Varanasi

• Book hotel as close to Dashashwamedh Ghat as possible. Most of the attractions are around this ghat. You can even stay late after the famous aarti to go back to your hotel.
• Try everything that is famous to eat as Varanasi is famous for the eateries. Chat and Lassi are two most tries items here.
• A boat ride to Assi Ghat will help you cover the University end of Varansi in style. The Vishwanath Temple within BHU is as peaceful place as possible.

Varanasi was exactly as everyone had described over the years. Congested gullies, overpopulation, lots of cows all along the majestic river Ganges with chants and mantras in the air and a promise of spiritual upheaval. The holy city draws throngs of foreigners to showcase the heritage of India and from what we saw, they don't return disappointed.

Ganga Aarti @ Dashaswamedh Ghat

Our hotel was a 15 minutes drive from the Kashi Viswanath Temple. As Dashaswamadh Ghat, famous for the evening Ganga Aarti, was walking distance from the temple, we quickly refreshed ourselves and started for the holy place. Kashi Viswanath is more like a fortress than a temple, given the threats of terrorism to it. We were able to visit it briefly and then move towards the ghat.

Market walk from Kashi Viswanath

Ganga ghat was a spectacle in itself. Tens of thousand of worshippers had already gathered on the giant staircase to the river and more were on the floating boats. We decided to take a boat as we were told the aarti is best visible from the river. The boat runs its own course taking people to two ends of the Varanasi before settling in front of the aarti.

Harishchandra Ghat

The aarti was elaborate. Several priests would chant and showcase in front of the crowd at the same time with plate on fire on one hand and a rod on another. People, specially foreigners, were in a trance. We decided to move out quickly as once the aarti ends, these thousands will exit simultaneously creating a jam at the entrance. It was time for the delicacies.

Kashi Chat Bhandar

Varanasi is famous for chaat & lassi. We settled at Kashi Chaat Bhandar which is walking distance from the ghat. Tomato Chat was specially tasty and I took two full plates for myself. It was filling hence we decided to move back to hotel room and enjoy the hospitality of Taj Gateway. Next morning we started early for the Banares Hindu University which hosts New Viswanath Temple.

New Viswanath Temple

The temple is also hundred years old and has a more peaceful environment in the middle of university. We enjoyed the serenity and then decided to move to Assi Ghat nearby. It was here that Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas. The ghat is at the edge of Varanasi and hence offers a panoramic view of the entire city bank from one side. We just sat ther for an hour. The pleasant weather and view of the holy river was enough to keep us engaged.

View from Assi Ghat

It was time to go back to hotel, have breakfast and then checkout. Plan was to carry our luggage to Sarnath and from there directly go to train station. Our hotel had few surprises for us. Taj Gateway has a massive campus and we could see dozen of peacocks roaming around in the lawn at the backside. With those and a lot of other memories we left Varanasi.