|
WHAT TO SEE |
|
|
Bharat Kala Museum - The Kashi Hindu university
has a museum which has a very rich collection of precious and rare
historical artifacts, statues, pictures, paintings and manuscripts. This
small but very well maintained museum gives an over view of the ancient
city of Varanasi.
|
|
|
Ram Nagar Durg - 2 kms from the Kashi Hindu
university, across the Ganges is located the ancestral house in the fort
which was built by the former rulers of Kashi. In one of the sections of
the fort is the museum which displays the royalty which was once part of
the kingdom. This museum gives an insight into the grandeur which once
prevailed in the fort. On the Ramnagar Pandav road is a beautiful Durga
temple. This temple has very delicate and intricate carving done on
stone. These carvings are worth giving a look.
|
|
|
OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF VARANASI
|
|
|
Benaras Hindu University - This is the largest and
oldest university in north India. Spread over an area of 2,000 acres,
this great place of education was established by Pt. Madan Mohan
Malaviya. Today the campus has faculties of Arts, Science, Music,
Sanskrit, Languages, Engineering, Statistics and Medical to name a few
of them. The university also has the huge Vishwanath temple which was
built and maintained by the Birla family. The Sunderlal Medical center
has all the modern facilities of medical field is also located in the
university campus.
|
|
|
Nandeshwar Kothi - Nandeshwari Kothi, designed by
James Prinsep is a typical building of the early 19th century in
Benaras.
|
|
|
Jantar Mantar - The ruler of Jaisingh built an
observatory in Varanasi in line with those built in Delhi, Mathura,
Ujjain and Jaipur observatories. The Varanasi observatory has all the
instruments which were required to record the motion , speed and
properties of various stars and planets and other cosmic objects. The
observatory was built in 1600 and still the instruments give the exact
measurements which can match any modern instrument.
|
|
|
VARANASI EXCURSIONS
|
|
|
Chunar - Chunargarh of 'Chandrakanta', the classic
novel by Babu Devakinandan Khatri is 40 kms from the city of Varanasi.
Today the place is known as Chunar. Along one of the meanders of Ganges,
where the Kaimur Hills are taking a North face, are built the imposing
fort of Chunar.
|
|
|
Sarnath - About ten kms from Varanasi, is the
place where lord Buddha after enlightenment gave his first sermon or as
the Buddhist say set the wheel of dharma or law rolling. Today Sarnath
is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the
Ashoka period to the 12th century. Suggested reading on the Buddhist
places in Uttar Pradesh.
|
|
|
Jaunpur - In 1360 Feroz Shah built this town to
guard the eastern side of his Delhi sultanate. Jaunpur is located 65 kms
from Varanasi. Jaunpur is bisected by the river Gomti and the two sides
are connected by the massive Akbari Bridge. This bridge was designed by
an Afghan and was built in the 16th century. The fifteen stone arches of
the bridge have withstood earthquakes and floods. On the southern end of
the bridge is the sculptures of a lion tussling with an elephant. This
marked the provincial milestone. Other places to visit in Jaunpur are
Sheetla Chowkia Dham, Yamdagni Ashram, Atla Mosque and Char Anguli ki
Masjid.
|
|
|
Vindhyachal - There are many Shaktipeeths in
India. These are the places where the Goddess of power is said to be
residing and people worship her viz- Goddess Durga. Vindhyachal is one
of such peeths or abode of Shakti. The place is 90 kms from Varanasi.
The temples of Vindhyavasini Devi, Asthbhuja and Kalikhoh are a must
visit here.
|
|
|
Kaushambi - The mention of this town can be seen
in the Mahabharata. It is said that the Pandav brothers lived here.
Budhha visited this place many times and the gave sermons after his
enlightenment in 6th and 9th century. Kaushambi developed as a major
center for Buddhism. The ruins of an old fort tells the saga of the
towns antiquity. Kaushambi is 185 kms from Varanasi.
|
|
|
Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary - Established in
1997,Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, a small sanctuary sprawling over an area
of 78 sq. kms, is located on Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks in Vindhya
forest range, in Chandauli district.
|
|
|
Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary - Kaimoor sanctuary,
located on the Uttar Pradesh - Bihar border, is spread over an area of
500 sq. kms.
|
|
|
Places to stay in Varanasi
Most of the Varanasi city is well equipped with the most exclusive and
sophisticated hotel accommodation. There are tourist lodges, mid-range
and Dharamshalas also available at reasonable prices. |
