Varanasi

“Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend & looks twice as old as all of them put together” – Mark Twain.

As the sun rises slowly out of horizon on the breast of The Ganges, we all feel a little enchanted. The surrounding is filled with the cacophony of the shankhs and the dazzle of copper diyas. The smoke rises, people start gathering, and cameras flash. As the darkness ends and light descends, we can feel our heartbeats merge with the sounds and are enveloped in the purity and serenity of the morning air.

Although there is no official data, Varanasi is home to more than 20,000 temples. It is a city where religion is no bar and where people are welcome from all over the world. Interestingly, the city has something to offer everyone. Going around the city in the small totes, eating in the small Chaat Bhandari, or drinking the famous lemon tea sitting on the stone stairs of Assi Ghat, we all feel a little peace here. Walking back from the ghats will often lead us to unknown alleys. Some dark and some filled with lights. You will encounter people from all age groups as you visit the shops lined up with small handmade ornaments and take in the air filled with the fragrance of fried masala.

If you land amidst the sea of people on the path to the famous Dasashwamedh Ghat, you will find that there is not a single inch left of space beside or behind you. Sitting in the low-lying chairs inside the saree shops- you will be amazed to see the inexplicable creativity of Varanasi’s textile industry – the range in colours, the type of handicraft and even the hospitality of the people working in the shops are commendable.  When you start walking towards the small and highly narrow Kachodiwali Gali and treat your taste buds to the range of spices special to the area, it is one kind of experience. You will feel like you could live for it. The crowd at the evening Aarti at the Dasashwamedh Ghat will mesmerize you, not suffocate. Even the most claustrophobic person feels at one with the group. Whether you watch it from the boat or sit by the edge of the Ganges, you’ll feel heavenly, as though the world’s impurities were all washing away.

The Varanasi experience will always be incomplete without visiting the campus of Banaras Hindu University. The sprawling campus extends to approximately 1300 acres. It is truly an exemplary display of what a real education hub looks like. Although there are scattered groups of people in various spots all over the campus, the heart of the university lies in the Vishwanath Temple. People from all over India visit it throughout the year, and sometimes it won’t be unusual to feel like we are living in the pages of history. The crowd around the tea shops, the sham ki samosa, jalebi and launglatta is a real treat to both the mind and the tongue. 

The city is slowly developing into a more modern one. Varanasi is a true example of how a city can be politically motivated and still so peaceful. Sensuously yours, Varanasi is a must-visit once in a lifetime.