An exam trip to Varanasi

Varanasi or Benaras, situated on the bank of the Ganges is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited cities on Earth. The first time I had set foot on this holy land was in August 2017 when my train decided to change its route on its way to Delhi. I had to get down here and continue my journey to Allahabad on the bus. However, it was not long before I got my second opportunity to visit this famed city. CSIR NET December 2017. As I was staying in Allahabad, Varanasi was the closest exam centre. Though I was on a tight schedule I managed to visit a few spots within the approx. 24 hours I was in the city. So this is my encounter with the holy city.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU): This is the first place that I should mention in the list as it was the venue of the exam. BHU was founded in 1916 by Madan Mohan Malaviya as the Central Hindu College. Today BHU is a public Central University and holds the record for being the largest residential university in Asia.

Ghats of Benaras: Being located alongside the holy river, the ghats of Banaras are a major attraction. The entire city touches the river at 88 ghats of which most are bathing ghats, a few used for ceremonial purposes and two for cremation of dead bodies. Assi ghat is the southernmost ghat and is close to BHU. Ganga aarti is held every evening at Assi ghat and Dashaswamedh ghat, of which the latter is a grander affair and renowned. Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are reserved for Hindu cremation rituals. I must agree that a boat ride during sunset is one of the best ways to experience these ghats. We boarded one near the Assi Ghat and rowed down to Manikarnika Ghat and back.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple: This temple dates back to the 1500s and is believed to have been established by the great saint Tulsidas who also authored Ramcharitmanas. This is one of the few temples where Lord Hanuman is seen facing his Lord Rama.

Most of the facts mentioned have been taken from the internet. Read in detail here: