Varanasi is one of India's most dynamic and fascinating cities to visit. Varanasi is an exciting city, from the people draped in brilliant saris who line the Ganges for morning bathing to the cultural practises passed down for years - here's what you need to know.
History
Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi, is a city in Northern India. The city is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities, and it is not only India's spiritual capital but also the holiest of Hinduism's seven sacred cities, and it played a key part in the establishment of Buddhism.
When Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath, a small city approximately 10 kilometres distant, he is claimed to have started Buddhism in Varanasi around 528 BC. Varanasi continued to expand in religious significance and was under Muslim authority for three centuries beginning in 1194, until a liberal monarch returned some religious relief to the city, which is today a hub of Hindu activity.
Education, philosophy, culture, the arts, and religion have flourished here for ages, and when you visit Varanasi's religious centre, you'll realise that this is what keeps the city alive and well.
The Ganges is a river in India
The Ganges, a 2,525-kilometer river that flows across India and Bangladesh, is Hinduism's most sacred river. Despite being one of the world's most polluted rivers, it is nevertheless home to hundreds of species, and many residents who live along its banks rely on it for their daily needs. Previously thickly forested and home to elephants, rhinos, lions, and tigers, the river and surrounding area have had to adjust to the ever-growing population, and huge wild species are now few and far between.
The Ganges, like Varanasi, is considered to be one of the holiest places on the planet. Bathing in the Ganges is said to wash away sins and cleanse you of all bad, and you'll see hundreds of people bathing along the river every morning when you visit.
Along the Ganges River, cremations are also a tradition, as Hindus believe that cremation on the river's banks frees the soul from the cycle of death and rebirth. The iconic cremation ghat in Varanasi operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week because to the population density and belief in this custom.
The Ghats are a group of hills in India
Varanasi's 87+ ghats—stone steps that descend steeply towards the river and span northward into a crescent—are where much of the city's everyday life takes place. The majority of these ghats were constructed after 1700 AD and are linked to mythology or tales, while others are privately held.
From the water, you may get a better perspective of all the ghats if you take one of the popular boat trips around the shore. Although the Assi Ghat is not as popular with tourists and visitors as the Ganges Ghat, it is a significant ghat for Hindus, as pilgrims bathe here before worshipping Lord Shiva.
The famed Ganga Aarti ceremony takes place every evening at Dashashwamedh Ghat, one of the oldest and most prominent ghats. This ghat is often lined with beggars, vendors, pilgrims, and everything in between, making it a terrific area to people watch.
In Varanasi, the Manikarnika Ghat is a prominent cremation ghat. You'll come face to face with death at this ghat, which will leave you with a strange feeling — one that almost makes you appreciate Hinduism's traditions and celebrations even more. Best seen from a respectful distance from a boat on the water, you'll come face to face with death at this ghat, which will leave you with a strange feeling — one that almost makes you appreciate Hinduism's traditions and celebrations even more.
Scindia Ghat, near Manikarnika Ghat, is notable for a special point of interest: a partially submerged Shiva temple near the water's edge that sank during the ghat's construction in 1830.
Although it is nearly impossible to visit every ghat in Varanasi, the ones listed here are some of the most important and popular among visitors.
Aarti of the Ganges
Hundreds of people go to the seashore and on boats for the nightly aarti ceremony, with groups of priests lining the Dashashwamedh Ghat. Priests execute ceremonies involving blowing horns, flower petals, bells, incense, and burning pots that take around 20-30 minutes. Boats line the water's edge to witness the event, as youngsters and residents sell snacks and masala chai between them.
The ritual begins after sunset (about 6 p.m. in the winter and 7 p.m. in the summer), thus arriving early to secure a boat with a decent spot or the right spot along the shore is essential. The aarti takes place in front of the river, with the priests lighting and circling the lamps, all while chanting or singing praises to Mother Ganga. This ritual may pique your interest to the point where you want to attend it every night while in Varanasi.
Varanasi is a city rich in history, culture, and religion, and it is a must-see for anybody visiting India. Despite the fact that the city might overload your senses, no vacation to India is complete without a stop here.