The eternal city of Varanasi is one of the major pilgrimage sites of India and a major tourist attraction. It is also called as Banaras. Besides being a pilgrimage centre it is considered auspicious to die here, ensuring an instant routing to heaven. From over two thousand years, Varanasi has been a great centre of learning and civilisation. The view of the sunrise-bathed ghats in Varanasi is just spectacular. The city's sacred aura, secular vitality, palaces and temples leave the tourists spellbound and compel them to travel to this land again and again.

See & Do

Ghats
Sit on a boat with the lilt of a boatman's accent and his splashing oars and watch the ghats glow-yes holy Varanasi has about 80 ghats which are the beating heart of the place. Ghats are the steps that lead down to the river, from which pilgrims make their sin cleansing dip in the river. The best time to visit the ghats is at dawn.

Some of the important ghats of Varanasi include :

Dasawamadh Ghat Manikarnika Ghat Asi Ghat Mir Ghat Harishchandra Ghat Dattatreya Ghat Barnasangam Ghat

Scindhia Ghat Balaji Ghat Lalita Ghat Gwalior Ghat Manmandir Ghat Panchganga Ghat

Temples
Varanasi can also be called as the land of temples.

Golden Temple - This temple was built in 1776 and is dedicated to Lord Shiva .

Durga Temple - Also known as Monkey temple, this was built in the 18th century and has unique nagara style architecture.

Tulsi Manas Temple - This is a modern, marble shikara style temple built in 1964.

New Vishwanath Temple - Planned by Pandit Malviya and built by the wealthy Birla family of industrialists this temple is open to all. The interior has a Shiva Lingam and verses from Hindu scriptures.

Bharat Mata Temple - This temple is dedicated to Mother India. It was open by Mahatma Gandhi and non- Hindus are not allowed here.

Mosque
Great Mosque Of Aurangzeb - This great mosque has minarets towering 71 metres above the Ganges.

Alamgir Mosque - This mosque is localy known as Beni Madhav Ka Darera. This was originally a Vishnu temple but was destroyed by Aurangzeb and was transformed in to a mosque.

Fort & Museum
Ramnagar Fort & Museum - This fort was constructed in the early 18th century on the east bank. The museum contains old silver and brocade palaquins for the ladies of the court, elephant howdahs made of silver, old brocades, a replica of the royal bed and an armoury of swords and old guns.

Sarees anyone?

The city of Varanasi is mostly famous for three things:

• Banarsi Sarees
• Banarsi carpets
• Handicrafts

The world-famous gold and silver brocades and heavily worked saris are known to have passed on from generations to generations thereby maintaining the same old charm. Besides Banarasi saris and brocades, one can look for wonderful pieces of brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys, hand knotted carpets, musical instruments and antique designs of heavy gold jewellery in Varanasi. one can also buy shawls, carpets, wall hangings, Zari work; stone inlay work, glass beads and bangles, masks of Hindu and Buddhist deities and lampshades.

The shopping hotspots in Varanasi are:

• Chowk
• Gyan Vapi
• Vishwanath Gali
• Thatheri Bazar
• Lahurabir
• Godoulia or Dashswamedh Gali
• Golghar.

Food Paradise

Varanasi is very famous for its rich variety of foods and cuisines. The tangy and spicy north Indian food is the speciality of the place. One can also relish one's taste buds by trying Continental, Chinese, Italian and South Indian dishes too. Well while talking about the most happening eateries we certainly cannot miss on the Langda Aam and Banarsi Paan.

Varanasi ' s various restaurants serve a variety of cuisine continental, Chinese, Indian and of course, the traditional Mughlai.

• Mandarin Restaurant, Lahurabir.
• Shahi Restaurant, near Rathyatra Crossing.
• Yelchico Bar & Restaurant, Godaulia.
• Amrapali, D-58/9 Varanasi.
• Ashiyana Restaurant, Varuna Bridge, Clark Road.
• Hilarious Restaurant, 20/51, Clark Road, Varuna Bridge.
• Temple Restaurant/Gangotri Restaurant, Dashashwamedha Road.
• Haveli Restaurant, The Mall, Cantt.

Climate Meter

Varanasi experiences humid and subtropical climate. As Varanasi lies on the Tropic Of Cancer, the summers can be as hot as 45 degree C. Winters on the other hand are pleasant and the temperature can drop down to about 7 degree C. Monsoons strike in the late June or early July and stays for about two months.