Varanasi, an experience
Created | Updated Jul 29, 2004
Varanasi: An experience
Few things in life are as interesting as watching a stream of water pass you by in the middle of a moonlit night. Add some music to the atmosphere and it revs up the mind and the body. For such an experience, a quick trip to Varanasi, India should suffice.
Getting there: Varanasi, the eternal city, where life and death both are a celebration, where traditions are revered and modernity is worshipped, where saints are still mystical and thiefs abundant, where a visit is not a travel itenarary but a lifelong experience. Nature carved out Varanasi along the banks of the river Ganges at precisely the only place along its course where the river flows from the South to the North(in Hindu mythology towards the abode of the Gods and hence the sanctity of the place). These days it can be reached conveniently by most of the Indian national airlines, or by trains or road seven days a week. For an adventurer at heart a 7 day boat ride from Allahabad to Varanasi is recommended.
The City beautiful: Varanasi as a city cannot be loved in a day. The roads are narrow, traveling is most efficient by carts pulled by men, drainage systems fill the roads two feet deep during monsoons and a lot of scary looking innocent people can be seen all around. But digging a little deeper unearths little pots of gold and the true charm of the ancient city. As somebody remarked "Six months is not enough to love this city. Two years is. Four years is even better." As the stay becomes longer, the joys of life can be appreciated and the eternity of the cosmos begins to fill up the subconscience. It is the enigma of the awe inspiring Ghats, the serenity of the calm and flowing water, the power of the mighty river Ganges that transports teh mind over matter. In one word, the city is 'Alive'.
A Historiical Perspective: Legend has it that the city of Varanasi has been a center of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years. Infact, it was at Sarnath(a stone's throw away from the city) that the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment almost 25 centuries ago. Later the city became a great Hindu center. It was looted a number of times by Muslim invaders from the 11th century onwards and these destructive visits climaxed with that of the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, who destroyed almost all the temples and converted the most famous one into a mosque. Parts of a restored temple standing next to the mosque under peaceful co-existence can still be seen. The city is the biggest learning centre of Sanskrit, the most scientific language in the world and has also become a symbol of the Hindu renaissance. Tulsi Das, the famous poet, wrote the Hindi version of the Ramayana known as the Ram Charit Manas on the Tulsi Ghat.
Things to Do: The city offers a unique blend of ancient and medieval architecture and lifestyle. An exploration through the "gullies" or narrow roads is highly recommended for you never know what part of history you might stumble upon. For a transcendental and mystical experience, "ganja" on the ghats (with the pandas) is recommended. Make sure to watch the "aarti" ceremony at dusk from a boat in the river. Also, for the less adventurous traveller, a calm boat ride on the river ganges promises a unique experience or else something about the city is missed. If one gets tired of the number of temples in the city, shopping for Banarasi silk and handicrafts should enliven the spirits. One could go on and on about the city, but its best experienced when explored personally.
Few things in life are as interesting as watching a stream of water pass you by in the middle of a moonlit night. Add some music to the atmosphere and it revs up the mind and the body. For such an experience, a quick trip to Varanasi, India should suffice.
Getting there: Varanasi, the eternal city, where life and death both are a celebration, where traditions are revered and modernity is worshipped, where saints are still mystical and thiefs abundant, where a visit is not a travel itenarary but a lifelong experience. Nature carved out Varanasi along the banks of the river Ganges at precisely the only place along its course where the river flows from the South to the North(in Hindu mythology towards the abode of the Gods and hence the sanctity of the place). These days it can be reached conveniently by most of the Indian national airlines, or by trains or road seven days a week. For an adventurer at heart a 7 day boat ride from Allahabad to Varanasi is recommended.
The City beautiful: Varanasi as a city cannot be loved in a day. The roads are narrow, traveling is most efficient by carts pulled by men, drainage systems fill the roads two feet deep during monsoons and a lot of scary looking innocent people can be seen all around. But digging a little deeper unearths little pots of gold and the true charm of the ancient city. As somebody remarked "Six months is not enough to love this city. Two years is. Four years is even better." As the stay becomes longer, the joys of life can be appreciated and the eternity of the cosmos begins to fill up the subconscience. It is the enigma of the awe inspiring Ghats, the serenity of the calm and flowing water, the power of the mighty river Ganges that transports teh mind over matter. In one word, the city is 'Alive'.
A Historiical Perspective: Legend has it that the city of Varanasi has been a center of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years. Infact, it was at Sarnath(a stone's throw away from the city) that the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment almost 25 centuries ago. Later the city became a great Hindu center. It was looted a number of times by Muslim invaders from the 11th century onwards and these destructive visits climaxed with that of the Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, who destroyed almost all the temples and converted the most famous one into a mosque. Parts of a restored temple standing next to the mosque under peaceful co-existence can still be seen. The city is the biggest learning centre of Sanskrit, the most scientific language in the world and has also become a symbol of the Hindu renaissance. Tulsi Das, the famous poet, wrote the Hindi version of the Ramayana known as the Ram Charit Manas on the Tulsi Ghat.
Things to Do: The city offers a unique blend of ancient and medieval architecture and lifestyle. An exploration through the "gullies" or narrow roads is highly recommended for you never know what part of history you might stumble upon. For a transcendental and mystical experience, "ganja" on the ghats (with the pandas) is recommended. Make sure to watch the "aarti" ceremony at dusk from a boat in the river. Also, for the less adventurous traveller, a calm boat ride on the river ganges promises a unique experience or else something about the city is missed. If one gets tired of the number of temples in the city, shopping for Banarasi silk and handicrafts should enliven the spirits. One could go on and on about the city, but its best experienced when explored personally.
