important places to see in varanasi please advice

we r reaching varanasi railway station at 5:00 am on 9th july .
and we r leaving on 10th july around 1:00 pm. so appr we have one day only . could any one kindly suggest us what we must see in varanasi and where to stay (very economical hotel.
thanks...
kamal

Stay near Dasaswamedh Ghat; I used to like the Central Hotel, which is about 5 minutes' walk down the main street to the River. I'm not sure what it's like now, but it has always been extremely low priced and seldom any other foreign travellers there. In the 70s, I met many people who were on pilgrimage who stayed there -- they told me wonderful stories.

Take a bus or shared ricksha to Sarnath and see the Buddhist ruins.

Walk down the River to Asi Ghat, or even to Benares Hindu University.

Stand on a platform above Mainkarnika Ghat and watch the cremations for a while.

Or just sit on the ghats and watch the Ganges flow.

Economical hotels you'll find in the Dasashawamedh Ghat area. I used to stay at the old Yogi Lodge, up Vishwanath Lane, then make a right at Raju Zarda shop, go another 100 meters, you're there.
Especially with just one day to be in that area will take care of a lot of the "must's" in Varanasi.
A MUST is a sunrise (it might help to have the boat and boatman picked out the day before, the avoid hassles of pricing/etc at 5 AM)(and I'd get to the boat well before sunrise. To watch the sky go from near-black to sunrise is special) boat ride from Dasashawamedh to Asi Ghat and back, or just walk back. Also to float off of Manikarnika is something to do too.
If you're really in the mood to jam you could go to Sarnath the first day. Interesting place, Sarnath, but I'd rather spend my time (with just one day) in the city itself. Getting lost in the narrow lanes around Vishwanath . . . walking the ghats . . . BHU is in an interesting part of town, and while the grounds are nice, I'd spend my time in the old city, getting lost in the narrow lanes, walking the ghats . . . for me (have spent over 370 days in Varanasi) where Varanasi "lives" is on the river . . . aarthi at either the main ghat or instead, head south to Asi Ghat, there's a new ghat that's been built there . . . nice people watching in the evening from the Vaatika Restaurant at Asi.

Hey ppl,

Am visiting Varanasi, the city of lights.
Though not a frequent traveller, am quite a travel buff. The reason am going to the place is quite diff but then I want to make it as much a pleasent experience as possible.

Here's my itenary:
Taking my train on Jul 28th at Secunderabad and reaching Allahabad on the 30th at around 2.00 AM

Reaching Varanasi on the evening of the 30th or Probably morning of 31st.
My train back is on 1st Aug in the evening.

So folks, can you help me plan out my stay with what places to visit and basically with what I shoulnt miss out on.

I know this is a redundant question which comes up every time someone is planning out, but I'll promise something new.
Once am done with my trip I'll put in a write up on my experience and how things need to be done.
That should be a deal!!! what say??

-Krishna

Well, in fact, the answer to your question is in the two messages above yours -- we won't give you any different advise than we gave to kamal8.

One day in Varanasi is much like another, so do have a nice visit there and we'll look forward to hearing all about it!

I would suggest to keep sarnath for next visit and spend time in varanasi only doing

1) sitting on the ghats
2) taking a boatride
3) walking along the ghats
4) visiting Viswanath Mandir

in short spend maximum time near ganges and ghats

a must see is the puja at the main ghat when the sun goes down...its quite an elaborate ceremony that many many many community members come out to see and take part of...its great....u really should go.....