Information About Varanasi, The Ghats, Sarnath, Viswanath Temple, Banaras Hindu Univarsity, Chunar Fort, Ramnagar Fort, Archaeological Museum, Other Temple& Deer Park

tailormade tours to india, tourism in india, india package tours, indian tailormade tours, tailormade holidays, india tourism travels

package tours in india, budget india tours, south india tours, pilgrimage tours of india, temple tours in south india, ayurvedic treatment travel

Home

Hotel Reservations

Airline Bookings

Car/Coach Rental

Rajasthan Tours

Golden Tours Itineraries

Pilgrimage Tours

Buddhist Circuit Tours

Pushkar Fair Festival

Wildlife Adventure Tours

Textile Tours

Yoga Tours

Trekking Tours

South India Tours

Luxury Trains

Motorcycle Tours

Cycle Tours

Rafting Tours

Varanasi View.

Gautam Budhha.

VARANASI
General Information about Varanasi

Banaras has always been associated with philosophy and wisdom. A place of learning for many years, the Banaras Hindu University carries on this tradition. The University campus, to the south of the city, was built at the beginning of this century. Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya was instrumental in founding it. On campus is the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which originated from the private collection of Rai Krishnadasa.

In Banaras we find many places where a temple once stood and where now mosque or some other structure stands. However, there is a little known farman, or royal decree, in the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, which claims that Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal ruler, ordered his administrators to abstain from destroying any more temples. In succeeding years as Banaras continued to grow, the temples that were destroyed, were rebuilt or relocated.

Since Banaras is a pilgrimage centre, revered and honored throughout India, pilgrims come from all parts of the country to visit it. Some travel 2,000 kilometers to bathe in the Ganga and to honor their dead. Earlier pilgrims used to walk to Banaras on foot, and along the way visited other pilgrimages.The antiquity of Banaras is known not just by the archeological remains but by the diverse and varied literature of India

The inflow of pilgrims developed Banaras as a trade centre. Besides traders, crafts people also settled in Banaras. Today the city is renowned for its silk weavers, who prepare the finest types of woven silk fabrics. A Banaras silk sari or shawl is traditionally a single colored textile with motifs and patterns woven in gold or silver threads. The technique is intricate, the procedure complex and demands great expertise .As the warp and the weft are interwoven on the loom, small ,often minute shuttles with gold thread are introduced to form the motif. When the design of the motif is completed, a knot is made and the gold thread cut. The weaving continues until the next design. The smaller the motif or the more intricate the design, the more complex the weaving skills required.

Silk weaving in Banaras is a cottage industry and in many areas of the city, especially the Muslim quarters, one can see looms at work all day . Entire families are involved, Children often pick up the art from the elders at an early age. There are shops in Banaras, and throughout India, that sell these fine silk fabrics

The Ghats
Pilgrims flock the Ghats to have a ritual bath and perform puja to the rising sun, following centuries old tradition. The Dasashvamedh Ghat offers a splendid view of the river front. This is the ghat of the 10 (Das) horses (shiva) sacrificed (medh). Legend has it that it was performed by Brahma to pave way for Shiva’s return to Varanasi after a spell of banishment. A sight that has remained unchanged and unspoilt-by time, wars or even man himself. Other special ghats are the Asi, Barnasangam, Panchganga and Manikarnika, Ghats.
Sarnath Varanasi India.

► Sarnath
The great Buddha enhanced the sanctity of Varanasi by choosing the environs of the city to preach his first sermon at Sarnath, (only 10 kms away) after attaining enlightenment.Later, Ashoka, the great Mauryan Emperor erected magnificent stupas and other buildings alongwith his mighty stone pillar, Dharmarajika Stupa. The 110 ft. tall Damekh Stupa marks the place where Buddha preached first sermon.Sarnath has been a premier centre for Buddhism.It is a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics and antiques comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images on display at the Archaeological Museum (1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Open all days except Friday)
Viswanath Temple:
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is the most sacred shrine in Varanasi. The original temple was destroyed by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb which was later restored by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore in the 18th century. The Gold plating of the dome was done during the 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. Foreigners entry restricted.
Banaras Hindu University:
Founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya it is considered to be the largest residential university in Asia. Within the university campus, Vishwanath Temple and Bharat Kala Kendra (Museum) are well worth a visit.
Chunar Fort:
From their vantage point at the northern extremity of the Kaimur Hills, the impressive sandstone battlements of Chunar command a meander in the Ganga before the river curves north to Varanasi 22 km. away. Evidence of the earliest occupation of the site dates it to Vikramaditya of Ujjain in 56 BC. Chunar sandstone has been used for centuries, most famously in Ashokan pillars - and is still quarried, leaving the surrounding hills looking ravaged in places.
Ramnagar Fort:
The residential place of Kashi Naresh (Former Maharaja of Varanasi) across the Ganges at Ramnagar houses a museum with the exhibits of palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres, etc. Dussehra celebration of Ramnagar is an interesting event to witness.
Archaeological Museum:
The main attraction at this excellent Archaeological Museum is the superb capital from the Ashokan pillar. It has the Ashokan symbol of four back-to-back lions which has been adopted as the state symbol of modern India. Other finds from the site include many figures and sculptures from the various periods of Saranath - Mauryan, Kushana, Gupta and later. Among them is the earliest Buddha image found at Sarnath, Buddha figures in various positions dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries, and many images of Hindu gods such as Saraswati, Ganesh and Vishnu from the 9th to 12th centuries. The museum is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, closed on Fridays.
Other Temple & Deer Park:
You can visit the modern temples in the Thai, Chinese, Tibetan, Burmese and Japanese monasteries. North of the Mulgandha Kuti Vihar is the deer par.

► more details go to next page

Our Network Links
www.heritagehotelsinindia.com | www.southindiatourism.in | www.indiatouroperators.com | www.carrentalindia.in | www.indianheritagehotels.org | www.tigersinindia.com | www.rajasthanheritagehotels.in | www.keralabackwatertours.com