Sight-seeing Places to Visit in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Ghoomophiro

Often called the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi is cradled in the Himalayas and sits on the banks of river Ganga in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and has several excellent tourist attractions. Having several traditional names such as Kashi and Banaras, the city is situated at a distance of 300 kilometers from the state’s capital and yet draws thousands of tourists every year. Here we shall discuss some of the best attractions of the city.

Let’s get started:

1. Kashi Vishwanath Mandir

The first and perhaps the most obvious place to visit in Varanasi is the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. One of the most prominent Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, it sits on Vishwanath Gali of Varanas on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is one of the twelve imminent Jyotirlingas. The deity here is named after the title ‘owner of the world’.

2. Assi Ghat

Asi Ghat is another popular tourist attraction in Varanasi. The best time to visit the ghat is morning or evening arti – which offers an incredible auspicious experience.

3. Ashok Pillar

The famous pillar has four real size lions sitting back to back on a drum-shaped abacus which itself is adorned with wheels in its relief along with four animals – a horse, a bull, a lion, and an elephant. It was originally erected by Ashoka the great after his conversion to Buddhism

4. Bharat Mata Mandir

The next must-see place to make its tour list is Bharat Mata Mandir. Located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus, it is India’s first and one of few temples that are dedicated to Bharat Mata the personification-diety of the nation India. It was originally built by a freedom fighter, Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, a great freedom fighter in 1936. Lacking a deity, the temple has a great relief map of undivided India. The temple is, for obvious reasons, best visited during national holidays.

Moreover, you can also have a look at the other places to visit in India for an amazing experience.

5. Sankat Mochan Mandir

Dedicated to the great trouble-destroyer monkey god Hanumana of the great Indian epic Ramaya, the Sankat Mochan Mandir holds a special place in the spiritual capital of India. The main idol here is garlanded with marigold flowers. The temple was built by one country’s leading educationists and freedom fighters Shri Madan Mohan Malaviya. The temple is best visited during festivals relating to Hinduism.

6. Kanaka Durga Mandir

The last must-see place to appear in this list is Kanaka Durga Mandir – dedicated to the great warrior goddess Durga. This temple is said to be located at the place where Durga, according to the legend, killed the demon Mahishasur.

Frequently Asked Questions

You might have several questions relating to places to see in Varanasi. Some of the most important of these frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are discussed in detail below:

Question: What is the best time to visit Varanasi?

Answer: Varanasi offers a good climate around the year. For spiritually inclined people, it is best visited during Hindu festivals like Navratras, Diwali, Holi, Ramnavami, etc. However, these are also occasions when the city is most crowded and most costly.

Question: What are some of the other tourist attractions of Varanasi?

Answer: The above list is by no means exhaustive and Varanasi has several other excellent tourist attractions including:

• Sanath Museum – No history enthusiast can miss this great museum which is home to over six thousand sculptures that were excavated from the location.
• Dashashwamedh Ghat – One of the biggest religious attractions of Varanasi. It gets its name from the ten horses that were sacrificed here by Lord Brahma, according to a popular local legend.
• Manikarnika Ghat – According to Hindu beliefs, this ghat is the gateway to the afterlife.
• Tulsi Ghat – Gets its name from the great poet Tulsidas who lived near here when he wrote his greatest works – Ramcharitmanas and Hanuman Charitra.

Question: Where can one stay in Varanasi?

Answer: One of the biggest perks of visiting the city of Varanasi is that you will be able to get accommodation – no matter what your budget is.

Question: How to reach Varanasi?

Answer: Varanasi enjoys great connectivity by road, air, and railways. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport of Varanasi gets flights from several major cities of the country. The city also enjoys great railway connectivity and road connectivity. The city is a railway junction and similarly has roads going to several other cities of North India including Lucknow and Delhi.

If the reader has any questions or doubts, they should feel free to ask them.

The Bottom Line

One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that Varanasi is an incredibly excellent tourist destination that should be on everyone’s bucket list.