If you could suggest one thing...

justbronwyn · Feb 19th, 2009, 08:38

Hello all,
I'm leaving on March 28th to spend four months in Varanasi. I can't wait to delve deeper into this beautiful city, to know it and to learn to live in it. I want to do as many things as possible to better explore and know the city. All of you long-term stayers, if you could suggest only one thing that would be in your opinion MOST crucial to my knowing the city intimately, what would it be? I plan on doing them all, within reason!

looking forward to the replies, and thank you in advance!

hellogoodbye · Feb 19th, 2009, 11:54

I could wander the narrow alleyways for days and days and not get bored. Unfortunately, I didn't have that kind of time. But you could, and you'll certainly get to know the city.

However, for me, getting to know the city intimately would most certainly mean getting to know the people. Each morning I visited the same phone shop, the same fruit wallah, the same internet shop, same chai wallah etc. This way, I got to know these amazing people and endless conversations about nothing and everything ensues.

Also, (I guess this isn't exactly 'getting to know the city better' but...) I really enjoyed taking music lessons, specifically learning the tabla. I feel that music is such an integral part of any culture and by learning it, a whole other dimension of this fascinating country and culture is opened up to you.

I also wish I could have taken language classes.

edwardseco · Feb 19th, 2009, 14:06

Darmabum gave me a good book reference that helped me greatly to understand that exotic city and even feel warmth toward that particular mahanagar as she does..

theyyamdancer · Feb 19th, 2009, 14:25

Justbronwyn, have you read Gayamom's list of Varanasi attractions?

Varanasi - Off the Beaten Track

justbronwyn · Feb 19th, 2009, 20:37

wow, that list IS great! thank you guys!

I think there's definitely a lot to be said for visiting the same chai wallah, laundry wallah, fruit wallah, etc every day...I love to travel, but I love also just to stay put, and begin to see how people actually live.

solo_trekker · Feb 19th, 2009, 21:18

Kashi...
Benaras...
Varanasi...

Call it what you might...
But the world's second oldest continuously 'living' city has a way of getting into your very being...

It is the ultimate 'Nirvana' for many...

During your several month long stay, do take a day or two out to vist the Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U.)...
It's on the southern tip of the city adjacent to an area called Lanka...

B.H.U. is the largest residential University in Asia, and over 20,000 students reside there... The campus is beautiful - it's a city by itself really... It's soo very green that the temperature at any given point of time is usually 3 degrees lower than that in the city areas...

If inside, you could check out the Arts Faculty for some magnificent paintings and sculptures...

Cheers...!

Darmabum · Feb 19th, 2009, 21:40

As edwarseco so nicely remembered, Diana Eck's book - mine now torn, tattered and monsoon-swollen - "Banaras - City of Light" (available at the Harmony Bookstore on Asi Ghat, and via Amazon) gave me a historical and cultural perspective that greatly deepened my understanding of where I was.

But perhaps my greatest guide to the city, or more to the point - to the life of the city - was my bansuri guru, Sohan Lal. He didn't take me anywhere - but to his home, numerous times, for dinner . . . didn't show me anything - except how Banarsi's live . . . during two long (six months each) stays in Varanasi, he afforded me personal glimpses into daily life . . . and introduced me to a way of music that is as rich as the culture. In five times to India, I've made a lot of Indian acquaintances; Sohan Lal is a true friend.

Feb 19th, 2009, 08:38	#1
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	If you could suggest one thing... Hello all, I'm leaving on March 28th to spend four months in Varanasi. I can't wait to delve deeper into this beautiful city, to know it and to learn to live in it. I want to do as many things as possible to better explore and know the city. All of you long-term stayers, if you could suggest only one thing that would be in your opinion MOST crucial to my knowing the city intimately, what would it be? I plan on doing them all, within reason! looking forward to the replies, and thank you in advance!

Feb 19th, 2009, 14:25	#4
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	Justbronwyn, have you read Gayamom's list of Varanasi attractions? Varanasi - Off the Beaten Track __________________ "Wandering seemed no more than the happiness of an anxious man." - Albert Camus

Feb 19th, 2009, 21:40	#7
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 1,110	As edwarseco so nicely remembered, Diana Eck's book - mine now torn, tattered and monsoon-swollen - "Banaras - City of Light" (available at the Harmony Bookstore on Asi Ghat, and via Amazon) gave me a historical and cultural perspective that greatly deepened my understanding of where I was. But perhaps my greatest guide to the city, or more to the point - to the life of the city - was my bansuri guru, Sohan Lal. He didn't take me anywhere - but to his home, numerous times, for dinner . . . didn't show me anything - except how Banarsi's live . . . during two long (six months each) stays in Varanasi, he afforded me personal glimpses into daily life . . . and introduced me to a way of music that is as rich as the culture. In five times to India, I've made a lot of Indian acquaintances; Sohan Lal is a true friend. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

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Feb 19th, 2009, 11:54	#2
hellogoodbye Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 148	I could wander the narrow alleyways for days and days and not get bored. Unfortunately, I didn't have that kind of time. But you could, and you'll certainly get to know the city. However, for me, getting to know the city intimately would most certainly mean getting to know the people. Each morning I visited the same phone shop, the same fruit wallah, the same internet shop, same chai wallah etc. This way, I got to know these amazing people and endless conversations about nothing and everything ensues. Also, (I guess this isn't exactly 'getting to know the city better' but...) I really enjoyed taking music lessons, specifically learning the tabla. I feel that music is such an integral part of any culture and by learning it, a whole other dimension of this fascinating country and culture is opened up to you. I also wish I could have taken language classes.

Feb 19th, 2009, 14:06	#3
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,841	Darmabum gave me a good book reference that helped me greatly to understand that exotic city and even feel warmth toward that particular mahanagar as she does..

Feb 19th, 2009, 20:37	#5
justbronwyn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quebec city, QC, Canada Posts: 22	wow, that list IS great! thank you guys! I think there's definitely a lot to be said for visiting the same chai wallah, laundry wallah, fruit wallah, etc every day...I love to travel, but I love also just to stay put, and begin to see how people actually live.

Feb 19th, 2009, 21:18	#6
solo_trekker Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: around delhi Posts: 880	Kashi... Benaras... Varanasi... Call it what you might... But the world's second oldest continuously 'living' city has a way of getting into your very being... It is the ultimate 'Nirvana' for many... During your several month long stay, do take a day or two out to vist the Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U.)... It's on the southern tip of the city adjacent to an area called Lanka... B.H.U. is the largest residential University in Asia, and over 20,000 students reside there... The campus is beautiful - it's a city by itself really... It's soo very green that the temperature at any given point of time is usually 3 degrees lower than that in the city areas... If inside, you could check out the Arts Faculty for some magnificent paintings and sculptures... Cheers...!