Varanasi – The City older than traditions

Kashi, Banaras or Varanasi, a city ~700 kms east of New Delhi is widely considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and certainly the oldest city in India. Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga, Kashi has been considered the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus in India and major religious destination for people following Buddhism and Jain religions. Mark Twain, the famous American writer, once said,

“Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”

Mark Twain

Religious Importance of Varanasi

  • Varanasi, city of Lord Shiva, is considered the holiest of the seven holy pilgrimage centres in India (Mathura, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwarka) for Hindus. It’s believed that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the holy Ganga river allows one to achieve salvation. This city is home to thousands of historic Hindu temples.
  • Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, “The setting in Motion of the wheel of Dharma”, in Sarnath here around 528 B.C. and founded Buddhism
  • According to Jain tradition, Kashi is the birthplace of Suparshvanath, Chandraprabhu, Shreyansnath and Parshvanath, four of Jain Tirthankaras
  • For ages, numerous scholars and preachers visited Varanasi from across India and South Asia including Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

Trade and Industry

Varanasi is known for it’s fine silk and Banarasi Saris, muslin, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Diesel locomotive works, unit of Indian Railways, is the largest diesel-electric locomotive manufacturer in India. Other major commodities manufactured and traded in Varanasi include hand-knotted Mirzapur carpets, rugs, dhurries, brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys, handicrafts, gold jewellery, and musical instruments.

And yes, how can we forget the famous food products from Banaras, it’s ‘betel’ leaves and ‘langra’ variety mangoes.

Arts and Culture

Varanasi has always been one of the biggest centers of learning in India and is the cultural capital of India. It has been home to old and rich traditions of art and music since a long time and is the birthplace of ever-famous novelist Munshi Premchand and Tulsidas, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ramcharitmanas (one of the greatest work in Hindi literature). Varanasi has three central universities, including a Sanskrit university.

A center of dance and music, it is also the birthplace of Bharat Ratna awardee musicians, Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, the famous Shehnai player.

Why should you visit Varanasi?

1. To observe the beauty of it’s magnificent Ghats and incredible number of temples

  • View of the Dashashwamedh Ghat
  • View of the ghats while enjoying a boat ride in holy river Ganges

2. To have a peaceful boat ride along the Ghats in the holy river Ganges

3. Experience the spectacular Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh ghat after sunset

  • Large traditional flaming lamps used to worship the Goddess Ganga
  • Young priest in traditional Saffron Kurta and Dhoti getting ready for Puja ceremony
  • Priests using incense sticks to worship the diety
  • Priests blowing Shankh (Conch shell) as a part of the Puja ceremony

4. Treat your taste buds with mouth watering local street food

Kachori Sabji and Chai for breakfast, Baati Chokha for lunch, Banaras ki Tamatar chat and Lassi in the evening and several other mouth watering street food items

  • Baati Chokha Platter at the Baati Chokha Restaurant in Varanasi

5. Visit Sarnath to see the Dhamek Stupa and Buddhist temple

5. Immerse yourself in the magic of Varanasi’s temples, narrow streets, ghats and culture

  • Beautiful Sunset on the Ghats of Varanasi

Last but not the least, if you have time, reserve a guest house near one of the Ghats and stay in Varanasi for months and immerse yourself in the magic of Varanasi’s temples, narrow streets, ghats and culture to get a spiritually overhauling experience

How to reach Varanasi

Varanasi is extremely well connected by Air, Rail and Road with New Delhi and other parts of India. The nearest airport is Babatpur Airport, around 20 kms from the city and there are dozens of major trains from every major city in India which will take you to Varanasi.

We would certainly be writing more about several aspects of the historic city of Varanasi in another blog. We do recommend visiting this place for it’s incredibly spiritual heritage, great food and peaceful ghats.

Leave us a comment in case you need any travel suggestions or just want to chat about your experience!