One of the holiest cities in India and equally captivating too. Sit on the steps built on the bank of the river Ganga and you'll see the spirituality of the people manifested through the many rites. Pilgrims come here to wash away the accummulated sins by bathing in the river, holy men meditate in peace, dead bodies are cremated at a couple of the 'ghats'- their location by the riverbank ensuring a heavenly place to the departed soul. At dawn and dusk, the riverbank becomes most active; you can hire boats (remember to bargain!) and take a ride, spending time beside the more popular ghats like Dasaswamedh, Panchganga, Ramghat, Assighat etc.

The town spreads outwards from the riverbank. The ancient Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva shares its boundaries with the Great Mosque since the latter was built by destroying the earlier Shiva temples. The Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple and many others are popular with the pilgrim visitors. Do visit the Benaras Hindu University's art gallery called Bharat Kala Bhawan which has an extensive collection of fascinating medieval miniatures, sculptures and old photographs of Varanasi.

Make a half day trip to Sarnath, 10 km. After gaining his enlightenment, Buddha held his first public meeting. The Mahabodhi Temple here contains beautiful frescoes by the Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. There is also an adjoining deer park and mini zoo.

BASICS

STD Code: 0542

Air: The Babatpur airport, serving Varanasi, is 22 km from the city.

Rail: Varanasi Cantonment is the main station. It is connected with Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Lucknow, Mumbai, Puri, Satna and other places. Mughalserai, 12 km south of Varanasi, is also an important railway junction with onward connections to Delhi, Calcutta and other major cities.

Road: Major distances:
Delhi- 817 km
Allahabad- 125 km
Jabbalpur- 455 km
Khajuraho- 406 km
Agra- 565 km
The main bus station is very near the main railway station. There are frequent buses to Allahabad, Lucknow and other important towns nearby. There are regular, ordinary buses to Sonauli, on the Indo-Nepalese border.
Best time: October to March is comfortable. December to February is the best time.

Accommodation: There is no dearth of rooms. But do checkout their standard since many in the budget and mid-range can be very grubby. The UP tourism counter in the Varanasi Cantonment rail station is very helpful regarding finding a suitable hotel.
Vishnu Rest House (Tel: 329206), Shiva Guest House, Alka Hotel (Tel: 328445), Hotel Samman (Tel: 322241), Hotel Grand Holiday (Tel: 343791), Hotel Buddha (Tel: 343686), Hotel Plaza Inn (Tel: 348210), UP Tourism's Tourist Bungalow (Tel: 343413), Hotel Surya (Tel: 343014), Hotel Vaibhav (Tel: 345056).

Local transport: Not quite necessary if you are staying along or nearby the riverbanks. But the newer town (with the TV tower as its more popular landmark) is quite a distance from the old one. Cyclerickshaws and autorickshaws are the usual mode of transport; be sure to bargain.

Shopping: Varanasi is well-known for its 'Zari' worked sarees and dress materials.
Contact: Uttar Pradesh Tourism
C/0. Tourist Bungalow,
Parade Kothi,
Cantonment,
Varanasi.
Tel: (0542)341162.