Going To Varanasi? Here's The Ultimate Guide:

By Kay Es

Going To Varanasi? Here's The Ultimate Guide:

It's 2024, and there are only a few videos and blogs about it online so here's a compilation of everything online and what I learned from my personal experience when I went earlier this year to make your trip better and more efficient.

Temples of Varanasi

Varanasi is the city of a thousand temples all more or less historically, culturally, and religiously significant. However, amid busy lives it is nearly impossible to visit all of them, so here are some temples one cannot miss out on.

  1. The Kala Bhairav Mandir                                                                                                               I think it safe to say that it's a well-known fact that no one, literally no one can even put their foot in Kasi(aka Varanasi/Banaras) without the permission of Kala Bhairav Bhagavan. So let's go ahead and put that first on your list. The temple itself is not very large. We went at around 9-930 in the night and there was hardly any rush. As soon as you complete the darshan you will notice that there are many pandits with a sort of stick-like thing sitting around the temple. One or the other with call you to them and as you go they will recite the "Kala Bharavastakam"  and gently pat you several times. As humans depart their lives, they experience the punishment of Kala Bhairava called "Bhairava dhandana" According to our Puranas, that punishment can be avoided by taking this customary beating here in his temple, accepting this beating with devotion.
  2. Mritunjay Mahadev temple                                                                                                            It is an almost walkable distance from the Kala Bhairav Mandir and is noticeably larger with many shiva linga in several rooms. however, their shiv linga isn't the reason for the place's popularity, the miraculous ayurvedic is a well-known cure for all diseases with just a sip.
  3.  Kasi Vishwanath Mandir                                                                                                              The Kasi Vishwanath Mandir is the main tourist attraction of Varanasi and for the right reasons. The new corridors combined with the old golden mandir and the mystique of Gyanvapi make it the perfect stop for any visitor. Around 10 pm in the night (which is around the time we went)there's a Shyan aarthi with one MUST NOT miss. The late-night energy,the glory of kasi Vishwanath, and the song sung during the aarti are a treat for the eyes, ears, and body.
  4. Mata Annapoorna Mandir                                                                                                             It is easily accessible while entering and exiting the Kasi Vishwanath mandi via gate 2. On giving daan of a certain amount to the purohit one gets a fist full of raw rice which one can place in the rice storage container at home. Feel free to recite "Annapoornastam " or "Annapoorna Stotram " here
  5. Kasi Vishalakshi Mandir                                                                                                                It is a part of the 18 Shakti peethas. Don't forget to look behind the main idol where another idol ie the actual Shakti Peetha lies.
  6.  Shri Varahi Mata Mandir                                                                                                      Varahi Mata is the protector of Kashi where she roam the streets during the night. As she protects the city during the night, she compensates for the sleep during the day causing 0her temple to only be open from 7 am to 9 am. Devotees are not allowed to have direct darshan idol is in the basement of the temple devotees get a glimpse of her face and, of her feet through a hole in the upper part of the basement.
  7. Shri Sakshi Ganapati Mandir                                                                                         The Sakshi Ganapati of any place is the Ganapati who records all the people who visit a certain place and acts as a witness.
  8. Shri Dundi Ganapati Mandir  
  9. Sankat Mochan hanuman mandir
  10. Shri Satyanarayan Tulsi Manas Mandir
  11. Lalitha mata mandir
  12. Bharat Mata mandir
                 

Shopping in Varanasi



Most of the shopping in Varanasi lies on Godowlia Street which is a walkable distance from Manikarnika Ghat which has a great assortment of jewelry,kurtis, and Banarasi silk.


Ganga Arti And Viewing The Ghats


Ganga Arti takes place from 5 am to 6am at Assi Ghat and 6-30 pm to 7-30 pm at Dasaswamedh Ghat.
Though many people enjoy viewing it from I boat I personally couldn't and would have enjoyed it more if I were closer. To all the people going during peak season, be there by 5.30-6 pm if you want a good place for the evening arti. 
When it comes to boating I have only one piece of advice YOU NEED TO BARGAIN, Otherwise, you'll end up being ripped off.


Food


I tell you this after listening to the experience of several people, no matter where you're going to eat you'll still experience food poisoning, so better be prepared. The food will look very tempting like tamatar chaat, aloo tikki, rabdi, tandai, etc and it is hard not to get tempted. So my suggestion? Get tempted. Have the malai-filled goodness and face the consequences later. 

If you're an enthusiastic person determined to visit a Hindu temple, I also suggest covering Pryagraj - which has the famous Triveni Sangam and temple which is a part of the 18 Shakti peeths, and Gaya - which has the famous Mahabodhi temple, Vishnu pad temple, and another temple which is a part of the 18 Shakti peeths.
Feel free to read my full blogs on both places.
Full list of temples arranged based on shortest travel route

Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple
Shree Kaal Bhairav Temple,
Chandra koop Siddheshwari Chandra koopeswar
Bharath Mata Mandir
Annapoorna Mandir
Shri Sakshi Vinayak Temple 
Draupad Aditya Temple
Dundi Ganapathi Temple
Sri Varahi Devi Temple
Kasi Vishvanath,
Shri Satyanarayan Tulsi Manas Mandir, 
Sankat Mochan hanuman mandir

Maps

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mrityunjay+Mahadev+Temple/Shree+Kaal+Bhairav+Temple/Chandra+koop+Siddheshwari+Chandra+koopeswar/Bharath+Mata+Mandir/Annapoorna+Mandir/Sri+Varahi+Devi+Temple/Kasi+vishvanath/Shri+Satyanarayan+Tulsi+Manas+Mandir/Sankat+Mochan+Hanuman+Mandir//@25.3024678,82.9815026,14z/data=!4m57!4m56!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e3d7dd1fb31:0x15ea53adbe61e75a!2m2!1d83.0148231!2d25.3222428!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e7c6b12a857:0x853fb8402317e9c7!2m2!1d83.01595!2d25.3176812!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2fc833579bcb:0x2060f35b5b1406f7!2m2!1d83.0148191!2d25.3127819!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2dfcc052fd13:0xc1a04258aeeda868!2m2!1d82.9893083!2d25.3172249!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e0008c8c8b9:0xb59e179988466dd6!2m2!1d82.9935466!2d25.307459!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e1e257c0f83:0xd09c4d4a50d0d323!2m2!1d83.0112212!2d25.3084019!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e313e863ca24f:0x709a44deb5c2d443!2m2!1d83.0064729!2d25.2886266!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e31f3a5a3f463:0xd69495ede9e8c29f!2m2!1d83.0001044!2d25.2872052!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e310b9909e915:0xc62cae93ffeb9d2!2m2!1d82.9999659!2d25.2827046!1m0!3e9?entry=ttu


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mrityunjay+Mahadev+Temple/Shree+Kaal+Bhairav+Temple/Chandra+koop+Siddheshwari+Chandra+koopeswar/Bharath+Mata+Mandir/Annapoorna+Mandir/Shri+Sakshi+Vinayak+Temple+-+Kashi+Khand/Draupad+Aditya+Temple/Dundi+Ganapathi+Temple/Sri+Varahi+Devi+Temple/Kasi+vishvanath/@25.3064122,82.981394,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m62!4m61!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e3d7dd1fb31:0x15ea53adbe61e75a!2m2!1d83.0148231!2d25.3222428!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e7c6b12a857:0x853fb8402317e9c7!2m2!1d83.01595!2d25.3176812!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2fc833579bcb:0x2060f35b5b1406f7!2m2!1d83.0148191!2d25.3127819!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2dfcc052fd13:0xc1a04258aeeda868!2m2!1d82.9893083!2d25.3172249!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e0008c8c8b9:0xb59e179988466dd6!2m2!1d82.9935466!2d25.307459!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e1e79a8a36b:0x96c103393f4524af!2m2!1d83.009477!2d25.3101318!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2fe123315695:0x72b322db0a9da099!2m2!1d83.0105286!2d25.3107528!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e1fae6583f9:0x99cc73f110fb71dd!2m2!1d83.0124455!2d25.3102671!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e2e1e257c0f83:0xd09c4d4a50d0d323!2m2!1d83.0112212!2d25.3084019!1m5!1m1!1s0x398e313e863ca24f:0x709a44deb5c2d443!2m2!1d83.0064729!2d25.2886266!3e9?entry=ttu
 

References

Underlined text -  from Nanduri Srinivas gari Kasi yatra video 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaJSWLwA5SE&t=795s&pp=ygUbbmFuZHVyaSBzcmluaXZhcyBrYXNpIHlhdHJh   (Video URL)
Some information also from Nanda's Journey 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpRrgqa-NkE&t=1715s&pp=ygUKa2FzaSB5YXRyYQ%3D%3D 











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