explore every ghat in Varanasi, the ones above are some that have specific significance and are popular among visitors.Life on the ghats \u00a9 Lauren Marinigh\/Twirl The Globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ganga Aarti<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Each evening, groups of priests line the Dashashwamedh Ghat, and hundreds of people flock to the shoreline and in boats for the nightly aarti<\/em> ceremony. The ceremony lasts about 20-30 minutes, during which priests perform rituals involving blowing horns, flower petals, bells, incense and smoking pots. Boats all tie together along the water to watch the ceremony and children and locals hop between boats selling snacks and masala chai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony starts after sunset (around 6 p.m. in the winter and 7 p.m. in the summer), and getting there early to get yourself a boat with a good spot or the perfect place along the shore is key. The aarti<\/em> takes place facing the river where the lamps are lit and circled around by the priests, all while being accompanied by chanting or songs that praise Mother Ganga. You may find this ritual so fascinating that you\u2019ll want to attend every night while in Varanasi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Varanasi is a city full of history, traditions and religion and is a city that can\u2019t be missed while visiting India. Although the city can completely throw your senses into overdrive, no trip to India is complete without a visit here.The Ganga Aarti \u00a9 Lauren Marinigh\/Twirl The Globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Imagine climbing to a viewpoint and looking down on India\u2019s holy river to watch hundreds of people wading into the muddy waters to wash away their sins. Now imagine bearing witness to an actual cremation ceremony taking place on the banks of the same river. These are just two of the deeply spiritual things to do in\u00a0Varanasi, but it doesn\u2019t stop there. As one of the oldest cities in the world and the holiest city in\u00a0India, Varanasi offers visitors an intense but magical glimpse into Hinduism and the local way of life. When it comes to what to do in Varanasi, this city is more about observing and absorbing the surroundings than hopping from place to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW TO GET TO VARANASI<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are three ways to get from Delhi to Varanasi; flight, train, or bus. Your budget, preferred style of travel, and time restrains will dictate your choice. Flights are relatively cheap and very quick, however the advantage of taking a bus or train is being able to enjoy the scenery and experiencing long-haul travel in India. Find details below on each mode of transportation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n