Benares (Warranty), a city that is mystical through and through, it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India and therefore the biggest tourist attraction. Located on both sides of the Ganges, from more than 2000 for years it served as a center of science and civilization, over time it became the heart of Hinduism. Starting from the 11th century. it was the object of the Muslim invasion. The crowning achievement of these loot attacks was the invasion of the Mughal Aurangzeb, which destroyed almost all the temples here, and turned the most famous into a mosque.
About 10 km from here is Sarnath, the city where the Buddha, having attained complete enlightenment, delivered the first sermon. It happened in the 6th century. p.n.e.
Benares is known as Kasi or Varanasi; the latter name comes from antiquity and means the city between the two rivers Varuna and Asia. For devout Hindus, Benares remains an unusual place, not only for the purpose of pilgrimage. Many of them are headed for Benares, to die here, thus opening for myself the way to heaven. To this day, Benares is considered a center of science, prides itself on many Sanskrit scholars, attracts students from all over India. Ironically, it also excels as the main city of one of India's most backward regions, where vast tracts of land are dotted with the poor, overcrowded, rural settlements.
On the other hand, Benares became a symbol of the Indian Renaissance and played a special role in the development of the Hindi language. The famous novelist Prem Chand contributed significantly to this, and the renowned Indian poet Tulsi Das, who lived in Benares for many years. The latter translated the Sanskrit epic Ramayana into Hindi and entitled it Ram Charit Manas.
Orientation
The old part of the city stretches along the western bank of the Ganges. Winding streets with very high buildings depart from the ghats by the river. They are so narrow, that they are only suitable for pedestrian traffic. It is worth taking a walk around this extraordinary corner of Benares. Unfortunately, the cleanliness of the streets leaves much to be desired. The orientation in the city will make it much easier to remember the names of individual ghats, and above all the important ones, e.g. Dasaswamedh, Raj or Asi.
The old part of the city is surrounded by the Ćowki districts, Lahurabir i Godaulia (also pronounced as Godowlia or Gadaulia). North of Varanasi Junction Railway Station is the Cantonment district with elegant hotels and a tourist information office. The TV tower is a good landmark here. Wide, The tree-lined streets of Chantonment contrast with the crowded streets of the old town, which people push through, bicycles and rickshaws.
information
Tourist information office The most competent information is provided by the governmental tourist information office, The Mail 15B, Cantonment (43744, Ott. codz. 9.00 – 17.30, sb. 9.00 – 13.00). The state tour desk is located in the Tourist Bungalow (43413). Information can also be obtained from the information desk at Varanasi Junction Railway Station.
Money There are many places where you can exchange money at Benarres, e.g. at a bank in the international part of the airport or at the State Bank of India, which has branches in better hotels in Cantonment. The State Bank of Benares is located next to the Dasaswamedh ghat.
Press and Magazines The English-language Pioneer newspaper gives an overview of local events. A good city guide, containing information about all ghats and temples, is Benares: City of Life by Diana Eck. The information in the guide is also a good introduction to understanding Hinduism.
Ghati
Ghati, that is, stone stairs leading to the river, are the biggest attraction of Benares. Mainly situated on the west bank, both attract tourists, as well as pilgrims. The Ganges, shrouded in magical light, acquires some mystical dimension, when at dawn, in the light of the rising sun, hundreds of pilgrims make ritual baths.
In Benares there are over 100 gha-ts. Some of them are used to incinerate a corpse. It is best to start the review with the Dasaswamedh ghat, and end at the Manikarnik ghat. You pay for renting a boat for an hour 25 INR. Competition is fierce and the boat owners themselves propose their services.
You can admire women on ghats, discreetly bathing in their saris, young yogis, who by performing selected asanas, they seem to have no bones, the brahmanas, giving blessings for a fee, and the ubiquitous beggars, whose help – according to the spirit of religion, it has a positive effect on karma. There are lingas next to each ghat, low cylindrical poles with a rounded top, which symbolize the god Siva, guardian of the city. Some houses and temples near ghats tilt dangerously, a few buildings did collapse. The slow destruction of riverside buildings takes place as a result of the disastrous activity of the annual monsoon.
The so-called. flaming ghats- Manikarnika and Hariścandra (less used) they are used to incinerate a corpse. You mustn't take pictures of these ghats, especially during cremation. Sometimes even having a camera can create a problem. A corpse wrapped in a white shroud is brought to the Holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher, and sometimes he brings taxis on the roof. Chandals are working on cremation, people of one of the many groups belonging to the untouchable caste.
On Asia's ghata, pilgrims make their first ritual bath, to then repeat it on the same day on the next four ghats, in strict order: Dasaswamedh, Barnasangam, Pancganga and Manikarnika. Ghat Tulsidas fell almost completely into the river. Ghat Baćraj is a Jain ghat and there are three Jain temples in its vicinity. Many ghats are owned by maharajas or princes, for example, the ghat Shi-wala, about interesting architecture, belongs to the Maharaja of Benares. Ghat Dandi (Dandi Panths) he is a ghat of ascetics. The Hanumana ghat, popular with Hindus, is right next door.