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          Introduction of Varanasi | 
           
          
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          Varanasi 
          (the city of light) is the most holy city of India. It is also well 
          known 
          by the name Banaras or Kashi. Varanasi is the most sacred city which 
          is located on the northern bank of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. 
          The name of Varanasi is derives from Varuna and Asi, which are the two 
          tributaries of the Ganga. Varanasi is located between these 2 
          tributaries.  
           
          Varanasi is about 300 kms from Lucknow.Varanasi is also known as "the 
          religious capital of India", "the city of shiva", "the city of 
          learning" and "the holy city of India".   
          
          
          Varanasi is very popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India. 
          People from all over the world come to visit Varanasi, the oldest 
          living cities in the world. Varanasi is located at an elevation of 81 
          meters above sea level. Varanasi is not only associated with Hinduism 
          but it is also associated with Jainism and Buddhism.    
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          Gangaghat  | 
           
          
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          History of  Varanasi | 
           
          
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          Varanasi 
          was built around ten centuries before the birth of Christ as per 
          legends. Varanasi is also mentioned in various holy epics like 
          Ramayana, Mahabharata, some Buddhist texts and in Vamana Purana. 
          Varanasi wasn founded by Lord Shiva according to legends. 
          Varanasi 
          was also known by various other names such as Mahasmasana, Surandhana, 
          Brahma Vardha, Anandakanana, Avimuktaka, Ramya, Sudarsana, Kasi, 
          Banaras and Kashi. Kasikanda described the splendor of the city 
          Varanasi about 5000 years ago in 15,000 verses in the Skanda Purana. 
          The city of Varanasi is also visited by the Pandavas, the heros of the 
          Hindu epic Mahabharata, Pandavas visit this place in the search of 
          Lord Shiva. In Skanda Purana Lord Shiva says, 'the three worlds from 
          one city of mine and Kasi is my royal palace'. In the 4th and 7th 
          century A.D well-known Chinese travellers, Huien Tsang and Fa-Hsien 
          also visited this city. Varanasi also experience a cultural revival 
          during the rule of Akbar in the 16th century. Before the foundation of 
          Muslim rule in India, Varanasi was the capital of the Gahadavala king, 
          Jaichand, who was the most powerful Indian king. Varanasi formed part 
          of the province of Oudh under the rule of Mughals. There are also 
          legends associated with Varanasi which signifies the importance of the 
          city in the 5th century B.C. In the 5th century B.C, one of the chief 
          disciples of the Buddha, the Ananda, had wished that instead of 
          Kushinagara, Buddha had died in Varanasi.   | 
           
          
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      Tourist Attraction in Varanasi | 
           
          
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          Prominent 
          tourist attractions in Varanasi are as follows -  
           
          
          
          Ghats 
          One of the prominent tourist attraction in Varanasi are the Ghats of 
          Varanasi. Varanasi has about 85 Ghats which are located on the west 
          banks of the river Ganges. Some of the Ghats of Varanasi are 
          associated with legends. Morning boat ride on the Ganges across the 
          Ghats is very popular among visitors. Devotees from all over come to 
          visit this place to meditate and to offer holy prayers with the aim to 
          purify themselves by taking a bath in the holy river Ganges.  
          
           
          Temples 
          Kashi Vishwanath temple or the Golden temple – Kashi Vishwanath temple 
          is also Known as Golden temple. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. 
          Other temples which can be visited in Varanasi are Bharat Mata temple, 
          Durga temple 
          
          Mosques 
          Another prominent attraction in Varanasi is the great mosque of 
          Aurangzeb.  
          
          Jantar Mantar 
          Jantar Mantar which is observatory is founded in the year 1737, it is 
          situated above the Ghats on the Ganges. Jantar Mantar has unique 
          instruments from which measurements can be done clearly.  
          
          Ramnagar Fort 
          Ramnagar Fort was founded by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh in the 
          18th century, it is located near banks of River Ganges.  It is in 
          Mughal style of architecture.   
          
          Sarnath 
          and Bodhgaya  
          Sarnath 
          and Bodhgaya are also situated near by Varanasi. Sarnath is 
          the oldest museum museum near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath 
          museum has a rich collection of Buddhist antiquities. Some other 
          structures at Sarnatha are the ruins of stupas and monasteries & the 
          ruins of the brick temple representing the Mula- Gandha Kuti. Dhamekh 
          Stupa is most magnificent among all of them which is decorated 
          delicate floral carvings in the lower part. Sarnath has a very rich 
          collection of Buddhist sculptures which encompass several Bodhisatva 
          and Buddha images which can be seen at Archaeological Museum, Sarnath. 
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      Ganga Aarti  | 
          
       
      Ganga Aarti  | 
           
          
          
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      Ganga 
      Aarti  | 
          
       
      Ganga 
      Aarti  | 
           
          
          
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      Ganga Aarti  | 
          
       
      Varanasi Ghat  | 
           
          
          
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      Varanasi Market  | 
          
       
      Sarnath  | 
           
          
          
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      Ramnagar 
      Fort  | 
          
       
      Ramnagar 
      Fort  | 
           
          
          
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      Bodhgaya  | 
          
       
      Buddha 
      Statue  | 
           
           
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       How to Reach Varanasi | 
           
          
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          By 
          Rail: 
          Varanasi is well connected by rail. Varanasi is directly linked with 
          all the main cities of the country like Bombay, Madras, Gwalior, 
          Guwahati, Lucknow, Calcutta, Indore, Meerut, Delhi and Allahabad.
           
          
          By 
          Road: 
          Varanasi is linked by road to various cities of the country. It is 
          about 400 kms from Khajuraho, 125 kms from Allahabad, 760 kms from 
          Delhi and 560 kms from Agra.  
          
          By Air: 
          Varanasi is also well connected by air. Daily flights operate between 
          Varanasi and New Delhi. Various flights also operate between Mumbai, 
          Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow and Khajuraho.   | 
           
          
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          You will visit
          “Varanasi” 
          during the below Tours of Rajasthan and North India.  | 
           
          
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          Delightful Rajasthan and 
          North India Tour (Group Tour) (Including Varanasi) 
            
          20 Days / 19 
          Nights 
          Delhi - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Osian - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - 
          Udaipur - Pushkar - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Gwalior - Orchha 
          - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi 
           
           
          19 Days Rajasthan and North 
          India Tour (Including Varanasi)
            
          19 Days / 18 
          Nights  
          Delhi - Shekhawati - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Osian - Jodhpur - Ranakpur 
          - Udaipur - Pushkar - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Khajuraho - 
          Varanasi - Delhi  | 
           
          
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