varanasi

yogivivek

hello everybody,

im heading to varanasi in a few months or later..
and was wondering, are there people who have been there before and like to tell some experiences or some expressions..?

whats the top 3 of places you have to see in varanasi?

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"We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world."

Bonita

WEll, there is no where in the world like VAranasi! IT is Shiv's city, a holy city, a mgaical PLACE! It is the birthplace of HINDUISM, one of the oldest living cities in history, and absolutely fascinating at every corner, at every turn, and every breath. If you want to see, feel ,experince the heart and soul of INDIA ,the the culture, traditions, customs, SPIRIUTALITY, beauty, fragility, this is the PLACE! IT is a extraordinary city, often reffered to as a "city of learning and burning"!
TOP SIGHTS...
wELL, the old CITY itself, with the ghats ,the Ganges, the Temples, are the best sights in town. NO need to go anywhere special, as everywhere u look is fascainting. Explore the whole town, and u will see enough sights for a lifetime or Two! walk, wander, explore.....
some specifics..
1.Walk through the NARROW lanes of old city, cows, temples, shrines, amazing sights, u can visit the goldenTEmple, look out to the mosque, etc..
2. Ghats and Ganges! see/experince the sights, sounds and rituals seen along the Ganges...IT is an intense place, life and death intermingling at every step! u can spend days just walking along the ghats and seeing all the life, the practices, the custums, the rituals, from YOGIS, to dobi-wallahs, to cremations, to the Palace of the Dom Rajas, etc..Every ghat IS differnt, various shrines, meanings, deities, etc...walk around the river...See the cremations too..
3. MY FAVORITE, sunrise and SUNSET AT THE GANGES, spectacular! Take a boat ride on the ganges, See THE WORLD WAKING UP, moring stretches, rituals, cleansings, etc.....u can also see the cremations from the river boat...Along the trip, it is nice to light a prayer candle and send it out along the river..***IN the evening, GO TO THE gANGES again FOR sunset/evening prayers.!,,this is a serious highlight! u can either take another boat or sit alongside the Ghats for the evening ceromonies. IT is beautiful and charged with soo much energy, intensity and emotion!! ..
*NOTE*..THERE ARE some other intersting places to visit in the area, like th Durga Temple, MAP OF INDIA Temple(foRget name), bENARES hindu U, etc, aLSO, many places to visit such as hospices, music schools, yoga schools, etc.....Also, u can take a day trip to SAranath, (where buddha preaced first sermon !) . a tip* wHEREever u go, watch out for the holy dung! happy travels, bonita..

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yogivivek

wow thanks for al the information!

youre a helping hand..

im for sure gonna spend a good time in varanasi!!!


thanks!!!

Bonita

HI Shimsila...thanx and Enjoy! Also, i might suggest to get the most of your time and the full-on experince, stay in the old city, (at one of the small hotels along the Ghats) They are mostly basic budget options, but with a few mid-range options too. The atmosphere/location unbeatable and then u can really soak up the atmosphere, night and day!..There are some bigger and better properties in the other side of town called the Cantonment Area, namely The Clarks and Taj Ganges, but this way you will be away from the action and will have to do alot of weaving through traffic to get to and fro the old-city! The Cantonment area is somewhat isolated and does not the energy or atmposhere or heart of the old City...* oh, come to think of it, another fun thing to do is just to take a cycle rickshaw tour/ride around the city, to take in the bustling chaos of the area full-on, sights, sounds, people, movment, etc..Specifcally fun in the evening rush hour! .Also, if ya like fine silks, Varanasi is the place, and you can see them doing their craft too,! drop me a line if ya have any questions. happy travels, Bonita..

Karma Queen

All of Varanasi is one of the 'sights'. Simply going for a walk is one of the most incredible experiences you'll have in India