Immersed in religious colors, this oldest city in India
is called the city of Lord Shiva. It is believed that this grand city stands on
the "Trishul" of Lord Shiva. Kashi is also called the spiritual and
cultural capital of ancient India.
Countless ghats, two famous universities Kashi Hindu
University and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University are situated in Kashi. There
are around 85000 temples here. The city has been a commercial and industrial
center for muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory, and crafts.
Someone has aptly said “Kashi is a city older than
history, older than tradition, older than legend, and twice as old as all these
combined!
There are many mythological stories associated with the
Ghats in Varanasi, each one as interesting and shocking as the other. Even though this city is crowded, its glory
has been sung in various scriptures. But still, the peace that is in the land
of Kashi is nowhere else.
Let's know what is
so special in this city!
Located near Kashi Vishwanath Temple, this Ghat is one of the most
important Ghats of Banaras. A trip to Varanasi is considered incomplete if you
do not witness the Ganga Aarti performed by the priests every evening at the
ghats. A dip in the Ganges in Kashi opens the door to salvation. A large number
of foreign tourists also come to Varanasi to watch the Ganga Aarti. That's why
it is said that if you want liberation, then come to Kashi!
Ganga Aarti lasts for 45 minutes.
Starting Time: 6:45 PM
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the most auspicious places for the departed to
reach salvation. The specialty of this ghat is that the pyre's fire never calms
down here. Funeral pyres burn 24/7 at this ghat, and around 200 cremations take
place every day. It is said that Lord Shiva has blessed Manikarnika Ghat with
eternal peace. It is believed that the truth of life lies at
Manikarnika Ghat. It
is believed that the fire rites of the dead body of Mata Sati were performed by
Lord Shankar at Manikarnika Ghat. That is why it is called Mahashamshan.
Shri Kashi
Vishwanath Temple
Shri
Kashi
Vishwanath Temple is one of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord
Shiva. Situated on the west bank of the holy river Ganges, this temple adds to
the dignity of Varanasi. Many people call it the Golden Temple of Lord Shiva
because the two domes of the temple are covered with gold. People believe that
when the earth was formed, the first ray of the sun first fell on Kashi. The
temple opens daily at around 2:30 am. There are 5 aartis daily in the temple.
Rivers of Varanasi
The expansion of this city is said to be between the two confluences of the
river Ganga, one with the river Varuna and the other with the river Asi. The
distance between these confluences is about two and a half miles. Parikrama of
this distance is called holy Panchkosi Parikrama among Hindus.
Panchkosi
Parikrama
Panchkosi Yatra is one of the most important yatras undertaken by pilgrims
around the holy Kashi Mandal. This holy journey begins with a holy dip in the
river Ganga at the matchless Manikarnika Ghat. Kardameshwar, Shivpur,
Rameshwar, Bhimchandi, and Kapildhara are the five places where devotees have
to complete their Panch Koshi Parikrama.
Boat ride in river
Ganga
Going to Banaras and enjoying a boat ride in the river Ganga will make your
journey more fun. Sitting in the boat, the view of all the ghats will fascinate
you. You can book your boat from Manmandir Ghat. If you do this journey in the
morning, then there can be no better time than this. In this holy city, the
hymns of the sadhus on the ghats in the morning, the chirping of birds, the Morning
Prayer, and the redness of the rising sun make this city even grander.
Sarnath
Located 10 km from Banaras, this ancient city is home to the first sermon
of Buddha at Sarnath. Sarnath is the place where Buddhism came into existence.
The main attraction of Sarnath is the Chaukhandi Stupa which was built by
Ashoka after his conversion to Buddhism. If you ever come to Kashi, do not
forget to visit Sarnath.
Banaras Silk
India exports its silk to more than 200 countries across the world and its
demand is increasing especially in Europe and America. Banarasi silks and
sarees are produced exclusively in the ancient city of Varanasi and surrounding
villages, using special techniques and unique creations. Located on Chhawni
Road, the Banaras Silk Emporium is a huge exporter of traditional silk.
If you want to see the whole of traditional India, then I
suggest that you must come to Kashi once.
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