Varanasi VS Haridwar

flyingpig · Jun 20th, 2008, 04:45

This will be my first trip to India. I'm having trouble making a decision between Varanasi and Haridwar to witness the daily ritual and worship. Which city is more intense?

thank you.

singsub · Jun 20th, 2008, 12:43

intense... varanasi.
cleaner... haridwar.
interesting...varanasi.

Darmabum · Jun 20th, 2008, 17:22

Varanasi.

pawancruz · Jun 20th, 2008, 17:37

varanasi is the full package.
haridwar is good ,cleaner ,better managed and has more integrity than people of varanasi.
i can tell this because i have a home in Varanasi and i just visited Haridwar 2 months back.

my advice go for Varanasi!

singsub · Jun 20th, 2008, 17:39

beware parts of varanasi are breath-taking.

pawancruz · Jun 20th, 2008, 17:42

absolutely agree Mr.singsub...its like total Indian culture at one place!

singsub · Jun 20th, 2008, 18:05

er...i had meant breath-taking from an olfactory reference frame.

Fan of India · Jun 20th, 2008, 18:20

Haridwar - my preference.

Amalfi · Jun 20th, 2008, 19:01

For a first time tourist , Haridwar-Rishikesh is more adviseable as it is in the Himalayan foothills easily reachable from Delhi in 5 hours by train ,more sanitised with less people,the water is fast moving and ice cold and a million times cleaner than Varanasi, weather is better and loads of alternate activities like trekking in the mountains around rishikesh , white water rafting,Yoga in rishikesh etc .Haridwar is also one of the holiest places of Hindu Pilgrimages with hordes of temples and ritual bathing on the Ghats and the Ganga Fire Arti at dusk ,which is spectacular.

As regards Varanasi, you will either love it or hate it. Varanasi is to be experienced and not seen. Casual tourists going for a day or two end up writing blogs about the crowds , the dirty streets ,the toxic waters and graphic details of the burning ghats. You have to spend time to catch the vibe and get a sense of the faith that drives millions of Hindus to Varanasi and makes it special.

Darmabum · Jun 20th, 2008, 19:38

with everyone. Varanasi is what everyone, EVER, has said it is. That's the beauty of the place. The power and magic of it. It is breathtaking - in every way. My last two trips to India have been to Varanasi, and Varanasi only. I have over a year in Varanasi. It does take time, good point there, a one or three day tourist there will not have time to get beneath the surface . . . and it is beneath the surface where you will find the heart of Varanasi. If I had to choose one Indian city, only, to go to, to "get India" it would be - without a doubt - Varanasi.

ananda2193 · Jun 20th, 2008, 20:52

Varanasi gets my vote.

hfot2 · Jun 21st, 2008, 09:09

VARANASI!

After a day, Haridwar can get boring, Varanasi you could spend a lifetime.

distaff half of hfot2

praveen_yadlapalli · Jun 21st, 2008, 09:48

Varanasi has lot of touts and is dirty

theyyamdancer · Jun 21st, 2008, 09:59

Go to Varanasi! You will never be the same again.

ananda2193 · Jun 21st, 2008, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by praveen_yadlapalli

Varanasi has lot of touts and is dirty

Haven't been to Varanasi in almost 20 years, but I never had a problem with touts. And India is dirty! But I love it!

Jun 20th, 2008, 04:45	#1
flyingpig Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: lost angel Posts: 39	Varanasi VS Haridwar This will be my first trip to India. I'm having trouble making a decision between Varanasi and Haridwar to witness the daily ritual and worship. Which city is more intense? thank you.

Jun 20th, 2008, 17:22	#3
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 794	Hands down, Varanasi. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Jun 20th, 2008, 19:38	#10
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 794	I agree with everyone. Varanasi is what everyone, EVER, has said it is. That's the beauty of the place. The power and magic of it. It is breathtaking - in every way. My last two trips to India have been to Varanasi, and Varanasi only. I have over a year in Varanasi. It does take time, good point there, a one or three day tourist there will not have time to get beneath the surface . . . and it is beneath the surface where you will find the heart of Varanasi. If I had to choose one Indian city, only, to go to, to "get India" it would be - without a doubt - Varanasi.

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Jun 20th, 2008, 12:43	#2
singsub Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: right next door to hell Posts: 1,171	intense... varanasi. cleaner... haridwar. interesting...varanasi.

Jun 20th, 2008, 17:37	#4
pawancruz Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 19	varanasi is the full package. haridwar is good ,cleaner ,better managed and has more integrity than people of varanasi. i can tell this because i have a home in Varanasi and i just visited Haridwar 2 months back. my advice go for Varanasi!

Jun 20th, 2008, 17:39	#5
singsub Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: right next door to hell Posts: 1,171	beware parts of varanasi are breath-taking.

Jun 20th, 2008, 17:42	#6
pawancruz Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 19	absolutely agree Mr.singsub...its like total Indian culture at one place!

Jun 20th, 2008, 18:05	#7
singsub Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: right next door to hell Posts: 1,171	er...i had meant breath-taking from an olfactory reference frame.

Jun 20th, 2008, 18:20	#8
Fan of India Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 101	Haridwar - my preference.

Jun 20th, 2008, 19:01	#9
Amalfi Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 22	For a first time tourist , Haridwar-Rishikesh is more adviseable as it is in the Himalayan foothills easily reachable from Delhi in 5 hours by train ,more sanitised with less people,the water is fast moving and ice cold and a million times cleaner than Varanasi, weather is better and loads of alternate activities like trekking in the mountains around rishikesh , white water rafting,Yoga in rishikesh etc .Haridwar is also one of the holiest places of Hindu Pilgrimages with hordes of temples and ritual bathing on the Ghats and the Ganga Fire Arti at dusk ,which is spectacular. As regards Varanasi, you will either love it or hate it. Varanasi is to be experienced and not seen. Casual tourists going for a day or two end up writing blogs about the crowds , the dirty streets ,the toxic waters and graphic details of the burning ghats. You have to spend time to catch the vibe and get a sense of the faith that drives millions of Hindus to Varanasi and makes it special.

Jun 20th, 2008, 20:52	#11
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,487	Varanasi gets my vote.

Jun 21st, 2008, 09:09	#12
hfot2 MemberS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 515	VARANASI! After a day, Haridwar can get boring, Varanasi you could spend a lifetime. distaff half of hfot2

Jun 21st, 2008, 09:48	#13
praveen_yadlapalli Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, US Posts: 114	Varanasi has lot of touts and is dirty

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Jun 21st, 2008, 09:59	#14
theyyamdancer Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 1,783	Go to Varanasi! You will never be the same again.