VARANASI : Moksh Ki Nagari (KASHI)

  Uncovering The Other Side Of Varanasi Talking about religion, India is  the  place where these many  different beliefs  and practices co-exist. Faith is so deeply ingrained in the many shrines and religious places here that it leaves even a non-worshipper in bewilderment. Let’s begin our journey by walking straight to the revered land of  Varanasi  and listen to the deathly stillness at the  Manikarnika Ghat . Dead Bodies burning at the Manikarnika Ghat | Photo Credit: Arian Zweger/Flickr   Being closely connected to travel, I’ve come across tourism of all kinds - adventure, eco-friendly, cultural and even virtual. But nothing as unusual and macabre as death tourism! The unearthly Manikarnika Ghat in  Varanasi  thrives solely on that. Not a single day passes when dead bodies are not cremated here with the number going up to two to three hundred every day. To know that tourists come here to see the funeral pyres being set to fire i...

  Varanasi is a very intense place with lots of things to see and do. One of my favorite experiences was the boat ride on Ganga River. You can take the trip in the morning, experience the most amazing sunrise (it’s breathtaking!), and see locals do their morning rituals (bathing, shaving, brushing their teeth and performing puja (praying ritual). You can also take the boat ride in the evening, where you’ll experience the  Ganga Aarti  (evening ritual with fire and music) at 5pm near the Dasaswamedh Ghat.  Varanasi Ghats Varanasi has almost 100 ghats, which are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. A walk along Varanasi’s ghats is a fascinating experience, although you should be prepared for filth and to be hassled by vendors. It takes about 50 minutes to walk from one end to the other. Some interesting ghats include: Assi Ghat:  A bit more quiet and not as chaotic. Manikarnika Ghat:  Also known as the burning ghat where you’ll come...

Sankat Mochan Temple Sankat Mochan Varanasi Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to the Lord Hanuman. This temple is also called as the Monkey temple because of the presence of lot of monkeys inside the premises. It is one of the holy temples of the Lord Hanuman and the main location for Hindus for their many religious as well as cultural festivals. It is located in the southern part of the Varanasi, on the way to the Durga Mandir and New Vishwanath temple BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The meaning of the Sankat Mochan is relief from all the problems (Sankat means problem and Mochan means relief giver). Sankat Mochan Temple was constructed by the educationist and freedom fighter Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya (the founder of the BHU) in the early 1900s. The Hanuman Jayanti (birthday of the Lord Hanuman) is celebrated every year by organizing a special Shobha Yatra (a parade) from Durga temple (Durga Kund) to the Sankat Mochan Temple. The devotees of the Lord Hanuman offer Prasad (desi ghee ke bas...

  Banarasi silk sarees are  Indian  sarees made in Varanasi, a city which is also called Benares or Banaras. The sarees are among the finest sarees in India and are known. And you'll find very few people who don't like them! There's something about a rich Banarasi saree which is classic- something you just cannot go wrong with, whether you're including them in your bridal trousseau or choosing to wear it on your big day, and trust us, while Banarasi lehengas might be a recent trend on the wedding day, Benarasi sarees have been worn for ages and ages by brides, and even when they do today, do really stand out in the crowd! The peculiarity hidden in the prints of a Banarasi Saree is one of a kind. Yes, there is a reason why some of the biggest designers in the countries still include Banarasi in their creations, and we have all the info and inspiration you'd need all in one post! One ought to have a Banarasi Silk Saree for a wedding or else they’ll be missing somethin...