VARANASI TEMPLES AND ATTRACTIONS:

Varanasi is located in Uttar Pradesh and is has always been the religious capital of Hinduism. Spread out along the Ganges, Varanasi's interior lanes and Ghats (staircases leading down to the river) throb with religious and commercial energy like no other place in India. Varanasi is the city of a thousand temples. The main object of all devotees is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. According to Hindu belief, Banaras or Varanasi as it is known, is the cosmic center of the Universe. Every devout Hindu wants to visit Varanasi to purify their body and soul in the Ganges, to shed all sin. A lot of people come to live here in their old age to achieve moksha and salvation. Varanasi is a holy and religious place that sees a large number of tourists every year.

Traditionally, Varanasi is seen as a field divided into three sections named after important temples of lord Shiva. Omkareshwar is the namesake temple in the northern section, which is probably the oldest area but is impoverished and visited by pilgrims. The Central is named after Kashi Vishvanath, the famous "Golden Temple." Vishwanath itself means "Lord of the Universe," one of Lord Shiva's names, and there are many Vishvanath temples. The southern area, the Kedar Khand, is named for Kedareshvara. Varanasi  is truly a great travel and tourism destination.

LOCATION:
676 km (419 mi) northeast of bhopal, 406 km (252 mi) east of Khajuraho, 765 km (474 mi) southeast of Delhi, 677 km (420 mi) northeast of Calcutta.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum:
This Museum is located in the campus of Banaras Hindu University. It has a collection of brocade textiles, excellent Hindu and Budhist sculptures and miniature paintings from the courts of the Moghuls and the Hindu princes of the Punjab hills.

Chausath Yogini Temple:
Originally devoted to a Tantric cult that is also associated with an important ruined temple at Khajuraho, it is now dedicated to goddess Kali. The interesting temples between Prayag and Asi Ghats include this one, at the top of a particularly steep set of steps by the ghat of the same name.
 
Dashashvamedh Ghat:
The best time to see the Ghats is at sunrise, when a solemn group of people and even animals, lit by sun's darkly golden first rays, hover on the water's edge, bent on immersion in the holy stream.

Durga Temple:
This 18th century shrine, dedicated to the goddess Durga, Shiva's consort, stands beside a large, square pool of water due west about a kilometer from Asi Ghat.

Gyanvapi Mosque:
Moghul emperor Aurangzeb pulled down Vishveswara Temple to erect this Mosque, and the building's foundation and rear still show parts of the original temple.

Kashi Vishvanath Temple:
This temple in the old city is the most sacred shrine in Varanasi. Known as the Golden Temple for the gold plate on its spire, a gift from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh in1835, the temple is set back from the Ganges between Dashashvamedh and Manikarnika ghats.

Kedareshvara Temple:
This is the most important Lord Shiva temple in this part of the town. It can be easily recognized by its red and white candy stripe walls.
 
OTHER ATTRACTIONS:
Alamgir Mosque, Dhobi Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Sankat Mochan Temple, Ranagar Fort and Palace, Shitala Temple.


WHERE TO STAY AND EAT:
Some of the good hotels and restaurants in Varanasi are - Kerala cafe, Amrapali, Bread of life bakery, Anandram Jaipuriya Bhavan, Clarks Varanasi,Taj Ganges, Ganga View, Palace on Ganges, Hotel India, Pradeep.