Spirituality
And Old City Charm Is Synonymous With Varanasi
More Travels To India
~ by Manju Dubey
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2005
Varanasi,
India
Discovering
Benares
A visit To
Varanasi or Benares can be as overpowering to some, if not all. If you
are really looking for Hindu divinity, culture and learning it can be found
here. It is the one of the oldest living cities in northern India. Visiting
Benares (Varanasi) is like looking at life from a distance. I have been
visiting it since my childhood. Each visit kind of changes me. Varanasi
is the heart and soul of the Hindu way of life.
What’s so mystical
about Benares? It’s the people and their way of life. At dawn the sweet
chime of bells ringing in the temples and the chant of the mantras awaken
you. Hundreds of temples can be found in Benares. A city so steeped in
traditions, religious ceremonies and yet at the same time it has been the
home of great scholars especially literary scholars as well as scholars
of the sciences and astrology. My mother believed in all that was Benarsi
or that belonged to Benares, not because it was the city of her birth but
due to the deep seated belief in its traditions and way of life.
For any devout
Hindu the day will begin only after bathing in the Holy Ganges and offering
prayers. Benares or Varanasi is well connected by air and trains. There
are good five star hotels, which offer Indian, continental and Chinese
cuisine. Going to the banks of the Ganges just before dawn and immersing
yourself in the entire spiritual atmosphere is an experience of a lifetime. |
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As with any
other city in northern India, Varanasi succumbed to the onslaught and attacks
of Muslim rulers time and time again. The most vicious was from Aurangzeb.
But as they say a city that lives in the minds and hearts of its people
can never die. Cities from which world religions have come to life are
finite. All the famous Hindu temples, which were built over the previous
centuries, were replaced by mosques, but the city and its traditions lived
on. The famous Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (The Destroyer)
was razed to the ground. Subsequently, the new Viswanath Temple was built
by Ahilya Bai Holkar. It is just next to the mosque. Non- Hindus are not
allowed inside the temple premises.
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The
second most important temple is Sankat Mochan Temple. It is dedicated to
the monkey God Hanuman. No pilgrimage to Varanasi can be complete without
visiting it. Next is a visit to BHU an important center for learning. Built
in early 1900’s by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, it’s grandeur is second
to none. It continues to enjoy a reputation as an important learning center,
especially in the field of cultural studies. Sarnath is the famous Budha
Stupa where Lord Gautam Budha gave his discourses to his disciples. It
is a must see.
Feeling a little
adventurous: well a ride in the trishaw or rickshaw is hilarious. A trip
in those gullies, which are lined with shops selling trinkets. The things
worth buying are bangles made of lacquer. They are colorful and harmless.
Bindis can be bought too. Seen Madonna sporting a bindi? If you feel up
to it silk saris are very famous or just bolts of silk material can be
bought at good shops. Dresses can be sewn back home.
A boat ride
is a must over the River Ganges. The true spirit of Benares resides on
the Ganges banks. Last but not the least a visit to the Durga Temples at
Vindhyachal is recommended. It’s a three-hour trip by road. To really enjoy
Benares and enter the spirit of its temple a person must visit for at least
3 to 4 days.
Things to take
care of: always be careful where you eat and drink water. Generally visit
all the places during daylight hours. Don’t let unknown people act as guides
for you; stay at a reasonable and decent hotel, use one of the hotel's
guides and hire car from the hotel. |
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If you can
stomach it then the really good food of Benares is waiting for you: namely
urad dal kachauri with chutney, thandai and puri bhaji. When visiting India
next time please include Benares or Varanasi in your itinerary. Stay at
the Taj Ganges(belonging to the Taj group of hotels)
The following
are the previous articles article Manju wrote for the magazine:
 Jaipur:
A Land Of Color, Culture And Bonhomie ~ Travel
To India
Life
In India Without The Trappings Of Power ~ Getting
Around Power
To contact
Manju Click Here
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