Traveling to Varanasi can be a
great choice if you want to see and live a more exotic India with a much more
spiritual connection. Varanasi is one of the 7 sacred cities for Hinduism and
receives thousands of souls a day. If you are looking for something to do in
Varanasi, this is what you can not miss.
People from many parts of the
world and from all over India come to bathe in their "sacred" Ganges
River. With that bath a person cleanses his body of all evil and generates
positive karma. Everyone should bathe even once in life in their channels.
Many are the dying or bodies that
are brought to the crematories that are in the ghats in the river Ganges and
that are later thrown into the river. Here in this river, life and death
coexist in this, one of the most polluted rivers in the world. When thinking
about what to do in Varanasi you have to know that it is a connection with all
this. With what the guides tell you and what your eyes will see.
In Varanasi you can walk through
thousands of narrow streets with stalls and souvenirs, flowers, clothes and
ornaments. You can see travelers, pilgrims, beggars, bicycles. All in a mixture
of people that produce a noise without equal, because more than 3 million
people live in Varanasi, and when most of the population goes out to the street
it can give a feeling of suffocation, but for this you can get many places that
teaches yoga and meditation. So one can relax inside a city full of noise and
chaos. The options of activities to do in Varanasi are
many.
Things to do in Varanasi
To travel to Varanasi is to take
a step towards an exotic, spiritual and unique destination. You will find
amazing sites like these:
1. Walk the Ghats
If there is anything we can do in
Varanasi, it is precisely walking through the Ghats. On the long stone stairs
that lead us to the river Ganges. Since dawn until the night closed, you can
see both life and death in these places.
There are more than 80 ghats that
you can walk around. In most you will find people bathing in its sacred water,
washing clothes, cows bathing, children learning to swim, gentlemen who wash
their teeth, women who wash dishes and clothes. The life of Varanasi goes
largely in its river.
In another part, the ghats are
used for crematoria. Along with the ghats, thousands of bodies are cremated
each year. Once the ritual is over, they throw the ashes into the river, at the
same place where the cows drink water, where the children play or learn to
swim.
The best time to visit the ghats
is at sunrise and sunset. Not only because of the heat, but because it is in
those moments where we can find sadhus, pilgrims and curious people.
2. Give Yourself A Boat Ride
Among other interesting things to
do when traveling to Varanasi is to take a boat trip on the Ganges. You can
thus contemplate the ghats, temples and others directly from the river. You can
also make postcard photographs for our memory of your unforgettable boat trip.
On the bank of the Ganges you
will find several boats and boats ready to give you a pleasant walk along the
Ganges River. A normal walk will not be more than 100 rupees which is nothing
compared to everything we are going to earn in return, a lovely trip down the
Ganges River and with spectacular views.
The ships are loaded with travelers and sometimes it can be uncomfortable.
Bargain a good price for someone
to take you for a private boat ride. The feeling of connecting with a much more
human and spiritual India is incredible.
3. Meditation, Yoga And Music Lessons
There are many places that you
will find in Varanasi that teaches meditate, to practice yoga and to relax. Practicing Yoga or meditating while traveling
in an environment full of stress and nerves is appreciated. Your trip can
become an experience where you can learn to relax and take your life in another
way. Of course, you have to be especially careful with scammers, because in
this sector there is much that you are going to find. Find out with locals the
best places to go.
You will also find many places or
people who offer classes of typical instruments of Indian music. If you like
music and curious or eager to learn to play those instruments, let's not
hesitate and accept some Indian music lessons.
When to travel to Varanasi?
As in all India you have to avoid
going in times of heat and rain. When it rains in Varanasi it is not just a
little, but the Ganges River gets to overflow. The best thing is to avoid the
monsoon season.
You also have to avoid the hot
season, since in May you may find yourself with a sensation of heat of about 50
degrees at nightfall. So the best time to travel to Varanasi is from September to March, a time when it
is not raining or hot.
How to Get To Varanasi?
Varanasi is a well-connected
city; you can get there by train or by bus. Depending on your needs and tastes
you may find that these means of transport lack cleanliness and are full to the
brim. But it also has its charm.
By Train
It has daily service of cities
such as Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata. Varanasi has two railway
stations. Some arrive at Varanasi Junction and others arrive at Mughal Sarai
Junction. It is last about 15 kms from the city. This Mughal Sarai station is
the right one if you come from Agra or Tundla.
Bus
To get to Varanasi, you have
daily buses from the Nepal border and from other points in northern India. They
leave every day every hour from the main bus station, near the train station.
From there you can travel to other places such as Gorakhpur (5 hrs), Lucknow (8
hrs), Kanpur (9 hrs) and Allahabad (3 hrs).
Airplane
Another option if you want to go
directly from other places, is to go by plane because there 25 km away is
Varanasi airport. Despite not being far away, it may take about an hour by car
or taxi from the airport to the city of Varanasi.