Varansi – City Of Moksha

Watching Evening Aarti Ceremony is certainly once in a lifetime experience. The spectacular event must be viewed from the Dasawamedh Ghat, where beautiful rituals unfold themselves in front of your eyes. Brass lamps of large sizes are used during this event, which is accompanied by chants and crowds of people waiting to pray.

Visit at least an hour before the Aarti if you want to gather the experience at its best. At this time, you can witness how five elevated planks are placed at the edge of the steps of the Ghats and brass lamps are cleaned and readied for the occasion.

It is also interesting to watch how priests don identical dhotis and kurta for prayer and Aarti ceremony. Those who wish to click pictures from their cameras should visit the Ghats in evening boats, as this will allow one to easily capture everything in attention.

These brass lamps are quite heavy, almost four and half kilograms in weight. Therefore, make sure you carry one only if you are able to hold it in the crowds. As soon as they are lit, spectacular images are formed. The night sky shines with radiance of these lamps while incense sticks will fill the atmosphere with aroma of different types. The Aarti ceremony is performed every night and a 45 minute ritual is held for the same. The usual time it is 6: 45 in the evening.

Boat rides during is one of the best things to do in Varanasi. The ride along Ganges River offers the quintessential Varanasi experience. It takes one through different Ghats and former palaces situated close to the banks of Ganges, giving a panoramic view of this River and the region.

The best time to enjoy boat ride of the Ganges River is from 5:30 AM to 8 AM. This is when the colour and clamour of the place will enthral you. Travellers will be surprised to see that the city is awake and cheery even during 5 in the morning.

Morning experience of the boat ride will leave an indelible imprint on your heart, especially because you will get to see the faith that people have in River Ganges. During the ride, don’t be surprised to see Sadhus and pilgrims bathing and performing prayers in front of you. This entire ride will unfold the religious significance of Varanasi and why River Ganges is revered all over the world.

Mostly, an hour long boat ride is ideal to have a taste of what this city has to offer. It usually starts from Dasawamedh Ghat, goes to the Harishchandra Ghat and then back. In the evening, you can see how women from all over the world light lotus flower candles and set it adrift in water. You can also opt for Ganges Aarti ceremony at the Dasawamedh Ghat. One can access boats from Manmandir area.

Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the oldest, most spectacular and important ghat, located at the bank of the river Ganga near to the old Vishwanath Temple in the Kashi. The literal meaning of the Dashashwamedh is the Ghat (river front) of the ten sacrificed horses (dash means 10, ashwa means horse, medh means sacrifice).

There are two mythologies about the ghat is that the Lord Brahma was created the  Dashashwamedh ghat in order to welcome the Lord Shiva, and the second one is the Lord Brahma was sacrificed the ten horses in a yajna here. The Dashashwamedh ghat was reconstructed by the Bajirao Pesava I in the year 1740 AD. It was later reconstructed by the Queen of the Indore (the princess Ahilyabai Holkar) in the year 1774.

This ghat is famous for the Ganga Aarti which is held here daily in the evening by a group of the priest. This ghat has become the religious spot for the devotees and pilgrims for years and tourists as well. Historically, it is considered as the most favorite and main ghat among the Hindu devotees. Near to the Dashashwamedh ghat, there are various religious temples as well as tourists’ destinations.

Amongst the most fascinating tourist places in Varanasi, Assi river is believed to be the place where Maa Durga disposed of her sword after slaughtering the demon Shumbha-Nishumbha. Settled at the confluence point of the rivers Ganga and Assi, Assi Ghat is one of the holiest places for Hindus all over the country.

The ghat is situated near the Shivala in Varanasi. It sees at least 300 people every morning and the number multiplies many folds during Mahashivratri and other auspicious Hindu festivals. It serves as a special favorite for a lot of people since it is situated in the south of the city, a little far away from all the hustle and bustle.

It is also said that taking a dip in the waters of the Assi river, one can wash away all the sins they’ve committed throughout their lives. A colossal Shiva Lingam can be found right under a Peepal tree, where worshippers offer their prayers and pay respects. Assi Ghat is tucked in a quiet little corner in Varanasi, and one can also enjoy a few undisturbed moments of peace by the river.

Just a few kilometres away from Varanasi, is the village of Singhpur. While Varanasi is a Hindu religious centre, Singhpur’s Sarnath is a Buddhist centre of religion. Visit to this village, which is known for its Buddhist monuments, is one of the best things to do in Varanasi and nearby areas. Sarnath is also referred to a deer park, which is the place where Gautama Buddha first came and taught about the concept of Dharma.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most popular Temple in Varanasi, and all of India! It is amongst the most important temples of Lord Shiva, and graces the western flank of the Holy Ganges. Being one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the temple holds tremendous religious significance for Hindus who flock here every year as a mark of their devotion.

Durga Temple, also known as the “monkey temple” 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. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. The Durga temple is also called Monkey temple because of the presence of large number of monkeys. In Hinduism, Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva’s trident, Vishnu’s discus and a sword. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions.

Shri Samrajeswar Pashupatinath Mahadev Mandir, also known as the Nepali Mandir , Kanthwala Mandir and Mini Khajuraho (Kanthwala in Hindi means wooden), is one of the oldest and most famous temples in the holy city of Varansi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Constructed in the 19th century A.D. by the King of Nepal , the temple is made of terracotta, stone and wood and is replica of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

Bharat Mata Mandir  was constructed in 1936 by freedom fighter Shiv Prasad Gupta and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The temple is located on the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus in Varansi, India. Instead of traditional statues of Gods and Goddesses, this temple has a huge map of undivided India carved in marble. This temple is dedicated to Bharat Mata and claims to be the only one of its kind in the world.