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The city of Varanasi is situated along the west bank of the Ganges in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. |
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Called Benaras by the British, Varanasi is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus.
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The city finds mention in the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was a flourishing trade center when Buddha came to Sarnath, about 10 kilometres away, to preach his first sermon in 500 BC. The renowned American novelist Mark Twain once wrote, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
Right from the ancient times, Varanasi has stood as a symbol of Hindu renaissance and preserved the rituals and traditions of Hindu philosophy. Down the ages, pilgrims from distant lands have come to Varanasi in search of divine blessings.
Temples form the major source of attraction in this ancient city. The banks of the Ganges, considered to be a sacred river by the Hindus, are the centre of much of the religious activity that occurs in the city. The ghats built along the banks of the river for such religious activity also form a major source of attraction here. The Alamgir Mosque is a blend of the Hindu and Mughal styles of the architecture. The Durga Temple is built in the North Indian style with an ornate shikhara, consisting of five segments symbolizing the elements and supported by finely carved columns. The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas, was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata Temple houses, instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief map in marble of the whole of Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau. The Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964, is dedicated to Lord Rama. The Banaras Hindu University, built in 1917, is one of the oldest educational centres in India. The Archaeological Museum, located at Sarnath, houses the capitol from the Ashokan pillar besides the figures and the sculptures from the Mauryan, Kushana and Gupta periods.
Excursions around Varanasi get you further acquainted with the mystic religion of Hinduism besides presenting an insight into the Buddhism. Sarnath is a major Buddhist centre about 10 kilometres north east of Varanasi. It was here that Buddha preached his message of the 'middle way' in order to achieve nirvana. Bodhgaya, located in Bihar, is the place where Buddha is supposed to have attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. Allahabad is one of India's holiest cities and the site of the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years. Kushinagar is a place famous for the Mahaparinirvana (death) of Lord Buddha. The 17th-century Ramnagar Fort was the home of the former Maharaja of Benaras.
The festive magic never ends in Varanasi. If Poornima cleanses, Maha Shivratri blesses. If Holika-Dahan is a celebration, Dhrupad Mela is a revelation…. One does not require making his itinerary according to the dates and months of the festivals. One can come and enjoy the festive season anytime of the year here.
The Indian city of Varanasi is easily accessible through air, road and rail from the other major Indian cities and states. 123indiatravel can arrange for you all types of transport for your comfortable journey to and in Varanasi and throughout the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
In order to make the travel tour to Varanasi even more joyful you need to choose just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Varanasi. The various hotels packages in Varanasi offer the best of facilities. You may enjoy the luxuries of life on your stay at the Varanasi hotels. You may take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Varanasi besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around the landmarks of Varanasi offer excellent view of the landmarks through their suites. Most of the places to stay in Varanasi are strategically located in the pilgrim centers or near the railway station
Planning a pilgrimage trip to Varanasi city or enjoying your holidays? Check out the following all-inclusive tour packages, pilgrimage tours and holiday offers that will make your travel trip to Varanasi city comfortable and enjoyable. We provide a range of tour packages and holiday offers for the city of Varanasi that will suit your requirements and budget. As per the nature, duration and the accommodation required during the holiday trip or religious travel to Varanasi city the tour packages vary.
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