Misterious Varanasi...

Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Benaras. Kashi, the city of Moksha for Hindus since centuries, is known for its fine-quality silks, 'paan' and Benares Hindu University and Avimukta of the ancient days, Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus.

One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the Shakti Peethas and one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. In Hinduism it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births. Considered as the abode of Lord Shiva, Varanasi is situated on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins. As pundits here will tell you, whatever is sacrificed and chanted here or given in charity reaps its fruits thousand times more than those good deeds performed at other places because of the power of that place.

It is believed that three nights of fasting in Varanasi city can reap you rewards of many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism!Varanasi is the oldest city of the world. Varanasi is more than 3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. In Varanasi, there are temples at every few paces. Looking at the number of temples in Varanasi, it is hard to believe that a large number of them were demolished during the medieval times. Jyotirlinga Visvanatha Temple or Golden Temple, rebuilt in 1776, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jnana Vapi well (meaning 'Well of Wisdom) is believed to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that the majestic Alamgir mosque has replaced one of the most ancient shrines known as the temple of Bindu Madhava. The thirty-three hundred million shrines fill one with awe and wonder with sheer numbers.The Ganga Ghats (river front) are the most popular pilgrimage spot of Varanasi and are centers of music and learning. There is a great tradition of Yatras in the holy city of Kashi and the most sacred path is that of Panchkoshi Parikrama, the fifty-mile path with a radius of five miles that cover 108 shrines along the way, with Panchakoshi Temple as its main shrine. Other popular pilgrimage route is Nagara Pradakshina, which covers seventy-two shrines along the way. Since time immemorial Varanasi is a great center of learning. The holy city has been a symbol of spiritualism, philosophy and mysticism for thousands of years and has produced great saints and personalities like Guatama Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Tulsi Das, Shankaracharaya, Ramanuja and Patanjali.

Varanasi is really very amazing and misterious city even those there are a lot of tourists... I was surprised how it is possible that the city is at once traditional, misterious and religious and also touristic, very good service and friendly people ;))) We came to the city in the afternoon and went for a walk only in the evening ;))) so we managed to visit religious ceremony of the Temple ;)) One more had seen before in Kathmandu, but to be true I liked more in Varanasi, it was really amazing performance, very colourful and with different equipment. ;))

This is one of the priests performing the ceremony... so many meaning in each movement... Wish I could understood...

There were so many religious people, tourists, many of them came by boats...

Varanasi is very colourful city, so many special things, accessorises of the bone and stones... I bought some amazing gifts for my friends exactly there and don't forget about it cause such I haven't seen nowhere...

In the evening we decided to go to Ganga Fuji Restaurant (Sarkak and Gali), prices between 50-120 Rs, we ate for 250 Rs each. What is spacial: free live Indian classical music. Music is played every evening at 19.30 pm. Multicusine restaurant, a lot of foregners, if even not all foregners ;))) Whole restaurant is decorated by the letters with impressions or pictures of the visitors ;))) Very nice owner, comes to every guest and advice something special what to try ;))) he has great sence of what to advice and make the whole atmosphere like you visit his home ;))) So great service, tasty and cool, very unusual food ;)))

Also we went to Brown Bread Bakery (17 Tripura Bhairavi), prices 75-230 Rs, we tried Cheese cake (each piece 57 Rs.), that is very tasty ;)))

Small note: everything that I mentioned about food places is mentioned in “Lonely planet”. So it is approved ;))) hehe places are very good ;)))

Second day we decided to wake up early in the morning and see sunrise, so that is why we woke up at 05.00 and went by boat... it was amazing, firstly very dark and in some time getting sunny ;))))

Sleepy but so happy ;)))

People are praying in the holy Ganga river from the very early time in the morning ;))) Τhe way how they are praying is means that they pray for older generation and people who died

Buddist temple...

Buddist stupas... a lot of Buddhist stupas... they are instead of statuses of the God or icons...

It was really funny ;))) we went to one place and there very table with the priced for the entrance ;))) and for Indian it costed 5 Rs, for Asian tourists - 10 Rs, for others 20 Rs. Who are rasists???!!! hehe ;))) and the funniest thing was when they didn't believe that Sheng is Asian, from Malaysia, may be people there didn't know such a country ;))) hehe yes, of course it is not that obvious that Sheng is from Asia ;))) hehe

Amazing deers;)))

Buddha ;)))

Shiva Temple ;))) In Varanasi it is the main God ;))) in Kolkata the main Godness is Kali ;)

like such photos ;))) so colourful ;)))

cute boys ;))) as usualy curious, but these were not wild, were very nice and smiled all the time ;)))

hehe cool, hah???

It is the view from owr guest house ... ;)))

we got friends with these people so fast ;))) we are with the staff of the guest house ;)))

This is one of the owners, it is family guest house ;))) with us Dr. Ragkunandan Shahi, he is very nice person, was so nice to us ;))) He studied in Russia ;)) )speaks Russian perfect ;))) remembered everything ;))) amazing ;))) He was very kind to us ;))) we spoke a lot Russian ;))) all the best memories about him ;)))

Τhis is our guest house ;)))

P.S. If you go by train don’t forget to visit by arrival Foreign Tourist Centre at Varanasi Junction train station. They will give you maps, tell you what to visit and informed you about some useful details like the price for the rickshaws that can charge very expensive, so you have to understand the level of prices ;)))

Go to Varanasi, it is really AMAZING city, very peaceful, not in many place in India I felt so calm and happy ;)))

I am back ;)))

I am so sorry that I haven't written my blog for a long time... so many things have happened... First of all I am already in Moscow, Russia, since 18th of October, can't believe in it... time goes so fast... today is 31st of October and already now India is like a dream for me, like a fairy tale that was long time before... now I have to come to reality and do a lot of things, realize all my ideas that I have after India... But still I will continue writing my blog about my travelings in India, I can't skip it so easy, so many things to describe, so many photos and videos, I just can't skip it... So such an amount of videos, photos and information that I have for my blog was so scaring for me that is why I haven't written my blog... and of course lack of time, because I came and everyone was requiring time to spend ;))) and of course I had a lot of meetings and things to do... but I promise I will finish my uploadings about my time in India... cause after I will have to write about my time in Greece where I am going next week for CEED AIESEC (conference) ;)))) so I am back and ready to continue my blod ;)))) hope someone is reading it... someone need it, cause I do it for you, I want to share my experience... So if someone reads my blog, please do comment my post it will mean that you are interested in it, that I do it for purpose!!! Thank you in advance!

With smile,
Dina