Varanasi: A Travel Photo Blog Through The Eyes of Rajeshwari

Varanasi situated on the banks of River Ganges is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world (5000yrs) .For Hindus it is absolutely an empyrean nowhere more sacred & for Buddhists it is revered as a place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment.
Chaotic, colorful, captivating & sublime are the words that sum up life in Varanasi. It is a living expression of Indian life like no other. 
Photographers, poets, writers, artists, pilgrims & spiritual seekers from all over the world flock to the city for inspiration & liberation. The pictures here can only be an appetizer as to how amazing & far out the ancient holy city really is.

Splash of colour & activity around the ghats

Splash of colour & activity around the ghats

People gather in boats & riverbank to watch the Ganga Aarti ritual. The evening skies glow with a tranquil ambience

The dawn of a new beginning at the Ganges-the pristine view

The Brij Rama palace hotel at Munshi Ghat- an old structure immaculately revived to a magnificent hotel

Boats floating in the River Ganges & the surreal backdrop

The city almost wakes up in the Ghats with devotees lined with folded hands, half merged in Ganga, priests chanting mantras, boatmen lined with their boats

The Ganges is the lifeline that runs through Varanasi

The Ratneshwar Shiva temple remains partially submerged in the river ganges much of the year excepting few months during summer

The colourful & fascinating ghats of Varanasi

The most ancient, queer & unusual bathrooms by the ghats

Rani Ghat where the queen of Lucknow Muniya Sahiba built a grand house in 1937

Wood piled up on a boat to be ferried to the Manikarnika or the burning Ghat which is the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. It is believed that if anyone dies in Varanasi he is liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth

The Bhonsale Ghat built by a Maratha king

Along a span of several kms are ghats or embankments made of concrete steps where pilgrims perform religious rituals

A large flock of migratory Seagulls attracting tourists & birdwatchers- what a sight

The most fascinating part of the city is almost all the activities seem to revolve around River Ganga & it’s Ghats

Ghats & the Siberian Seagulls- their sounds & distinct presence on the holy river

Winter by the banks of River Ganga is witness to new sights & sounds. Migratory birds throng the city in the winter months

The quintessential experience when visiting Varanasi is a sunrise boat trip on River Ganges

A flight of steps so intrinsic to the innumerable Ghats here

Different ghats situated close to the banks of Ganga offering panoramic views

A boatman in the night lit Ganga.

Nostalgic views by the Daswamedha Ghat

Soon after the sun’s final orange flicker sank below the horizon young priests stepped on their respective platforms &faced the Ganges. In unison they raised giant conch shells & blew. In a near trance state the priests etched circles in the blue- black night with their flaming giant diyas

Ganga Aarti- A rendezvous with the River Goddess Ganga is an unique & unforgettable experience. Every evening Ganga is worshipped & thanked in a ceremony involving Sanskrit chants, blowing of conches, flames held high & the heady scent of sandalwood wafting in the air. People gather in boats & the riverbank to watch the Ganga Aarti ritual. You can feel the atmosphere reverberating with unmatched eternality

The Giant lamps for the Ganga Aarti

The Alamgir mosque built by Aurangzeb

The spiritual city of Varanasi also known as ‘Kashi’ or ‘Banaras’ has the capacity to seduce the most skeptical of minds. There is much to see & explore. The entire city buzzes with history & folklore- in it’s ghats, rivers, spiritual structures, luminaries associated with the city, famous brocade weaving industry & it’s vibrant food scene. 
Varanasi they say has changed drastically over the years. Has modernized & become cleaner in many parts of the city, also because of Swach Bharat Abhiyan. Recently I hear the Manduadih Railway Station has been transformed into a world class station- with upgraded features like AC lounges & retiring rooms, elevators, fountains, food courts etc giving the ambience of an airport. 
But there still large parts of the city where juxtaposition of old meets new is palpable.

Boat Ride on Ganges.

Varanasi has cradled & nurtured the largest number of handloom weaves in the country. The fine brocade saris of Banaras with its intricate weaving.

A languid walk through the serpentine alley of Varanasi would introduce you to archaic houses

It’s narrow alleyways & street mazes are unique

Could’nt help but notice the innumerable sadhus all over with wrinkles on their faces, youth in their smiles & sometimes tired gaunt eyes which came forward raw

A hint of contemporary at the hotel

Pink Guava tree

Squirrels the busy little fellas with all their scampering tucked up on a tree

A brocade weaving machine in one of the sari units

Malaiyo is a delicately flavoured saffron milk foam/ froth/ cloud garnished with nuts & served in earthen bowls

Malaiyo is one of the hidden gems in Banaras. This scrumptious melt in your mouth delicacy is only prepared in the winter months

Feeding the poor all 24 hrs at Baba’s Khitchdi unit

The unique Khitchdi making machine

Plates adorned with small diyas & marigold to be floated on river ganga as offering to Goddess Ganga

Graffiti on Dasawamedh Ghats

One of the main attractions of the Sarnath is the 80 ft high statue of Buddha located in the premises of Thai Buddha Vihar with landscaped gardens & fountains

The Replica of Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath.

The entrance foyer at Mulagandha kuty Vihar decorated by a huge bell gifted by the Japanese

The Mulagandha Kuti Vihar showcases beautiful frescos made by a Japanese artist depicting buddha’s life

Mulagandha kuti Vihar the prime place of worship by the world Buddhist community was constructed by Angarika Dharampala of Sri Lanka

The Dharma Chakra Stupa a solid cylindrical tower 10kms from Varanasi

The Stupa of Sarnath- the greatest attraction where Buddha first taught about Dharma.It is here where Emperor Ashoka erected a number of stupas & monuments for spreading buddhism. The crumbling stupas here are a house of relics, manuscripts & fascinating inscriptions that can teach a lot about Indian history

Sarnath Stupa

Ashoka Pillar- these are fragments of a 15.2 meter high monolithic pillar created by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka

A Buddhist monk in meditation at Sarnath

Most weavers here are a mix of Hindus & Muslims. These communities have been intertwined & interdependent over centuries which has lead to harmonious relations, empathy & sharing of joys & sorrows

The silk weaving machine located in the lanes of Banaras. The hub where fine intricately woven saris & cloth are reproduced

Vibrant flowers for offering at the Kashi Vishwanath temple

The famous Banaras Hindu University the academic hub of Banaras, is a huge campus. It was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

Author Bio:

Rajeshwari Kalyani Marda is a fifty-something young mother of two who loves to travel and share her experiences with the world. She enjoys travel and nature photography, cooking healthy and exotic dishes for her family and friends, reading, and writing. Rajeshwari has a special zeal for life and loves to celebrate every moment, big or small! Stay tuned for more of her adventures and travels!

Rajeshwari Kalyani Marda is a fifty-eight-year young mother of two who loves to travel and share her experiences with the world. She enjoys travel and nature photography, cooking healthy and eotic dishes for her family and friends, reading, and writing. Rajeshwari has a special zeal for life and loves to celebrate every moment, big or small! Stay tuned for more of her adventures and travels!