Varanasi, the beating heart of the whole Hindu universe, is one of the most sacred places in the nation. It is a blindingly colorful, relentlessly chaotic, and splendidly magical city dotting the map of India. Alternatively known as Kashi, which means the city of life, Varanasi is true to its name. It is a sprawling holy city that lives in the never-ending religious milieu. It is one of the four sacred places in the country that are collectively called as the Char Dham. Besides, it is also amongst the seven most sacred destinations in India. The city owns a huge significance amongst the Hindus. For them it is the place where they can wash off the lifetime of sins, spend some time in tranquillity, meditating and getting the Almighty's blessings.
Each year, huge hordes of pilgrims and devotees head to the Varanasi. The seasons of religious festivals are the times when the city is filled by visitors, neck-high. This place is considered to be one of the most pious places for cremation, because it is believed that a death here brings Moksha to one. Pilgrims and believers head to the city with religious purposes and tourist head to the city to watch the pilgrims, they doing their rituals, the sacred temples and religious spots, and to explore the other attractions of the city. The good thing is because there exist excellent road, rail, and flight connectivity to the city, making arriving here an easy affair. The city has its own airport, about 25 km from the heart of the city. It is a typical airport complete with all modern amenities and equipments. There also exist some good hotels near Varanasi Airport, making it convenient for the visitors to find a comfortable accommodation in the city.
The spiritual aspect is the most dominating facet of Varanasi tourism. The city in true terms is a magical one. Always filled with the devotees, the worth-watching religious rituals, and the colors of tourism, it is a city to head to. Those looking for a refreshing religious break from the typical city life are going to find plenty of opportunities here. However, the huge number of tourists heading to the city is also a downfall, as the city and the attractions are always crowded and noisy. Finding tranquillity here may become a task to accomplish. Also, a couple of intimate rituals, like cremation are done in public, so, the faint-hearted might like to skip these places. A couple of must visit places in the city include: Kaal Bhairav Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Nepali Hindu Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Sarnath, Banaras Hindu University, Durga Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Manikarnika Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Gauri Matha Temple etc.
Coming to the accommodations in the city. A good thing is those looking for accommodations that are in the vicinity of the prime temples and religious spots, for example hotels in Varanasi near Vishwanath Temple, there exist a couple good hotels.
Today, there exist all sorts of hotels in the city, ranging from the cheap hotels to the luxury hotels, hotels located near the railway station to hotels located near the religious spots etc. For those looking for value for money accommodations, The Gateway Hotel Ganges, Temple On Ganges, Hotel Sahu Varanasi, Ganpati Guesthouse, Rivatas By Ideal etc. are some of the hotels to choose from.
Martin Wynn
