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  Durga Temple

  This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, another form of Lord Shiva's consort, Parvati. She is an embodiment of Shakti or female energy in Hindu mythology. Clad in red sari, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva's trident and a sword, she presents a menacing picture. A stark primeval atmosphere is all pervasive in the inner sanctum. In architectural terms the temple has an ornate, multi-tiered shikhara comprising five segments symbolizing the five elements and is supported by finely carved ... more>>

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  Scindia Ghat

  The tilted Shiva temple lying partially submerged in the river is the thing that strikes you first up. It slid into the river as a result of the sheer weight of its construction around 150 years ago. One of the most picturesque ghats, the area around houses some of the most venerated shrines hidden in the tight maze of lanes known as Kshetra or the 'Field of Fulfillment'. ... more>>

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  Asi Ghat

  Located towards the southern part of town, this ghat stands at the point where River Asi and Ganga converge. The massive lingam under a peepal tree is the focal point here. After a ritual bath, devotees make a beeline to pray at this lingam. Another lingam close by is called Asisangameshvara or the 'Lord of the Confluence of the Asi'. It is in a small marble temple just off the ghat. The tradition here is to head next to Lolarka Kund, a tank 15 meters below the ground. The place comes alive duri ... more>>

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  New Vishwanath Temple

  This was the brainchild of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, founder of the Banaras Hindu University. A progressive intellectual, he espoused the cause of a casteless Hindu society. The Birlas gave shape to the Pandit's idea by funding the temple construction. A lofty white-marble shikhara is the singular feature of this temple. Drawing inspiration from the original Vishwanth Temple that was destroyed by Aurangzeb, the sanctum has a Shiva lingam and verses from Hindu scriptures inscribed on the walls ... more>>

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  Ganga Aarti

  Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat is a show stopper. It is on the 'must do' list of every tourist. It starts soon after sundown, and goes on for an hour and half, but visitors begin streaming in as early as 5 PM. The preparation in the lead up to the Aarti sets the tone for the evening ahead. It all begins with young priests organizing their prayer instruments on their respective platforms – eight odd of them. Visitors start taking their seats while locals can be seen buying flowers and other item ... more>>

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  Tulsi Manas Temple

  Tulsi Manas Temple is located next to Durga Temple. Built in 1964 in white marble, its walls are inscribed with verses by the poet Tulsidas. He authored the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi equivalent of the great Sanskrit epic Ramayana. In keeping with the egalitarian ethos of the epic, entry to this temple is open to one and all. ... more>>

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  Bharat Kala Bhawan Museum

  Towards the south of town is a museum with impressive exhibits called Bharat Kala Bhawan. Located within the Banaras Hindu University campus, it has a fabulous collection of miniature paintings, sculpture, contemporary art and bronzes. One of the highlights here is an exquisite nineteenth-century map. The varied art displays have Hindu, Buddhist and Mughal influences. The museum stocks among others works of Jamini Roy, Nicholas Roerich and Alice Boner. It was established in 1920, and remains ver ... more>>

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  Panchganga Ghat

  This is a ghat that is at once dramatic and controversial. The ghat is dominated by the largest riverside building in Varanasi, the Mosque of Alamgir, known locally as Beni Madhav-ka-Darera. The mosque stands on the ruins of the Bindu Madhava Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is said to have extended from Panchganga Ghat to Rama Ghat before being destroyed by Aurangzeb, who replaced it with the mosque. ... more>>

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  Jantar Mantar

  The Jantar Mantar is an observatory. Located on the roof of Man Mahal near Man Mandir Ghat, it can be accessed from the river bank as well as a street close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It was built on the lines of the observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain and Mathura, and covers an irregular rooftop area that is 31 meters long (103 feet), 9 meters wide (30 feet). It can be approached from a staircase to the northeast.
  
  The observatory was added to Man Mahal sometime between 1724 and 173 ... more>>

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  Walk through the Old City

  A leisurely stroll through Old Varanasi is something most avid travelers look forward to. For there's no better way to experience this ancient city than take in the sights and sounds, the history, and the pathos of an area that forms the heart of Varanasi! Located roughly between the Dashaswamedh Ghat and Godaulia Chowk (square), the Old City can be approached through its labyrinthine alleys. From the wee hours the place is abuzz with activity. Pilgrims, priests, travelers, local residents, shop ... more>>

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  Bharat Mata Temple

  Located 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) off Godaulia is the Bharat Mata Temple. The only one of its kind, it's dedicated to Mother India. Located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus, the temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The presiding deity is a marble statue of undivided India. The unique aspect of Bharat Mata Temple is that instead of the gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon, it houses a relief map of India. ... more>>

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  Ramnagar Fort and Museum

  This is the residence of the Maharaja of Varanasi, popularly known as ‘Kashi Naresh’. The Ramnagar Fort lies about 14 kilometers (9 miles) south of Varanasi along the eastern bank of Ganga. Its picturesque location by the river makes it popular with visitors. A pontoon bridge connects the fort to the city. During monsoon months the bridge is dismantled and replaced by a ferry. By road it can be approached from the long main road that crosses the Malaviya Bridge up north near Raj Ghat. You then d ... more>>

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  Kashi Vishwanath Temple

  If Varanasi is the city of Lord Shiva, then Kashi Vishwanath Temple is its beating heart. Of the over 2,000 temples in Varanasi, this is the most important. Also, the holiest of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas, a glimpse of which is considered very auspicious.
  
  The antiquity of the original temple is hard to ascertain as the city and its temples were repeatedly destroyed by the pre-Mughal Muslim invaders and later by Aurangzeb. But the devotion in hearts of Banarasis for Shiva has outlived e ... more>>

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  Boat Ride on Ganga

  For a traveler to be able to put a finger on the pulse of Varanasi, the importance of Ganga in the lives of Banarasis needs to be observed. And the best way to do this is take a boat ride from the southern most ghat (Asi) to the northern ghat (Raj) or vice versa. One always has the option of doing a partial one as well. But we recommend you go the whole hog.
  
  As the boatman's oars gently lap the water, the spirit of the Ganga will begin its magical spell. Observe the unfolding early morn ... more>>

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  Sankat Mochan Temple

  Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is very popular with Banarasis. Located towards the southern ghats and close to Banaras Hindu University, it is a hub of cultural activities in town. This was the epicenter of March 7, 2006 explosions that rocked Varanasi. Bombs went off while the aarti was in progress. But true to its character, Varanasi continues to stand up after every attack on its traditions. Sankat Mochan remains popular as ever. The day following the blasts saw large number of devote ... more>>

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  A visit to Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

  If you have an inherent quest for knowledge, visit the hallowed BHU. One of the largest residential universities in the world, the sprawling campus covers 1350 acres towards the southern part of town. Nationalist leader Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's cherished project, it played a stellar role during the independence movement by stroking the fire for freedom in young and old alike. Panditji chose Varanasi as the site because of its centuries-old tradition of learning, wisdom and spirituality.
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  Man Mandir Ghat

  This ghat was built by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur around 1600. It is known primarily for its magnificent eighteenth-century observatory and palace. The observatory was built by Jai Singh (Man Singh's descendent), while the palace was constructed by Man Singh himself. ... more>>

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  Dashaswamedh Ghat

  Dashashwamedh Ghat is by far Varanasi's most popular ghat with locals and tourists alike. A kaleidoscope of images greet visitors here every morning – people bathing, some doing the suryunamaskaar (invocation to the Sun god), others performing yoga, holy men sitting under huge umbrellas, others going about their daily chores, masseurs plying their trade and boats drifting by, away from the banks with tourists soaking in the sights and sounds.
  
  Start early to enjoy the morning scenes at th ... more>>

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  Sarnath

  About 13 kilometers (8 miles) north-east of Varanasi lies a quiet, serene place called Sarnath. One of the top four Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world, it was here that the Buddha (Enlightened One) gave his first sermon. The others being Lumbini, where he was born, Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment (nirvana), and Kushinagar, where he left his mortal remains.
  
  On attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, Gautama Buddha walked to Sarnath along with disciples who were attrac ... more>>

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  Alamgir Mosque

  It was originally a Vishnu temple built by a Maratha chieftain named Beni Madhav Rao Scindia. Built in the 17th century, it was destroyed by Aurangzeb within a few decades of it being built. The lower portions of the enclosure walls retain their Hindu design while the rest of the mosque is in Mughal style. The architecture of the mosque is a blend of Hindu and Persian styles, and is very imposing. The edifice is magnificent with carved pillars, turrets and marvelous domes. ... more>>

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  Manikarnika Ghat

  Kashi is also known as 'Mahashmashana' or the Great Cremation Ground. Mythologically the whole of Kashi is a cremation ground. Hindus believe that bathing in Ganga absolves all sins, and dying in Kashi ensures Moksha or release of a person's soul from the cycle of death and rebirth. This belief leads many widows and the elderly to come to Varanasi to spend their final days. And the two ghats where a Hindu's final journey is undertaken are Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat.
  
  Rows of ... more>>

The city of Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganga river. It has the headquarters of Varanasi district. The "Varanasi Urban Agglomeration" — an agglomeration of seven urban sub-units — covers an area of 112.26 km² (approximately 43 mi²). The urban agglomeration is stretched between 82° 56’E - 83° 03’E and 25° 14’N - 25° 23.5’N. Being located in the Gangetic plains of North India, the land is very fertile because low level floods in the Ganges continually replenish the soil.

On a local level, Varanasi is located on a higher ground between rivers Ganga and Varuna, the mean elevation being 80.71 m. As a result of absence of tributaries and canals, the main land is continuous and relatively dry. In ancient times, this geographic situation must have been highly favorable for forming settlements. But it is difficult to ascertain the original geography of Varanasi because the city's current location is not exactly the same as the one described in some old texts.

Varanasi is often said to be located between two confluences: one of Ganga and Varuna, and other of Ganga and Assi, (Assi having always been a rivulet rather than a river.) The distance between these two confluences is around 2.5 miles, and religious Hindus regard a round trip between these two places --a Pancha-kroshi Yatra (a five mile journey)-- ending with a visit to a Sakshi Vinayak Temple as a holy ritual.

Varanasi has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters. The average annual rainfall is 1110 mm (44 in). Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers. Through a combination of water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature, the water level of the Ganges has recently gone down significantly, and small islands have become visible in the middle of the river.

Courtsey – Wikipedia

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