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Varanasi
वाराणसी
Sightseeing and place to see
Varanasi is not a city with distinct tourist destinations as such:
instead, the experience is in watching the spectacle of life and
death on the river and meandering through the alleys of the old
city.
* Vishwanath Temple - also known as the Golden Temple, security is
tight making entrance difficult and sometimes completely off limits
to foreigners. No bags, cellphones or pens are allowed. They can be
deposited in the shops by the temple entrance. The temple was
destroyed multiple times by Mughal invaders and was re-constructed
by Hindu kings who followed them.
* Kaal Bhairav Temple - is the temple for Kaal Bhairav - a dreadful
form of Lord Shiva symbolizing death. Its a tradition to buy black
threads (costs about Rs. 15 per 50 threads as of Sep 2009), keep it
in the shrine and then wear it on the arm, wrist or around the neck
as a protection against evil forces.
* Nepali Hindu Temple - A small golden temple, built in Nepali
architecture, near Lalita Ghat
* Alamagir Mosque - overlooking Panchganga Ghat, it's a great place
for a bird's eye view of the area.
* Man Mandir Observatory
* Tulsi Manas Temple
* Durga Temple
* Banaras Hindu University - a very green and peaceful campus. Few
actually know that this University was built during Indian freedom
struggle and is known as Oxford of the East. This is the largest
residential university of Asia, having approx. 124 independent
departments. You also visit Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum of Art and
Archeology inside university. There is also a Vishwanath Temple
bulit by Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya.
* Ram Nagar Fort - the fort of the King of Kashi
* Gowdi Matha Temple - The devi at this temple is supposed to be the
sister of the lord Kashi Vishwanath. Its a tradition to visit her
just before you leave Kashi. You buy sea shells at this place and
offer them to the God saying that the virtues of donating the shells
goes to her while you keep the virtues of having visited the holy
shrines in Kashi and bathing in the ganges. The trip to Kashi is
expected to yield results only after completing this custom.
Ghats
While the use of ghats for cremation is well known, they are also
used to give last rites to those who do not need cleansing by fire
to purify their soul, including young children and pregnant women.
Instead, their bodies are wrapped in cloth, weighted with stones and
deposited into the Ganges. However, it is fairly common for the
ropes to give way, resulting in putrefying corpses washing up on the
east shore across from the city. Steer clear if squemish.
A ghat is a series of steps leading down to the river, used by
bathers and pilgrims, and riverside Varanasi consists of a long
sequence of these. It's generally possible to walk directly between
them, though near Manikarnika Ghat you'll have to navigate your way
up and around through the alleyways. The best option for viewing the
ghats is to charter a boat and see them from the river.
Hindus consider it auspicious to die in Varanasi, so some ghats are
known as burning ghats, where bodies are cremated (in full view)
before their ashes are placed in the Ganges.
Some of the main ghats, from north to south:
* Narad Ghat - the ghat on which bathing with spouse is not advised
because the myth of contention
* Panchganga Ghat - the meeting of the five rivers
* Manikarnika Ghat - the main cremation ghat; a must-see, but remain
quiet and never take photographs
* Dasaswamedh Ghat - the main ghat and site of the large evening
aarti; only reachable by foot at some times of day, about a 5 minute
walk south from Godaulia
* Rana Ghat
* Kedar Ghat - brightly painted in stripes and busy with bathers,
very photogenic
* Harishchandra Ghat - the cremation place were Raja Harishchandra
did the last rituals of his son.
* Hanuman Ghat
* Shivala Ghat
* Tulsi Ghat - site of the large water purification plant
* Assi Ghat - a popular place to stay with many hotels, restaurants
and internet cafes
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