AlamgirMosque

AlamgirMosque,builtbytheMughalEmperorAurangaseb,hastheunique
distinctionofbeingthelargeststructurelocatedonthebanksoftheriver
GangesinVaranasi.ItisbelievedthattheMosqueisplacedataplacewhere
amajesticKrishnatemplewaslocated.Thistemplewasdestroyedandthe
MosquewasconstructedatthatplaceduringMughalinvasioninIndia.
TheMosqueisatapicturesquelocationoverlookingPanchgangaGhatandis
borderedbythemajesticGanges.ThearchitecturalstyleofthemosqueisablendofHinduand
Persianstylesofconstructionandisveryimposing.Theedificeismagnificentwithcarvedpillars,
turretsandmarvelousdomes.
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AnnapoornaDeviTemple
AnnapurnaorAnnapoornaistheHinduGoddessofnourishment.Anna
meansfoodandgrains.Purnameansfull,completeandperfect.Sheisform
ofParvati,theconsortofShiva.Themostwellknowntemplededicatedto
GoddessAnnapurnaisinVaranasi,U.P.,India.AdjacenttotheSanctumof
theGoddessistheKasiViswanathtemple.Thetwoareseparatedbyonlya
fewyards.AnnapurnaisregardedasthequeenofVaranasialongsideher
husbandVishweshwar(Shiva),theKingofVaranasi.Inthetemple,atnoontime,foodofferingstothe
Goddessaredistributedtotheelderlyanddisableddaily.DuringtheAutumnNavaratrifoodis
distributedonalargerscale.
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AsiGhat
AsiGhat,theGhatlocatedattheconfluenceofAssiRiverandtheholy
Ganges,isthesouthernmostGhatinKashi.TheGhatisrenownedfora
spectacularandlargeShivaLingamplacedunderaPeepalTree.Thisisa
favoritespotforHindudevoteestooffertheirprayerstoLordShivaafter
takingholydipintheriver.
Thisreligiouslyimportantplacegotitsreferenceinmanypuranas,including
MatsyaPurana,KurmaPurana,AgniPuranaandPadmaPurana.LegendarystoriesdescribethisGhat
astheplacewhereGoodessDurgathrownoutherswordafterkillingtheAsurademonsShumbha
Nishumbha.
TheplacebreastsonemoreancientShivatempleenshriningaShivalingamfamouslyknownas
Asisangameshwarlingam.ItwasatthisplacetherenownedsaintpoetTulasiDascompletedthe
famousliteraryworkRamcharitmanas.HindudevoteesthrongtothisGhattotakeholydipinthe
confluenceanditisaverybusyplacewithperformanceofHindureligiousritualsallthroughtheyear.
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BabaKeenaramSthal
BabaKeenaramSthalisoneoftheoldestShaktiPeethasandspiritualcenters
intheworld.ThefullnameofthisplaceisBabaKeenaramSthalKreem
Kund,situatedatRavindrapuriinVaranasiDistrictofUttarPradesh,India.
HerethebodyofBabaKeenaramjeeisburiedinatombwhichisknownas
theSamadhi.Thoughthisplaceisknownastheworkplaceofgreatsaint
BabaKeenaramjeeandintroducedbyhisname,itisbelievedtobe

thousandsyearold.
ThisplaceisregardedastheheadquartersandpilgrimoffollowersofAghora.Itisoneofthemost
visitedplacesofVaranasi,byforeigntourists,writers,researchersanddocumentarymakers.The
presenthead(Abbot),since1978,ofthisplaceisBabaSiddharthGautamRam.
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BanarasHinduUniversity(BHU)
BanarasHinduUniversity(BHU),isaCentraluniversity,locatedin
Varanasi,India,whichisalsothelargestresidentialuniversityinAsia,with
over12,000studentslivingonitscampus.BHUwasfoundedin1916by
PanditMadanMohanMalviya.Thecampusspreadover1350acre(5.5km?)
campuswasbuiltonlanddonatedbythenKashiNaresh.
Ithas140teachingdepartmentsandmorethan55hostelsforboysandgirls.
ThetotalenrollmentintheUniversitystandsatjustover15000,includingstudentsfromalloverIndia
andabroad.Severalofitscolleges,includingengineering(ITBHU),science,linguistics,journalism
andmasscommunication,lawandmedicine(IMSBHU),FacultyofManagementStudies,areranked
amongstthebestinIndia.
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BanarasiCarpets
Varanasianditsneighboringareasarewellknownforcarpetmaking.The
VaranasiBhadohiMirzapurbeltinUttarPradeshproducesmaximum
numberofcarpetsinthecountry.ThecarpetsproducedinVaranasiregion
arefamousfortheexcellenceinqualityanddesign.Everycarpetthatis
wovenherehasadistinctivegraceandunmatchedstylethatspeakvolumes
aboutthecarpetweavingtraditionofVaranasianditssurroundingareas.The
stylishandqualityofthecarpetsalsoprovesthegeniusofthetraditionalcarpetweaversofVaranasi
region.
AmajorityofcarpetsexportedfromIndiacomefromVaranasianditsneighboringareas.Thiscarpet
beltspecializesintraditionalIndianwoolencarpetsandDurries.TheBhadohicarpetsmatchthe
gracefulnessofcarpetweavinginanypartoftheworldandaredistinguishedfortheirbeautyand
eleganceandareworthbuying.ForcarpetloverstheVaranasiBhadohiMirzapurbeltoffersgreat
shoppingopportunitiesasthecarpetsarenotonlycheaperyetstylishandfashionoriented.The
VaranasiBhadohiMirzapurbeltalsoproduceshandtufted,IndoTibetanandlow,mediumandhigh
KnottedCarpets.
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BanarasiHandicrafts
Varanasihas,sincetimesimmemorial,beenhailedasapremiercentrefor
someofthefinesthandicrafts.ThemostrenownedcraftofthecityisSilk
weaving.'BanarasiSarees'producedbylocalcraftsmanareamongthemost
preferred,notonlyinIndiabutacrosstheworld.Brassware,copperware,
ivorywork,glassbangles,wood,stoneandclaytoysandexquisitegold
jewelleryaresomeoftheothercraftsthecityisfamousfor.BhadohiCarpets
andmusicalinstrumentsareamongtheothershoppingattractions.
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BanarasiSariandBrocades
BanarasisoneoftherichweavingcraftcentreofIndia,famousforBrocade

sarisandalloverdressmaterial.ExclusivevarietiesofthesarisareJangla,
Tanchoi,Vaskat,Cutwork,Tishu,andButidarwhicharemadeofsilkwarp
andsilkweft,onplain/satiangroundbase,brocadedwithextraweftpatterns
indifferentlayoutsintroducingButies,Bells,creepers,Buttasinground,
borderandAnchalforgettingglamoursappearance.
Brocaderefertothosetextileswhereinpatternsarecreatedinweavingby
transfixingorthrustingthepatternthreadbetweenthewarp.Inregularweavingtheweftthreadpasses
overandunderthewarpthreadregularly.Butwhenbrocadedesignsingold,silversilkorcotton
threadsaretobewoven,specialthreadsaretransfixedinbetweenbyskippingthepassageofthe
regularweftoveracertainnumberofwarpthreads(dependinguponthepattern)andbyregularising
theskippingbymeansofprearrangedheddlesforeachtypeofpatterning.
FamousBanarsiSarees:BanarasiSilkJamdani,JanglaSaree,JamawarTanchoiSaree,TissuSaree,
CutworkSaree,ButidarSareeetc.
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BharatKalaMuseum
TheKashiHinduUniversityhasamuseumthathasanexcellentcollectionof
preciousandextraordinaryhistoricalobjects,statues,pictures,paintingsand
documents.Museumissmallbutverywellmaintainedandgivesanover
viewoftheveryoldcityofVaranasi.

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BharatMataTemple
BharatMataTemple,afairlynewtemplebuiltin1936andlocatedatKashi
VidyapeethCampus,isashrinededicatedtoMotherIndia.Thistemplewas
builtbyaGandhianfollowerBabuShivPrasadGuptandwasinauguratedby
MahatmaGandhi.ItenshrinesamarblestructureofMotherIndia,afine
threedimensionalstructureofundividedIndia.Themarblestructure,rathera
mapofIndia,isconstructedattherightproportionsofoceans,landsand
hills.Thisisauniquetempleandasymbolofpatriotism.Thistempleisplaceditselfinthesettingsof
naturalbeautyoverlookingtheGangesandholyGhats.Thetempleisintheshapeofpentagonalcone
withfivepillarssupportingthestructure.
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ChandraprabhaWildlifeSanctuary
70km.fromVaranasi,it'sabreathtakinglybeautifulpicnicspotinthe
Chandraprabhaforests,withinwhicharetheRajdariandDevdariwaterfalls.
Theparkestablishedin1957,sprawlsover9,60hectares.Itservesasanideal
habitatforahostofanimalspeciesincludingLeopard,Beer,Cheetal,
Chausinghaandothers.
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ChaukhandiStupa
ChaukhandiStupaisanimportantBuddhiststupainSarnath,located13
kilometresfromVaranasi,UttarPradesh,India.Stupasaredescendentsof
burialmoundsandserveasashrineforarelicoftheBuddha.The
ChaukhandiStupaisthoughtoriginallytohavebeenbuiltasaterraced
templeduringtheGuptaperiodbetweenthe4thto6thCenturytomarkthe
sitewhereLordBuddhaandhisfirstdisciplesmettravelingfromBodhGaya

toSarnath.LaterGovardhan,thesonofaRaja,modifiedthestupatoitspresentshapebybuildingthe
octagonaltowertocommemoratethevisitofHumayun,thepowerfulMughalruler.
Todaythestupaisahighearthenmoundcoveredwithabrickworkedificetoppedbyanoctagonal
tower.ItismaintainedbytheArchaeologicalSurveyofIndia.
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ChunarFort
Tuckedaway40kms.fromVaranasi,Chunaristheplacewherereligion,
historyandnatureintermingle.SituatedintheVindhyarangesonthebanks
ofholyriverGanga,itsscenicandcalmatmosphereenchantsvisitors.
Chunarisalsoanimportanthealthresortduetoitsidealclimate.The
massiveChunarfort,standingataheightof80'to175'fromthegroundlevel
andspreadoveramassiveareaof34,000sq.ft.,istheprimeattractionofthe
place.InsidethefortisaninterestingSundial,adepwellandanopenpavilioncalledtheSonwa
Mandap.ChunarisaccessiblebyroadfromVaranasiandanovernightstayispossibleattheASIrest
housewithinthefortpremises.
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DarbhangaGhat
DarbhangaGhat,arenownedholyspotamongtheHindudevotes,isanideal
locationtohavethereligiousritesassociatedwiththedeathoftherelatives
orfriends.ThisissituatedinthebankoftheholyGangesbetweentwoother
GhatsfamouslyknownasDashaswamedhGhatandRanaMahalGhat.
Theghatisideallyplacedaboveanimpressivebuilding.Thebuildingserves
asaplaceforthepeopletooverlookthereligiousceremoniesintheGhat.A
templeenshriningtheShivaLingamisanattractiontothisplace.ThepremisesoftheGhatofferall
kindsoffacilitiesforperformingreligiousrituals.
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DashaswamedhGhat
DashaswamedhGhat,amuchacclaimedreligiousspot,isaveryfavorite
amongtheHindudevoteesandisconsideredasthemainGhat.Itisbelieved
thatLordBrahmaperformedhisvictoriousDasa_Ashwamedha(tenhorses)
sacrificeinthisspot.Legendsclaimthatasimilarkindoftenhorsesacrifice
wasdonehereinthesecondcenturybyBharaShivaNagarulers.
TheGhatwasrenovatedbyBajiraoPesavaIin1740ADandlaterbythe
QueenofIndore,theprincessAhilyabaiHolkarin1774.Thisplaceattractshugeinflowoftourist
everyday.DashaswamedhGhathascreditedwithmanyreligioustemplesanddestinationsnearby.
Thisisoneofthesafeghatswithwelllaidstepsandperfectplatformsforthedevoteestoperformthe
rituals.
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DhamekStupa
DhamekStupa(alsospelledDhamekhandDhamekha)isamassivestupa
locatedatSarnath,13kmawayfromVaranasi.TheDhamekStupawasbuilt
ca.500CEtoreplaceanearlierstructurecommissionedbythegreat
MauryankingAshokain249BCE,alongwithseveralothermonuments,to
commemoratehispilgrimagethere.Stupasoriginatedascircularmounds
encircledbylargestones.KingAshokabuiltstupastoenshrinesmallpieces

ofcalcinatedboneandotherrelicsofBuddhaandhisdisciples.AnAshokapillarwithanedict
engravedonitstandsnearthesite.
Initscurrentshape,thestupaisasolidcylinderofbricksandstonereachingaheightof43.6meters
andhavingadiameterof28meters.ItisthemostmassivestructureinSarnath.Thebasementseems
tohavesurvivedfromAshoka'sstructure:thestonefacingischiseledanddisplaysdelicatefloral
carvingsofGuptaorigin.Thewalliscoveredwithexquisitelycarvedfiguresofhumansandbirds,as
wellasinscriptionsintheBrahmiscript.
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DurgaMandir
TheDurgaMandir(Temple)issituatedinRamnagarofBanaras(or
Varanasi).Itisbelievedthatitwasbuilt500yearsagowhichisundercontrol
ofroyalfamilyofBanarasStatecurrently.ThistempleisdevotedtoHindu
deityDurga.Thetemplehasalargestonebuiltpondwithit.TheDurga
Mandirboastsofitsfinestoneworks,whichisafabulousexampleofnorth
Indianstoneworkarts.
Thetempleisbasedonsquareshape.Ithasasquarecampus.Themainbuildingoftempleisbuiltofa
squareshapedstage.Theshapeofbuildingisalsosquare.Thestageofthetemplecontainsroomsin
it,whichareusedfortemple'sstaffpurposesandsometimes,forYagya.Thecampusisagreen
campuswithtreesandplants.Visitorcanwalkaroundthemaintemplebuildinginthecampus.It's
usefulsince,someworshipperswalkaroundthebuildingoftemplesforreligiousreasonsin
Hinduism.
Thetemplehasahugesquarepondinfrontofit.Thepondiswithstonestairsinallsidesandfour
watchpillarsoneachcorner.Thereisashademadeofstonealsoatonesideofthepond.Thestone
workonthewallsoftemplebuildingalsoemphasizesthesquareshape.Thetemplewallhasdesigns
builtinsquareshapedblocksandornamentalscrawls.
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GyanKup(GyanVapiWell)
GyanKuporGyanVapiWellisanacclaimedreligiousspotinVaranasi.The
nameliterallymeanswellofwisdom.GyanVapiwell,animposingpavilion,
islocatedattheentrancetotherenownedholyKashiVishwanathtemple.
ThisWellwasbuiltbyGwaliorRaniBaizaBaiin1828AD.Somepartsof
thetemplestructureincludingthecentraldomeandtwopeaksareplacedin
thispavilion.Itisbelievedthatthewatersinthewellprovidethespiritual
enlightenmentandthepavilionisconsideredtobehighlyrevered.Attainingtheperfectwisdomof
spiritualityisofferedinthiswell.
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HanumanGhat
HanumanGhat,earlierknownasRamesvaramGhat,issituatedataholyspot
famedasJunaAkharainVaranasi.LegendssaythatthisGhatwasbuiltby
LordRamhimselfandhencethisGhatisdedicatedtoLordHanuman,the
mostfavoreddiscipleofLordRam.ThisGhatisanimpressiveattraction
amongthewrestlersandbodybuildersasLordHanumanisasynonymof
strength.
ArenownedVaishnavaSaint,Vallabhacharya,taughthisdisciplesmagnificentstoriesandtheglories
ofLordKrishnaatthisplace.AtemplededicatedtoLordHanumanandanothertemplefoundedby

saintpoetTulsiDasaremainattractionsinthisGhat.
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HarischandraGhat
HarischandraGhatisoneamongtwocremationgroundswithburning
facilitiesinVaranasi.ThisisnamedaftertheKingHarishchandra,whospent
hispartofthelifeasakeeperofacrematoriumtopreservehistruthand
virtues.ThisGhatexistedheremanycenturiesanditwasin1740,aHindu
saintnamedNarayanaDikshitrenovatedit.Manypeoplebringthemortal
remainsoftheirrelativesandfriendstothisplacetopyre.Itisbelievedthat
onecanattain'Moksha'(Salvation),ifcrematedinthisplace.Animposingtempleisadorningthis
place.ThetempleenclosesbeautifulstructuresofHarisdchandra,VriddhaKedaraandAdi
Manikanteshwra.
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JantarMantar
JantarMantar,arenownedobservatoryestablishedin1737bythefamous
MaharajaofJaipurJaiSingh.ThisJantarMandiratVaranasiisareplicaof
JantarMandirinNewDelhiandotherplaces.Thisobservatorywasbuiltto
findoutlocaltime,planetaryandstarmovements.Thiswasusedtopredict
theeclipsesandalsothedeclinationofsun.Thisobservatoryiscreditedwith
manyinstrumentstorecordtheposition,speedandmotionofthestars.
IndianAstronomicaltheoriesandcalculationsarepracticedhere.
ThestructureoftheJantarMantariscaptivatingwithcomplexarchitecturalstyles.Itisareal
attractivespottoastronomers,scholars,engineers,architectsandscientists.Someofthevaluable
instruments(Yanthra)availablehereareDiganshaYantra,KrantivrittaYantra,DhruvaYantraand
PrakashYantra.
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KaimurWildlifeSanctury
Barely3km.fromRobertsganj,Kaimurisa500sq.km.spreadofforests
withavarietyofwildlife.BeautyofSoneandEchovalleyarebestwitnessed
her.Itwasestablishedin1982andaboundsinleopard,blackbuck,Chittal,
Chinkara,Ratel,PeafowlandBluebull.

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KalbhairavTemple
ItistheancienttempleofVaranasineartheHeadPostOffice,
VishesharGanj.GodKalBhairavisbelievedas"KotwalOfVaranasi",
withouthispermissionnoonecanstayinKashi.

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KashiVishwanathTemple
KashiVishwanathTempleisoneofthemostfamousHindutemples
dedicatedtoLordShivaandislocatedinBenaras,theHoliestPlaceof
Hindus(andcenterofearthinHinduCosmology)whereatleastonceinlife
aHinduisexpectedtodopilgrimageandifpossiblepourtheremains(ashes)

ofcrematedancestorshereontheRiverGanges.
ThetemplestandsonthewesternbankoftheholyriverGanges,andisoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas,
theholiestofShivatemples.ThemaindeityisknownbythenameVishwanathaorVishweshwara
meaningtheRuleroftheuniverse.Thetempletownthatclaimstobetheoldestlivingcityinthe
world,with3500yearsofdocumentedhistoryisalsocalledKashiandhencethetempleispopularly
calledasKashiVishwanathTemple.Duetothis15.5mhighgoldenspire,thetempleissometimes
calledastheGoldenTemple,similartotheGoldentemple,aSikhGurudwaraatAmritsar.
Thetemplecomplexconsistsofaseriesofsmallershrines,locatedinasmalllanecalledthe
VishwanathaGalli,neartheriver.Thelingathemaindeityattheshrineis60cmtalland90cmin
circumferencehousedinasilveraltar.TherearesmalltemplesforKaalbhairav,Dhandapani,
Avimukteshwara,Vishnu,Vinayaka,Sanishwara,VirupakshaandVirupakshGauriinthecomplex.
ThereisasmallwellinthetemplecalledtheJnanaVapi(thewisdomwell)anditisbelievedthatthe
Jytorlingawashiddeninthewelltoprotectitatthetimeofinvasion.Itissaidthatthemainpriestof
thetemplehadjumpedinthewellwiththeShivLinginordertoprotectthe(Jyotir)Lingfromthe
invaders.
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KedareshvaraTemple
ItisthemostimportantShivatempleofthecity.Thestonelingahereissaid
tohaveemergedspontaneously.Themythnarratethatapurehearteddevotee
ofShivaprayedforachancetovisitthefamousKedareshvaraShivatemple
intheHimalayas.Shiva,whoisthegodofdestructionisalwayskindtohis
bhaktas(devotees).Shivawastouchedbyhisbhakta'spietyandinsteadof
bringinghimtothemountain,Shivabroughthisimagetothebhakta.This
image(linga)emergedoutofaplateofriceandlentils.Itcanbestillseenbythebelieversonthe
roughsurfaceofthenaturalstonelinga.
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MaharajaBanarasVidyaMandirMuseum
MaharajaBanarasVidyaMandirMuseumislocatedatFortRamnagarin
Varanasi.Themuseumwasestablishedintheyear1964.Previoulythe
buildingofthemuseumwasthepalaceofMaharajaofBenaras.Themuseum
containsvarioustypesofobjectsincludingweapons,manuscripts,
palanquins,astronomicalclock,paintingsetc.Thepictorialdepictionof
DussehracelebrationsandRamLeelaandatextilewovenwithivoryare
worthmentioning.
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ManMandirGhat
ManMandirGhat,datingbackto1600andrenovatedin19thcentury,was
builtbyRajaSavaiManSinghandtheGhatisnamedafterhim.ManMandit
Ghat,originallyknownasSomesvaraGhat,hasafinebalconyatthenorth
endoftheGhat.AsmallobservatoryfoundedbyRajaJaiSinghofJaipuris
alsoseeninthisGhat.
ThisGhathousesmanyfamoustemplessuchasSthuladantaVinayaka,
RameshwaraandSomeshwaratemples.SomeshwaralingamisthereplicaofSomeshwaralingamin
Somanath(Gujrat),oneofthenineJyotirlingas.ManyHindudevoteesvisitthisGhattoofferprayers
toSomeshwar.

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ManikarnikaGhat
ManikarnikaGhat,alsoknownpopularlyasMahasmasana,isoneoftwo
burningGhatsinVaranasi.TheotherGhatwhereburningisallowedis
HarishchandraGhat.ManikarnikaGhatistheprominentamongthetwoand
isdatingbacktomanycenturies.Themythologypointstherelationofthis
GhattoLordVishnuandLordShiva.Thepopularbeliefistheburningthe
deadbodiesinthiscremationgroundisareligiouswaytoattainMoksha,the
salvation.
AShivaDurgatemple,builtin1850byMaharajaofAwadh,isasacredshrineatthisGhat.Asacred
pondknownasCakraPushkariniKundisalsoadorningthisholyplace.Itisbelievedthatthispond
wasdugbyLordVishnuandwasexistedbeforetheoriginofholyGanges.
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MrityunjayMahadevTemple
OntherouteofDaranagartoKalbhairavtemplethistempleofLordShivais
situated.JustbesidesthistemplethereisaWellofmuchreligious
importance,whosewaterissaidtobemixtureofseveralunderground
streamsandgoodforeliminatingseveraldiseases.

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NewVishwanathTemple(GoldenTemple)
NewVishwanathTemple,alsopopularlyknownastheGoldenTemple,is
situatedinthecampusofBanaresHinduUniversity(BHU).Thetempleis
builtbytheBirlafamilyandhenceitisalsoknownasBirlatemple.
ThisnewVishwanathTempleisdedicatedtoLordShivaandishavingthe
similarstructureofKashiVishwanathtemple.Thetempleamarvelin
marblesisdesignedbythefounderofBHUMadanMohanMalavya.The
wallsofthetempleareadornedwiththespectacularsculpturesofHinduGodsandGoddesses.The
templeisopentoallpeopleirrespectiveofreligion,casteandcreed.
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PanchgangaGhat
PanchgangaGhat,asacredlocatedattheconfluenceoffiveholyrivers
(Panchganga)meet.TheriversareTheGanga,TheSaraswati,The
Dhupapapa,TheYamunaandTheKirna.ThisGhatisamajorHindu
religiousattractioninVaranasi.ThisistheplacewhereAlamgirMosque
builtbyMughalAurangsebislocated.Itisbelievedthatthemosqueis
constructedonaplacewheretherewasanancientVishnutemple.
ThegreatscholarlyteacherVaidantRamanand,theGuruofgreatsaintKabir,preachedhisdisciples
atthisplace.ThesaintpoetTulsiDascomposedthefamousliteraryworkVinayPatrikahereby
stayingatthisholyplace.ThisGhatiscreditedwitheightwaterfrontlocationsfordoingreligious
rituals.
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PillarsofAshoka
ThepillarsofAshokaareaseriesofcolumnsdispersedthroughoutthe
northernIndiansubcontinent,erectedoratleastinscribedbytheMauryan

kingAshokaduringhisreigninthe3rdcenturyBCE.Originally,theremust
havebeenmanypillarsbutonlynineteensurvivewithinscriptions.Manyare
preservedinafragmentarystate.Averagingbetweenfortyandfiftyfeetin
height,andweighinguptofiftytonseach,allthepillarswerequarriedat
Chunar,justsouthofVaranasianddragged,sometimeshundredsofmiles,to
wheretheywereerected.
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PrehistoricRockPaintings
TheVindhyaandtheKaimurrangeshaveatleast250rockartsitesspread
acrossthem.Thecavepaintingsrangefromthemesolithictothemeolithic
andchalcolothicages.Amongimportantcavepaintingsitesfoundinthe
regionarethePanchmukhicaves(8kmfromRobertsganj),KauvaKhoh
rockshelters(nearChurk)Lakhaniacaves(22km,fromRobertsganj)
Lakhmacaves(nearMauKalanvillage).
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RamnagarFort
RamnagarFort,constructedbyMaharajaBalwantSinghin17thcentury,isa
medievalperiodfortlocatedinthebanksoftheriverGanges.Thiswasthe
royalresidenceofRajaofBanares,alsoknownasMaharajaofKashi.Still
thisfortcontinuesastheresidentialpalaceoftheroyalfamilymembers.
Thehallofpublicaudience,popularlyknownas'DurbarHall',isamain
attractionintheRamnagarFort.AblendofIndianandIslamicarchitecture
canbeseenintheconstructionoftheFort.Thefortismadeupofpreciousmarblestonesandthe
glossymarblesgivethefortaneyecatchingappearance.
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RamnagarMuseum
RamnagarMuseum,ascholarlymuseumrenownedastheBanarasVidya
MandirMuseum,islocatedinteriortoRamnagarFort.Thispraiseworthy
museumisahomeofmanymedievalperiodartifacts,collectionofmany
itemsbelongedtotheRoyalfamilyofBanarasandalsomanyhandicraft
items.
Themuseumalsodisplaysarmsandarmorsusedintheroyalperiod,
elephantsaddles,decoratedartpieces,ornatepalanquins,textilesofvariouskinds,ancient
manuscripts,goldplatedhowdahs,furnitureandmanyotherartifacts.Thismuseumattractsthousands
oftouristseveryyear.
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RanaMahalaGhat
RanaMahalaGhat,builtin1670AD,wasbuiltbytheUdaipurrulerduring
thatperiodandislocatedatthewesternsideofVaranasi.TheGhatis
perfectlyplacedonthebanksofGangessothatonecanperformallreligious
ritualswithoutmuchdifficultyandcanhaveaholydipintheGangeswaters.
ThisplaceisoftenvisitedbytheHindudevoteestoperformpurificationof
themindandbody.
TheGhatislocatedatunspoiledandunpollutedsurroundings.Anancienttempleknownas
VakratundaVinayakaTemple,dedicatedtoLordGanapati,isplacedatthisGhat.Thistempleattracts

manytouristsvisitingVaranasi.
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SankatMochanHanumanTemple
SankatMochanHanumanTempleisoneofthesacredtemplesofHindugod
HanumaninthecityofVaranasi,UttarPradesh,India.ThewordSankat
Mochanmeansdelivererfromtroubles.Inthemandir,specialofferingsare
soldlikethespecial"besankeladoo"(sweets).AlsoHanumanjiisoffered
withmarigoldflowergarland.Outsidethetemple,therearemanyvendors
whosellpendants,rings,incenseandholyflowerstothedevotees.The
templeisuniqueinawaythatbothRamaandHanumanstatuesfaceeachother.
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SankathaTemple
NeartheSindhiaGhat,thereisanimportanttempleof"GoddessofRemedy"
DeviSankatha.InsideitspremisesthereisahugestatueofaLion.Alsothere
isninetemplesofnineplanetsnearbytothistemple.

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Sarnath
SarnathisthemainplacetovisitwhileontouraroundVaranasi.Amuch
sacredpilgrimageandtouristspotincountry.Sarnathisonly10kmaway
fromVaranasi.ItisoneofthefourmostsignificantBuddhistpilgrimage
placesinIndiaSarnathistheplacewhereLordBuddhafirstcoveyhis
lectureafterattaining"nirvana".TouristspotsinSarnathincludelotsof
Stupas,historicalmonuments,thedeerparkandmanymore.
PlacesinSarnath:DhamekStupa,DharmarajikaStupa,ChaukhandiStupa,AshokaPillar,Sarnath
ArcheologicalMuseum
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SarnathBuddhistTemples
ThereareanumberoftwentiethcenturyBuddhisttemplesinSarnath.Many
oftheseBuddhisttemplesatSarnatharebuiltandmaintainedbymonksfrom
Tibet,ChinaandJapanbutthemainBuddhisttempleistheMulagandhakuti
Vihar.Themainshrine(vihara),calledtheMulagandakuti,issaidtobe
locatedattheplacewhereBuddhausedtostayduringhisvisitstoSarnath.
Thereisacarvedsandstonerailinginsidethetemple.IntheMulagandhakuti
ViharatherealsoisaBuddhawalk.
Therecent'MulagandhakutiVihara'orthemodernBuddhisttempleis110feethighwithanimageof
Buddhainsideit.BuddhistrelicsdiscoveredatTaxilaareenshrinedinthis'MulagandhkutiVihara'.
TherearealsofinepaintingsonthewallsofthistemplebyJapaneseartistKosetsuNosu.Buddhist
servicesareconductedthere.BesidestheMulagandhakutiViharatemplethereareChinese,Burmese
andJaintemplesnearby.
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SarnathMuseum
Sarnathhasyieldedarichcollectionofsculptures,artifactsandedifices

comprisingnumerousBuddhaandBodhisattvaimagesandotherancient
remains.TohouseallthefindingsandexcavationsatSarnath,the
ArchaeologicalSurveyofIndiaestablishedasiteMuseumatSarnath.Finest
specimensofBuddhistartandotherimportantremainshavebeenhousedat
themuseum.
WhilethesinglemostfamousexhibitofthismuseumistheLionCapitalof
Asoka,theSarnathmuseumhasasmallbutaweinspiringcollectionofBuddhistartifacts.Amongthe
thingstoseeisabeautifulsculptureoftheBuddhafromthefifthcentury.TheBuddhasitscross
legged,witheyesdowncastindeepmeditation,andahaloaroundhishead.Alsoworthexploringare
severalbeautifulfiguresofthebodhisattvas.
ThemainattractionoftheSarnathArchaeologicalMuseumisthesuperbAshokanPillar.Ithasfour
backtobacklions,whichhasbeenadoptedastheNationalsymbolofIndia.Belowthisare
representationsofalion,anelephant,horseandthebull.
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ShivalaGhat
ShivalaGhat,aghatbuiltbyKingBalwantSingh,owedmostsignificantrole
duringthemedievalperiodandisbelievedtobeasacredplacetohaveaholy
dip.TheShivalaGhat,asthenamesuggests,isareligiouslyimportantGhat
withapresidingdeityofLordShiva.
Aspectacularroyalmansionbuiltduringthe19thcenturybyNepalKing
SanjayVikramShahisamarvelousattractionlocatedatthisGhatlocation.
AnattractiveShivatempleandBrahmendraMath,aspiritualcentre,aretwootherattractionslocated
atthisGhat.TheMathissetupbyahighlyreveredpersonknownasKashiraj.
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TulsiGhat
TulsiGhat,aprominentGhatinVaranasiinhonoroffamoussaintpoetTulsi
Das,isasignificantplaceisVaranasi.ThepoetTulsiDashadwrittenthe
famousscholarlyreligiousworkRamCharitManasspendingmanyyearsin
thisholyghat.Themythologysaysthatwhenthemanuscriptofhisworkfell
intotheholywaterofGanga,itfloataloftwithoutsinking.
TulsiDasgotmotivatedfromthepristineLordRamtemplelocatedatthe
bankoftheriverGanges.ItisbelievedthatthestoryofRama(Ramlila)wasperformedatthisplace
forthefirsttime.ManyreminiscencesofTulsiDasarestillavailableinthisGhat.Thehousewherehe
attainedMoksha,pillow,woodenclogs,SamadhiplaceandacuteidolofLordHanumanare
preservedhere.
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TulsiManasTemple
LocatedsevenkilometersfromtheVaranasistation,theTulsiManasTemple
hasatraditionalandculturalhistory.Itisestablishedinthatveryplacewhere
thegreatIndianepic`Ramayana`waswritten.ItwasGoswamiTulsiDas
whocomposedRamayanainHindiandnamedit`RamCharitManas`.Lord
Ramaisthedeityworshippedatthistemple.TulsiDasactuallycreatedagod
outofRama.Beforehand,Ramawasconsideredasakingwhowas
unparallel.Thetempleissimplyconstructed.VersesfromRamCharitManasspatterthewallsofthe
temple.ThecomplexphilosophiesoftheRamayanaaredescribedinsheersimplicityofwords.

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Vindhyachal
70km.(oneandahalfhourdrive)fromVaranasi,Vindhyachalisa
renownedreligiouscitydedicatedtoGoddessVindhyavasini.Mythologically
goddessVindhyavasiniisbelievedtobetheinstantbestowerofbendiction.
Therareseveraltemplesofotherdeitiesinthevicinity,themostfamousones
beingAshtabhujaDeviTempleandkalikhohTemple,whichconstitutethe
TrikonaParikrama(circumambulation).TheVindhyavasiniDeviTemple,
theAshtabhujatemple,dedicatedtoGoddessMahasaraswati(onahollock,3kmfromVindhyavasini
temple)andtheKalikhohtemple,dedicatedtoGoddessKali(2kmfromVindhyavasinitemple)form
theTrikonParikrama.
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VishalakshiTempleofDivineMotherSati
TheVishalakshiTempleofDivineMotherSati,wifeofLordShivastandsat
MeerGhatjustbehindVishwanathTempleinVaranasi,India.Devout
Hindusconsiderthisasoneofthe51ShaktiPeethasmentionedinthe
Puranas.

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VyasaTemple,Ramnagar
AccordingtoapopularPuranicstory,whenVyasafailedtogetalmsin
Varanasiheputacurseonthecity.Soonafter,atahousewhereParvatiand
Shivahadtakenhumanformashouseholders,Vyasawassopleasedwiththe
almshereceivedthatheforgothiscurse.However,becauseofhisbad
temperShivabanishedVyasafromVaranasi.Resolvedtobenearathand,
VyasatookhisresidenceontheothersideoftheGangeswherehistemple
maystillbeseenatRamnagar.
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WaterfallsinVaranasi
Tandafall,Wyndhamfall,upperandlowerkhajurireservoirs(all14kms.
fromMirzapur),Sirsifall(46kmfromMirzapur),Jargoreservoir(15km
fromChunar),SiddhanathKiDari(18kmfromChunar)andMukkhafall(40
kmfromRobertsganj),aresomeofthewaterfallsthatareafavouredpicnic
spotbynaturelovers.
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OtherPlaces
SomeReligiousPlacesinVaranasi:St.Mary'sChurch,GyanvapiMosque,ShitalaTemple,
ChausathYoginiTemple,JainTempleetc.
FairandFestivalsinVaranasi:BuddhPurnimaSarnath,RamleelaRamnagar,DhrupadMela,
HanumanJayanti,BharatMilap,Nakkataya,NagNathaiya,Mahashivratri,PanchKoshiParikrama,
GangaMahotsavetc.
MuthinVaranasi:KinaramMath,SanatanGaudiyaMath,ShriMath,TailangSwamiMath,Gopal
Math,KabirMath,KarpatriJiMath,DandiSwamiMath,ShankaracharyaMath,JangambariMath
etc.
AshramsinVaranasi:MumukshBhavan,DharmSangh,NirajaniAkhanra,SatuaBabaAshram,
SadhuBelaAshram,MataAnandmaiAshram,RamKrishnaMishanSevashram,SarveshwariSamuh

Ashram,GadwaGhatAshram,BhinagarajDandiSevashram,RadhaSwamiBagetc.
80GhatsofVaranasi:Assi,GangaMahal(I),Rewan,Tulsi,Bhadaini,Janaki,MataAnandami,
Vaccharaja,Jain,Nishad,Prabhu,Panchkota,ChetaSingh,Niranjani,Mahanirvani,Shivala,Gularia,
Dandi,Hanuman,Prachina(old)Hanumanana,Karnataka,HarushChandra,Lali,Vijayanagaram,
Kedar,Caowki,Ksemesvara/Somesvara,Manasarovara,Narada,Raja,Khori,Pandey,Sarvesvara,
Digpatia,Causatthi,Ranamahala,DaraBhanga,Munsi,Ahilyabai,Sitala,Mehta,Rama,Jatara,Raja
Gwalior,MangalaGauri,Venimadhava,Pancaganga,Durga,Brahma,BundiParakota(Adi)Sitala,
Lala,Hanumanagardhi,Gaya/Gai,BadriNayarana,Trilocana,Gola,Nandesavara/Nandu,Sakka,
Telianala,Dasasvamedha,Prayaga,RajendraPrasasa,ManaMandira,TripuraBhairavi,Mira,
Phuta/Naya,Nepali,Lalita,Bauli/Umaraogiri/Amroha,Jalasayi,Khirki,Manikarnika,Bajirio,
Scindhia,Sankatha,GangaMahal(II),Bhonsala,NayaandGenesaetc.