About the City
- Area : 73.89 sq. km.
- Population : 3147927 (As per 2001 census)
- Altitude : 80.71 mtrs. above sea level.
- Language : Hindi, English & Bhojpuri
- STD Code : 0542
Fairs Festivals
Ganga Mahotsav
Varanasi or Kashi, i.e. the City of Spiritual Light is considered to be one of the oldest living cities in the world.
Places of Interest
River Front (Ghats)
The great river banks at Varanasi, built high with eighteenth and nineteenth-century pavilions and palaces, temples and terraces, are lined with an endless chain of stone steps - the ghats - progressing along the whole of the waterfront, altering in appearance with the dramatic seasonal fluctuations of the river level.
Travel Information
Air
- Indian Airlines. Ph : 2502527, 2502529.
- Air India. Ph : 2509195, 2502547.
- Lal Bahadur Shashtri Airport, Babatpur Ph. 2622494, 2622090
Restaurants & Hospitals
Restaurants
Varanasi's various restaurants serve a variety of cuisine continental, Chinese, Indian and of course, the traditional Mughlai.
- Shyamal Vatika, Lanka.
- Kerela Cafe, Bhelupur Chauraha.
Tourist Information
- UP Government Tourist Office, Urban Haat, Sanskritik Sankul, Maqbool Alam Road, Chowka Ghat, Varanasi. Telefax : (0542) 2505033
- UP Government Tourist Information Counter, Cantt. Railway Station, Varanasi, Near Enquiry Office, Main Hall. Ph : 2506670
- Modern Reception Centre, Sarnath
- Government of India Tourist Office, 15 B The Mall, Cantt, Varanasi. Ph : 2501784
Shopping
Varanasi is famous for its silk weaving, and Banarasi silks are a part of every girl's wedding trousseau. Banaras Brocades are prized the world over. Brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys and exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other craft the city is famous for. The hand - knotted carpets of Mirzapur and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions.
Accessibility
Air
The nearest airport is Babatpur, 22 km from Varanasi and 30 Km from Sarnath.
Rail
Varanasi and Mughal Sarai (one of the main railway stations of Varanasi) are the important rail junctions, with train connections to all major cities of India.
Road
Varanasi, on NH 2 from Calcutta to Delhi, NH 7 to Kanya Kumari and NH 29 to Gorakhpur is well connected to the rest of the country by good motorable roads.
Banks, Post & Telegraph
Banks
- State Bank of India, Cantt, Banaras Hindu University.
- Indian Overseas Bank, Lahurabir.
- Bank of Baroda, Godoulia & Luxa.
- Canara Bank, Nichibagh.
- Andhra Bank, Godoulia.
- Allahabad Bank, Nadesar and Chowk.
- Central Bank of India, Chowk.
Excursions
Chunar
40 Km. Chunar has an immense fort overlooking the Ganga. This place has been the scene of battles since 1540, when Sher Shah took it from Humayun. Akbar recaptured it in 1575. In the mid - 18th century it was appropriated by Awadh and subsequently, the British.
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