Older than time. Purer than truth. Divine as heavens.

A city as timeless as eternity. Traditions a old as time. Places as pure as truth. Knowledge as vast as universe. Welcome to the Vindhya-Varanasi circuit in Uttar Pradesh. Travel within as much as outside.

Fairs & Festivals

Ganga Mahotsav - The  festival celebrates tha rich cultural heritage of Varanasi with excellent cultural programmes, and local martial arts. Celebrated every year from Prabodhini Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima in the month of Oct. / Nov. it concludes with the festivals of lights, "Deo Deepavali" when more than a million earthen lamps are lit on the ghats of Ganga and one can se festivity all over the place.

Benares is older than history, older than tradition, even older than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together"(Mark Twain).

Varanasi, called 'Kashi' in the scriputures and popularly known as "Benaras", is said to be the oldest living city in the world with a glorious history that goes back to thousands of years. Believed to be the greatest 'Tirth' or crossing place between the earth and heaven. For a Hindu, to visit Varanasiand bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges, is to be cleansed of the sins of thousands of past births. The combination of Kashi, the holy city, Ganga, the celestial river and Shiva, the supreme God makes Varanasi an immortal destination. A great cultural centre, notably in the field of learning, especially of religion, philosophy, Yoga, Ayurveda, Astrology and Indian classical music. But there is much more to Varanasi than temples,Ghats, GAlis(narrow lanes).,

Attractions

Ghats of Varanasi

The spectacular long swep of Ghats on the holy Ganga is unique and creates a fascinating sight, best viewed at dawn. Life, in almost panoramic detail, unfolds here from dawn to dusk as a steady stream of devotes, swelling to thousands on auspicious days, perform rituals. Varanasi's principal attraction is the long string of bathing Ghats which line the west bank of ganges. There are over 100 Ghats in all, of which Dasaswamedh Ghat is the most striking, near by are the Manikarnika and the Harishchandra Ghats where cremations take place. The Assi Ghat is further upstream, Panchganga, Tulsi Ghat, Dandi and Kali Ghats, Kedar Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, Mir Ghat and Gai Ghats are other important ghats. The best way to enjoy Varanasi is by boat, which are available on hire at most of the Ghats

Lanes

Varanasi is the city of temples, Ghats and Galis (narrow lanes). The serpentine narrow lanes of this city mirror the typical life style of the inhabitants. Some of the famous Galis are Vishwanath Gali, Kachauri Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Khoa Gali, SAtti Bazaar, Phool Bazaar etc.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

This temple of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city, is also known as Golden Temple. Varanasi is said to be the place where the first Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Lord Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust. More than the Ghats and even the river Ganga, it is the Shivalinga installed in the temple that remains the devotional focus of Varanasi. Open only to Hindus. The 'Arti' is performed here at different times and by different names in a grand manner and is worth seeing. The Mangala Arti at 3.30 a.m., Bhog Arti at 12 noon, Saptarishi Arti at 7.30 p.m., Shringar Arti at 11.00 p.m., and the Shayan Arti at 11.00 p.m.

The Temple Trail

Varanasi has some 2000 temples. You cannot se all but make an effort not to miss the important ones- Annapurna temple (near Kashi Vishwanath temple), Durga temple (Near Durga Kund), Tulsi Manas Temple, Bharat Mata temple, New Vishwanath temple (in BHU campus), Sankat Mochan temple.

Waterfalls

Tanda fall, Wyndham fall, upper and lower khajuri reservoirs(all 14 kms. from Mirzapur), Sirsi fall (46 km from Mirzapur), Jargo reservoir (15 km from Chunar), Siddhanath Ki Dari (18 km from Chunar) and Mukkha fall (40 km from Robertsganj), are some of the water falls that are a favoured picnic spot by nature-lovers.

River cruises

16 seater cruise boat runs from Saraswati Ghat, Allahabad every day for places in and around. Run by Allahabad Development Authority, a trip costs Rs. 100/- per head for 2 hours(deisel) and Rs. 200/-(for petrol driven boat). Certain travel agencies run 3 or more days boat cruises. from Allahabad to Varansi and even longer ones for Mirzapur.

Vindhyachal

70 km. (one and a half hour drive) from Varanasi, Vindhyachal is a renowned religious city dedicated to Goddess Vindhyavasini. Mythologically goddess Vindhyavasini is believed to be the instant bestower of bendiction. Ther are several temples of other deities in the vicinity, the most famous ones being Ashtabhuja Devi Temple and kalikhoh Temple, which constitute the Trikona Parikrama (circumambulation). The Vindhyavasini Devi Temple, the Ashtabhuja temple, dedicated to Goddess Mahasaraswati (on a hollock, 3 km from Vindhyavasini temple) and the Kali khoh temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali (2 km from Vindhyavasini temple) form the Trikon Parikrama.

Salkhan fossils

About 16 km. from Robertsganj, these tree fossils date to meso-proterozoic period and said to be about 1100 million years old. The fossils are petrified tree stumps - which appear as rings on the boulders strewn around the area.

Water sports

Kayaking, Canoeing or boating down the Ganga from Allahabad to Mirzapur and Varanasi is an experience to Cherish.

Pre historic Rock Paintings

The Vindhya and the Kaimur ranges have at least 250 rock art sites spread across them. The cave paintings range from the mesolithic to the meolithic and chalcolothic ages. Among important cave painting sites found in the region are - the Panchmukhi caves (8 km from Robertsganj), Kauva Khoh rock shelters (near Churk) Lakhania caves (22 km, from Robertsganj) Lakhma caves (near Mau Kalan village).

Tent retreats

Excellent tent retreats are a major attraction of Sonbhadra area. Apart from stay facilities, they also organise treks through forests of kaimur, Cave painting sites, Salkhan rock fossils, jeep and camel safaris.

Sarnath

10 km. from Varanasi, it is one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrim centres. It was her that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, sanctified as Maha Dharma Chakra Pravartan (Set in Motion the Wheel of Law), after attaining Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya (Bihar). It is notable that before his death, Lord Buddha had named Sarnath treasures the most expansive ruins, the Mula Gandha Kuti Vihar, Stupas and monasteries etc. along with a rich collection of Buddhist sculptures.

Ramnagar

14 km. from Varanasi. This fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of  Benaras. Built in the 18th century Ramnagar fort has carved balconies, open courtyards and picturesque pavilions. The Vidya Mandir museum, inside the darbar hall has a wide range of old armours, antique clocks, medieval costumes, gold & silver palanquins, silver Howdahs & jewellery on display. Rare manuscripts & Mughal miniatures are among the museums prized collection.

Blessing of Saint Bhartrihari at Chunar fort

Tucked away 40 kms. from Varanasi, Chunar is the place where religion, history and nature intermingle. Situated in the Vindhya ranges on the banks of holy river Ganga, its scenic and calm atmosphere enchants visitors. Chunar is also an important health resort due to its ideal climate. The massive Chunar fort, standing at a height of 80' to 175' from the ground level and spread over a massive area of 34,000sq.ft., is the prime attraction of the place. Inside the fort is an interesting Sun dial, a dep well and an open pavilion called the Sonwa Mandap. Chunar is accessible by road from Varanasi and an overnight stay is possible at the ASI rest house within the fort premises.

kaimur wildlife sanctury

Barely 3 km. from Robertsganj, Kaimur is a 500 sq.km. spread of forests with a variety of wildlife. Beautyof Sone and Echo valley are best witnessed her. It was established in 1982 and abounds in leopard, black buck, Chittal, Chinkara, Ratel, Peafowl and Blue-bull.

Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary

70 km. from Varanasi, it's a breathtakingly beautiful picnic spot in the Chandraprabha forests, within which are the Rajdari and Devdari waterfalls. The park established in 1957, sprawls over 9,60 hectares. It serves as an ideal habitat for a host of animal species including Leopard, Beer, Cheetal, Chausingha and others.

Allahabad

125 km. from Varanasi. Allahabad is one of the prominent and sacred cities of India. Described with great revernce in ancient scriptures as Prayag or Terthraj. i.e. 'The holiest pilgrimage centre', Allahabad is situated at the confluence of India's holiest rivers at Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Sangam, as the confluence of the three rivers is called, is the venue of many sacred fairs and rituals and attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year. With the irresistible attraction of  Kumbh Mela, hailed as the world's largest congregation of devotees, the glory of the city has certainly doubled.

Relish your journey

Varanasi is famous for its sweets and milk based drinks, the famous Lassi and Thandai and of course the Benarasi Paan. The most popular snack is Kachauri (stuffed pooris) with spicy potato curry or Chutney found best at Kachauri Gali on Ganga Ghats. Chewing a Paan (bettle leaf) is an important -part of the Benarsi food.

What to buy

Silk and Carpets are the most striking handicrafts in Varanasi-Vindhya region. Varanasibrocades are prized the world over. Brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys and exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other crafts the city is famous for. Varanasi is also famous for its 'Langda Aam', a variety of mango available in summer. The main shopping areas are Chowk, Vishwanath Lane, Thatheri Bazar, Lahurabir, Godowlia, Dashaswamedh Lane and Golghar. Other interesting items can be woodcraft, wall hangings, masks of various Gods & Goddesses.

Vindhyachal offers the visitor a variety of trinkets and ritual items while Mirzapur is famous for its hand knotted carpets. Blue pottery from Chunar and stone sculptures are also cute takeways as mementoes from this historic land. Hand carved wooden toys painted in flashy colours are a hallmark of Vindhya-Mirzapur.

Best time to visit

The city of Varanasi comes alive with the annual Ganga Mahotsav, held every year in the months of Oct.-Nov. The concluding day coincides with Deo-Depavali, when more than a million earthen lamps are lit on the Ghats of Ganga, weather vise also Oct. to Dec.-Jan. are the best months to visit Varanasi.

Where to stay

Varanasi has a wide range of accommodation from 5 Star deluxe down to budget. Vindhyachal-Mirzapur, Chunar on the other hand, have limited accommodation.

UP TOURISM ACCOMMODATION

UPSTDC Tourism Bungalow, Parade Kothi, Opp. Cantt. Railway Station, Varanasi. Tel.: 2208413,2208545

UPSTDC Hotel Janhavi, near Shastri Bridge, Mirzapur Tel.: 264262,263494

UPSTDC Yatri Niwas, Vindhyachal

Book UP Tourism accommodation on line:

log on to : www.up-tourism.com

Business Hours

Government offices (Monday to Saturday) are open from 10.00 to 17.00 hrs. Shopping areas generally open from 10.00 to 20.00 hrs.

Tourist Information Offices

UP Government Tourist Office, Parade Kothi, Varanasi. Tel.: 2208162, 91-542-2206638

UP Government Tourist Information Counter, Varanasi. Tel.: 2506670

Cantt. Railway Station (near Enquiry Office, Main Hall), Varanasi.

UP Govt. Tourist Office, Hotel Janhavi Campus, Tel.: 91-5442-221494, 223489 near Shastri Bridge, Mirzapur

TRAVEL INFORMATION

How to get there

Varanasi is the most convenient centre regarding Air, Rail and Road facilities for Vindhya -Varanasi circuit.

AIR: The nearest Airport is Babatpur, 22km from Varanasi and 30 km from Sarnath. Varanasi is connected with Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhuvaneshwar and kathmandu with direct flights.

Air India. Tel.: 2340192.

Indian Airlines. Tel.: 2502527, 2502529

Jet Airways. Tel.: 2506555, 2506444

Sahara Airlines. Tel.: 2543094, 2501489

RAIL: Varanasi Cantt. and Mughal Sarai (16 km, one of the main railway stations of Varanasi) are the important rail junctions, that link Varanasi with all major cities of India.

Varanasi Railway Station. Tel.: 131,139

Mughal Sarai Railway Station. Tel.: 255703, 255782

ROAD: Varanasi, on HN2 from Kolkata to Delhi, NH7 to Kanya Kumari and NH29 to Gorakhpur, is well connected with the rest of the country by good motorable roads. Some of the major road distances are: Sarnath-10km, Chunar-35 km, Jaunpur-602 km, Vindhyacha-70 km, Allahabad-125 km, Ayodhya-140 km, Bodhgaya-240 km, Patna -246 km, Lucknow-286 km, Khajuraho-405 km, Agra-565 km.