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| General Information about VARANASI |
Varanasi :
Area :4039 sq. km.
Language : Local dailects, Hindi, English.
Altitude : 80.71 mtrs.
Population : 1.7 Million.
State : Uttar Pradesh.
STD Code : 0542. |
ABOUT VARANASI
Varanasi is a Hindu holy city on the banks of the river Ganga (Ganges) in the modern north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . Varanasi is to Hindus what Mecca is to Muslims and Vatican to Catholic Christians. Varanasi has a unique culture, quite different from other places in the region. This culture has developed through thousands of years during which it has been one of the major cultural centres of northern India. The whole Varanasi culture revolves around the river Ganga, which is the heart and soul of the city.
Varanasi is the site of the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a form of Lord Shiva ) which is one of the revered 12 Jyotirlingas of the Lord Shiva. Kashi Vishwanath Temple which in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, along with the fact that it stands on the banks of the Ganga, has rendered Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the Hindus. Varanasi is considered one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage for Hindus irrespective of denomination.
The Banarasi Saree is an Indian woman's statement to the world. It speaks of romance or riches, of sobriety or gaiety, of sophistication or innocence. It is said that a Banarasi Saree rarely fails to flatter a woman, making her feel fragile and feminine. It is an instant fashion, created by the hands of the weaver and subject to none of the vagaries and changes that plague the fashions of the western world .
CLIMATE
It is hard to generalise in a country that runs from the Himalayas to the beaches of the Indian Ocean but broadly speaking October to March tend to be the most pleasant months in India, when it relatively dry and cool. In the far south the best months to visit are between January and September, while northeastern areas of India tend to be more comfortable between March and August. The deserts of Rajasthan (west of Jodhpur) and the northwestern Indian Himalayan region are at their best during the monsoon (July to September). The mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir should be visited over the summer months (May to September).
PLACES OF ATTRACTION IN VARANASI
• BHARAT KALA BHAWAN, B.H.U : Started in 1950 as a university museum, Bharat Kala Bhawan in famous for its unique collection of miniature paintings. It has a rich collection of Rajasthani paintings, Pichhawai's, pahari painting, Nepalese & Tibetan Thankas, Company paintings as well as paintings of contemporary artists, illustrated Mrigavati, Kalpa Sutra, Chora-Panchasika, Laura-Chanda, Shah-nama and some pages of Humza-nama Are the proud possessions of this museum.
• CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF HIGHER TIBETAN STUDIES : The only institute of its kind in the world, imprating education in the Tibetan language, it was Est. by the Dalai Lama in 1971. Presently located at Sarnath, the institute has a rare collection of Buddhist texts, Tibetan manuscripts and other journals.
• KASHI VIDYA PEETH : The Kashi Vidyapeeth was set up in 1920 by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta to provide alternate education arrangement discarding that of the British. It soon became a centre of natoinal education with Hindi as the medium of instruction. Acharya Narendradev, Babu Sampurnanand, Babu Sriprakash & many more Luminaries of the time have been associated with this institute.
• MUSUEMS & ARTS GALLERIES : Archaeological musuem Sarnath open 09:30 am.- 5 pm. Friday clossed. Ramnager fort musuem, open 10 am.-5 pm. Clossed on Friday. Bharat Kala Bhawan B.H.U. open 10:30 am.- 4 pm. Clossed on Sundays & university holidays. Archaeological musuem, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University open 10 am. - 5 pm. Clossed on Sunday & university holidays.
• RIVER FRONT (GHATS) : The spectacular 4 km sweep of the Ghats is unique sight, best viewed at dawn, in that "soft first light" when the river and Ghats have a timeless appeal. Life is almost panoramic detail unfolds here from dawn to dusk as a steady stream of devotees-swelling to thousands on auspicious days -perform rituals by the Ganga. The Ghats are best approached by Dashashwamedha ghat, where boats are available on hire.
• TULSI MANAS TEMPLE : Constructed by family of Varanasi, this modern temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is situated at the place Where Tulisdas, the great medieval seer, lived and wrote the epic "Shri Ramcharitmanas", which narrates the life of Lord Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. Verses from Tulidas's epic are inscribed on the walls.
• DURGA TEMPLE : Commonly called the 'Monkey temple', it was built in the 18 th century. Although it is one of the best-known temple. Beware of the monkeys here who are daring and menacing.
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