Varanasi, located on the banks of the Ganges River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is a very beautiful and famous place to visit. Varanasi is also known as Banaras or Kashi and is one of the oldest cities in India. This place is one of the most famous pilgrimage places of Hindus. Varanasi attracts millions of tourists coming here every year from its many huge temples, ghats, and many other popular places. This religious place is liked not only by Indian travelers but also by foreign tourists. Today in this episode we are going to tell you about some of the major places in Varanasi which, apart from visiting, also hold an important place from a spiritual point of view. Let us know about these places...

Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Many people see it as the most prominent temple in Varanasi, and some consider it to be the most important temple in the entire country. Let us tell you, that the story of this temple is more than three thousand five hundred years old. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which millions of people visit every year. Many devotees believe that a glimpse of Shivlinga purifies your soul and takes life on the path of knowledge. We believe that you should start your tour of Varanasi from this place.

Assi Ghat

Located at a distance of 7 km from Varanasi railway station, Assi Ghat is a holy place where pilgrims pay homage to Lord Shiva by worshiping a huge Shiv Linga situated under a Peepal tree. Let us tell you that Assi Ghat is located at the confluence of the Assi and Ganges rivers which reflects the antiquity of Kashi. If you are coming to visit Varanasi, then you must visit Assi Ghat, one of the most famous religious places. The attractive view of the Aarti of this Ghat makes the city of Varanasi the most beautiful place in the country.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh Ghat of Varanasi is a very holy place which is a main ghat located on the banks of River Ganga which is known for its spirituality. This place is famous because Lord Brahma performed the Dasa Ashvamedha Yagya at this place in which he sacrificed 10 horses. The name of Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi comes first on the list of tourists because when tourists come to Varanasi, they first come to Dashashwamedh Ghat. A huge crowd of people is seen here. There is a lot of crowd here in the evening because the Ganga Aarti held at this ghat in the evening is most famous. Pilgrims also come here to wash away their sins and pray.

Sarnath Temple

Sarnath Temple is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site located at a distance of about 12 kilometers from Varanasi. This place is very good to spend some time in a calm environment. It was at this place that Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon. The places to visit in Sarnath are quite popular, which include the Ashoka Pillar, Chaukhandi Stupa, Archaeological Museum, Tibetan Temple, Dhamekh Stupa, Monastery and Thai Temple, etc.

Ramnagar Fort

Located across the Ganges River from Tulsi Ghat, it was built of sandstone in 1750 AD on the orders of Balwant Singh, the king of Banaras at the time. In 1971, the title of an official king was abolished by the government, but Pelu Bhiru Singh is still commonly referred to as the Maharaja of Varanasi. It houses the Ved Vyas Temple, the king's residence, and a museum dedicated to regional history.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is located on the banks of the Assi River and was built in the 1900s by freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. It is dedicated to Lord Rama and Hanuman. Varanasi is always associated with the Sankat Mochan Temple and is an essential part of this holy city. Every person visiting Varanasi visits this temple and has a darshan of Hanuman. The laddus offered at this temple are essentially famous among the locals. While visiting Sankat Mochan, beware of monkeys who come into the temple premises and steal the offerings.

Tulsi Manasa Temple

Tulsi Manasa Temple is one of the major sightseeing places in Varanasi. This temple was built in 1964 and is dedicated to Lord Rama. Let us tell you that this temple is named after the saint-poet Tulsi Das. It is said that this is the place where Tulsidas wrote the Hindu epic Ramayana in the Awadhi dialect of the Hindi language. The temple has a special display of puppets in the months of Sawan (July – August) which is related to Ramayana. If you want to enjoy a fun experience, then visit here in the months of Sawan.

Durga Temple
Durga Temple is visible just 5 minutes walk west of Assi Ghat. It is one of the most beautiful and famous temples of Varanasi. So many monkeys come here every day that it is also called Bandar Temple by a different name. This temple was built in the 18th century by a Bengali Maharani and this temple is completely painted in red color. People say that the idol of Goddess Durga was not built here but it appeared on its own.

Chunar Fort
Chunar Fort is also one of the most attractive places on the list of places to visit in Banaras, it is located on the banks of the river Ganges, 40 km away from the city. The fort is spread over 34000 square feet in size. The fort was built by King Vikramaditya of Ujjain for his brother Bharthari. The fort is historically notable and served as an important place during the war between Humayun and Sher Shah. The bastion part of the fort which has cannons can still be seen and the architecture here clearly matches the fort of Agra.

Nepali Temple
Nepali Temple is one of the most famous and oldest temples in Varanasi. It was built by the King of Nepal in the nineteenth century. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this temple. The traditional architecture of the temple is made of wood, stone, and terracotta carvings. The temple resembles the Pashupatinath Temple of Nepal in Kathmandu. The Nepalese temple is located 100 meters south of Manikarnika Ghat on Lalita Ghat. It was built by the King of Nepal Rana Bahadur Shah during his exile in Varanasi.

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