INSTITUTE OF TOURISM

STUDIES
Dissertation Report
On
EMERGING TRENDS IN TOURISM AND
AROUND VARANASI
Submitted in partial fulfillment of te re!uirement for tree "ear
MASTER OF TOURISM ADMINISTRATION
Submitted To# Submitted $%#
Dr& Neeta 'aube% Indra(eet )umar *atil
+'ore , -a.ult% *la.ement Offi.er/ MTA IV Sem&
+ 012340125/
Roll No& #4 211230121
VARANASI-221002
CERTIFICATE
Tis is to .ertif% tat Indrajeet Kumar Patil D6o )apil De7
*rasad8 student of Master of Tourism Administration IV
semester Institute of Tourism Studies8 Maatma Gandi )asi
Vid%apit8 Varanasi .ompleted tis dissertation on report on
EMERIN TRENDS IN TOURISM AND AROUND
VARANASI! te partial fulfillment of de9ree of master of
Tourism Administration under m% super7ision&
Tis report :as found .orre.t and not .opied form an%:ere
else&
Date # Dr& Neeta 'aube%
+'ore , -a.ult% *la.ement Offi.er/
Institute of tourism Studies
Maatma Gandi )asi Vid%apit8
Varanasi
PREFACE
The course of MTA require one to undergo a research
project with the end of the 4th Semester, so as to get a
practical knowledge and understanding the practical
aspects of all the theories read. It helps us to make the
best use of our skills and intelligence so as to make a
better research report. It is reall the most important
thing during the course of the stud. The purpose of m
research project was to stud the !erformance appraisal
sstem and its use in appraisal the emploee, candidates.
It was a continuous learning e"perience as I got to
know different kinds of Appraisal procedure, how the are
conducted and are beneficial.
Indrajeet Kumar Patil

A"KNO#$EDEMENT
It is indeed a moment of immense 9ratefulness for me to e;press m% deepest
9ratitude to te fa.ult% of MG)V* for pro7idin9 me :it an% opportunit% to
.arr% out tis sur7e% and elp me .reate sur7e% report on EMERGING
TRENDS IN TOURISM AND AROUND VARANASI
I am immensel% 9rateful to Ma%e&% Vi'ram Sin(% +Dire.tor of MG)V*/ for
pro7idin9 me opportunit% to pro7e m% s<ills and soulder te responsibilities
trou9 tis sur7e% report& I :ould also li<e to .on7e% m% sin.ere 9ratitude to
.o4.oordinator Dr& Neeta 'aube%and m% pro(e.t 9uide Dr) Neeta "%au*e+ for
is 7aluable 9uidan.e and su99estions :ile pursuin9 te pro(e.t and for ta<in9
pains to 9i7e is 7aluable inputs to stru.ture te report& =itout is elp and
7aluable inputs and 9uidelines8 te .ompletion of tis pro(e.t :ould not a7e
been possible&
I am i9l% indebted and tan<ful to ea. and e7er% person :o de7oted
7aluable time out of teir bus% s.edule to fill4up te !uestionnaire in te time&
I am also tan<ful to our fa.ult% and .lassmates for teir su99estion and
support to underta<e tis :or< and also durin9 te .ourse of stud%&
Indrajeet Kumar Patil
MTA 5
t
Semester
MG)V*8 Varanasi
DECLARATION
I Indrajeet #umar !atil a student of MTA of $M%#&!
&aranasi' hereb declares that all the information collected
through the questionnaire is correct in accordance with the
sample si(e.
I also declare that no part of this project has been duplicated
from another source, the information included in the project
has been researched and project written b me and the
information collected or presented in the report is correct to
the best of m knowledge and belief.


Tan<s8
Kasi is te oldest li7in9 .it% in te :orld& >?i7in9@ is a
poor des.ription8 be.ause )asi is not (ust sur7i7in9 but is
pulsatin98 7ibratin9 :it life& )asi as no deat e7en durin9
te 9reat delu9e +Maaprala%a/ as it is re9arded as bein9 lifted
up b% te trident +Trisul/ of ?ord Si7a and manifest itself at
te ne;t .%.le of .reation& It is not onl% )asi as no deat8
notin9 in )asi dies& *eople :o breate teir last in tis
ol% .it% do not die but 9et liberated from te .%.le of birt
and deat& Te .it%8 its people8 teir beliefs and traditions do
not die& Tese .an9e and 9ro: almost imper.eptibl%& Te
beliefs and traditions8 o:e7er8 seem to last fore7er& =at is
tis ener9% tat <eeps te .it% 7ibrant8 te spirit8te se.ret
essen.e :i. <eeps it 9lo:in9 and e7er be:it.in9A
)asi as a m%sterious .arm not found in an% oter
.it%& )asi as attra.ted people from all o7er te .ountr%8 off
all possible beliefs8.ustoms and traditions8reli9ious and
pilosopi.al 7ie: points& *eople a7e bo:ed do:n
respe.tfull% to te sa.redness of te .it%&
Ka&%i, Varanasi and $anaras are used s%non%mousl%
no:ada%s& $uddist traditions used te name )asi and
Varanasi from about te 2
st
.entur% AD
2
& Bo:e7er8 te names
assumed te same meanin9 onl% sometimes in te se7ent
.entur% AD
0
& Earlier )asi :as te name used for te Canpada
and Varanasi for te name of te .apital .it% of te Canpada&
)asi is deri7ed from te Sans<rit root >)aste@ or >)as@
:i. means >one :i. sines@ or >one :i. is luminous@&
Te S<anda *urana e;plains tat )asi b% its radian.e li9ts
up te pat of mo<sa or nir7ana+liberation or sal7ation/& An
unseen .osmi. li9t+$rama C%oti/is said to emanate from
(%otirlin9a and en.e te pla.e be.omes luminous&
Te *uranas refer to )asi 7ariousl% as Varanasi8
Mo<sa *ra<asi<a8 A7imu<ta8 Anand<anan8 Maasmasan8
Rudra7as8 Gaurimu<a8 Apurnaba7aba7a $umi
Tapastali8Maapuri and Dama<setra&
Ea. name .arries an additional meanin9 in terms of te
sa.red s%mbolism of te .it%8 :it ea. definin9
apro9ressi7el% de.reasin9 ar. startin9 and endin9 on te :est
ban< of te Gan9es& =ile te boundar% of )asi is delimited
b% te .ir.ular *an.a<rosi Road8 Varanasi is te main .it%8
e;tendin9 from Asi Gat and .ir.lin9 around to te
.onfluen.e of te Gan9es and te Varuna&
Varanasi :as lo.ated in te 7an +forest/ of Varuna and is
.alled Varuna7an 7asi&Varanasi8it is su99ested8.an also be a
settlement +basi/ b% te ri7er "amuna&
Varanasi .an be split into 7arana+e%ebro:s/and
nasi+nose/8te pla.e bet:een te e%ebro:s and te nose & It
ma% be re.alled tat tis part of te uman anatom%8bet:een
te e%ebro: and te bnose is belie7ed to be te abode of
$rama&
A..ordin9 to le9end8 Varanasi :as founded b% te 9od
Si7a& Te *anda7as8 te eroes of te Bindu
epi. Mahabharata are also stated to a7e 7isited te .it% in
sear. of Si7a to atone for teir sins of fratri.ide and
bramanaat%a tat te% ad .ommitted durin9 te
.lima.ti. )uru<setra :ar&& It is re9arded as one of se7en
ol% .ities :i. .an pro7ide Mo<sa#
). Aodh*, + Mathur*, , %a*, 4 #a-., / #a0chi, 1
A2antik*, 3 4w*r*2at., these se2en cities should be known as
the gi2ers of liberation.
%arua !ur*a
Te earliest <no:n ar.aeolo9i.al e7iden.e su99ests tat
settlement around Varanasi in te middle A9es in te Gan9a
7alle% +te seat of Ar%an reli9ion and pilosop%/8 be9an in
te 22t or 20t .entur% $'E8 pla.in9 it amon9 te :orlds
oldest .ontinuall% inabited .ities& Tese remains su99est tat
te Varanasi area :as populated b% Vedi. people& Bo:e7er8
te Athar2a2eda +te oldest <no:n te;t referen.in9 te .it%/8
:i. dates to appro;imatel% te same period8 su99ests tat
te area :as populated b% indi9enous tribes& It is possible tat
ar.aeolo9i.al e7iden.e of tese pre7ious inabitants as %et
to be dis.o7ered& Varanasi :as also ome to *ars7a8 te
03rd Cain Tirtan<ara and te earliest Tirtan<ara tat is
a..epted as a istori.al fi9ure8 in te Dt .entur% $'E&

Varanasi8 one of :orldEs oldest li7in9 .ities8 is ri9tl%
.alled te reli9ious .apital of India& Also <no:n as $anaras or
$enaras8 tis ol% .it% is lo.ated in te souteastern part of
te state of Uttar *rades in nortern India& It rests on te left
ban< of te ol% ri7er Gan9a +Gan9es/8 and is one of te
se7en sa.red spots for Bindus& E7er% de7out Bindu opes to
7isit te .it% at least on.e in a lifetime8 ta<e a ol% dip at te
famous EGatsE of te Gan9a&
Varanasi is easil% a..essible from all parts of te .ountr%&
Ver% :ell .onne.ted b% Air8 Rail and Road te 'it% offers
.on7enient and .omfortable tra7ellin9 options to and from
oter .ities of India&
Air
?al $aadur Sastri Airport -r Varanasi Airport
Te nearest airport is $abatpur8 00 <m from Varanasi and 31
)m from Sarnat&
Dire.t fli9ts for Varanasi are a7ailable for Deli8 A9ra8
)a(urao8 'al.utta8 Mumbai8 ?u.<no: and $u7anes:ar
and )atmandu + Nepal/&
?al $aadur Sastri Airport8 $abatpur *& 0F005G58
0F001G1
Mana9er8 $abatpur Airport# GG3H1110H2
Terminal Mana9er# 0F031F1
Airport Dire.tor# 0F002HH
$abatpur Auto E;.an9e# 0F001D08 0F001D380F001D5
Rail
Varanasi Cn +$S$/8 Varanasi Rail:a% Station and Mu9al
Sarai +MGS/ Cn +one of te main rail:a% stations of
Varanasi/ are te important rail (un.tions8 :it train
.onne.tions to all ma(or .ities of India&
Varanasi Rail:a% Station8 * # 2328 23G
Mu9al Sarai Rail:a% Station8 * #1H520 4 0HH355
R-ad
Varanasi8 on NB 0 from 'al.utta to Deli8 NB I to )an%a
)umari and NB 0G to Gora<pur is :ell .onne.ted to te rest
of te .ountr% b% 9ood motorable roads8 some of te ma(or
road distan.es are # A9ra 4 HFH <m8 Allaabad 4 20D <m8
$opal 4 IG2 <m8 $od9a%a 4 051 <m8 )anpur 4 331 <m8
)a(urao 4 51H <m8 ?u.<no: 4 0DF8 *atna 4 05F <m8 Sarnat
4 21 )m&
$-.al Tran&/-rt0
Ta;is# *ri7ate ta;is are a7ailable from tra7el a9en.ies8 otels8
et.&8 auto ri.<sa:s8 .%.le ri.<sa:s and Tempos are also
readil% a7ailable&
1e&t Time t- Vi&it0 O.tober to Mar.
Varanasi .it% en(o%s all tree t%pes of seasons# .old8 ot and
rain%& Varanasi .it% en(o% te 'old from No7ember to
-ebruar%8 ot from Mar. to Cune and Rain% from Cul% to
September& O.tober to Mar. is te best to 7isit te Varanasi
U* Go7ernment Tourist Offi.e8 Urban Baat8 Sans<riti<
San<ul8 Ma!bool Alam Road8 'o:<a Gat8 Varanasi&
Telefa; # +1H50/ 0H1H133
U* Go7ernment Tourist Information 'ounter8 'antt&
Rail:a% Station8 Varanasi8 Near En!uir% Offi.e8 Main
Ball& * # 0H1FFI1
Modern Re.eption 'entre8 Sarnat
Go7ernment of India Tourist Offi.e8 2H $ Te Mall8
'antt8 Varanasi& * # 0H12ID5
Go7ernment of India Tourist Information 'ounter8
$abatpur Airport&
$iar State Tourist Offi.e8 En9lisi%a Mar<et8 Ser Sa
Suri Mar98 'antt& Telefa; # 0003D02
T-uri&t O22i.e& In Varana&i
Name , *la.e 'onta.t No&
India Tourism Varanasi +Go7t& of India/ 1H5040H12ID5
2H$8 Te Mall8 'antt8 Varanasi
Re9ional Tourist Offi.er +U* Tourism/ 1H504001FF3D
*ared )oti8 Varanasi
U&*& Tourist $an9lo:8 *ared )oti 001DH5H8 001D523
U&*& Tourist $an9lo:8 Sarnat 1H5040HGHGFH
U&*& Tourism +Station 'ounter/ 1H5040H1FFI1
Distri.t Information Offi.e 1H5040000DHG
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFI"ES
Re9ional Tourist Offi.e8 U&*&Tourism& *arade )oti8 'antt&
*#+1H50/4001FF3D8 001D523 U&*& Tourist Offi.e8
Sarnat&Open# 21 a&m&4 H pm& 'losed on Sunda%s and Go7t
olida%s& U&*&Go7ernment Tourist Information
'ounter&Varanasi 'antt8 Rail:a% Station8 Near En!uir% Offi.e
8 Main Ball& +Opens dail% F am&4D pm&/ *# +1H50/4035F3I1
Rail:a% Tourism& *# +1H50/40H1FFI1 Go7t&Of India Tourist
Offi.e&2H$8 Te Mall 'antt&Varanasi& *# +1H50/40H12ID5
Go7t& Of India Tourist Information 'ounter8$abatpur Airport8
Varanasi&
TRAVE$ AENTS 3 TOUR4"OA"5 OPERATORS
Te .it% as numerous tra7el a9ents and tour operators& Some
of tem are
2& 'osmi. Tra7els , Mo7ers8 Varuna $rid9e +1H50/4
0H1005F8 0H15H0F
0& Aso< Tour , Tra7el8 Indian Airlines $uildin9
'antt8Varanasi& +1H50/4 0H13530
3&Surbi Tra7els , Tours 'ooperati7e $uildin9 Nadeser
+1H50/40H10FF5
5&Tour Aids8 Botel India Tra7els Assistan.e8 Varuna
$rid9e 8Varanasi +1H50/40H10GH5
H&Tra7el 'orporation Of India& Varuna Tra7els8 *ande%
Ba:eli +1H50/403G33I24I0
Appro7ed tourist 9uides for lo.al si9t seein9 ma% be ired
trou9 te Go7t& Of India Tourist offi.e&
IMPORTANT TOURIST INFORMATION
BANKS /MONEY CHANERS
State $an< of India8 'antt8 Varanasi State $an< of India8
$anaras Bandu Uni7ersit%8 Varanasi& Indian O7erseas $an<8
?aurabir Varanasi& $an< of $aroda8 Godo:lia8 Varanasi&
Allaabad $an<8 Nadeser8Varanasi& Allaabad $an<8 'o:<8
Varanasi& 'entral $an< of India8 'o:<8 Varanasi& 'anara
ban<8 $anspata<8 Varanasi& ID$I $an<8 Ariant 'omple;8
Si9ra8 Varanasi BD-' $an< 8 Ariant 'omple;8 Si9ra8
Varanasi I'I'I $an< 8 G%an:api 'o:<8 Varanasi *un(ab
National $an<8 ?aurabir 8Varanasi
5OSPITA$S
S&*&G& Bospital8 )abir.aura8 Varanasi& *one# +S&S&?&
Bospital8 $BU8 Varanasi+1H50/4 0320H5045H
Ram )risna Mission Bospital8 ?u;a +1H50/403G2I0I
Mata AnandMai Bospital8 $adaini *one +1H50/40321HG0
Go7t& Bospital8 Si7pur& Varanasi +1H50/400D000F
Bindu Se7a Sadan8 'o:<&&Varanasi +1H50/40520253
Mar:ari Bospital8 Godo:lia8 Varanasi +1H50/403025HF
'an.er Institute8 NE Rail:a%8 ?aartara +1H50/4050H33D
T5E KAS5I VIS5#ANAT5 TEMP$E
Also <no:n as te Golden Temple8 it is dedi.ated to ?ord
si7a8 te presidin9 deit% of te .it%& Varanasi is Said to be te
point at :i. te first (%otirlin9a8 te fier% pillar of li9t b%
:i. si7a manifested as suprema.% o7er oters 9ods8
bro<e trou9 te Eart@s .rust and flared to:ards te
ea7ens& More tan te Gats and e7en te Gan9a8 te
Si7alin9a installed in te temple remains te de7otional
fo.us of Varanasi&
1ANARAS 5INDU UNIVERSIT6
$anaras Bindu
Uni7ersit% +$&B&U/ founded b% *andit Madan Moan
Mal7i%a in 2G2IA&D is te lar9est residential Uni7ersit% in
India& At te entran.e8 tere is te 9rand statue of its founder
and te Vis:anat temple in its .entre& Te u9e temple :as
built in 2GFF8 under patrona9e of te $irlas& It as a FII meter
i9 risin9 :ite top and its :ell .ar7ed ar.ite.ture attra.ts
pil9rims&
DURA TEMP$E
Godess dur9a is .onsidered as te 9oddess of Stren9t and
*o:er& Tis temple :as built in te 2D
t
.entur% :it red stone
:or<& A fine e;ample of Na9ara art& Tis temple falls on te
main route from Rail:a% Station to $BU8 (ust before Tulsi
Manas temple and San<atmo.an temple&
BHARAT KALA BHA!AN "ART M#SE#M$
In te .ool and .alm surroundin9s of $&B&U is te $arat
)ala $a7an :i. as establised in 2G01A&D and as a 7ast
.olle.tion of paintin9s8 Bindu and $uddist s.ulptures and
oter materials of ar.eolo9i.al studies& In te main all of
te $a:an8 tere is a fi9ure of a man standin9 on one le9 and
one and on is ip and liftin9 a mass of stone abo7e is
ead8 :it one and& Te fi9ure is said to be of ?ord )risna
liftin9 Go7ardana& In te alls of te $arat )ala $a:an8
tere are man% rare ima9es tat testif% to te e;isten.e of
)risna .ult in )asi in 2Ht and 2Ft .entur% Gupta period&
It as te miniature paintin9s from te .ourts of Mu9als and
te Bindu *rin.es of *un(ab Bills&
Visit# Monda% to Saturda%& Opens from 21#31 to 2F#11&
RIVER FRONT 75ATS8
Te spe.ta.ular 5 <m
s:eep of te Gats is uni!ue si9t8 best 7ie:ed at da:n8 in
tat Jsoft first li9tJ :en te ri7er and Gats a7e a timeless
appeal& ?ife is almost panorami. detail unfolds ere from
da:n to dus< as a stead% stream of de7otees4s:ellin9 to
tousands on auspi.ious da%s Kperform rituals b% te Gan9a&
Te Gats are best approa.ed b% Dasas:ameda 9at8
:ere boats are a7ailable on ire&
NE# VIS5#ANAT5 TEMP$E
Situated in te premises of $anaras Bindu
Uni7ersit%8 a modern pla.e of :orsip planned b% *andit
Mal7i%a and built b% te $irlas& Open to all8 irrespe.ti7e of
.aste or .reed&
&TU$SI MANAS TEMP$E
'onstru.ted b% famil% of Varanasi8 tis modern temple is
dedi.ated to ?ord Rama& It is situated at te pla.e =ere
Tulisdas8 te 9reat medie7al seer8 li7ed and :rote te epi.
JSri Ram.aritmanasJ8 :i. narrates te life of ?ord Rama8
te ero of te Rama%ana& Verses from Tulidas@s epi. are
ins.ribed on te :alls& SAN)ATMO'BAN TEM*?E ?ord
Banuman temple8 :o is <no:n to be te ESan<atmo.a<E is
(ust 311 meters from Tulsi Manas Temple& It is an an.ient
temple .onsidered as built b% Gos:ami Tulsidas imself&

MA5ATMA AND5I KAS5I VID6APEET5
)asi Vid%apeet :as set up in 2G01 b% $abu Si7 *rasad
Gupta to pro7ide alternate edu.ation arran9ement dis.ardin9
tat of te $ritis& It soon be.ame a .entre of natoinal
edu.ation :it Bindi as te medium of instru.tion& A.ar%a
Narendrade78 $abu Sampurnanand8 $abu Sripra<as , man%
more ?uminaries of te time a7e been asso.iated :it tis
institute&LMUSUEMS , ARTS GA??ERIES Ar.aeolo9i.al
musuem Sarnat open 1G#31 am&4 H pm& -rida% .lossed&
Ramna9er fort musuem8 open 21 am&4H pm& 'lossed on
-rida%& $arat )ala $a:an $&B&U& open 21#31 am&4 5 pm&
'lossed on Sunda%s , uni7ersit% olida%s& Ar.aeolo9i.al
musuem8 Sampurnanand Sans<rit Uni7ersit% open 21 am& K H
pm& 'lossed on Sunda% , uni7ersit% olida%s&
15ARAT MATA TEMP$E
Tis Temple :as inau9urated b% Maatma Gandi in 2G3F
and ouses one perfe.t relief Map of India .ar7ed out of
marble& Te Temple :as 9ifted b% te nationalists $abu Si7
*rasad Gupta +$arat Ratana / and sri Dur9a *rasad )atri8
leadin9 numismatists and anti!uarians& It is inside te
premises of )asi Vid%apeet&
AS5OKA PI$$AR
It is at Saranat8 21<m nort of Varanasi& Sarnat8 te pla.e
:ere $udda 9a7e is first sermon is a popular $uddist
pil9rima9e .entre& Te Aso<a pillar stands in front of te
main stupa :ere Aso<a sat and meditated& Te Sarnat
Ar.aeolo9i.al Museum at Aso<a Mar98 ouses a .op% of
Aso<aEs lion pillar and some s.ulptures&

RAMNAAR FORT
Te residential pla.e of )asi
Nares +-ormer Maara(a of Varanasi/ a.ross te Gan9es at
Ramna9ar ouses a museum :it te e;ibits of palan!uins8
.ostumes8 s:ords8 sabres8 et.& Dussera .elebration of
Ramna9ar is an interestin9 e7ent to :itness&25 <m& from
Varanasi& Te fort at Ramna9ar ouses a museum displa%in9
te Ro%al .olle.tion :i. in.ludes 7inta9e .ars8 Ro%al
pal<ies8 an armour% of s:ords and old 9uns8 i7or% :or< and
anti!ue .lo.<& Te Dur9a Temple and 'innamasti<a
Temple are also lo.ated at Ramna9ar& Ramna9ar -ort :i.
:as built in 2IH1A&D b% te Maara(a of $anaras8 is on te
ri9t ban< of Ri7er Gan9a& $uilt of red stones8 it pro7ides
stren9t and stabilit% to te .it%& Visit # Dail% from 1G11 t1
2011 and 2511 4 2H11& It is te residential pala.e of te
former Maara(a of Varanasi& Te pala.e is an astronomi.al
and astrolo9i.al :onder& Inside te 9iant :alls of te pala.e8
tere is a bi9 .lo.<& $esides so:in9 %ear8 mont8 :ee< and
da%8 it baffles te onloo<er :it astronom% of te sun8 moon
and .onstellation of stars& Tis :onder .lo.< or Daram Gari
:as made b% te .ourt astronomer of $anaras in 2DH0A&D&
Te pala.e as a temple dedi.ated to Ved V%as and a museum
set up b% te last Maara(a of $anaras8 Vibuti Narain Sin9&
Te museum as a .olle.tion of bro.ade .ostumes8
palan!uins8 :eapons and as e;pensi7e .oa.es made of
i7or%& Te pala.e is de.orated ma(esti.all% and it 7ibrates :it
.olour and life8 durin9 Dussera festi7al& Te .elebrations
.omes to an end on Vi(a%adasmi8 :en te u9e effi9ies of
demon <in9 Ra7ana and is <insmen are sent up in flames8
si9nif%in9 te 7i.tor% of 9ood o7er e7il&
ALAMIR MOS%#E
An amal9mation of Bindu4Muslim reli9ious sentiments8 tis
mos!ue is also <no:n as J $eni Mada7 <a DareraJ&
'uriousl%8 te entire lo:er portion of te mos!ue is retained
as a Bindu temple&
"ENTRA$ INSTITUTE OF 5I5ER TI1ETAN
STUDIES
Te onl% institute of its <ind in te :orld8 8 impratin9
edu.ation in te Tibetan lan9ua9e8 it :as Est& b% te Dalai
?ama in 2GI2& *resentl% lo.ated at Sarnat&Te institute as a
rare .olle.tion of $uddist te;ts8 Tibetan manus.ripts and
oter (ournals&
9ANTAR MANTAR
Cantar Mantar is an obser7ator%8 built
b% Cai Sin98 te Maara(a of Caipur in te %ear 2I3I& Cai
Sin9 :as a 9reat admirer of s.ien.e and te.nolo9% and e
:as parti.ularl% passionate about astronom%& $efore te
.ommen.ement of .onstru.tion +of obser7atories/ e sent
s.olars abroad to stud% te forei9n obser7atories& Te
emissaries returned :it man% manuals on astronom%& Te
Cantar Mantar at Varanasi :as built in line :it Deli8
Matura8 U((ain and Caipur obser7atories&
Te Cantar Mantar :as built to measure te lo.al time8 te
SunEs de.lination8 altitude8 te de.lination of stars8 planets and
to determine e.lipses Te Cantar Mantar at Varanasi as
se7eral masonr% instruments to re.ord te motion8 speed and
properties starts and planets and stud% astronom% tat are
a..urate and .an still be used effi.ientl% toda%& Te Cantar
Mantar in.orporates multiple stru.tures of uni!ue form8 ea.
:it a spe.ialiMed fun.tion for astronomi.al measurement&
Tese stru.tures :it teir stri<in9 .ombinations of 9eometri.
forms a7e .apti7ated te attention of ar.ite.ts8 artists8 and
art istorians& Ori9inall%8 tere :ere man% %antras
+instruments/& Some of te important ones are te )ranti7ritta
"antra8 Di9ansa "antra8 Samrat "antra8 *ra<as "antra8 Ram
"antra8 Disa "antra and Dru7a "antra&
9AIN TEMP$E
Cain temple Te -amous Cain Saint S7etambar temple is
tere (uust on te :a% from Rail:a% Station to $BU8 before
$elupur Street&
Ne/ali Tem/le0
$uilt in Nepali st%le b% te )in9 of Nepal on ?alita Gat8 it is
also <no:n as te )at:ala temple be.ause of te
ma9nifi.ent :ood:or<& Tourist attra.tion for 7isitors from all
o7er te :orld8 it is said to be in.omparable to an% oter
temple in India& It is said tat te :or<ers and te :ood :as
imported from Nepal to build tis temple and te its spe.ialt%
is tat termites do not eat te :ood used to .onstru.t it&
St) Mar+:& "%ur.%0
Situated in te .antonment area of Varanasi8 te ar.ite.tural
pe.uliarit% tat distin9uises St& Mar%Es 'ur. from oters
are its lou7ered doors and ooded 7entilation& It as a lo:
to:er8 spire and pro(e.tin9 porti.o& Te .ur. loo<s beautiful
:it its plain timber .anop% prote.tin9 te re.tan9ular
fanli9t abo7e ea. door:a% and also impresses a ma(or
ar.ite.tural impa.t&
Di&ti.t in2-rmati-n
?o.ation#?on9itude D3&1 ?atitude#0H&01
Geo9rapi.al Area+0112/ 2H3H S!& )m&
*opulation +0122/ 38FD082G5
+2/ Male +0122/ 28G0D8F52
+0/ -emale +0122/ 28IH38HH3
+3/ Rural +0112/ 2DID211
+5/ Urban +0112/ 20F1HI1
+H/ S.eduled 'aste 53HH51
+F/ S.eduled Tribes II1
+I/ Se; Ratio G1G
+D/ *opulation Densit% 03GG per&s!&<m&
?itera.% II&1H N
+2/ Male DH&20 N
+0/ -emale FD&01 N
No& of Tesil 0
No& of $lo.< D
No& of N%a% *an.a%ats 21D
No& of Gram *an.a%ats I10
No& of Villa9es 230I
+2/ Inabitated 20DG
+0/ Uninabitated 3D
To:n6Group of to:ns +0112/ 5
+2/ Na9ar Ni9am 2
+0/ Na9ar *ali<a *arisad 2
+3/ Na9ar *an.a%at 2
+5/ 'antonment $oard 2
No& of *oli.e Stations 0H
+2/ Rural D
+0/ Urban 2I
Summer Temperature 0 53O' +Ma;/P 30O' +Min/
=inter Temperature 0 2HO' +Ma;/P HO' +Min/
Annual A7era9e Rainfall 0 222 .m
Main ?an9ua9es 0 Bindi and En9lis
STD 'ode 0 G241H50
-amous Tourist *la.es
Sarnat8 $&B&U&8 $arat Mata Temple8 $arat )ala $a:an8 Ramna9ar -ort8
Gan9a Gats8 Maatma Gandi )asi Vid%apeet8 Maan Mandir Vedsala8
Sampurnanand Sans<rit Uni7ersit%8 D?=&
Fam-u& Reli(i-u& Pla.e&
)asi Vis:anat Temple8 Ne: )asi Vis:anat Temple +$BU/8 San<at
Mo.an Temple8 Dur9a Temple8 Manas Temple8 Sitala Temple8 Maabeer
Temple8 Mar<ande% Maade7 Temple +)aiti/8 )adares:ar Temple8 Maa
Mritun(a% Temple8 G%an:oapi Mos!ue8 Aalam9ir Mos!ue8 )abir *ra<at%a
Stal8 Sant Ra7idaas Temple8 Sant Merr% 'ur. +Gurud:ara 8 Guruba9/8
Gurud:ara Ni.iba9&
sour.e##
ttp#66updes&up&ni.&in6spatri<a6spatri<a&tm
ttp#66.ensusindia&9o7&in601224pro74
results6dataQfiles6up6'ensus0122Uttar*rades*aper2&pd
Im/-rtant De&tinati-n& 3 Di&tan.e&
Allaabad 20D <m
?u.<no: 301 <m
)anpur 301 <m
A9ra F1F <m
*atna 0H0 <m
$od Ga%a 053 <m
?umbini +Nepal/ 33H <m
)a(urao 522 <m
Deli IFH <m
Sarnat 21 <m
Sonauli 31H <m
Riand Dam 2F1 <m
Renu<ut 2IH <m
Sa<ti Na9ar 00H <m
)ol<ata FD2 <m
5O$6 KAS5I
Te name )asi tops te list of Saptapuris8te se7en most
important and sa.ed .ities8and is re9arded as e7en olier tan
te oter si; namel%8 A%od%a8 A7anti<a8 Matura8
D:ara7ati8 )an.i8 and Ma%apuri +Barid:ar/& To te belie7er
8)asi is te oliest of all pla.es&Te Bindu .onsiders .ertain
tin9s most important in life&Be belie7es in .leansin9 te
bod% and purif%in9 te mind&Be belie7es in te presen.e of
de7ine 9ra.e in .ertain pla.es <no:n as tirtas8 :ere e 9ets
a 9limpse or feelin9 of di7init%& An% meditation or penan.e in
te Tirta is said to ta<e im %o an e;alted state of mind8
<no:s as Samadhi.Te Bindu belie7es in attainin9 sal7ation
or mu<ti b% a .ontinuous pro.ess of risin9 from ordinar% life
to te di7ine life&)asi 9i7es im fulfillment of all tese
beliefs&In )asi8 te ol% Gan9a is belie7ed to a7e te
supernatural po:er of .leansin9 all sins .ommited b%
man&)asi as a number of tirtas and penan.e or meditation
done ere %ields results ten times more tan an% oter tirta8is
te fait& Deat is )asi is said to assure one mu<ti or
sal7ation or liberation from te .%.le of birt and deat& ?ord
Si7a imself is belie7ed to :isper te ta<ara mantra in te
ears of te d%in9 person to 9i7e im mu<ti& No :onder tat
e7er% indu .onsiders )asi as te oliest of all pla.es in
$arat Varsa&
FAIRS 3 FESTIVA$S
$UDDB *URNIMA 4 SARNATB
RAM?EE?A 4 RAMNAGAR
DBRU*AD ME?A
BANUMAN CA"ANTI
$BARAT MI?A* 4 + AT NATI IM?I /
NA))ATA"A 4 + AT 'BETGANC /
NAG NATBAI"A
MABASBIVRATRI
*AN'B )OSBI *ARI)RAMA
GANGA MABOTSAV
1UDD5A PURNIMA ; SARNAT5
Tis festi7al .elebrates te birt of ?ord $udda :it
trditional reli9ious fer7our& A lar9e fair is eld at Sarnat and
te reli.e of te $udda are ta<en out for publi. displa% in a
pro.ession on tis da%&
RAM$EE$A ; RAMNAAR
Te uni!ue Ramleela of Ramna9er performed in te pa9eant
st%le8 :as started about 2D31 b% Maara(a Udit Nara%an
Sin9 of $anaras8 and as toda% be.ome famous te :orld
o7er& Tousends 9ater to see te ena.tments durin9 monts
of sep&4 o.t&
D5RUPAD ME$A
A fi7e da%s musi. festi7al of Drupad is performed b%
reno:ned artistes at Tulsi Gat& It is 7er% popular amon9
forei9n tourists&
15ARAT MI$AP 7AT NATI IM$I8
'elebretin9 ?ord Ram@s return to A%od%a after 25
t
%ears of
e;ile and is reunion :it is broter $arat8 tis festi7el is
eld te da% follo:in9 Dussera& Attended b% te )asi
Nares resplendent in re9al finer%8 te festi7al attra.ts a lar9e
number of de7otlees&
NAKKATA66A 7AT "5ET AN8
So:in9 a stor% from Rama%an in :i. Surpana<a4 te
sister of Ra7an4 .omes to enti.e Ram and ten ?a<sman& $ut
?a<sman .uts er nose and se 9oes ba.< .r%in9& Tis a.t is
ena.ted as a sta9e4 pla% durin9 mid o.t& in te lo.alit% of
'et9un9& Numerous pro.essions and tableau; are also
.arried out on te o..asion&
MA5AS5IVARATRI
On tis da% e7er% Si7 Mandir is de.orated& In Varanasi a
marria9e pro.ession of ?ord Si7a is ta<en out startin9 from
Maamrit%un(a%a Temple8 Darana9ar to )asi Vis:anat
Temple 7ia 'o:<&
&
NA NAT5AI6A $EE$A
In a performan.e8 ?ord )risana (umps into Gan9a for Na9
Natan at te lo.al Tulsi Gat& It is famous as Na9 Natai%a
?eela & Man% people .on9re9ate to see tis e7ent8 eld durin9
te monts of No7&4De.&
PAN"5 KOS5I PARIKRAMA
It as a spe.ial importan.e in te an.ient *ari<rama of India8
startin9 and finisin9 at Mani)arni<a Gat& Ea. *ari<rama
passes trou9 fi7e pla.es# )ardmes:ar8 $im.andi8
Rames:ar8 Si7pur , )apil Dara&
5ANUMAN 9A6ANTI
Cannotsa7 of ?ord Banuman is .elebrated at San<at Mo.an
Temple for fi7e da%s :it .ultural , musi.al pro9rammes b%
reno:ned artistes from all o7er India&
ANA MA5OTSAV
Gan9a Maotsa78 te tourism festi7al of Varanasi is .elebrated
e7er% %ear from *rabodani E<adasi to
)arti< *urnima in te mont of
O.t&4No7& Te festi7al .elebrates te ri. .ultural erita9e of
Varanasi& Apart from te e;.elent .ultural pro9rammes and
.ountr% boat ra.e8 displa%in9 of marital arts also ta<es pla.e&
Te .on.ludin9 da% .oin.ides :it te uni!ue traditional
festi7al of De7 Deepa7ali +li9t festi7el of Gods/8 :en more
tan a million erten lamps +Di%as/ are lit on te Gats of
Gan9a&
5ATS OF VARANASI
ANA & HATS
Varanasi8 )asi or $anaras8 is older tan traditions& Te
di7ine 9ra.e of tis .it% lies is uni!ue .ombination of
p%si.al8 metap%si.al and supernatural elements& Gats of
Varanasi are natural supplement to te .on.ept of di7init%& It
is a .it% :it. liberate soul from uman bod% to ultimate& Te
mu. !uoted Sans<rit S<lo<a *ro.lame > )as%am maranam
mu<ti@ +deat in )asi is ?iberation/& In fa.t te e;tension of
tis belief .ould be 7isualised in earl% .on.ept of > *an.a
Trirta@ s%mboli.all% identified :it te uman bod% it is
e;pli.itl% e!uated :it te fire elements +*an. Tatt7a/ of
:it. bod% is .omposed interestin9 people no: definin9 as all
te Gats are points on te di7ine .osmi. road + 20
t
Rodia.s
S I.a<ras of bod% tus GD / represents its manifest
trans.endential dimension& Tat is o: tis frame so:s a
.osmi. order and armoni. relationsip bet:een mi.ro
.osmos +di7ine order/ and mi.ro .osmos +uman
order/trou9 te interlin< of meso.osmos + te p%si.al
order of 9ats/& Te Gaad7ala ins.riptions + .&20
t
.ent/
mention onl% fi7e 9ats & A mid 2I
t
.ent&
Sour.e of Information#4Department of 'ulture8 Varanasi
IMPORTANT TEMP$ES OF VARANASI
TBE )ASBI VISB=ANATB TEM*?E
ANNA*URNA TEM*?E
SAN)ATBA TEM*?E
)A?$BAIRAV TEM*?E
MRITUNCA" MABADEV TEM*?E
NE= VISB=ANATB TEM*?E
DURGA TEM*?E
TU?SI MANAS TEM*?E
SAN)ATMO'BAN TEM*?E
$BARAT MATA TEM*?E
T5E KAS5I VIS5#ANAT5 TEMP$E
Also <no:n as te Golden Temple8 it is dedi.ated to ?ord
si7a8 te presidin9 deit% of te .it%& Varanasi is Said to be te
point at :i. te first (%otirlin9a8 te fier% pillar of li9t b%
:i. si7a manifested as suprema.% o7er oters 9ods8
bro<e trou9 te Eart@s .rust and flared to:ards te
ea7ens& More tan te Gats and e7en te Gan9a8 te
Si7alin9a installed in te temple remains te de7otional
fo.us of Varanasi&
ANNAPURNA TEMP$E
Near te )asi Vis:anat temple8 tere is a ni.e temple of
De7i Annapurna 8 belie7ed as te JGodess of -oodin9J&
SANKAT5A TEMP$E
Near te Sindia Gat 8 tere is a important temple of
JGodess of Remed%J De7i San<ata& Inside its premises tere
is a u9e statue of a ?ion& Also tere is nine temples of nine
planets nearb% to tis temple&

KA$15AIRAV TEMP$E
It is te an.ient temple of Varanasi near te Bead *ost Offi.e8
VisesarGan(& God )al$aira7 is belie7ed as J)ot:al Of
VaranasiJ 8 :itout is permission no one .an sta% in )asi&
MRITUN9A6 MA5ADEV TEMP$E
On te route of Darana9ar to )albaira7 temple tis temple of
?ord Si7a is situated & Cust besides tis temple tere is a =ell
of mu. reli9ious importan.e 8 :ose :ater is said to be
mi;ture of se7eral under9round streams and 9ood for
eliminatin9 se7eral diseases&
NE# VIS5#ANAT5 TEMP$E
Situated in te premises of $anaras Bindu Uni7ersit%8 a
modern pla.e of :orsip planned b% *andit Mal7i%a and built
b% te $irlas& Open to all8 irrespe.ti7e of .aste or .reed&
TU$SI MANAS TEMP$E
'onstru.ted b% famil% of Varanasi8 tis modern temple is
dedi.ated to ?ord Rama& It is situated at te pla.e =ere
Tulisdas8 te 9reat medie7al seer8 li7ed and :rote te epi.
JSri Ram.aritmanasJ8 :i. narrates te life of ?ord Rama8
te ero of te Rama%ana& Verses from Tulidas@s epi. are
ins.ribed on te :alls& It
is (ust nearb% to Dur9a Temple&
SANKATMO"5AN TEMP$E
$esides te Assi ri7er stream8 on te :a% of Dur9a Temple to
$anaras Bindu Temple tis :ell <no:n temple of ?ord
Banuman is situated& ?ord Banuman is also <no:n as
JSan<atmo.anJ te 9od :o prote.ts from te troubles& Tis
temple is founded b% Gos:ami Tulsidas& Tis temple is also
<no:n as JMon<e%J temple8 as lot of mon<e%s are tere
inside te premises&
DURA TEMP$E
'ommonl% .alled te >Mon<e% temple@8 it :as built in te
2D
t
.entur%& Altou9 it is one of te best4<no:n temple&
Tere is ni.e stone:or< done of te temple 8 it is te ni.e
e;ample of NAGRA Silp& Godess DURGA is belie7ed as te
s%mbol of Stren9t and *o:er :i. 9o7ern te entire :orld&
Tere is a pond ad(a.ent to te temple .alled JDur9a<undJ&
15ARAT MATA TEMP$E
Tis Temple :as inau9urated b%
Maatma Gandi in 2G3F and ouses one perfe.t relief maps
of India .ar7ed out of marble&Te Temple :as 9ifted b% te
nationalists $abu Si7 *rasad Gupta +$arat Ratana / and sri
Dur9a *rasad )atri8 leadin9 numismatists and anti!uarians&
SU1A5-E-1ANARAS


Suba4E4$anaras +Mornin9 of Varanasi/ and Saam4E4A:ad +E7enin9 of
?u.<no:/ are supposed to be t:o of te best attra.ti7e s.ene of te :orld& If
%ou :ant to see te beaut% of te mornin9 no pla.e oter tan Varanasi :ill
please %ou& Te Sun appears in te s<% in .rimson .olor and te de7otees ta<e
dips in te Gan9es Ri7er :it te re7erberation Bar Bar Gan9e& One to all te
temples sends out te different t%pes of mantras and sound of te bell& E7en
lar9e number of forei9ners also .ome on te 9at and en(o%s te risin9 sun& Te
de7otees8 after batin9 in te Gan9a Ri7er8 are seem under te :ooden umbrella
of pandas for roli8 .andan and ra<sasutra +a .omponents of :orsip/& Tis is
te seen of Suba4E4$anaras& Tis seen is rare in te :orld& *eraps tis is te
reason8 e7en te forei9ners are seen on te 9at .apturin9 te s.ene&
Saam4E4A:ad
Ka&%i7Varana&i8 -n t%e Trident -2 $-rd S%i<a
Varana&i is also 7er% popular for 1udd%i&t /il(rima(e&& Te
-ounder of $uddism $-rd 1udd%a as 9i7en is first
sermon at Sarnat% in Varana&i&Par&%<anat% +One of te
Tirtan<ars of Cainism/ and Patanjali+Autor of "a9a
Vasista/ also belon9 to Varana&i& Varana&i is lin<ed :it
man% .enturies of istor% and %et d%nami. :it its asso.iation
:it ri7er an(a&Varana&i .it+ is also <no:n as te .it%
of Ka*ir8 Tul&i, Raida& and Mun&%i Prem "%and +9reat
Bindi poet and No7elist/&It is asso.iated :it its oldest root
.ustoms and .ulture&
Tere are man% pla.es of interest in and around Varanasi&
E;.ursions around Varanasi in.lude Sarnat8 'unar fort8
Vind%a.al8 )ausambi8 Caunpur et.&
Varanasi # E;.ursions in Varanasi
Tere are a number of istori.al and reli9ious pla.es and
to:ns around Varanasi tat are :ort 7isitin9& Some of te
important and famous are Sarnat8 'unar8 Caunpur8
)ausambi8 )usina9ar and Vinda%.al& Sarnat is about 21
<m from Varanasi and is famous for bein9 te pla.e :ere
?ord $udda prea.ed is first sermon after 9ettin9
enli9tenment& Sarnat is an important pil9rima9e pla.e for
te $uddists as it :as ere tat te :eel of darma :as set
in motion& Sarnat also boasts of a number of monuments and
edifi.es ran9in9 from te Aso<an period to te 20t .entur%&
'unar is about 51 <m from Varanasi and is <no:n for te
'unar fort& Te 'unar fort loo<s beautiful upon te )aimur
Bills tat pro7ides a fantasti. 7ie: of te meanderin9 Gan9a
Ri7er& Tis is te same E'urnar9arE8 on :i. te famous
Bindi .lassi.al no7elist De7inandan )atri based is
reno:ned :or< E'andra<antaE& Anoter important and
istori.al pla.e around Varanasi is Caunpur& Te Tu9la! ruler8
-eroM Sa built Caunpur in 23F1& It :as built to 9uard te
eastern frontier of te <in9dom& Te to:n still as some of te
beautiful monuments of tat period&
Vind%a.al is about G1 <m from Varanasi and is one of te
se7eral Sa<tipeets in India8 :i. is belie7ed to be te
abode of Goddess Dur9a& $esides tese .ities and to:ns8 one
ma% also 7isit te )aimoor =ildlife San.tuar% spread o7er an
area of H11 s! <m and te 'andra *raba =ildlife San.tuar%&
'andra *raba =ildlife San.tuar% is situated in te
'andauli distri.t and as ri. flora and fauna& )usina9ar is
%et anoter important e;.ursion point around Varanasi& ?ord
$udda breated is last at <usina9ar&
Sarnat%
Sarnat8 about 21 <m from te ol% .it% of Varanasi8 is te
pla.e :ere $udda .ose to deli7er is first sermon& Te
.elebrated Mantra8 E$uddam Saranam Ga.amiE8 o:es its
ori9in to Sarnat& On te da% before is deat $udda
in.luded Sarnat alon9 :it ?umbini8 $od Ga%a and
)usina9ar as te four pla.es e tou9t to be sa.red to is
follo:ers& It ma<es Sarnat one of te most 7enerated
$uddist pla.es& $esides $uddism8 Sarnat is also .onne.ted
:it Cainism&
Tere are man% $uddist monuments and edifi.es in Sarnat&
Some of te important $uddist monuments at Sarnat are te
Dame<a stupa8 te 'au<andi stupa and monasteries and
temples of different s.ools of $uddism from Capan8 'ina8
Tailand8 $urma and oters& Te Indian $uddist so.iet%
.alled Maabodi So.iet% maintains a par< around te
$udda temple& Te Maabodi Temple :itin te par< as a
toot reli. of te $udda&
Tere is also a 7ast e;panse of an.ient ruins at Sarnat&
Se7eral $uddist stru.tures :ere raised at Sarnat bet:een
te 3rd .entur% $' and te 22t .entur% AD8 and toda% it
presents te most e;pansi7e ruins amon9st pla.es on te
$uddist trail& Te Aso<a pillar of Sarnat is te National
emblem of India&
A&%-'a $i-n "a/ital
Te Aso<a ?ion .apital or te Sarnat lion .apital is te
national s%mbol of India& Te Sarnat pillar bears one of te
Edi.ts of Aso<a8 an ins.ription a9ainst di7ision :itin te
$uddist .ommunit%8 :i. reads8 JNo one sall .ause
di7ision in te order of mon<sJ& Te Sarnat pillar is a
.olumn surmounted b% a .apital8 :i. .onsists of a .anop%
representin9 an in7erted bell4saped lotus flo:er8 a sort
.%lindri.al aba.us :it four 054spo<ed Darma :eels :it
four animals +an elepant8 a bull8 a orse8 a lion/&
Te four animals in te Sarnat .apital are belie7ed to
s%mboliMe different steps of ?ord $uddaEs life& Te Elepant
represents te $uddaEs idea in referen.e to te dream of
Tueen Ma%a of a :ite elepant enterin9 er :omb& Te $ull
represents desire durin9 te life of te $udda as a prin.e&
Te Borse represents $uddaEs departure from palatial life&
Te ?ion represents te a..omplisment of $udda ood&
$esides te reli9ious interpretations8 tere are some non4
reli9ious interpretations also about te s%mbolism of te
Aso<a .apital pillar at Sarnat& A..ordin9 to tem8 te four
lions s%mboliMe Aso<aEs rule o7er te four dire.tions8 te
:eels as s%mbols of is enli9tened rule +'a<ra7artin/ and
te four animals as s%mbols of four ad(oinin9 territories of
India&
"%unar
51 )m& 'unar as an immense fort o7erloo<in9 te Gan9a&
Tis pla.e as been te s.ene of battles sin.e 2H518 :en
Ser Sa too< it from Buma%un& A<bar re.aptured it in
2HIH& In te mid 4 2Dt .entur% it :as appropriated b% A:ad
and subse!uentl%8 te $ritis& Te fort as a sun 4 dial and a
u9e :ell8 and affords a splendid 7ie: of te Gan9a&
"%andra/ra*%a #ildli2e San.tuar+
I1 <m from Varanasi are te forests of 'andrapraba8 :itin
:i. are te Ra(dari and Deodari =aterfalls& A beautiful
se.luded spot for a pi.ni.&
Vind%+a.%al
IH <m& Te famous temple of Vind%a7asini De7i8
Astabu(a De7i and )ali<o are te ma(or attra.tions&
Kaim--r #ildli2e San.tuar+
231 <m& Spread o7er an area of H11 s!& <m8 te san.tuar% as
a 7ariet% of :ildlife& Te Mu<a :aterfall is a tourist
attra.tion& Oter e;.ursions in.lude Caunpur + HD <m8 See
Inde;/8 Allaabad +20D <m8 see Inde;/ and te Vindam and
'a.ai falls&
R-.' Paintin(& in Mir=a/ur
Te Vind%a and te )aimur ran9es a7e at least 0H1 ro.< art
sites spread a.ross tem& Te .a7e paintin9s ran9e from te
Mesoliti. to te .al.oliti. a9es& Amon9 important .a7e
paintin9 sites found in te re9ion are 4 te *an.mu<i .a7es
+D <m from Roberts9an(/8 )au7a )o ro.< selters +near
'ur</ ?a<ania .a7es +00 <m8 from Roberts9an(/ ?a<ma
.a7es +near Mau )alan 7illa9e/&
F-&&il Par', Sal'%an, S-n*%adra
2H )ms from Roberts9an( on 'opan Road tis is te oldest
botani.al fossils found in te :orld& Te tree fossils8 :i.
are .o7erin9 0H e.tares or par<8 date ba.< to Meso4
*roteroMoi. period& Te% are said to be about 2511 million
%ears old& Te t%pes of fossils found in te area are al9ee and
Stromotolities& Te par< is tree times lar9er tan te "ello:
Stone *ar< of Ameri.a&
FAIR 3 FESTIVA$S
$arat Milap at Varanasi U $udda *urnima U De7 Deepa7ali U
Banuman Ca%anti U Maasi7aratri in Varanasi U
Na9 Natai%a of Varanasi U Na<<ata%%a of Varanasi U
Ram ?eela of VaranasiV&&
an(a Ma%-t&a< in Varana&i
Varanasi or )asi8 i&e& te 'it% of Spiritual ?i9t is .onsidered
to be one of te oldest li7in9 .ities in te :orld&
Te 9lorious traditions and m%tolo9i.al le9a.% of tis
sinin9 .it% are 7irtuall% unri7alled&
Varanasi is a multifa.eted .it%8 tat is :% it offers a
breatta<in9 e;perien.e to e7er% 7isitor& Te ra%s of te da:n
simmerin9 a.ross te moter Gan9aV&te i9 ban<s8 te
temples and srinesVsoul steerin9 %mns and mantras alon9
:it te fra9ran.e of in.ense fillin9 te air V te refresin9
dip in te ol% :ater 9entl% splasin9 at te ma9nifi.ent
>Gats@ Vand a ri. tapestr% of musi.8 arts8 .rafts ,
edu.ationV trul% tis is te .it% :ere e;perien.e and
dis.o7er% rea. te ultimate bliss&
Tis .it% is also reputed for its s.ools of dan.e , musi.8 arts8
sil< and .arpet industries and andi.rafts&
A ro: of 9ats8 temples and te re7ered nei9bourood of
Sarnat a7e added manifold 9lor% to tis .it%&
)eepin9 in 7ie: te importan.e of Varanasi8 te Department
of Tourism8 Uttar *rades or9anises Gan9a Maotsa7 ere
e7er% %ear&
an(a Ma%-t&a<
Gan9a maotsa7V&&a festi7al onl% on.e of its <ind8 .ertainl%
doubles te attra.tion of tis .it% of temples8 Gats and
traditions&
As .lassi.al musi. fills te atmospere8 a m%sti!ue seems to
en7elop te en7irons a:atin9 a mood bot .elestial and
soulful& Te .lassi.al musi. rendered b% maestros indeed
imparts an unfor9ettable fla7our& Te attra.tion of te fi7e4
da%4lon9 Gan9a Maotsa7 is its messa9e of fait and .ulture8
tat in.rease :it te dail% Silp Mela and te uni!ue De7
Deepa:ali :it innumerable >Di%as@ or earten lamps in
.ain8 lit b% de7otees and :i. floatin9 do:n te ri7er on
te full moon ni9t of )arti<8 a spe.ta.le bot m%sti.al and
eart :innin9&
1-ud% Ma%-t&a<
One of te 9reatest spiritual tea.ers of man<ind :i. India
as produ.ed is undoubtedl%8 $udda& Ed:in Arnold as
fittin9l% .alled im te J?i9t of AsiaJ& $uddaEs messa9e as
tra7eled far and :ide and .aptured te earts and minds of
billions of people outside India also&
Tis festi7al .elebrates te birt of bird of ?ord $udda :it
traditional reli9ious fer7or& A lar9e fair is eld at Sarnat and
te reli.e of te $udda are ta<en out for publi. displa% in a
pro.ession on tis da% in te mont of Ma%& Te beaut% of
tis e7ent is amplified b% millions of earten lamps JDi%asJ
pla.ed dottedl% in Mul9and )uti Viar and t:o da%s 'ultural
*ro9rammer or9aniMed b% U&*& Tourism adds te
ma9nifi.en.e to te e7ent&
Kajari Ma%-t&a< 7Mir=a/ur8
It is amon9 te famous festi7als of MirMapur& Respe.ted all
o7er India8 <a(ali too< birt ere& )in9 )antit NaresEs
dau9ter )a(ali lo7ed er usband 7er% mu. and san9 son9s
in te moment of separation from er usband8 altou9 se
.ould not meet er usband trou9out er life and died8 %et
se remains ali7e trou9 tese deep sad4lo7e son9s& Ber
7oi.e and son9s impress MirMapur lo.als 7er% mu.8 so te%
remember er trou9 tis festi7al pa%in9 oma9e to er&
)a(ari8 deri7ed from te Bindi :ord )a(ra8 or )ol8 is a 9enre
of Bindustani .lassi.al musi. sin9in98 popular in Uttar
*rades and $iar& It is often used to des.ribe te an9in9 in
te summer s<ies8 and te st%le is notabl% sun9 durin9 te
rain% season&
It .omes in te series of season son9s8 li<e 'aiti8 Bori and
Sa:ani8 and is traditionall% sun9 in te 7illa9es and to:ns of
Uttar *rades# around $anaras8 MirMapur8 Matura8 Allaabad
and te $o(pur re9ions of $iar&
U* Tourism alon9 :it Distri.t Administration or9aniMes a
t:o da%s .ultural *ro9ramme at Go7t& Inter 'olle9e in
MirMapur as a tribute to tis e;.lusi7e musi.al art form of
MirMapur in te mont of Au9ust or A<sa% Triti%a of $ado
Mont of Indian 'alendar&
an(a #ater Rall+ 7Alla%a*ad-Mir=a/ur-"%unar-
Varana&i8
E;plorin9 s.eni. beaut% alon9 :it ri7er Gan9a :it
istori.al 9ats on its ban<8 Gan9a :ater rall% de7elops
ad7enture tourism in India& It is an e7ent of .omplete
ad7enture and fun& Te $oat 'lub Allaabad patroniMes tis
e7ent and te parti.ipants .omin9 from all te .orners of India
and abroad use <a%a<s8 .anoes or ro: boats in tis nomadi.
sport& O..urrin9 in te mont of No7ember Gan9a =ater
Rall% is te first ma(or :ater sportin9 e7ents of its <ind in te
state& Bere8 te ad7enturous persons :ould be ta<en on a
ner7e rattlin9 so(ourn do:n te Gan9a from Allaabad to
Varanasi trou9 MirMapur and 'unar&
2e&ti<e ma(i. ne<er .-me& t- an end in Varana&i>
-esti7al All Round8 E;.itement All Round
Important festi7als .elebrated in Varanasi bet:een %ear 0121
to 012HVV&
Fe&ti<al&4E<ent& 2012 201? 201@ 201A
Gan9a Maotsa7 0540I No7 2342F No7 34H No7 00405 No7
De7 Deepa:ali 0D No7 2I No7 F No7 0H No7
Drupad Mela 2D401 -eb D421 Mar 0F40D -eb 2H42I -eb
$ud *oornima F Ma% 0H Ma% 25 Ma% 5 Ma%
Ramleela Ram Na9ar 0G Sep40G
O.t
2D Sep42D
O.t
D Sep4D
O.t
0I Sep40I
O.t
San<at Mo.an Musi.
-esti7al
21425 Apr 0G Apr43
Ma%
2G403 Apr D420 Apr
Na9 Natai%a 2I No7 I No7 0I O.t 2H No7
A""OMMODATION
UP T-uri&m A..-mm-dati-n
Ra%i T-uri&t 1un(al-B, Parade K-t%i, O//) "antt
RailBa+ Stati-n)
P% 0 70A@28 220CA@A FaD 0 70A@28 220C@1?
E-mail0 ra%it*<arana&iEu/-t-uri&m).-m
VARANASI A""OMMODATION
S)
N-)
Name -2
Di&tt)
Name -2 5-tel
Addre&& -2 5-tel and E-
mail Addre&& -2 5-tel
Tel) N-) -2
5-tel
Star
"ate(-r+
1 Varanasi Botel Gate:a%s
te Gan9es
Nadesar 0H1311242D H +Delu;e/
2 Varanasi Botel Meraden
Grand
*atel Na9ar 0H1GGH04D 5
? Varanasi Botel India *atel Na9ar 0H1IHG34GD 3
@ Varanasi Botel Vaiba7 *atel Na9ar 0H123HG4F0 3
A Varanasi Botel *radeep Ca9ai9an( 0015HG5&
001HGF3
3
F Varanasi Botel *ail7i
International
Batua Mar<et 03G312042H Benta9e
G Varanasi Botel Sidart Si9ra 0002GF2 4
C Varanasi Botel Ramada Te Mail 0H21111 4
H Varanasi Botel 'lar<s Te Mail 0H12122401 4
10 Varanasi Botel Ideal To:er Te Mail 0H133G24GH 4
11 Varanasi Botel Bindustan
International
Malda%a 05225D54DG 4
12 Varanasi Botel Radisson Te Mail 0H12H2242H 4
1? Varanasi Botel Malti Vid%apeet Road 0003DID4
0000DGH
4
1@ Varanasi Botel *ala.e
Gan9es
Assi 03253154H 4
VARANASI S5OPPER:S PARADISE
Soppin9 in Varanasi is a different e;perien.e in itself&
Varanasi is famous for its Sarees8 .arpets and andi.rafts&
Varanasi as8 sin.e times immemorial8 been ailed as a
premier .entre for some of te finest andi.rafts& Te most
reno:ned .raft of te .it% is its sil< :ea7in9&
J$anarsi SareesJ produ.ed b% lo.al .raftsmen are amon9 te
most preferred8 not onl% in India but a.ross te :orld&
$rass:are8 .opper:are8 i7or% :are8 9lass ban9les8 :ood and
.la% to%s and e;!uisite 9old (e:elr% are some of te oter
.rafts te .it% is famous for&
$ANARASI SARI AND $RO'ADES
$RO'ADE
$ANARAS SI?) CAMDANI
CANG?A SAREE
CAMA=AR TAN'BOI SARI
TISSU SAREE
'UT=OR) SAREE
$UTIDAR SAREE
DIVERSI-I'ATION O- TRADITIONA? *RODU'T
MANU-A'TURERS , DEA?ERS O- $ANARASI SAREE
$ANARASI SARI AND $RO'ADES
$adoi .arpets and musi.al instruments are amon9 te oter
soppin9 attra.tions&
Main Soppin9 'entres
Te 'o:<8
Vis:anat Gali8
G%an7api8
Tateri $aMar8
?aurabir8
Godoulia8
Dasas:amed and
Gol9ar&
Varanasi is also famous for its man9o fruit 4 ?an9da Aam
+Summers/ and deli.ious s:eets&
Sou7enier Sops
Te .it% as a number of Sou7enir sops appro7ed b% te
Go7ernment&
OTBER EM*ORIA
U*I'A8 Nadesar W
U&*&Bandlooms8 ?aurabir , Ni.iba9 X
Tantu(4 $en9al Emporium8 Dasas:amed Road X
Bandloom Bouse8 Si9ra
S-u<enir S%-/& and Mall&
M6s Merotra Sil< -a.tor%8 S& '& 4 026I08 En9lisia ?ine8
Varanasi&
M6s C& R& I7or%8 Arts , 'urios8 D4018 Vis7anat Gali8
Varanasi&
M6s $aba $la.< Seep 8 $elupur 8 Varanasi&
M6s $a9:an ?eela Sports8 524Sindu Na9ar 'olon%8 Si9ra8
Varanasi&&
M6s Moan Sil< Store8 D4H62H58 Vis7anat Gali8 Varanasi&
M6s $a9:an Store8 D421638 Vis7anat Gali8 Varanasi&
M6s 'audari $roters8 Tateri $aMar8 Varanasi
M6s Maala;mi Sari Bouse8 218 'andri<a 'olon%8 Si9ra8
Varanasi&
M6s $a9:an Sil<s8 S4216DF8 Sarnat8 Varanasi&
I* Mall 8 Si9ra Varanasi
CBV 8 Te Mall 8 'antt&
Modern Re.eption 'entre8 Sarnat
Si7ans Bandi.raft8 *ande% Gat8 Varanasi8 Mob&
G33HF5111F
Fi<e Star 5-tel& in Varana&i#
Te Gate:a% Botel Gan9es Varanasi
Botel 'lar<s Varanasi
Botel Radission Varanasi
Botel Ramada *laMa Varanasi
F-ur Star 5-tel& in Varana&i0
Botel Bindustan International8 Varanasi
Meraden Grand Botel8 Varanasi
Botel Ideal To:er Varanasi
T%ree Star 5-tel& in Varana&i0
Botel Varanasi Aso<
A *ala.e On Ri7er Botel
Botel *radeep
Diamond Botel
Botel India Varanasi
Botel *ala.e On Steps
Botel Siddart
TB- Star 5-tel& in Varana&i0
*admini International Botel
Botel Siddart
Botel Samrat
Botel M&M&.ontinental
1ud(et 5-tel&0
Botel Sur%a Varanasi
Botel Ri7er Vie:
Situated on te ban< of te Ri7er Gan9a
) 01623342358 Ra(mandir8 $rama9at+Near
*an.9an9a9at/8 Varanasi
*# YG24H504053IH0H8 G52HFGIH1I8 G5H3GFH112
E4Mail# otelQri7er7ie:Zotmail&.om
Botel Sau
Dasas:amed Road8 Varanasi
*# YG24H50405HH5228 05H25058 G52HD202230
Botel Neel Ga9an
Mr& Visnu Gupta
*ared )oti8 'antt Rail:a%s Station8 Varanasi
*one# YG24G5H1H531H28 H50400105F1
Botel $udda International
Mr& San(a% Sri7asta7a
*# YG24GD3DF30FDH8 G52H0I3F5F8 H504301DGDG
Sa&216DH8$araipur8Sarnat87aranasi
E4mail# 9udduQsriDHZ%aoo&in
Botel Atiti Sat<ar
Mr& Dilip Cais:al
D 5I6011 $8 ?u;a Road8 +In front of Nidan )endra/8
Gaudo:lia8 Varanasi
*# YG24H504305HG22
-a;# YG24H50405HH332
Botel *laMa Inn
*ared )oti8 Varanasi
Tel# 035IH1H
Botel *radeep
Ca9at9an(8 Varanasi
Tel# 0015HG5
Botel *uspan(ali
?aurabir8 Varanasi
Tel# 0013IIF
Botel Rela;
*ared )oti8 Varanasi
Tel# 0353H13
Botel Siddarta
Si9ra8 Varanasi
Tel# 0002GF2
Botel 'andra
Sonia8 Si9ra8 Varanasi
Tel# 0032H2D
Botel Gan9es Vie:
Assi Gat8 Varanasi
Tel# 032302D
Botel Gaura7
?a(pat Na9ar8 Varanasi
Tel# 03HF003
Botel Varuna
Gulab $a98 Si9ra8 Varanasi
Tel# 03HDH05
"auti-n 2-r T-uri&t&0
$e:are of touts tat pose as E*unditsE on te Gats to
e;tra.t mone% from te de7otees to perform reli9ious
.eremonies&
'e.< for fare and te route before irin9 a ri.<sa: and
auto to mo7e around in te .it%&
$e:are of a9ents bet:een te bu%ers and sellers of
andi.raft items&
In.idents of snat.in9 and pi.< po.<etin9 a7e been
eard in te temples so ta<e .are tat %ou <eep %our
7aluables in otel itself&
Arms and ammunitions are not allo:ed inside te
temples for se.urit% reasons8 espe.iall% in te )asi
Vis:anat temple or G%an7api Mos!ue&
Art 3 "ulture -2 Varana&i
Te art and .ulture of Varanasi is uni!ue& It is te ri. .ultural
tradition of Varanasi tat ma<es it te .ultural .apital of India&
A .ombination of ar.aeolo9%8 m%tolo9%8 9eo9rap%8 art and
istor% ma<es Varanasi a 9reat .enter of Indian .ulture&
Tou9 Varanasi is asso.iated mainl% :it Binduism and
$uddism but one .an find 9limpse of man% reli9ious beliefs8
t%pes of :orsip and reli9ious institutions at Varanasi& It is
amaMin9 to see te primiti7e :orsip .ults bein9 pra.ti.ed at
Varanasi&
Varanasi presents a .omplete museum of Indian art and
.ulture& At Varanasi one .an feel te .an9in9 patterns and
mo7ements in .ourse of istor%& It as a ri. and uni!ue st%le
of art forms and fol< art& -or .enturies8 Varanasi as produ.ed
master .raftsmen and earned name and fame for its beautiful
Sarees8 andi.rafts8 te;tiles8 to%s8 ornaments8 metal :or<8 .la%
and :ood:or< and oter .rafts&
A&tr-l-(+ at Varana&i
$ein9 a 9reat .enter of edu.ation and learnin98 Varanasi is
asso.iated :it te stud% and promotion of Vedi. astrolo9%
+(%otis/ sin.e an.ient times&
Varanasi is a .enter of edu.ation and learnin9 for .enturies
and is aptl% .alled as te .ultural .apital of India& S.olars8
intelle.tuals8 pilosopers8 m%sti.s and saints from all o7er
te :orld a7e been .omin9 to Varanasi8 te .apital of
edu.ation& In earlier times8 Varanasi :as more famous for
Vedi. edu.ation and astrolo9% +(%otis/& Students and s.olars
from different parts .ame to te ol% .it% to stud% and learn
pilosop% and astrolo9%&
Tus8 tere de7eloped a 9reat tradition of learnin9 of Vedi.
astrolo9% or J(%otis sastraJ at Varanasi& Te s%stem of Vedi.
astrolo9% .ontinues to e7en tis da% in Varanasi& It is 7er%
mu. e7ident in te JGuru Sis%a paramparaJ of )asi& In
an.ient and medie7al period8 (%otis :as tau9t at JAsramsJ
and JGuru<ulsJ and it .ontinues to be tau9t at man% of te
present edu.ational institutions at Varanasi& Tere are separate
fa.ulties Meditation and Astrolo9% in $&B&U& and
Sampurnanand Sans<rit Uni7ersit%& -ollo:in9 are main .enter
for meditation and astrolo9%&
$&B&U&
Man Mandir
$rin9 Sanita )endra8 $adaini
'enter -or "o9a and Meditation8 Nirala Na9ar
*ra9%a "o9a Institute8 Ca9at Gan(
S&S&U&
Ga%an *ra7a
)asi "o9a San98 San<at Mo.an
International "o9a and Meditation 'entre8 Na9a:a&
Ka&%i 6atra
Sin.e )asi or Varanasi is te .enter of Bindu reli9ion8 man%
"atras or *ari<ramas ta<e pla.e durin9 different parts of te
%ear& -or man% Bindus8 )asi "atra is one of te sa.red
rituals of Bindu reli9ion and is tou9t to elp in sal7ation&
Bere is a .ompilation of )asi "atras&
Pan.%'r-&i Pari'arma
5al Tirth 6atra
2st Tirt "atra 0nd Tirt "atra
3rd Tirt "atra 5t Tirt "atra
Ht Tirt "atra Ft Tirt "atra
Shi2aatan 6atra
2st Si7a%atan "atra 0nd Si7a%atan "atra
3rd Si7a%atan "atra 5t Si7a%atan "atra
Ht Si7a%atan "atra Ft Si7a%atan "atra
Dt Si7a%atan "atra 22t Si7a%atan "atra
25t Si7a%atan "atra
Anta %rihi 6atra
Vis:es:ar "atra )edares:ar "atra
Om<ares:ar "atra 20t C%otirlin9a "atra&
Mut%& 3 A&%ram& at Varana&i
-or .enturies8 Varanasi as been ome to Indian pilosop%8
m%sti.ism and spiritualism& Varanasi8 terefore8 as numerous
Muts and Asrams& At Varanasi different reli9ious outfits
a7e teir o:n Muts and Asrams& Man% of tese Muts and
Asrams a7e sur7i7ed for .enturies and are .enters of
spiritualism and reli9ious a.ti7ities& Some of te noted Muts
and Asrams of Varanasi are listed belo:#
Darm San9
Nira(ani A<anra
Satua $aba Asram
San<ara.ar%a Mat
Can9ambari Mat
Sadu $ela Asram
Mata Anandmai Asram
Rada S:ami $a9
)abir Mat
)arpatri Ci Mat
Dandi S:ami Mat
Ram)risna Mission Se7asram
)inaram Mat
Sanatan Gaudi%a Mat
SriMat8 *an.9an9a Gat
Tailan9 S:ami Mat
Gad:a Gat Asram
Gopal Mat
$ina9ara( Dandi Se7asram
Edu.ati-nal In&titute& in Varana&i
-or .enturies8 Varanasi8 also <no:n as JSar7a Vid%a )i
Ra(daniJ +.apital of <no:led9e/8 is reputed as a 9reat .entre
of edu.ation and learnin9& It@s be.ause sin.e te an.ient times8
people from all parts of te :orld a7e been .omin9 to
Varanasi to learn pilosop%8 Sans<rit8 astrolo9%8 modern
s.ien.es and so.ial s.ien.e& Te first step in te dire.tion of
establisin9 formal edu.ational institute in Varanasi 9oes ba.<
to 2IG28 :en a Sans<rit .olle9e :as started to train te
ser7ants of te East India 'ompan%& Mrs& Annie $esant
establised te 'entral Bindu S.ool in te last !uarter of te
2Gt .entur% :it te aim of impartin9 modern as :ell
traditional edu.ation& Te 'entral Bindu S.ool later formed
te .ore of te presti9ious $anaras Bindu Uni7ersit% :i.8 at
present8 is amon9 te leadin9 uni7ersities in te :orld and
in.ludes te Institute of Te.nolo9%8 -a.ult% of Mana9ement
Studies8 Institute of A9ri.ultural S.ien.es and Institute of
Medi.al S.ien.es& Oter edu.ational institutions of repute in
Varanasi are te Sampurnanand Sans<rit Uni7ersit%8 Maatma
Gandi )asi Vid%apeet8 Imania Arabi. 'olle9e +Camia4e4
Imania/8 Udai *ratap 'olle9e8 Institute of Inte9rated
Mana9ement and Te.nolo9% and 'entral Institute of Bi9er
Tibetan Studies&
Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# A9ra 4 Varanasi8 India8 IN $ein9
tat A9ra is in relati7e pro;imit%8 %ou simpl% a7e to lea7e
time to pa% a 7isit to tis 9lorious .it%8 and of .ourse8 IndiaEs
most :onderful tourist attra.tion8 A9raEs 7er% famous Ta(
Maal8 :i. boast in.redibl% detailed marble ar.ite.ture at
its 7er% finest& A9ra is also ome to te Red -ort8 te *ersian4
st%le 'ini )a RauMa and Itmad4Ud4DaulaEs Tomb8 amon9st
oter istori.al landmar<s8 and if tatEs not enou9 to
.on7in.e %ou8 ten .ome in -ebruar% and en(o% te festi7ities
at te Ta( -ood -esti7al8 and te pro.essions durin9 te
.ro:ded Ta( Maotsa7 .arni7al&

Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# Allaabad 4 Varanasi8 India8 IN
?o.ated appro;imatel% 231 <m 6 D2 miles to te :est of
Varanasi8 te .it% of Allaabad resides at te meetin9 point of
t:o in.redibl% important Indian ri7ers8 te "amuna Ri7er and
also te Ri7er Gan9es +Gan9a/& Allaabad seems to a7e
found itself a little of te tourist trail8 :i. is a same8 sin.e
tere are a number of !ualit% attra.tions situated ere& Tese
in.lude AllaabadEs 9rand Mu9al fort and tombs8 its ol%
San9am area and is impressi7e Ra(4era stru.tures& And if %ou
are a little un9r% :en %ou arri7e8 %ou :ill find tat te
.it%Es Indian ba<eries and i.e4.ream parlours are !uite
outstandin9&

Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# Gora<pur4 Varanasi8 India8 IN
Gora<pur is a bus% transport ub fre!uented b% man%
7isitors tra7ellin9 to )usina9ar8 Nepal or Sunauli& =ilst
tere are not reall% an% attra.tions of an% note :itin
Gora<pur8 if %ou are stoppin9 off ere8 %ou ma% :ell be
pleased to fill %our time b% pa%in9 a 7isit to te $uddist
Museum8 :i. is lo.ated on te souterl% outs<irts and .lose
to te .it%Es la<e& Tere are also a u9e number of soppin9
opportunities :itin Gora<pur .it% .entre&

Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# )usina9ar 4 Varanasi8 India8 IN
A pea.eful and rater 7erdant to:n8 )usina9ar is te pla.e to
.ome if %ou .ra7e a little respite8 a:a% from .entral Varanasi&
Most people .ome to )usina9ar8 sin.e tis reputedl% te
pla.e :ere te 9reat $udda breated is last breat8 and as
understandabl% be.ome a ma(or $uddist pil9rima9e site&
Tere are a lar9e number of $uddist temples spread around
)usina9ar8 :it te main si9ts linin9 te street <no:n as
te $udda Mar9& In parti.ular8 loo< out for te
Maasu<amdada.an Tar9%i *a9oda8 te Maaparinir7ana
Temple8 te Mata<uar Temple8 te $udda Museum8 te =at
Tai .omple;8 and te famous Ramabar Stupa8 :ere it is
said tat $udda :as a.tuall% .remated&
Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# *atna 4 Varanasi8 India8 IN *atna
is a lar9e and bus% .it%8 :it a population of more tan 2&3
million residents& Te .it% lies on te soutern side of te
Ri7er Gan9es8 :ere it stret.es for around 2H <m 6 G miles&
Tose loo<in9 for attra.tions :itin *atna :ill find tat te
ma(orit% of te istori. sites lie :itin te 'o:< area8 on te
eastern side of te .it%8 :ile to te :est %ou :ill find otels8
sops and te train station& Te *atna museum is al:a%s
popular8 as is te Tila Bouse +Calan Museum/8 te Gol9at
Granar%8 te ol% Si< srines of Bar Mandir Ta<t8 and te
istori.al ruins of *ataliputra&

Varanasi Attra.tions Nearb%# Sarnat 4 Varanasi8 India8 IN It
is :ort .omin9 ere to .ompare te different st%les of tese
modern $uddist temples8 :i. :ere built b% $uddists
from $urma8 'ina8 Capan8 Tailand and Tibet& =itin a
pea.eful par<land settin98 te Ht4.entur% Dane< Stupa
monuments mar<s te 7er% spot :ere ?ord $udda prea.ed
is 7er% first sermon& Also from te same era is te
'au<andi Stupa8 :ile SarnatEs more modern Mul9anda
)uti Viar Temple and Deer *ar< ma% also be of interest&

)ASBI Vis:anat Mandir 4Te istor% of Vis:anat
Temple tat is also .alled Golden Temple at times is full of
ups and do:ns& Te temple and .it% as al:a%s been on te
re.ei7in9 end of te in7aders be it Af9ans8 Tur<s8 Roila or
Maratas& Te temple as been built and raMed to te 9round
se7eral times in te istor%& It :as first destro%ed b%
$a<ti%ar )il(i in te 23t .entur% and :as later rebuild&
Emperor A<bar donated se7eral a.res of 7illa9es to te trust
tat :as later .ut do:n substantiall% b% Auran9Meb&
Auran9Meb :as a fundamentalist :o ated e7er% possible
reli9ion and se.ts in India in.ludin9 Sufi and Siite order
amon9 te Muslims& Rani Ail%abai Bol<ar of Indore built te
present temple tat stands in Varanasi8 in te %ear 2IIF&
Maara(a Ran(it Sin9 of ?aore donated te D114<ilo9ram
Gold4platin9 of te to:ers tat 9i7es te temple its .ollo!uial
name

Dur9a Temple 4 Te Dur9a temple is .onsidered one of te
most important temples in Varanasi& $uilt in 2Dt .entur% te
Dur9a temple is stained in Red :it o.re& Tou9 te temple
mi9t a7e $an9la influen.e spirituall%8 it is built e;.lusi7el%
on te Nort Indian pattern .alled Na9ara& Multi4tired spires
tat de.rease in diameter in oriMontal pattern mar< tis st%le&
A.tuall% separate spires are .lubbed to9eter one o7er anoter
to 9i7e tis feel& Tou9 tis st%le loo<s less attra.ti7e tan
te Sout4Indian Gopuram pattern8 it as a feel of its o:n&
?atel%8 people a7e started .allin9 it Mon<e% Temple due to
te mena.e .reated b% te mon<e%s tat inabit te .ampus of
tis Temple& At te time of Na7aratri tere are 7er% mus
.ro:d for te :orsip

Tulsi Manas Temple 4 Tulsi Manas Temple as a 7er%
istori.al as :ell as .ultural importan.e for not onl% Varanasi
but also for te :ole of India& Tis is pre.isel% be.ause te
pla.e is .onne.ted to an e7ent tat still rules te Indian
*s%.e& Te famous Bindu Epi. of Rama%ana :as .omposed
at tis 7er% pla.e& Gos:ami Tulsi Das :as te man :o
.omposed Rama%ana in Bindi in te form of JRam 'arit
ManasJ& *rior to tat8 Rama%ana :as onl% a7ailable in
Sans<rit and tat is :% it :as out of te rea. of 9eneral
masses&

Ne: Vis:anat Mandir 4 Situated in te premises of $anaras
Bindu Uni7ersit%8 a modern pla.e of :orsip planned b%
*andit Mal7i%a and built b% te $irlas& Open to all8
irrespe.ti7e of .aste or .reed&

$arat Mata Temple 4 Te $arat Mata temple at Varanasi is
te onl% temple dedi.ated to Moter India& It is lo.ated in te
Maatma Gandi )asi Vid%apeet .ampus near rail:a%
station& Te $arat Mata temple :as built b% $abu Si7
*rasad Gupt and inau9urated b% Maatma Gandi in 2G3F&
Te statute of $arat Mata is built in marble and is a model of
undi7ided India8 depi.tin9 te mountains8 plains and o.eans&
Te most pe.uliar tin9 about te $arat Mata Temple is tat
instead of te .ustomar% 9ods and 9oddesses8 it ouses a
relief map of India8 .ar7ed out of marble&

San<at Mo.an Temple 4San<at Mo.an Mandir do not a7e
mu. istori.al si9nifi.an.e but is a 9ood pla.e to 7isit at
least on.e& No bod% <no:s :o establised tis temple& It
:as a.tuall% 7er% small in its earl% pase& In te due .ourse
7arious EMaantsE .olle.ted funds to up9rade te stru.ture and
toda% it boasts off a fairl% lar9e .omple;& Te temple as
e7er% possible fa.ilit% for te de7otees& Tere is an inn too
:ere de7otees .an sta% o7erni9t& Te must attend reli9ious
fun.tion of tis temple is te famous J*rata AartiJ or da:n
offerin9 tat ta<es pla.e at H AM in te mornin9& Te
JSand%a AartiJ or te e7enin9 offerin9 is performed to ?ord
San<at Mo.an at around D#31 in te ni9t& JTe Ratri AartiJ
is performed at around 21 *M after :i. te 9ates are
.losed&

G%an7api Mos!ue 4G%an7api Mos!ue Tis mos!ue :as built
b% Mu9al emperor Auran9aMeb& Te foundation and te rear
part of te mos!ue are te remains of a temple& One of its
minarets :i. dominated te s<%line of te ol% .it%8
.ollapsed in te2G5D floods

GBATS 4Te .it%Es life re7ol7es around its se7en <m lon9
s:eep of about 211 batin9 9ats tat s<irt te :est ban< of
te Gan9es& Most of tem are used for batin9& Some are used
for .rematin9 bodies& Te most sa.red 9ats are te Assi8
Dasas:amed Gat8 Mani<arni<a and *an.9an9a& *il9rims
:o bate in ea. one .onse.uti7el% belie7e teir pra%ers :ill
be fulfilled& A sort boat trip from Mani<arni<a Gat .an be
an interestin9 introdu.tion to te ri7er& It is belie7ed tat
.remation at Mani<arni<a 9at ensures a safe pla.e in
Bea7en8 as te .remators of tis 9at are belie7ed to a7e te
patrona9e of Si7a& Te furtermost upstream 9at is Assi
Gat8 :i. mar<s te .onfluen.e of te Gan9es and te Assi
ri7ers& Nearb% is te Tulsi Gat8 :ere Gos:ami Tulsidas
li7ed till is deat in 2F03A&D& Dasas7amed Gat8
VaranasiEs li7eliest batin9 pla.e :as .onstru.ted b% *es:a
$ala(i $a(i Rao& ItEs name indi.ates tat $rama sa.rifi.ed
+med/ 21 +das/ orses +as:a/ ere& ItEs one of te most
important 9ats and is .on7enientl% .entral& Nearb% is te
9rand Man Mandir Gat +2F3I/ and an obser7ator% bot built
b% Sa:ai Ra(a Cai Sin9 of Caipur in 2I21&

$BU 4$BU is te lar9est residential uni7ersit% in Asia& It as
been de7eloped as a .enter for edu.ation in Indian art8 musi.8
.ulture and pilosop% and for te stud% of Sans<rit& Te
.ampus also ouses te $arat )ala $a:an tat as a fine
.olle.tion of miniature paintin9s and s.ulptures tat dates
from 2st to 2Ht .enturies& Te H4s!uare <ilometers .ampus of
$BU8 ouses as man% as HH ostels& Te .ampus as oter
attra.tions too su. as te $irla Mandir tat is popularl%
.alled VT& 'lose b% is an airstrip and a fl%in9 .lub& Te
.entral librar% named Sa%a(irao Gae<:ad ?ibrar% is also
:ort a 7isit& Apart from 7arious manus.ripts and periodi.als8
it ouses as man% as 25 la.<s or 2&5 million separate 7olumes&
Tere is a 2111 bedded ospital too& It is .alled Sir Sunder
?al Bospital& Apart from .on.rete buildin9s8 te .ampus
features open spa.es8 9reener% and pea.o.<s8 te national bird
of India8 :i. are found roamin9 around almost e7er% part
of te uni7ersit%

Sarnat 4 21 <m& from Varanasi is te site :ere ?ord $udda
prea.ed is first sermon JMaa4 Darma4'a<ra *ra7artanJ
+in $uddist terminolo9%8 >turned te :eel of te la:@/ after
is enli9tenment& Sarnat is one of te ri.est in $uddist
anti!uities ran9in9 in date from te times of Aso<a do:nto
te 20t .entur% A&D Aso<a built ere te Darmara(i<a
Stupa and near it ere.ted a pillar surmounted b% te
ma9nifi.ent .apital of four adorsed ?ions8 :i. toda% forms
te national emblem of India&Amon9 oter stru.tures at
Sarnat are te ruins of te bri.< temple representin9 te
Mula4 Ganda )uti8 ruins of stupas and monasteries& Amon9
te more imposin9 ones is te Dame< Stupa8 adorned :it
deli.ate floral .ar7in9s in te lo:er part8 te 'au<andi
Stupa and Maabodi So.iet%Es Mul9anda )uti Viar
Temple& Sarnat as also %ielded an e;tremel% ri. .olle.tion
of $uddist s.ulptures .omprisin9 of numerous $udda and
$odisat7a ima9es :i. .an be seen at Ar.aeolo9i.al
Museum8 Sarnat&

$arat )ala $a7an Museum 4$arat )ala $a7an is an art
and ar.ite.ture museum situated inside te $BU .ampus&
Bere8 one .an find a lar9e number of$uddist and Bindu
s.ulptures8 paintin9s and oter materials of ar.aeolo9i.al
rele7an.e&Tis $a7an :as founded in 2G01 A&D& In its main
all8 tere is a fi9ure of a man standin9 on one le98 oldin9
one and on is ip and liftin9 a mass of stone abo7e is ead
:it te oter and& It is belie7ed tat tis fi9ure is of ?ord
)risna liftin9 Mount Go7ardana& Most of te ima9es in tis
$a7an as.ertain te presen.e of )risna .ult in )asi durin9
te 2Ht and 2Ft .entur%&

Aso<a *illar 4Aso<a *illar It is at Saranat8 21<m nort of
Varanasi& Sarnat8 te pla.e :ere $udda 9a7e is first
sermon is a popular $uddist pil9rima9e .entre& Te Aso<a
pillar stands in front of te main stupa :ere Aso<a sat and
meditated& Te Sarnat Ar.aeolo9i.al Museum at Aso<a
Mar98 ouses a .op% of Aso<aEs lion pillar and some
s.ulptures&

Mani<arni<a Gat 4Tis is one of te more famous of te
Varanasi 9ats :ere Bindus brin9 teir dead for .remation&
Tere is a fire ere tat@s been burnin9 for te 5 .enturies8 it is
.laimed and is ne7er allo:ed to die out& $urnin9 lo9s from
tis fire is used to li9t te funeral p%re& ItEs not for e7er%one
but tere is sometin9 about te pla.e tat lea7es a deep
impa.t&

$uddist Temples in Sarnat 4Visitors to Sarnat usuall% :ind
up teir 7isit b% 9oin9 trou9 te main stupas and te
museum at Sarnat& $ut be%ond te main e;.a7ation site in
te narro: lanes are some e;!uisite $uddist temples set up
and run b% follo:ers from .ountries li<e Capan8 $urma8
Tailand8 'ambodia8 'ina et. It is a treat to 7isit tese
temples& Tere are amaMin9 artifa.ts and an.ient maps tat
tra.e te spread of $uddism&

Su<rit Valle% 4Su<rit is a small to:n tat lies on te Varanasi4
Roberts9an( national i9:a% around HH <ms a:a% from te
.it%& Te pla.e is e;tremel% ri. in natural beaut%& Small tribal
7illa9es dot te lands.ape around a meanderin9 ri7er and te
:a% of life as remained more or less untou.ed b% te .urse
of .i7iliMation& On te :a% is ?a<ania Dari :i. is ome to
some an.ient ro.< paintin98 .a7es and a beautiful :aterfall& A
*la.e onl% for tose :o are a7id nature lo7ers and ate te
.ro:ds&&
S%-//in( in Varana&i
A 9eneral information b% Botel Ne: Temples To:n8
Varanasi& Te soppin9 otspots in Varanasi are 'o:<8 G%an
Vapi8 Vis:anat Gali8 Tateri $aMar8 ?aurabir8 Godoulia
or Dass:amed Gali and Gol9ar& $esides te illustrious
and fine sil<s and bro.aded fabri.s8 one .an also bu% sa:ls8
.arpets8 :all an9in9s8 Rari :or<P stone inla% :or<8 9lass
beads and ban9les8 mas<s of Bindu and $uddist deities and
lampsades& Bo:e7er8 one as to be on :at. :ile bu%in9
sil< saris and be:are of te imitations tat are mu. .eaper
tan te real sil< ones but are not so eas% to distin9uis&
Sil< :ea7in9 is peraps te most popular art of Varanasi and
$anarasi sil< sarees form an indispensable part of an Indian
brideEs trousseau& Te :orld4famous 9old and sil7er bro.ades
and ri.l% :or<ed saris are <no:n to a7e passed on from
9enerations to 9enerations mu. li<e famil% (e:els :itout
loosin9 teir .arm& $esides $anarasi saris and bro.ades8 %ou
ma% loo< for :onderful pie.es of brass:are8 .opper:are8
:ooden and .la% to%s and anti!ue desi9ns of ea7% 9old
(e:eller% in Varanasi&
Oter soppin9 attra.tions of Varanasi in.lude te and4
<notted .arpets of MirMapur8 musi.al instruments8 te E<atta4
meetaE +s:eet EnE sour/ E?an9da AamE8 a popular 7ariet% of
man9oes a7ailable durin9 summer season and te famous
betel leaf tat is .onsidered a spe.ialt% of te pla.e& $enarasi
people .an be seen .e:in9 betel lea7es as a part of teir
.ultural upbrin9in9 and te% e7en :el.ome teir 9uests b%
offerin9 tem te famous betel lea7es&