Check out our list of the best places to visit in Varanasi.
- Ganges River. Sunset view of Varanasi from the Ganges River.
- Dasaswamedh Ghat. Dasaswamedh Ghat.
- Assi Ghat. Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat.
- Manikarnika Ghat.
- Dhamek Stupa.
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
- Banaras Hindu University.
- Ruchika Art Gallery.
Varanasi, India. Situated on the west bank of the Ganges, Varanasi - also known as Benares - is an important holy city for both Hindus and Buddhists. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva 5,000 years ago, though modern scholars believe it to be around 3,000 years old.
Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India, is believed to be the most ancient surviving city of the globe. Legend has it that the first Siva Jyotirlinga emanated from the earth in this city and flared straight into the sky. This is why Varanasi is also known as Kashi or “the City of Light”.
Varanasi, also called Benares, Banaras, or Kashi, city, southeastern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It is located on the left bank of the Ganges (Ganga) River and is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism.
The holy men smoke cannabis which has mythological and spiritual associations with Lord Shiva. A Nepalese "sadhu" smokes marijuana using a 'chillum', a traditional clay pipe, as a holy offering for Lord Shiva.
The Aghoris are devotees of Lord Shiva and Maa Kali. They perform various rituals and are said to even perform black magic! They say that this gives them the power to heal. They say that because of this, they abscond the diseases in their bodies but they do not use Black Magic on anyone to harm them.
The main Aghori pilgrimage centre is Kina Ram's hermitage or ashram in Ravindrapuri, Varanasi. The full name of this place is Baba Keenaram Sthal, Krim-Kund. Here, Kina Ram is buried in a tomb or samadhi which is a centre of pilgrimage for Aghoris and Aghori devotees.
' Sadhu men usually cover themselves with ash or chalk, and paint their faces in accordance with the god they have devoted themselves to. The ash represents their death to their worldly life.
Shrouded in an aura of mystery, the Aghori sadhus' are know for post-mortem rituals - in particular the practice cannibalism. As well as feasting on human flesh, Aghoris also drink from human skulls and chew the heads off of live animals.
Called the spiritual capital of India, it is the holiest of seven sacred cities in Hinduism. Known for its pious pilgrim spots, it is also the spiritual headquarters of the Aghori sect. Aghoris are probably the most feared and most respected clan of Sadhus or ascetics of India!
For a person to become sadhu needs vairagya. Vairagya means desire to achieve something by leaving the world (cutting familial, societal and earthly attachments). A person who wants to become sadhu must first seek a guru. There, he or she must perform guruseva which means service.
Siddhashram is a secret and mystical land deep in the Himalayas, where great siddha yogis, sadhus, and sages live. Siddha yogis and sanyasis are meditating in this place for thousands of years.
