Sign in l Register      AddFavorite
Asia Travel    Asia Food    Asia Culture

Home  >  Articles
DougW's blog
 Articles:  (Varanasi)
 

Travel to Varansi

The great Hindu city of VARANASI , also known as Banaras or Benares , stretches along the crescent of the River Ganges, its waterfront dominated by long flights of stone steps known as ghats , literally "landings", where thousands of pilgrims and residents come for their daily ritual ablutions. Known to the devout as Kashi , the Luminous - the City of Light, founded by Shiva - Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. It has maintained its religious life since the sixth century BC in one continuous tradition, in part by remaining outside the mainstream of political activity and historical development of the subcontinent, and stands at the centre of the Hindu universe, the focus of a religious geography that reaches from the Himalayan cave of Amarnath in Kashmir, to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, Puri to the east, and Dwarka to the west. Located next to a ford on an ancient trade route, Varanasi is among the holiest of all tirthas - "crossing places", that allow the devotee access to the divine and enable gods and goddesses to come down to earth. It has attracted pilgrims, seekers, sanyasins , and students of the Vedas throughout its history, including sages such as the Buddha, Mahavira, the founder of the Jain faith, and the great Hindu reformer Shankara.

Anyone who dies in Varanasi attains instant moksha or enlightenment. Widows and the elderly come here to seek refuge or to live out their final days, finding shelter in the temples and assisted by alms given by the faithful. Western visitors since the Middle Ages have marvelled at the strangeness of this most alien of Indian cities - at the tight mesh of alleys, the accoutrements of religion, the host of deities, and at the proximity of death.

 
Recommends gives the friend

Publishes at : 07-07-29 10:07

Url : http://www.asiavtour.com/India_Varanasi_Introduction_a236_s1_c5064.html

 
 
Integral: 161
ID: dougw@google.com
Nickname: DougW
Regtime: 07-07-16
RSS: RSS: DougW's blog -- newest 20 articles
  Add to Google
  Add to Yahoo
  Subscribe with Bloglines
 
Newest publication
Travel to Japan
By Trains
By Buses
By Air
Travel to Ho Chi Minh Cit
Caves Trip
Boat Trips
About Hanoi
Entry to Vietnam
Eating and Drinking
 
 
Classification
Articles
Travel Note
Photos
 
 
Monthly files away
2024-11
2024-10
2024-9
2024-8
2024-7
2024-6
2024-5
2024-4
2024-3
2024-2
2024-1
2023-11
2023-10
2023-9
2023-8
2023-7
2023-6
2023-5
2023-4
2023-3
2023-2
2023-1
2022-11
2022-10
2022-9
2022-8
2022-7
2022-6
2022-5
2022-4
2022-3
2022-2
2022-1
2021-11
2021-10
2021-9
2021-8
2021-7
2021-6
2021-5
2021-4
2021-3
2021-2
2021-1
2020-11
2020-10
2020-9
2020-8
2020-7
2020-6
2020-5
2020-4
2020-3
2020-2
2020-1
2019-11
2019-10
2019-9
2019-8
2019-7
2019-6
2019-5
2019-4
2019-3
2019-2
2019-1
2018-11
2018-10
2018-9
2018-8
2018-7
2018-6
2018-5
2018-4
2018-3
2018-2
2018-1
2017-11
2017-10
2017-9
2017-8
2017-7
2017-6
2017-5
2017-4
2017-3
2017-2
2017-1
2016-11
2016-10
2016-9
2016-8
2016-7
2016-6
2016-5
2016-4
2016-3
2016-2
2016-1
2015-11
2015-10
2015-9
2015-8
2015-7
2015-6
2015-5
2015-4
2015-3
2015-2
2015-1
2014-11
2014-10
2014-9
2014-8
2014-7
2014-6
2014-5
2014-4
2014-3
2014-2
2014-1
2013-11
2013-10
2013-9
2013-8
2013-7
2013-6
2013-5
2013-4
2013-3
2013-2
2013-1
2012-11
2012-10
2012-9
2012-8
2012-7
2012-6
2012-5
2012-4
2012-3
2012-2
2012-1
2011-11
2011-10
2011-9
2011-8
2011-7
2011-6
2011-5
2011-4
2011-3
2011-2
2011-1
2010-11
2010-10
2010-9
2010-8
2010-7
2010-6
2010-5
2010-4
2010-3
2010-2
2010-1
2009-11
2009-10
2009-9
2009-8
2009-7
2009-6
2009-5
2009-4
2009-3
2009-2
2009-1
2008-11
2008-10
2008-9
2008-8
2008-7
2008-6
2008-5
2008-4
2008-3
2008-2
2008-1
2007-12
2007-11
2007-10
2007-9
2007-8
2007-7
2007-6
2007-5
 
 
Statistical information
Article: 57
Travel Note: 0
Photos: 190
   
 
All rights reserved by Asiavtour.com