kashi Banaras

UTTAR PRADESH BUDDHIST CIRCUIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

2012-01-23T23:30:00.000-08:00

The Government of India has entered into a loan Agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for loan assistance to the tune 9495 million Japanese Yen (Rs. 395.63 Crore approximately) for Uttar Pradesh Buddhist Circuit Development Project. This Project includes development of Buddhist centres situated at Sarnath, Kushi Nagar, Kapila vastu, Sravasti and Sankisa. This project inter-alia includes improvement of nearly 74 kms. of road component; Storm water drainage system at Kushinagar & Sravasti; Site attraction enhancement in the area and signage import in the archaeological sites. This project also includes Community participation, Tourism Promotion Programmes etc. The Ministry is also organizing an international meet with all trade and media representatives in Nalanda, Bihar in February next year, to showcase India’s Buddhist Heritage.

Mission Clean Ganga

2011-12-19T05:00:00.001-08:00

Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I was initiated in the year 1985 and was completed in March, 2000. Phase-II of the programme was approved in stages from 1993 onwards and is under implementation. Pollution abatement works taken up under the Plan include interception, diversion and treatment of sewage; low cost sanitation works; electric/improved wood crematoria, etc. An expenditure of Rs.1045 crore has been incurred towards implementation of various pollution abatement works in towns along river Ganga and sewage treatment capacity of 1091 million litres per day has been created so far under the Plan.

The Central Government has constituted the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in February, 2009 as an empowered authority for conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach. The Authority has decided that under ‘Mission Clean Ganga’ it will be ensured that by the year 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into the river.

Projects amounting to Rs. 2589 crore have been sanctioned so far under the NGRBA programme. This includes a pollution abatement project for river Ganga at Varanasi sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 496.90 crore, with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency. The project comprises of schemes pertaining to sewerage, pumping stations, construction of 140 million litres per day (mld) sewage treatment plant, community toilet complexes, construction of dhobi ghats, improvement of bathing ghats, public awareness & participation and institutional development & capacity building of the local body.

Public hearing on Child Labour and other issues of Child Rights at Varanasi

2011-12-19T04:56:00.000-08:00

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had received complaints on several cases of violation of child rights, including the Right to Education (RTE). In its mechanism of redressal of grievances, the Commission organized a public hearing on child labour and other issues of child rights at Varanasi on December 17, 2011 which was the first-of-its-kind in Uttar Pradesh.

Thirty six cases from five districts, including Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Maharajganj, selected through Shambhunath Singh Research Foundation (SRF) , an NGO working in close coordination with NCPCR in the area were heard by a panel of jury of NCPCR . Some of the issues that came up during the public hearing were those of child labour, child trafficking, malnutrition, denial of birth registration and immunization, absence of ICDS centers and improper functioning of the Anganwadis.

For each of the cases, the jury ordered swift and targeted action, set a timeline for the authority in question to follow and also asked the authority to send in a report of its progress to the Commission. The Commission would constantly monitor the progress and action taken in each of these cases.

“Free and compulsory education and total abolition of child labour are central to human development and fundamental for enhanced citizenship. There has to be a zero tolerance of children being out of school and child labour laws and policies have to be in sync with the Right to Education Act 2009,” said Dr. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, NCPCR.

The Commission conducts public hearings across the country as a tool for monitoring and implementation of child rights. It has already conducted public hearing in eight states so far. Every month, a new state is added in its calendar of public hearings.

International Centre of Banaras Hindu University

2011-12-06T22:50:00.001-08:00

The International Centre of Banaras Hindu University was established in 2004, with an objective to deal with all matters related to Foreign Nationals viz. Collaboration with Foreign Universities/ Institutions, Foreign scholars visiting India as Visiting Lecturer/ Professor, Alumni Association of Foreign Students, Admission of Foreign Students etc.
The International Centre is headed by the Chairman of International Centre, assisted with the Coordinator, International Student's Affairs and Coordinator, International Collaboration.
The International Centre is housed in Tagore Bhavan, one of the oldest buildings of BHU,so named after the Noble Laureate Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore, who stayed in this building during his visit to BHU in the year 1923.

PANDIT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA

2011-12-06T22:40:00.001-08:00

Born in an educated orthodox Hindu family at Prayag (Allahabad) in 1861, Madan Mohan Malaviya name to be recognized as an outstanding and noble son of India.
His multifaceted personality made him, at the same time, a great patriot, an educationist with a vision, a social reformer, an ardent journalist, reluctant but effective lawyer, a successful parliamentarian and an outstanding statesman. Among Malaviyaji's many achievements, the most monumental was the establishment of the Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishvidyalaya. In the course of his lifetime Banaras Hindu University came to be known as a Capital of Knowledge acknowledged across India and the World.
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya created history in Indian education with this institution - the first of its kind in the country. He chose Banaras as the site, because of the centuries old tradition of learning, wisdom and spirituality inherent to the place. His vision was to blend the best of Indian education called from the ancient centres of learning - Takshashila and Nalanda and other hallowed institutions, with the best tradition of modern universities of the west.
Great minds and personalities like Annie Besant, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Shyama Charan De and many others joined hand with him in his quest for knowledge, arousing the national spirit in India and winning freedom with the power of education and righteousness.
Malaviya passed away in 1946. But his spirit still lives and there are many who bear the torch that he lit, Many more stand ready to shoulder the mantle of his responsibility.

Thy Food Is Medicine

2011-11-28T21:21:00.001-08:00

Perfect health is like pure water which is very rare to come by in this world. As dirt pollutes pure water, various diseases, likewise, affect a healthy body. So it is said in Sanskrit - sariram roga-mandiram - the body is abode of diseases. Freedom from diseases has been the foremost existential question with every life form.. How to be healthy or free from diseases - this question may be one. But there is no single answer. The general perception is that by taking costly medicines, vitamins and tonics, one can be healthy. Others may say that by availing any of the different schools of medical science one can remain free from diseases. But the ancient lifescience of India - Ayurveda, firmly believes that by adopting a judicions lifestyle one can remain free from diseases.

In Ayurveda one anecdote goes like this that once sage Charaka adopting the form of a bird wandered from house to house of vaidyas (doctors) asking the question - ‘Ko Aruk’, i.e., who is without diseases? Many of the established vaidyas opined that by taking expensive tonics like chyvanaprasa one can be free from diseases. But that was not a satisfying answer.On this issue Susruta elaborates that Hitabhuk, Rtabhuk, Mitabhuk - one who takes good food (food,that is good for the body, simply not taken to precipitate the taste buds), timely food (food taken when hungry) and appropriate amount of food can keep one free from diseases. The word food is symbolic of everything that the body feeds on or enjoys. So air, water, food and any other thing a living being swallows or enjoys is included in the word. In the Geeta, Sri Krishna indicates the same thing by the words - yuktahara-vihara, yukta- chesta and yukta-karma . Yukta signifies indiciousness. All these activities can be expressed by the words ahara-vihara. By judicious ahara-vihara one can be healthy without medicines.

According to Ayurveda there are three functional modalities in the body - vata (Ether + Air), pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water + Earth). When these modalities are in equilibrium, the body is said to be healthy. But when an imbalance among the three results due to indiscriminate ahara-vihara, the body gets afflicted by diseases and the living being has to take medicines to restore its equilibrium.

Medicine is that which cures the disease and does not cause any other disease - says the ancient Ayurveda physician, Charaka. What a good definition of medicne! The quick cure medicines of today’s medical systems while suppress one disease may cause some other symptoms known as side effects at the same time. Good medicine is always devoid of side effects.

During the British rule, there was a severe downfall of Ayurveda as people ignoring our age-old practices, adopted the quick-curing medical system of the West, which reached us along with the imperial rulers.

The western system of medicine, allopathy, became the main health-care system both in pre-and post-Independence India. Ayurveda and other indigenous systems though initially being bereft of State-support, continued to be practised by the people in far-flung areas.

The founder of Banaras Hindu University, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, had established a full-fledged Ayurveda Hospital side-by-side the allopathic one in the campus. Such eminent institutions of Ayurveda were also established in other parts of the country. These institutions not only helped in preserving the science of Ayurveda before Independence but also actively propagated Ayurvedic learning , practice and research.

A separate Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy came into being in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1995 to promote Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga Naturopathy and Homeopathy . Despite the modest funds at its disposal the Department is endeavouring to implement various schemes related to education, standardisation of drugs, enhancement of availability of raw material, research and development, information, education and communication and larger involvement of indigenous systems in national health-care delivery system. The Department has been trying to maintain the requisite educational standards among the institutions under its control .The Department has also made much progress in preparing audio/video cassettes on the different systems of indigenous medicine.

The Department is also promoting pharmacy and nursing under the Indian systems. Considerable progress has been achieved in setting up the Homeopathy Pharmacy Council and Indian Medicine Pharmacy Council. In order to encourage pharmacy education in the Indian systems, a new scheme is being implemented to encourage the existing colleges start pharmacy courses.

The Indian systems are no more confined within the country itself.. In fact, many a research work in this field is being done abroad. Therefore, standardisation of drugs and quality control has become very important. The Department has activated all the pharmacopoea committees to expedite preparation of standards for drugs on the Indian systems. The Department is in the process of publication of ‘Good Manufacturing Practices’ for Ayurveda. The Department is also encouraging a voluntary scheme for certification of quality.

In 20 of the States/Union Territories of our country Ayurvedic treatment is available in government and non-government dispensaries and hospitals. But people still hanker after speedy cure which is often harmful because, according to the third law of Newton every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If we forcibly suppress some symptoms, some other side effect is but the natural outcome. Prevention is better than cure. Our first priority should be to prevent a disease. Only after the outbreak, cure should be aimed at. Failing both, its suppression should be the goal. People should be informed about the wholesome treatment style in Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicine. It should also be highlighted that even if it takes a little longer to be cured, it does not cause other diseases or side effects. The Indian systems of medicine underline the dependence of humans on nature. Most of the medicines are extracted from vegetable sources. Whether one wants to have food as medicine or medicine as food depends on his or her lifestyle.

India's artistry in fabrics

2011-11-28T21:17:00.001-08:00

Over the centuries handlooms have come to be associated with excellence in India's artistry in fabrics. Right from the ancient times, the high quality of Indian handloom products like muslin of Chanderi, silk brocades of Varanasi, the tie and dye products of Rajasthan and Orissa, the Chintas of Machhlipatnam, the himroos of Hyderabad, the Khes of Punjab, the prints of Farrukhabad, the Phenek and Tongam and bottle designs of Assam and Manipur, the Maheshwari sarees of Madhya Pradesh and the Patola sarees of Baroda have been famous all over.

The art and craft traditions since almost the dawn of civilisation has been kept alive despite sweeping changes due to continuous efforts of generations of artists and craftsmen who weaved their dreams and visions into exquisite handloom products.

The handloom industry now provides livelihood to over 90 million people in the country. It continues to be craft-oriented, even though it was circumscribed by a limited choice of processing and technology. During the first half of the present century there was very little effort to develop the handloom sector and the handloom weavers were pitted against modern textile mills. They struggled to survive not only against the unfair competition but also against the unscrupulous middlemen who did everything to ensure that the weavers remained in perpetual debt trap. It is a tribute to their ingenuity and skill that they succeeded in preserving the long tradition of excellence in hand-weaving, dyeing, in-printing and craftsmanship.

Breakthrough

August 15, 1947 marked a turning point for the handloom weavers of India. Mahatma Gandhi's use of Charkha, the spinning wheel, as a symbol of national regeneration and the subsequent focus on the handloom weavers during the freedom movement was largely responsible for the breakthrough. But little could be done in terms of fiscal assistance to protect them from the onslaughts of the machine.

The dawn of Independence provided an opportunity to accord priority treatment to the handloom industry. At the time of Independence, there were about three million handlooms in India, largely of poor quality because of inferior raw material and ill-organised marketing infrastructure. The situation worsened in 1952 due to a slump in the textile market which led to a heavy accumulation of handloom stocks. The All-India Handloom Board was reconstituted at the initiative of the then Minister for Commence and Industries, T.T. Krishnamachari, seven years after its dissolution in 1945, to advise the Government and propose schemes for the development and survival of handlooms.

With a view to raising funds for the industry and organising weavers+ cooperatives, Parliament passed the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act in 1953.

To facilitate marketing of fabrics made in the handloom cooperatives, a national level apex body called the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was set up in 1955. Subsequently, the Weavers' Service Centre and the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology were set up to provide infrastructure back up in the vital areas of applied research, service and training.

The Handloom and Handicrafts Export Corporation of India Ltd (HHEC) was set up in 1958 to promote export of handlooms. To ensure a steady supply of raw materials such as yarn, dyes and chemicals to the State handloom organisations, the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) was set up in 1983. As these schemes for the development of handloom industry were not enough to revolutionise this sector, the Government appointed a high powered study team and on its recommendations the Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), a nodal agency at the Centre, was set up in 1976 to ensure a scientific growth of the handloom industry. Since then the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms has been implementing various welfare schemes for the benefit of the handloom weavers. Some of the major programmes relate to supply of inputs, production, marketing, welfare package, training and enforcement of Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985.

During the VIIIth Five Year Plan (1992-97) the Centre released Rs.1,098.8 crore to the State governments and other agencies to implement various schemes for the benefit of the handloom weavers. As a result, the production of handloom fabrics registered more than 14-fold increase from a level of 500 million sq. mtrs. in the early 50s to 7,235 million sq.mtrs. in 1996-97.

The export of handloom goods also increased and touched approximately Rs.2,100 crore in 1996-97. It has now become the largest economic activity in the country after agriculture, providing direct and indirect employment to more than three million weaver households. This sector contributes nearly 22 per cent of the total cloth produced in the country.

Encouragement

To consolidate efforts made during the earlier Plans and enhance the competitiveness of the handloom sector, a new orientation has been given to the on-going schemes during the Ninth Five Year Plan. A Workshed-cum-Housing Scheme has been initiated to provide a conducive production environment and basic necessity of life to the handloom weavers.

Under the scheme, Rs.47.46 crore has been released to 19 States for providing workshed and workshed-cum housing facilities to over eighty thousand weavers. During the Ninth Five Year Plan the Government of India's assistance to the handloom weavers has been enhanced from Rs.4,000 to Rs.7,000 crore for rural workshed and from Rs.14,000 to

Rs.18,000 crore rural workshed-cum-housing. The assistance for urban workshed is Rs.10,000 and for urban workshed-cum-housing Rs.20,000.

National Awards are given every year to Master Weavers in recognition of their excellence in craftsmanship and contribution to the primary handloom weavers cooperative societies for their excellent performance in this field. The assistance for organising National Handloom Expos gas been enhanced to Rs.38 lakh. The restrictions on participation of various organisations have also been removed. The Government is subsidising 50 per cent of the space rent, electricity and water charges besides making a handsome provision for publicity to attract buyers.

The Government has also revised the insurance-cum-health package scheme to look after the welfare of the handloom weavers. Under this scheme, insurance cover would be available to the handloom weavers against natural calamities and personal accidents in addition to the coverage of hospitalisation and maternity benefits. In case of death the insurance cover would be Rs.1 lakh. Looking back, there has been a substantial progress in the handloom sector in India. This story of the Indian handlooms in the last 50 years is one of patient nurturing of an industry which touches upon the livelihood of millions of Indians

Varanasi is to Hindus what Jerusalem is to Jews and Christians and Mecca is to Muslims.

2011-11-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

Varanasi, India is to Hindus what Jerusalem is to Jews and Christians and Mecca is to Muslims. It is the holiest city in Hinduism and has been a place of pilgrimage for thousands of years. The city is presided over by the god Shiva, and rests on the banks of the Ganges River.

At the edge of the Ganges River in town, there are steps leading down into the water called ghats. Pilgrims can sit on the ghats and bathe in the holy water of the Ganges. Bathing in the river's waters is believed to result in the remission of sins and helps you escape the cycle of rebirth. One of the most notable ghats is the Desashvamedh Ghat, which legends says is the place where Shiva sacrificed ten horses. Aside from the expected pilgrims, tourists can see great views of the river from this ghat.

Another site of importance in Varanasi is the shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath. It is the holiest shrine in the city, and is one of twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. These are shrines where people worship Shiva in the form of "lingam of light". The original shrine was destroyed, but this is a reconstruction built in 1780.

A site holy to Buddhism is also nearby Varanashi. Twelve kilometers out of town lies Sarnath, where Buddha gave his very first sermon. In that sermon he laid out the eight-fold path that leads to enlightenment and nirvana. Sarnath contains a large number of Buddhist relics at its great archaeological museum.

Varanasi :The City Of Light

2011-11-07T23:42:00.000-08:00

Varanasi is among the most famous pilgrimage center of the Hindus. Located on the banks of the holy river Ganga, it is the pride of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Affectionately dubbed as the 'City of Light', this city attracts devotes and tourists from across the world. This highly revered city is also called Banaras and Kashi. This city has been mentioned in the Great Hindu Epics. This city is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

River Ganga is worshipped as the Goddess Ganga in India.This sacred river also finds mention in the Rig-Veda, the great Hindu scriptures. It is also known as Ram Ganga as it is considered as the river of Lord Rama.

It is the cultural capital of the country reflecting the religious and spiritual side of it. Its landscape is peppered with numerous ghats and temples. There are more than 80 ghats here, each one having its own name and significance. Apart from the temples, it also houses Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples. Its peaceful atmosphere and spiritual aura will surely offer you an experience of a lifetime. It is also famous for its spirit-uplifting aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Varanasiis a land of culture, philosophy, literature, religion and arts and crafts. Silk sari is one of the most famous attractions of Varanasi. Its silk saris are famous the world over for their great quality and beauty. A visit to Varanasi is incomplete without buying silk saris from its colorful bazaars. Banaras Hindu University, the biggest University of Asia is also located here.

Several renowned writers, poets, philosophers and musicians lived here. Some of them are Kabir, Swami Ramanand, Ravidas, Munshi Premchand and Tulsidas. It is a popular Hindu belief that a Hindu must visit Varanasi at least once in a lifetime. It is believed that a dip in the holy water of river Ganga at this city washes away ones sins and liberates the soul.

The most famous attractions of Varanasi are Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga Temple, Ramnagar Fort, Banarasi silk saris and River Ganges Boat Ride. The more you explore, the more you will be overwhelmed with this historic city. Its culture, its atmosphere, its art and crafts, religious fervor, natural beauty, glorious history have captured the hearts of millions of tourists.

Varanasi Evening Ceremony

2011-08-10T23:22:00.001-07:00

Varanasi - Hindu ceremony

2011-08-10T23:21:00.000-07:00

Ganga Arti Haridwar

2011-08-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

Ganga Aarti at Varanasi

2011-08-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

Inside kasi viswanath temple

2011-08-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

Varanasi religious event

2011-06-30T04:22:00.001-07:00

Varanasi baths

2011-06-30T04:21:00.001-07:00

Varanasi Ghats, India

2011-06-30T04:20:00.001-07:00

Ghats of Varanasi

2011-06-30T04:18:00.001-07:00

Varanasi , Benares, Kashi, India

2011-06-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

THE STATE EMBLEM OF INDIA

2011-06-19T05:30:00.001-07:00

The State Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emporer Ashoka, who ruled from 272 BC to 232 BC. It is preserved in the Sarnath Museum, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital has four lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus. The frieze of the abacus is adorned with sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharma Chakra (Wheels of Law). The abacus rests on a bell-shaped lotus.

The profile of the Lion Capital showing three lions mounted on the abacus with a Dharma Chakra in the centre, a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left has been adopted as the State emblem of India. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted.

The motto "Satyameva Jayate" (truth alone triumphs) – written in Devanagari script below the profile of the Lion Capital is part of the State Emblem of India. The motto is taken from an ancient scripture the Mundaka Upanishad.

For the accurate reproduction of the State Emblem, two standard designs have been approved. First design is in a simplified form and is intended for reproduction in small sizes such as for use in stationery, seals and die-printing. For reproduction in bigger sizes, only second design, which is more detailed should be used.

All reproductions of the State Emblem should strictly conform to the designs In order to obtain photographic designs of the State Emblem interested individuals can get in touch with the Manager, Photo Litho Wing, Government of India Press, New Delhi. Samples of standard dies of the State Emblem can be obtained from the Office of the Chief Controller of Printing and Stationery, New Delhi.

The State Emblem has also been adopted by the governments of Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Rajasthan and West Bengal. It has been incorporated in the Emblems adopted by the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. The governments and administrations of all Union Territories other than Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh use the State Emblem. The Union Territory of Chandigarh has incorporated the State Emblem in the emblem adopted by it.

Official Seals

The State Emblem is the official seal of India. As such, use of the State Emblem for official seal is restricted to the President, the Vice President, Union Ministers, Ministers and others Officers of the Central Government including diplomatic missions abroad, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners and Administrators of Union Territories and Ministers and departments and offices of the State governments and of Union Territory governments and administrations who have adopted the State Emblem. Offices of Central Government permitted to use distinct emblems of their own may, however, use the same in their seals.

The State Emblem, on demi-official stationery used by Ministers, when printed or embossed should appear on the top left hand corner in blue colour,. The lettering like "Home Minister" or "Ministry of Home Affairs" should appear on the top right hand corner. The demi-official stationery used by officers should be embossed or printed in red colour except when an officer is specifically authorised to use such stationery in some other colour. Names of officers, however, should not be printed on such stationery.

The Members of Parliament may have the State Emblem embossed or printed on their stationery. The colour to be used for the purpose in the case of the Members of the Lok Sabha is green and red for the Members of the Rajya Sabha. Such stationery when supplied by the Chief Controller of Printing and Stationery, does not contain the names or addresses of the Members. But the Members may, at their discretion get such stationery, with their names and addresses printed at private presses approved for this purpose by the Government of India in the Ministry of Urban Development.

Where the stationery used by the Members of Parliament, contains the State Emblem it should not bear words like "Advocate, Supreme Court/High Court" and "Editor…..Journal", below their names in the letter-heads.

The Members of Legislative Assemblies of Union Territfories and the Members of Metropolitan Council of Delhi may have the State Emblem embossed or printed on their stationery. The stationery containing the State Emblem, however, should not bear words like "Advocate, Supreme Court/High Court" and "Editor…..Journal", below their names in the letter-heads.

Design and Display

The designs of the brass seals and rubber stamps consist of the State Emblem enclosed in oval frame of adequate thickness. The name of the Ministry or Office should appear between the inner and outer rims of the frame. The abbreviated forms of names of Ministries/Offices may be inscribed where it is not possible to accommodate the names in full.

Offices/Officers already permitted to use round shaped brass seals may, however, continue to use them. Round shaped rubber stamps may be used by Indian Missions/Posts abroad and Ministry of External Affairs for special purposes such as on Passports, diplomatic identity cards, visas or entry permits. The round shaped embossing machine consisting of State Emblem is also being used by passport authorities in India and abroad and Ministries of the Government of India on communications addressed to Indian Missions/Posts abroad.

There is also a provision for the display of the State Emblem on vehicles. Cars of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Bhavans or Raj Niwases when the President, Vice-President, Governor of the State, or the Lt. Governor of the Union Territory or their spouses are traveling by such vehicles within the State or the concerned Union Territory. In the event of visiting heads or spouses of Foreign States, Vice-Presidents of Foreign States or dignitaries of equivalent status, visiting Heads of Foreign Governments or dignitaries of equivalent status like Crown Prince and Princess of Foreign States, cars of Rastrapati Bhavan can display the State Emblem.

The Emblem may be displayed only on very important public buildings like the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Bhavans, Raj Niwases, Supreme Court, High Courts, Central Secretariat, Parliament House, State/Union Territory Secretariats and Legislatures.

The State Emblem may be displayed on the premises of India’s Diplomatic Missions abroad and residences of Heads of the Missions . It may be displayed on the buildings occupied by India’s Consulates abroad at the entrance doors thereof and on the residences of Heads of Consular posts subject to the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State.

Other Uses

The State Emblem may be used on publications issued and films produced by the Government, coins, currency notes, promissory notes and postal stamps with such modifications as may be considered necessary by the Mint or the Press; Medals and Sanads instituted by the Government; Invitation cards for State functions; New Year and Greeting Cards sent by officers of Indian Missions abroad for legitimate representational purpose; Representational Glassware Crockery and Cutlery used at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Bhavans, Raj Niwases and Indian Missions/Posts abroad; and Badges, collars, buttons of uniforms of Police and Excise Constabulary which carried before adoption of this Emblem, the old Coat-of-Arms or Crown; Uniforms of various categories of Class IV staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan and uniforms of Class IV staff of the Indian Missions/Posts abroad.

The use of the State Emblem on the uniforms and badges of the Armed Forces shall be governed by the instructions laid down by the Ministry of Defence in this behalf.

Besides, it may be printed in school textbooks, books on history, art or culture or in any periodical as part of the text of a Chapter and Section for the purpose of explaining or illustrating the origin, significance or adoption of the State Emblem. It shall not be used on the front page, title or cover of any publication except a Government publication.

The State Emblem shall not be used for any trade or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Governments under Section 3 of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Unauthorised use of the Emblem for such purposes is an offence under the Act.

Private persons, bodies of persons and sports associations are not permitted to use the State Emblem on their letter-heads, seats, crests, badges, house flags or for any other purpose except with the permission of the Government.

MUNSHI PREMCHAND : THE GREAT NOVELIST

2011-06-19T05:25:00.001-07:00

A pioneer of modern Hindi and Urdu social fiction, Munshi Premchand’s real name was Dhanpat Rai. He wrote nearly 300 stories and novels. Among his best known novels are: Sevasadan, Rangmanch, Gaban, Nirmala and Godan. Much of Premchand’s best work is to be found among his 250 or so short stories, collected in Hindi under the title Manasarovar.Three of his novels have been made into films.Premchand’s literary career started as a freelancer in Urdu.

He was born at Lamahi near Banaras (now Varanasi) on 31st July,1880. His father Munshi Ajaib Lal was a clerk in the postal department. Premchand’s early education was in a madarsa under a maulvi, where he learnt Urdu. Premchand was only eight years old when his mother died. His grandmother took the responsibility of raising him but she too died soon. He was married when he was 15 and in the 9th grade . His father also died and after passing the intermediate he had to stop his study. He got a job as a teacher in the primary school. In 1919, he passed his B.A., with English, Persian and History. After a series of promotions he became Deputy Inspectors of Schools. In response to Mahatma Gandhi’s call of non-cooperation with the British he quit his job. After that he devoted his full attention to writing. His first story appeared in the magazine Zamana published from Kanpur.In his early short stories he depicted the patriotic upsurge that was sweeping the land in the first decade of the past century. Soz-e-Watan, a collection of patriotic stories published by Premchand in 1907, attracted the attention of the British Government In 1914, when Premchand switched over to Hindi, he had already established his reputation as a fiction writer in Urdu. While writing Urdu novels and short stories he emphasised in presenting the realities of life and he made the Indian villages his theme of writing. His novels describe the problems of the urban middle-class and the country’s villages and their problems. He also emphasised on the Hindu-Muslim unity. His famous works include Godan, Maidan-e-Amal, Bay-wah, Chaugaan etc.It would not be wrong to say that Premchand was the Father of Urdu short- stories. Short stories or afsanas were started by Premchand. As with his novels, his afsanas also mirror the society that he lived in. With a simple and flowing writing some of his works depict excellent use of satire and humour. His later works used very simple words and he started including Hindi words too to honestly potray his characters. His famous afsanas are Qaatil Ki Maan, Zewar Ka Dibba, Gilli Danda, Eidgaah, Namak Ka Daroga and Kafan. His collected stories have been published as Prem Pachisi, Prem Battisi, Wardaat and Zaad-e-Raah.

Premchand was the first Hindi author to introduce realism in his writings. He pioneered the new form - fiction with a social purpose.He supplemented Gandhiji’s work in the political and social fields by adopting his revolutionary ideas as themes for his literary writings.

Besides being a great novelist,Premchand was also a social reformer and thinker.His greatness lies in the fact that his writings embody social purpose and social criticism rather than mere entertainment. Literature according to him is a powerful means of educating public opinion.He believed in social evolution and his ideal was equal opportunities for all.Premchand died in 1936 and has since been studied both in India and abroad as one of the greatest writers of the century.

Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) to connect neighbouring towns with Delhi

2011-06-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

In respect of Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) to connect neighbouring towns with Delhi, NCR Planning Board has commissioned study which envisages preparation of Detailed Project Report (DRP) after detailed feasibility study in respect of three corridors i.e. Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Rewari-Alwar and Delhi-Sonepat-Panipat. The speed of the train being studied is in the range of about 160 kmph.

As the feasibility study has not yet been completed, the implementation timeline cannot be commented upon.

The ‘Vision 2020’ envisages the implementation of one project in each of the regions of the nation and planning for at least 8 more corridors connecting commercial, tourist and pilgrimage hubs. Six High Speed Rail Corridors have already been identified for pre-feasibility studies. These are :

i. Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar;

ii. Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad;

iii. Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijayawaa-Chennai;

iv. Howrah-Haldia;

v. Chennai-Bangalore-Coimbatore-Ernakulam;

vi. Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna

The Vision 2010 document envisages that these could be built as elevated corridors in keeping with the pattern of habitation and constraint of land in our country. The Railways will use the PPP mode for investment and execution, and draw on frontier technologies incorporating the highest standards of safety and service quality. So far pre-feasibility study of Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been completed.

Varanasi Brocade

2011-06-19T05:02:00.001-07:00

Brocade is a generic term used for any textile that is richly figured, especially for those with a pattern in gold or silver. In brocade weaving, extra weft threads of different coloured silk or zari, metallic threads, are woven into the basic fabric in the areas where they are to form a pattern. The most beautiful and intricate patternic technique is the kadwa, a sort of loom embroidery. A special type of brocade, the gyasar, has also been woven since the 19th century for secular use in Buddhist areas like Bhutan and Ladakh. Kinkhab, Sangi & Galta, Fekwa, Mashru or the other techniques used in the Varanasi.

World visit Varanasi to learn the ancient disciplines of astrology Sanskrit and philosophy.

2011-05-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

For centuries, scholars from all across the world have been visiting Varanasi to learn the ancient disciplines of astrology Sanskrit and philosophy. But today, Varanasi is more than the land of spirituality. The course of the city was transformed from being a spiritually inclined city to an educational hub. In 1791 the Sanskrit college was established with the objective of training the servants of the East India Company.

Much later, Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu School to impart a well balanced approach to education combining the conventional and modern method of teaching. Recognized as a formal educational institute that imparted both modern as well traditional educations, the Banaras Hindu University today churns out thousands of students on an annual basis.

The Central Institute of Tibetan Studies was also set up as an institute of cultural preservation for the Tibetans. Varanasi has a number of schools which have been aptly described as powerhouses of knowledge and citadels of education. A popular education hub of eastern UP India, Varanasi is home to some of the best schools that follow syllabi at par with some of the Institutes abroad.

The spiritual beauty of Banaras

2011-05-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

Mark Twain, the English author enthralled by the spiritual beauty of Banaras, once wrote: "Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." On the banks of the Ganges, rests the Indian city of Varanasi. Formerly known as Benares, which came to be known as the anglicized name of Banaras, it became famous because it was the first city where Buddha preached his first sermon Lit up with little candles at night amidst the incense and floral petals thrown into the sea, its has earned the sobriquet as being ' The land of sacred light.' Varanasi is popularly known by a number of nicknames such as: "Kashika", "Avimukta" and "Rudravasa", "Sarva" but "Vidya Ki Rajdhani" seems most fitting. That's because Varanasi has been an ancient seat of Indian learning and education.

Ministry of Tourism to Develop Quality Infrastructure

2011-03-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Ministry of Tourism has made consistent efforts to develop quality tourism infrastructure at tourist destinations and circuits. To focus on development of infrastructure at places of national and international importance, the Ministry, through its scheme of providing financial assistance to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, has identified 38 mega tourism projects, out of which 26 have been sanctioned till 4^th February, 2011.

The Ministry also took an initiative to interact with other Central Government Ministries such as Railways, Food Processing and Urban Development, and also the concerned State Government to achieve convergence so that the impact of investment at the identified destinations is maximized. The Ministry has identified 24 destinations/ circuits in India, based on their tourism potential, to be covered in the first phase of this initiative.

In order to meet the huge skill gap in the hospitality industry, the Ministry has adopted a multipronged strategy which includes strengthening and expanding the institutional infrastructure for training and education. For this purpose, Ministry of Tourism has decided to support creation of new Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) and Food Craft Institutes (FCI) in States besides providing financial assistances for modernization and capacity enhancement of existing IHMs and FCIs. Under its ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ training programme for creating employable skills in the hospitality sector, the ministry has trained 4960 youth by 31^st December, 2010 against the target of 5500 for 2010-11.

Ministry of Tourism, through its overseas offices, engaged actively in events like road shows and joint promotions with major international airlines linking India to the markets abroad. These road shows highlighted various tourism products and were followed by one-to –one business meetings between the foreign and Indian travel trade delegations. India Tourism Office participated in a number of travel fairs and exhibitions in important tourist generating markets the world over as well as in emerging and potential markets to showcase and promote tourism products of the country.

For cooperation with other countries in the tourism sector, Ministry of Tourism held high-level bilateral discussions with Syria, Mexico, Cyprus, Peru, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago and Indonesia. The Ministry of Tourism and International Finance Corporation (A member of the World Bank Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 27.10.2010 for the implementation of Integrated Buddhist Circuit Development Strategy.

Why Varanasi tops the list of tourists coming to India ?

2011-03-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

Varanasi, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the top-most destinations of India. There are many descriptions of Varanasi, 'The city of temples', 'The holy city of India', 'The city of lights', 'The city of learning' and the 'culture capital of India'. Since time immemorial, it has been renowned for its silks, ghats, temples, art, literature and music. It is the most popular pilgrimage for Hindus as it is believed that those who are cremated here, are liberated from the cycle of births and re-births. Thus, a visit to Varanasi often tops the list of many tourists coming to India.

Daily domestic flights operated by Indian Airlines, Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Spice Jet ply between Varanasi and a number of cities. Varanasi Airport is about 25km from the city centre and it takes an hour or more to reach there depending on traffic. Taxis charge around Rs 200-250, while auto-rickshaws charge about Rs 1 25 from the airport to the city centre. There are two railway stations in Varanasi, the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction (also known as Varanasi Cantonment). Alternatively, one can also catch trains from Mughal Sarai, just 10km south of Varanasi. Frequent public and private buses also run between major towns of Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas. Keeping the popularity of the destination in mind, An Indian Journey chalks out your itinerary for 36 hours in Varanasi.

With good and satisfying breakfast, its time to visit the most sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Though a bit crowded, the temple has many mythological tales attached to it and is considered as one of the four sacred dhams of India. Stay back till 12 noon for Bhog. Skilfully manage the time by visiting the Durga Temple and the Sankat Mochan Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Delicious Sweets Of Varanasi

2011-03-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

Varanasi has a rich tradition of eating sweets (or Mithai, as sweets are called in India) made from milk based products. Like the omnipresent 'Banarasi Paan' shops in Varanasi, one finds sweet shops at almost every street in Varanasi. The sight of the varied varieties of sweets displayed at these shops as you traverse the city is a mouth watering experience. Looking back in to the rich cultural heritage of Varanasi, it is easy to understand the reason for the mind-boggling variety of sweets available in Varanasi.

Over the past few centuries, Varanasi has been the center of influx of settlers from different regions of India. It is a virtually a mini India of sorts and there are small niche settlements in Varanasi which predominantly boast of the presence of a particular community that settled down in Varanasi. There are the Muslims, the Bengali's, the South Indians, the Christians, the Sindhi's, Sikhs, Gujarati's, Marwaris and the other smaller groups from different parts of India who have made Varanasi their home. As is to be expected, these small, niche localities display a unique lifestyle that still retains the flavor of their original culture and customs of the places they came from including their culinary tradition.

For the casual travelers to Varanasi, it would be difficult to notice the difference as these communities have intermingled with the local Varanasi culture and have adopted the ways of Varanasi. However, if you were to take a closer look, you can see the diversity in the unity of Varanasi. The long period of cultural intermixing has created a unique culinary tradition in Varanasi where you would find delicacies from the menu of almost every state of India.

Sweets being part of the menu of almost all Indian cultures, the settlers in Varanasi brought their own unique recipes that gradually became a part of the composite sweet culture of Varanasi. The most popular sweets of Varanasi that are loved by all include the Kalakand,Lal Peda, Parval, Kulfi, Maalpua, Malai Puri and the divine Rabri. And then there is the 'Lawanglata' - a sweet that is very well known and really popular among the masses - which you would find in every sweet shop of Varanasi, big or small. If you have a thing for sweets and have a sweet tooth, Varanasi will be a mouth watering odyssey. Feast on the juicy Rosogollas(or Rasgulla), take a big bite of that creamy Barfi or feel the soft Maalpua melting away in your mouth delighting your taste buds. And of course, there is the rich, creamy sweet Lassi of Varanasi- the perfect way to wash down the gastronomical delights. These sweets are made from 'Khowa' and 'Chhena' both derivatives of milk - that undergo a series of processes perfected by the skilled workers who inherited the art from their forefathers, and shaped into various geometrical forms that adorn the showcase of the sweet shops in Varanasi.

There are many old and good sweet shops that have their own fan base in and around the areas they are located. Some of them are more famous for a particular type of sweet and people would visit the shop from different part of the city to buy. There are some really small shops that have become the 'go to shop' if you want to buy a particular variety of sweet. They have a huge fan base in the city and they have become household names renowned for that one special variety of sweet. Then there are the larger sweet shops in Varanasi where you can find almost all the major varieties of sweets you have heard of and some of these shops are equally famous for their good quality and variety. Personally, I love the sweets from a shop called the 'Chheer Sagar' that is located close to the Sonarpura chowk on the road to Godowlia.

Changing with the times and keeping in mind the unique needs of the clientele, some of these popular shops also sell the sugar free and low fat versions of their sweets. They claim that they use the sugar substitute that is the choice of diabetics and sugar patients. This has not only increased their client base but also brought back their many fans who had been forced to give up their favorite sweets due to their medical conditions. So even those travelers who may be suffering from high blood sugar or diabetes, can visit some of these sweet shops and savor the many heavenly delights that will sweeten your Varanasi experience. I wonder if some enlightened author would take a cue from the many 'mithai' or sweets of Varanasi and compose a 'Mithaisutra' on the lines of the extremely popular 'Kamasutra' of Khajuraho in India. Not a bad idea, eh? What do you say?

Varanasi:The Religious Capital of the Hindus

2011-03-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

Varanasi 'The Religious Capital of the Hindus' is a city of sadhus in saffron and wooden sandals; a city where faint strains of 'shastriya sangeet' (classical music) blends with the starry evenings dispersing deep incense of devotion and bhakti in the air. Unlike most other sacred Indian cities, Varanasi is a unique pack for the mind and body. The river, the ghats, the divine mornings, the gleaming nights - Varanasi is all this and more.

It is the city with ancient religious traditions that offers everybody a place, a promise and a touch of Eden. It is the world's oldest city, contemporary with Babylon, Nineveh and Thebes, that finds mention in the Mahabharatha and other religious epics. Since ancient times people from all over the world come here to visit the ghats and seek nirvana. The ghats of Varanasi hum with activities all through the day. Thousand of pilgrims come here to take a bathe in the holy Ganga river, while others come here to die in a hope of breaking out thVaranasi 'The Religious Capital of the Hindus' is a city of sadhus in saffron and wooden sandals; a city where faint strains of shastriya sangeet (classical music) blends with the starry evenings dispersing deep incense of devotion and bhakti in the air. Unlike most other sacred Indian cities, Varanasi is a unique pack for the mind and body. The river, the ghats, the divine mornings, the gleaming nights - Varanasi is all this and more.

If you want to experience all this and more, get up early in the morning to take the boat cruise, exploring the ghats on Ganga linked to the holy city. Hire a boat from Dasashwamedh - the holiest of all Varnasi Ghat and proceed to the nearby Manikarnika Ghat - one of the famous burning ghat,(Harischandra Ghat being the other). The view of sun rising sun over the Ganga River is truly mind-boggling. Next head to the Asi Ghat, where you get the chance to witness the confluence the Asi and Ganga rivers. Near to it, is the Varanasi's oldest ghat - named after famous poet Sant Tulsidas.

Then visit the Darbhanga Ghat, built by one of the royal family in Bihar in the early 1990's. Stop next at Man Mandir Ghat, built by the Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur. Pssing through the Vishwanath Gali - you will come across the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1776.

In the evening, don't miss the Ganga Maiya arti at Dasashwamedh ghat conducted by white five robed priests. Crowd joins them and the whole ambiance fumes with bhakti and devotion. This is one scene that will linger in your memories forever and ever

Varanasi, the old Kashi

2011-03-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

Varanasi, the old Kashi, is the city of great wealth and religious importance. It is the world's oldest city, contemporary with Babylon, Nineveh and Thebes, that finds mention in the Mahabharatha and other religious epics. Since ancient times people from all over the world come here to visit the ghats and seek nirvana. Varanasi 'The Religious Capital of the Hindus' is a city of sadhus in saffron and wooden sandals; a city where faint strains of 'shastriya sangeet' (classical music) blends with the starry evenings dispersing deep incense of devotion and bhakti in the air. Unlike most other sacred Indian cities, Varanasi is a unique pack for the mind and body.

The concept of nationalism.

2011-03-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

Nationalism as a motivating force emerged in Europe in early 19^th century. As an ideology it sought ‘the organs of a sovereign state through which to express itself’. It exalted national interest, heightened rivalries and shaped history. It provided ‘the glue that made possible the modern state and modern industry’. It assumed aggressive dimensions and its overflow into imperial channels resulted in much misery to the colonized people and caused justifiable responses. It will be recalled that the world community formally expressed itself against colonialism through the UN General Assembly Resolution 1415 of December 1960. The actual process of decolonisation took a little longer.

Indian nationalism can best be described as political articulation of anti-colonial consciousness. After independence the new Indian state espoused a set of values focused on the attainment of justice, equality, fraternity, democracy, religious tolerance, inclusive economic development and cultural pluralism. Levels of actual achievement vary; our commitment to them, nevertheless, is unwavering and has stood the test of six decades.

In no period was Indian nationalism xenophobic. It was and is accommodative and synthesizing. Its major premise is an existential reality, namely the plural nature of our society. A democratic polity and a secular state structure give shape to it and sustain and nurture it. The end product has rightly been described as sui generis.

There was no dearth of sceptics. The older, colonial, mindset about the absence and prospect of an Indian nation and nationhood was supplemented by the emergence of new apprehensions about of capacity to self-govern, of balkanization, of failure of the democratic experiment, of overcoming the agony of the multitudes, were articulated. Others had greater confidence; in August 1950 the British political scientist Earnest Barker put the Preamble of our Constitution on the first page of his book Principles of Social and Political Theory because, he said, it stated in a brief and pithy form the argument of the book. With one-sixth of the world’s population and the closest reflection of the diversity of humanity, we have been rightly called ‘the largest multicultural society in the world.’

The debate on identity and nationalism was part of the discourse of our Freedom Movement and was conducted with some vigour in the Constituent Assembly. It bore the impact of global developments of that era. As a consequence, while the focus of the Constitution was on the individual citizen it was also, in the words of a distinguished academic, ‘well ahead of its time not only in recognizing diversities but also in providing for representation of the collectivities in the formal democratic structures.’

Closer scrutiny shows that the multiple identities so recognized are amplified in our Constitution for legal and operative purposes and total as many as thirteen - identities grounded in religion; identities grounded in language; caste identities; tribal identities; community identities, such as in the case of the Anglo-Indian community; class identities, such as in the case of the socially and educationally backward classes; racial identities, notably prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race and permitting notification of specific races or groups within races to be deemed to be Scheduled Castes; gender identities; identities grounded in region, place of birth or residence, especially in the context of prohibition of discrimination and provisions contained in Part XXI of the Constitution; identities based on age, such as those provisions relating to children and the aged; minority identities, whether based on religion, language, script or culture; identities grounded in descent, especially in the context of non-discrimination on grounds of descent; and identities based on occupation, such as agricultural or industrial workers, defence personnel or civil servants etc.

Accommodation of diversity was thus consciously incorporated as a distinctive feature of the Indian state. The special provisions for guarantees or affirmative action for specific collectivities is evidence of an approach for securing justice and sustaining multiple identities in a composite culture within a framework of a quasi-federal structure, driven by an overriding imperative of maintaining territorial integrity.

Consequently a standardized image of an Indian cannot be constructed; if presented, it is partial, incomplete, misleading. India nationalism and the dynamic of the Indian state demand a recognition and appreciation of the existence of a plurality of identities, leaving it to the individual citizen to accentuate or downplay any of these at a particular point of time. The latter perception does result, and has resulted, in expressions of ethnic or mini-nationalisms and the emanating tensions. The challenge of resolving them remains work in progress. Homogenization or assimilation, however, is not the answer; it is neither feasible nor desirable.

One other feature of Indian nationalism in its formative period was noteworthy. It had a vision of the external world, not merely in terms of anti-colonialism but also about India’s approach to foreign policy. Jawaharlal Nehru expressed it on September 7, 1946 in his first statement as head of the Interim Government; he amplified it in a speech in the Constituent Assembly on December 4, 1947. The conduct of foreign affairs, he said, lay in ‘finding out what is most advantageous to the country’. Article 51 of the Constitution set out for the Republic of India its vision of foreign policy and inter-state relations. It helped define our political identity and cultural individuality.

The experience of the modern Indian state has been somewhat analogous to that of other states in the international community. Sovereignty has been exercised to defend the state against external and internal challenges, provide economic security and seek what is most advantageous for the country and its citizens.

This quest for seeking what was in the interest of the country was not always an altogether autonomous endeavour. The second half of the twentieth century was a period of global transition in which states, confronted with trans-national challenges, yielded some sovereign prerogatives to larger, common, purposes. By the year 1992 Secretary General Boutros Ghali was able to conclude that the time of absolute and exclusive sovereignty had passed. He urged the member states of the United Nations ‘to find a balance between the need for good internal governance and the requirement of an evermore interdependent world’.

It must be admitted candidly here that the principle is easier to concede in theory than in practice. The reason lies in the gap between the theory and practice of governance and in the imperative of what has been conveniently taken under the rubric of ‘national interest’. As a result, we have subscribed to most international norms on the one hand but at times desisted from reading these into state policy and practice, on the other. The ‘disconnect’ becomes visible in times of stress on some of the core issues of governance.

Valid questions also arise about the determination and articulation of ‘national interest’. The difficulty of distinguishing between the sectional and transitory good, and the larger and longer term good, comes to the fore. So does our explicit commitments to norms of the global community and the need to reconcile them with the imperatives of nationalism and state sovereignty.

It is evident that global issues by definition respect no borders, by their complex nature overlap disciplines and, by sharing a common ecosystem, are all in some way interrelated. Globalisation is a set of processes principally driven by new technologies, new economic relationships and the national and international policies of a wide range of actors, including governments, international organizations, business and civil society.

Despite this, we do not naturally think in global, inter-disciplinary, multi-factored ways. Two benchmarks, however, tend to influence thinking and performance on this and related questions; the first relates to the benefits that accrue from global thinking, the second to the obligations arising out of it.

In recent years we have set for ourselves a set of national objectives and others, observing the direction of our progress, have delineated the levels of development likely to be achieved by the year 2040 or 2050. Alongside and on a shorter time span, we have subscribed to a set of objectives incorporated in the UN’s Millennium Development Goals for the year 2015. Both propel us, in different ways, to think globally. A scholar has rightly noted that ‘the structural conditions that gave rise to modern nationalism have changed’.

Four sets of broader considerations arising out of globalisation pose challenges to state actors and to the state-system in the international order:

First, political globalization is reflected in the reorientation of the international political order. Political legitimacy and credibility have been linked to observance of norms pertaining to governance, accountability, civil society and citizenry that have been enunciated. This is most vividly observed in the post-cold war agenda of the United Nations and particularly of the Security Council. The implementation of new norms of human rights and of humanitarian intervention is illustrative and instructive; so is the referral of cases to the International Criminal Court.

Second, economic globalization manifesting itself through increased economic openness, growing economic interdependence, and deepening economic integration in the world economy. These confer both benefits and obligations.

Third, cultural globalization in recent times has been characterized by de-territorialised global production, distribution and consumption of cultural forms and information. This has resulted in cultural products such as films, music and sports of nations garnering significant revenue from, and exerting cultural influence among, external territories or agents. The circumstances that have enabled the emergence of today’s league sports and the film industry and their peculiar global business models illustrate this point.

Fourth, a de-nationalisation of the state appears to be in progress. We increasingly encounter the role of supra-national and sub-national entities. On the one hand, there are global problems that transcend national borders in their origin and impact. Pandemics, climatic and environmental disasters and economic or financial crises fall in this category and seek global solutions through international consultation, cooperation, and enforcement. On the other hand, a great many questions are better addressed by side-stepping the state at local levels through civil society groups functioning as real and virtual global communities.

Each one of the above restrain the exercise of unbridled sovereignty internally and externally and thereby brings about behavioural modifications on the part of the nation-state.

Despite these, countervailing forces have also emerged. Globalization has produced a counter trend of resurgence of nationalism and of an emphasis on national and cultural identities. State actors have to contend with certain unhealthy trends emanating from this counter trend, towards a homogenising nationalism that flattens diversities, and has little respect for local cultures, value systems and ways of life.

As we enter the second decade of the Twenty First Century and the sixth decade of our Republic, a few questions come to mind:

How do our citizens view their role in the Indian state, in sub-national, provincial and local units, and in supra-national regional and international organizations?

Can accommodation of group rights, diversities, identities and status in a democratic state setup continue in a period of political or economic shock or crisis? Will common people, and their leaders, forsake an approach of multiculturalism for the assumed comfort of nationalism at the first sight of contraction of economic opportunity or political space?

How will the states-system deal with trans-national political, economic and cultural communities, especially when these are based on ethnicity, language, economic interest or political congruence?

Answers to these questions would have a bearing on the continuing debate about nationalism and internationalism. The Indian model, in fact, may be of increasing relevance to the outside world in some parts of which questions are being raised about the efficacy and desirability of a multicultural approach.

:-The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari

Banaras Hindu University

2011-03-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

. A university brings together the best mind of a generation. It is a place where enquiry is pushed forward and discoveries made. It induces informed speculation. It is therefore an appropriate forum for thinking about the future and the role in it of us as a people at a time when the country has taken meaningful steps towards a higher and inclusive economic and development orbit and is geared to empowering millions of our citizens to lead lives of dignity.

There can be, have been, other descriptions of the city and its inhabitants. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang testified to the religious, educational and cultural centrality of the city. Tavernier praises its buildings but did not approve of its narrow streets. The British orientalist Horace Wilson, quoted by Nirad Chaudhury, cited a Sanskrit couplet (true in equal measure of all centres of pilgrimage!) about the presence of religious vagabonds:

For those who are ignorant of the revealed scriptures and sacred traditions, and who have abandoned purity and proper conduct, and for those who have nowhere else to go, for them Benares is the refuge.

Even the timelessness of an ancient city does witness changes. The establishment of Banaras Hindu University in 1916 was one such event of seminal significance. The name and fame of the institution is in no need of commentary. Founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, for generations of Indians the University has come to represent the national spirit. It played a crucial role in the independence movement and has produced many great freedom fighters and builders of modern India.

This quest necessarily takes us to consider the domestic as well as the external environment that would shape the future.

Varanasi overwhelms

2011-03-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

“Varanasi overwhelms, and with good reason. The city of Lord Shiva, referred to in the Rigveda as Kashi or ‘the luminous one’, is a place of great antiquity as also of immense reverence. The poet, Asadullah Khan Ghalib who spent a month in the city around the year 1820, wrote a poem in Persian of one hundred and eight couplets in praise of it. A few of these are indicative of the perception:

Ta’aal Allah Banaras chashm-e-bad door

Bahisht-e-khurram o firdaus maa’moor

May God keep the evil eye away

From this heavenly meadow of joy

Ba Gangish aks partau fugan shud

Banaras khood nazeer-e-khaishtan shud

When its beauty is reflected in the water of Ganges

Banaras becomes witness to its own beauty

Varanasi : one of the most revered and pious cities of the world

2011-02-26T22:59:00.000-08:00

Varanasi is one of the most revered and pious cities of the world.It has such mystic charm that people from all across the world are drawn towards Varanasi again and again.This is the city which gives peace of mind to millions of people and they keep coming to it again and again.It is said who dies here gain instant Nirvana.So those who breathe last here are considered very fortunate.
The ancient name of Varanasi is "Benares" . It was named' Varanasi' on May 24, 1956 by the order of the Government of India. You will also found the Sarnath ,the place where the Lord Buddha gave his first sermon is just 12km from the Varanasi.

The Mystic Charm Of Varanasi !

2010-09-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

Varansi attracts tens of thousands of visitors every month.The city holds a special place among the devotees of Shiva.But it is of special significance for Jains and Buddhists.Sarnath is very close by.There is such a mystic charm about this city that those who are fortunate to visit once are drawn towards it again and again.

Ganga Action Plan at Varanasi approved

2010-06-15T22:41:00.001-07:00

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the proposal “JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) assisted Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-II project at Varanasi, U.P.” under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) programme at an estimated cost of Rs.496.90 crore. The project cost will be shared on 85:15 basis between the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, except for the component of Consulting Services, which will be borne entirely by the Government of India. The share of the Centre and the Government of U.P. in the project will be Rs.427.73 crore and Rs.69.17 crore respectively.

The project will have direct beneficial impact in terms of reduction of pollution load in the river Ganga in the region besides collateral benefits like irrigation by effluents from Sathwa Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), and employment opportunities particularly at the construction stage.

The project will also benefit the local population and large population of local and foreign tourists who visit Varanasi for its spiritual and cultural importance. It will also improve the aesthetics of the area. Biogas (methane) from STP will be used to generate electricity. This will not only be a non-conventional energy source but will also provide benefits in terms of reducing green house gas emissions.

2010-03-28T05:15:00.000-07:00

The Sakti Yoga Philosophy

In this system of Sakti Yoga philosophy, Siva is omnipresent, impersonal and inactive. He is pure consciousness. Sakti is dynamic. Siva and Sakti are related as Prakasa and Vimarsa. Sakti or Vimarsa is the power that is latent in the pure consciousness. Vimarsa gives rise to the world of distinctions. Siva is Chit, Sakti is Chidrupini. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva do their functions of creation, preservation and destruction in obedience to Sakti. Sakti is endowed with Ichha (will), Jnana (knowledge) and Kriya (action). Siva and Sakti are one. Sakti-Tattva and Siva-Tattva are inseparable. Siva is always with Sakti.
Siva-Tattva and Sakti-Tattva
The creative aspect of the Supreme Siva is called Siva-Tattva. Sakti-Tattva is the will of Siva. It is the seed and womb of the entire world.
Siva has two aspects. In one aspect, He is the supreme, changeless One who is Satchidananda. This is Para Samvit. Nishkala Siva is Nirguna Siva. He is not connected with the creative Sakti. In the other aspect, He changes as the world. The cause of the change is Siva-Tattva. Sakti-Tattva is the first dynamic aspect of Brahman. This Siva-Tattva and Sakti-Tattva are inseparable.
Sakti—The Ruler of Maya
Maya or Prakriti is within the womb of Sakti. Maya is the matrix of the world. Maya is potential in the state of dissolution. She is dynamic in creation. Maya evolves into several material elements and other physical parts of all sentient creatures, under the direction of Sakti.
There are thirty-six Tattvas or principles in the Sakti philosophy.
Sakti—The Active Aspect Of The Immanent God
The power or active aspect of the immanent God is Sakti. Siva or Brahman is the unchanging consciousness. Sakti is His changing Power which appears as mind and matter. Sakti is the embodiment of power. She runs this world-show. She maintains the sportive play or Lila of the Lord. She is the supporter of the vast universe. She is the supreme Power by which the world is upheld. She is the Universal Mother. She is Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Kali, Chandi, Chamundi, Tripurasundari and Rajarajesvari. She is Lalita, Kundalini and Parvati. There is no difference between God and His Sakti, just as there is no difference between fire and its burning power.
Devi is Sakti of Lord Siva. She is Jada Sakti and Chit Sakti. Prakriti is Jada Sakti. Suddha Maya is Chit Sakti. Nada, Bindu and the rest are only names for different aspects of Sakti. Sakti is Prakriti, Maya, Mahamaya and Sri Vidya. Sakti is Brahman Itself. Sakti manifested Herself to Lord Siva in the ten forms as the Dasa-Maha-Vidyas, viz., Kali, Bagalamukhi, Chhinnamasta, Bhuvanesvari, Matangi, Shodasi, Dhumavati, Tripurasundari, Tara and Bhairavi.
Sakti is Chidrupini. She is pure, blissful Consciousness. She is the Mother of Nature. She is Nature Itself. She is Jagat-Janani, Creatrix of the world; Mahishasura-mardini, destroyer of Mahishasura; Bhrantinasini, destroyer of illusion or Avidya; and Daridryanasini, destroyer of poverty.
The world is a manifestation of Sakti. The countless universes are only dust of Divine Mother’s holy feet. Her glory is ineffable. Her splendour is indescribable. Her greatness is unfathomable. She showers Her grace on Her sincere devotees. She leads the individual soul from Chakra to Chakra, from plane to plane, and unites him with Lord Siva in the Sahasrara.
Manifestations Of The Divine Mother
The Supreme Lord is represented as Siva and His power is represented as His consort—Sakti, Durga or Kali. Just as the husband and wife look after the well-being of the family, so also Lord Siva and His Sakti are engaged in looking after the affairs of this world.
Divine Mother is everywhere triple. She is endowed with the three Gunas, viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. She manifests Herself as Will (Ichha Sakti), Action (Kriya Sakti) and Knowledge (Jnana Sakti). She is Brahma-Sakti (Sarasvati) in conjunction with Brahma, Vishnu-Sakti (Lakshmi) in conjunction with Vishnu and Siva-Sakti (Gauri) in conjunction with Siva. Hence She is called Tripurasundari.
Radha, Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Savitri are the five primary forms of Prakriti or Devi. Durga destroyed Madhu and Kaitabha through Vishnu. As Mahalakshmi, She destroyed the Asura Mahisha; and as Sarasvati, she destroyed Sumbha and Nisumbha with their companions Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda and Raktabija.
The Abode Of The Divine Mother
The abode of Tripurasundari, the Divine Mother, is called Sri-Nagara. This magnificent abode known as Mani-Dvipa, is surrounded by twenty-five ramparts which represent the twenty-five Tattvas. The resplendent Chintamani Palace is in the middle. The Divine Mother sits in the Bindu-Pitha in Sri-Chakra in that wonderful palace. There is a similar abode for Her in the body of man also.
The body is Sakti. The needs of the body are the needs of Sakti. When man enjoys, it is Sakti who enjoys through him. She sees through his eyes, works through his hands and hears through his ears. Body, mind, Prana, egoism, intellect, organs, and all functions are Her manifestations.
The whole world is Her body. Mountains are Her bones. Rivers are Her veins. Ocean is Her bladder. Sun and moon are Her eyes. Wind is Her breath. Agni is Her mouth.
The Indescribable Glory Of Devi
The Story of the Yaksha
In the Kenopanishad, it is said that the gods became puffed up with a victory over the Asuras. They wrongly took the success to be the result of their own valour and powers. The Lord wanted to teach them a lesson. He appeared before them in the form of a Yaksha—a huge form, the beginning and end of which were not visible. The Devas wanted to find out the identity of this form and sent Agni for this purpose. The Yaksha asked Agni: “What is thy name and power?” Agni replied: “I am Agni, Jatavedas. I can burn up the whole universe in a minute.” The Yaksha placed before Agni a dry blade of grass and asked him to burn it. Agni was not able to burn it. He ran away from the Yaksha in shame. The gods then sent Vayu to enquire who he was. Vayu approached the Yaksha. The Yaksha asked Vayu: “Who are you? What is your power?” Vayu replied: “I am the wind-god. I can blow the whole world in a minute.” The Yaksha then placed a blade of grass before Vayu and challenged him to blow it away. Vayu could not make it move an inch from its place. He, too, left the place in shame. Last of all came Indra himself. When Indra reached the place, he found that the Yaksha vanished.
Then Uma appeared before Indra and revealed to him the real identity of the Yaksha. She said to Indra: “It is the power of the Divine Mother—and not that of the gods—that crowned the gods with victory. It is the Sakti of Uma or Haimavati, sister of Krishna, that is the source of the strength of all the gods.” Sakti is the great Teacher of Jnana. She sheds wisdom on Her devotees.
The Devi Behind the Gods
When Vishnu and Mahadeva destroyed various Asuras, the power of Devi was behind them. Devi took Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra and gave them the necessary Sakti to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. She is at the centre of the life of the universe. She is in the Muladhara Chakra in our bodies. She vitalises the body through the Sushumna. She vitalises the universe from the summit of Mount Meru.
The Mother That Protects
Sakti may be termed as that by which we live and have our being in this universe. In this world, all the wants of the child are provided by the mother. The child’s growth, development and sustenance are looked after by the mother. Even so, all the necessities of life, life’s activities in this world and the energy needed for it, depend upon Sakti or the Universal Mother.
The first syllable which a child or a quadruped utters is the name of the beloved mother. Is there any child who does not owe its all to the affection and love of its mother? It is the mother who protects you, consoles you, cheers you and nurses you. She is your friend, philosopher, preceptor and guide throughout your life. The human mother is a manifestation of the Universal Mother. All women are forms of the Divine Mother.
The Scriptures Of The Sakta School
The Devi-Sukta of the Rig-Veda, Sri-Sukta, Durga-Sukta, Bhu-Sukta and Nila-Sukta, and the specific Sakta Upanishads such as the Tripurasundari Upanishad, Sitopanishad, Devi Upanishad, Saubhagya Upanishad, Sarasvati Upanishad, Bhavanopanishad, Bahvrichopanishad, etc.—all emphatically declare the Mother-aspect of God.
Saktaism—A Universal Cult
He who worships Sakti, that is, God in Mother-form, as the Supreme Power which creates, sustains and withdraws the universe, is a Sakta.
Worship of Sakti, or Saktaism, is one of the oldest and most widespread religions in the world. Everybody in this world wants power and loves to possess power. He is elated by power. He wants to domineer over others through power. War is the outcome of greed for power. Scientists are followers of Saktaism. He who wishes to develop will-power and a charming personality is a follower of Saktaism. In reality, every man in this world is a follower of Saktaism.
Scientists say now that everything is energy only, and that energy is the physical ultimate of all forms of matter. The followers of the Sakta school of philosophy have said the same thing long ago. They further say that this energy is only a limited manifestation of the infinite Supreme Power or Maha Sakti.
Vedanta And Saktaism
The basis of Saktaism is the Veda. Saktaism upholds that the only source and authority (Pramana) regarding transcendental or supersensual matters such as the nature of Brahman, etc., is the Veda. Sakti Vada or Sakta Darsana is a form of monism or Advaita Vada. Saktaism is only Vedanta. The Saktas have the same spiritual experiences as those of a Vedantin.
Saktaism speaks of the personal and impersonal aspects of Godhead. Brahman is Nishkala or without Prakriti, and Sakala or with Prakriti. The Vedantins speak of Nirupadhika Brahman (pure Nirguna Brahman without Maya), and Sopadhika Brahman (with Upadhi or Maya) or Saguna Brahman. It is all the same. Names only are different. It is a play of words or Sabda Jala. People fight on words only and carry on lingual warfare, hair-splitting, logical chopping and intellectual gymnastics. In reality, the essence is One. Clay only is truth; all modifications such as pot, etc., are in name only. In Nirguna Brahman, Sakti is potential; whereas, in Saguna Brahman, Sakti is dynamic.
Sakti-Yoga Sadhana
Saktaism is not mere theory or philosophy. It prescribes systematic Sadhana of Yoga, regular discipline according to the temperament, capacity and degree of evolution of the Sadhaka. Sadhana means unfolding, rousing up or awakening of the power of Sakti. Saktaism helps the aspirant to arouse the Kundalini and unite Her with Lord Siva and to enjoy the supreme bliss or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. A Sakta does Sadhana which helps the union of Siva and Sakti through the awakening of the forces within the body. He becomes a Siddha in the Sadhana when he is able to awaken Kundalini and pierce the six Chakras. The mode of Sadhana depends upon the tendencies and capacities of the Sadhaka.
Bhava or Attitude
The aspirant thinks that the world is identical with the Divine Mother. He moves about thinking his own form to be the form of the Divine Mother and thus beholds oneness everywhere. He also feels that the Divine Mother is identical with Brahman.
The advanced Sadhaka feels: “I am the Devi and the Devi is in Me.” He worships himself as Devi instead of adoring any external object. He says: “Saham—I am She (Devi).”
The Awakening of Kundalini
The Sakti must be awakened by Dhyana, Bhava, Japa and Mantra Sakti. The Mother, the embodiment of the fifty letters, is present in the various letters in the different Chakras. When the chords of a musical instrument are struck harmoniously, fine music is produced. Even so, when the chords of the letters are struck in their order, the Mother who moves in the six Chakras and who is the very Self of the letters, awakens Herself. The Sadhaka attains Siddhi easily when She is roused. It is difficult to say when and how She shows Herself, and to what Sadhaka.
When Kundalini sleeps, man is awake to the world. He has objective consciousness. When She awakes, he sleeps. He loses all consciousness of the world and becomes one with the Lord. In Samadhi, the body is maintained by the nectar which flows from the union of Siva and Sakti in the Sahasrara.
Pasu Bhava and Divya Bhava
Physical contact with a female is gross Maithuna. This is due to Pasu-Bhava or animal attraction or brutal instinct. Mother Kundalini Sakti unites with Lord Siva in the Sahasrara during Nirvikalpa Samadhi. This is real Maithuna or blissful union. This is due to Divya-Bhava or divine disposition. You must rise from Pasu-Bhava to Divya-Bhava through Satsanga, service of Guru, renunciation, dispassion, discrimination, Japa and meditation.
Indispensability of Guru’s Guidance and Mother’s Grace
Sakti Yoga Sadhana is to be practised in a perfect, practical way under the guidance of a Guru who has become perfect. Guru is indispensable for the practice of Sakti Yoga Sadhana. He initiates the aspirant and transmits the divine Sakti.
No one can free himself from the thraldom of mind and matter without Mother’s grace. The fetters of Maya are too hard to break. If you worship Her as the great Mother, you can very easily go beyond Prakriti through Her benign grace and blessings. She will remove all obstacles in the path, lead you safely into the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, and make you absolutely free. When She is pleased and bestows Her blessings on you, then alone you can free yourself from the bondage of this formidable Samsara.
Knowledge of Sakti Leads to Salvation
Knowledge of Sakti leads to salvation. “Sakti-Jnanam Vina Devi Nirvanam Naiva Jayate—O Devi! Without the knowledge of Sakti, Mukti cannot be attained”—says Siva to Devi. The Jiva or the individual soul thinks, when he is under the influence of Maya, that he is the doer and the enjoyer and identifies himself with the body. Through the grace of Sakti and through Sadhana or self-culture, the individual soul frees himself from all fetters and attains spiritual insight and merges himself in the Supreme.
Worship of the Divine Mother, intense faith and perfect devotion and self-surrender, will help you to attain Her grace. Through Her grace alone you can attain Knowledge of the Imperishable.
Glory to Sri Tripurasundari, the World-Mother, who is also Rajarajesvari and Lalita-Devi. May Her blessings be upon you all. May you all obtain the grace of Sakti, the Universal Mother and enjoy the supreme bliss of final emancipation.

Dr.M.Veerappa Moily gets Moortidevi Award for Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam

2010-03-19T00:46:00.001-07:00

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India presented the prestigious Moortidevi Award of Bharatiya Jnanpith to Dr.M.Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice for his outstanding work on Shri Ramayan Mahanveshanam. Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Patil said that the youth are destined to play a major role in taking India forward, and making it a developed nation. She said that literature has a social responsibility in nurturing “the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of their personality and also inculcate the right values in them. It can have an inspirational influence when it profiles issues which make our youth conscious, that a life without virtue is like a flower without fragrance.” Smt. Patil stressed on the importance of literature in bringing harmony to society and strengthening national unity.

in reference to: Arts And Crafts Of India (view on Google Sidewiki)

Holy Festival of Navratra begins today

2010-03-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

The Navratri puja begins today. A large number of devotees have reached in Vindhyachal to worship goddess Vindhyawasini.

The Puja begins from midnight with Kalash ceremony and the long que of devotees at the main temple site waiting for their turn.

The Mirzapur administration has made elaborate arrangements for devotees reaching here. The Vindhyachal area has been dived into 8 zones for arrangements.

This navratri also known as chaitra Navr

Varanasi:One of the oldest living cities of the world,

2010-03-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities of the world, is situated on the north bank of Ganga and is located midway between Delhi and Calcutta. it is known as the religious and cultural capital of India. Its known history dates back to about 3500 hundred years, during which it has continuously been populated. However, Hindus believe that the city is eternal. Varanasi has also been known as Kashi and Benares, but its present name is restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers - the Varuna and Asi. For the pious Hindu the city has always had a special place.

Varanasi is one of the largest cities in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Products of the city include shawls, saris, gold-embroidered cloth, hand-hammered brassware, and heavy gold and silver jewellery. Varanasi is especially known for its fine silk fabrics. It is also home to the Diesel Locomotive Works of Indian Railways, one of the largest locomotive manufacturing plants in the World.

The Ganges or the Ganga River is one of the greatest attractions of Varanasi. Devout Hindus make pilgrimages from all parts of India to bathe in the Ganges, whose water they believe to be sacred. Along the river, stairways have been set-up, known as ghats, from which people can bathe before saying their daily prayers. Every year, over a million pilgrims visit the city. Varanasi is also known for its large temples and its monasteries and palaces.

The city is also a seat of learning. It has several universities and colleges teaching varied subjects from engineering and medicine to dance and music. Banaras Hindu University, a university of world repute, is situated here.

Sarnath, the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, is just a few kilometers away. The Stupa, a Buddhist Monument, erected by King Ashok in the third century BC is still a major attraction for Buddhist Pilgrims from all over the world.

The Rajghat Besant School

2010-01-18T21:59:00.000-08:00

The Rajghat Besant School run by Krishnamurti Foundation India was founded in 1934. The Krishnamurti Foundation India was originally established in 1928 as a charitable institution, registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 by Shri J. Krishnamurti, the World Teacher and Dr. Annie Besant a personality of international fame in the name of Rishi Valley Trust.

The name was changed to the Foundation for New Education in 1953 and to Krishnamurti Foundation India in 1970. The school has established a number of schools in India and the Rajghat Besant School is one of them. Every school is associated with a Study Center established in the same campus. The intention of establishing these schools is to create in the young children not only an excellent academic capability but also to make them aware of the teachings of Krishnamurti.

This may be possible in an atmosphere of natural beauty, care and affection offered to children through people who are deeply and fully dedicated to the teachings.

The school is run on no profit or loss basis. All the expenses are met through the fees paid by students. The fees structure is so designed that it takes care of all the expenses of the school which include salaries, mess expenses, teaching expenses, and maintenance & establishment expenses.

The RBS is a fully residential co-educational, English-medium school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. It has about 350 students ranging in age from 6 to 18 years, residing in twelve different houses spread over the campus.

There are nearly fifty teachers of whom twenty-five also function as House-Parents and live with the students in the hostels. The classes range from Grade II to Grade XII, with about twenty five students in a class. The overall ratio of staff to students in the school is 1:7, and there is one house parent for every fifteen children.

The school offers a range of extra-curricular activities, like games and sports, yoga, gymnastics, art, music, dance, gardening, computers and literary skills, in all of which students can participate according to their aptitude

Varanasi: The oldest living cities in the world

2010-01-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world, with a continuous history dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years. Today, it retains much of the alure of the ancient world. The center of the Hindu world, Varanasi touts an unrivaled diversity and a unique sense that can be experienced nowhere else.

OBJECTIVES OF BANARS HINDU UNIVERSITY

2009-12-17T23:12:00.000-08:00

(i) To promote the study of the Hindu Shastras and of Sanskrit literature as means of preserving and popularizing the best thought and culture of the Hindus and all that was good and great .

(ii) To promote learning and research in arts and science in all branches.

(iii) To advance and diffuse such scientific ,technical and professional knowledge as is best calculated to help in promoting indigenous industries and in developing the material resources of the country.

(iv) To promote the building up of character in youth, by making religion and ethics an integral part of education.

School of Management Sciences, Varanasi

2009-12-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Business India Survey constantly rated SMS amongst the top B-School by elevating its rank to A+ since 2001. The first B-SCHOOL in this part of the country to have such an honor. Started PGDM program approved by AICTE with HR, MARKETING AND FINANCE specialization in 1995. Started PGDM (International Business) and PGDM (Insurance and Risk Management) program approved by AICTE in 2006. Started PGDM (Retail Management) program approved by AICTE in 2007. Started MCA program approved by AICTE in 1997. MCA program affiliated to UP Technical university in 2001. Total PG Management Students trained/being trained 1300. Total MCA students trained/being trained 600. Average Placement Percentage 90% since inception.

Mystic Charm Of Varanasi

2009-12-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

Varanasi is said to be the oldest city of the world.Millions of people visit this city every year and most of them repeat the journey because they are attracted by its mystic charm and the peace of mind they experience there.Even non religious person accept that they feel calm once into this city which is very puzzling for many.Those who have never been to this city would not be able to comprehend this but millions of foreigners and Indians are absolutely sure about that.

GNAGA ARTI. VARANASHI. INDIA

2009-11-28T01:14:00.000-08:00

Banaras :The most visited pilgrimage destination in all of India.

2009-11-18T02:56:00.000-08:00

Banaras is the most visited pilgrimage destination in all of India. One of the seven Holy Cities, one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites and also a Shakti Pitha site, it is the most favored place for Hindus to die and be cremated. Myths and hymns speak of the waters of the Ganges as the fluid medium of Shiva's divine essence and a bath in the river is believed to wash away all of one's sins. The particular river-side location of Banaras is considered especially potent because, in less than six miles (ten kilometers), the Ganges is met by two other rivers, the Asi and the Varana. Commenting of this specific location of Banaras along the river Ganges, the Hindu scripture Tristhalisetu explains that,

There whatever is sacrificed, chanted, given in charity, or suffered in penance, even in the smallest amount, yields endless fruit because of the power of that place. Whatever fruit is said to accrue from many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism, even more than that is obtainable from but three nights of fasting in this place.

Known in different eras as Avimukta, Varanasi and Kashi, meaning “where the supreme light shines”, this great north Indian center of Shiva worship has had more than 3000 years of continuous habitation. Few standing buildings are older than the 16th century, however, as Muslim armies raiding from the 11th century onward destroyed the ancient Hindu temples and erected mosques on their foundations. Qutbuddin Aibak's armies were said to have destroyed more than a thousand temples in 1194, and Shan Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal, had seventy-six temples demolished. The city's primary Shiva shrine, the Jyotir Linga Visvanatha or ‘Golden Temple’, was rebuilt in 1776 across the road from its original location (now occupied by the Jnana Vapi mosque). Adjacent to this mosque is the Jnana Vapi well, the ritual center and axis mundi of Banaras. The Jnana Vapi, or Well of Wisdom, is said to have been dug by Shiva himself, and its waters carry the liquid form of jhana, the light of wisdom. The imposing Alamgir mosque stands on the site of another of Kashi's most ancient and sacred shrines, the temple of Bindu Madhava.

In Hindu Kashi, it is said there are thirty-three hundred million shrines and a half a million images of the deities. Since a pilgrim would need all the years of his or her life to visit each of these shrines, it is considered wise to come to the holy city and never again leave. While this enormous number of shrines is perhaps a trifle exaggerated, Kashi does indeed have many hundreds of beautiful temples. Some of these temples are named after the great tirthas, or pilgrimage centers, in other parts of India - Rameshvaram, Dwarka, Puri, and Kanchipuram, for example - and it is said that merely by visiting Kashi one automatically gains the benefit of visiting all other sacred places. Most pilgrims make only short visits of days or weeks to Kashi yet others come to spend their remaining years in the holy city. Those who come to live in Kashi with the intention of dying there are called jivan muktas meaning those who ‘are liberated while still alive’.

Kashi is also traditionally called Mahashamshana, ‘the great cremation ground’. Hindus believe that cremation at the holy city insures moksha, or final liberation of the soul from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Because of this belief, dying persons and dead bodies from far-off places are brought to Kashi for cremation at the Manikarnika and other cremation sites (five principal and eighty-eight minor cremation/bathing sites lie along the Ganges). In her book, Banaras: City of Light, Diana Eck writes:

"Death in Kashi is not a feared death, for here the ordinary God of Death, frightful Yama, has no jurisdiction. Death in Kashi is death known and faced, transformed and transcended."

Encircling the holy city at a radius of five miles is the sacred path known as the Panchakroshi Parikrama. Pilgrims take five days to circumambulate Kashi on this fifty-mile path, visiting 108 shrines along the way. If one is unable to walk the entire path a visit to the Panchakroshi Temple will suffice. By walking round the sanctuary of this shrine, with its 108 wall reliefs of the temples along the sacred way, the pilgrim makes a symbolic journey around the sacred city. Another important Banaras pilgrimage route is the Nagara Pradakshina, which takes two days to complete and has seventy-two shrines.

Today, a crowded, bustling, noisy and dirty city, Banaras was in antiquity an area of gently rolling hills, lush forests, and natural springs bordered by the magical waters of the river Ganges. A favored hermitage site for many of India's most venerated sages - Guatama Buddha and Mahavira, Kabir and Tulsi Das, Shankaracharaya, Ramanuja and Patanjal all meditated here - Banaras has been and continues to be one of the most visited holy places on the planet. First-time visitors to Banaras may find themselves initially overwhelmed by the sensory stimulation of the place, yet just beneath this facade is an equally intense presence of immense peacefulness and spiritual wisdom.

VARANASI- Uttar Pradesh-INDIA

2009-08-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

VARANASI: Varanasi also known as Benaras is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India.Situated on the banks of sacred river Ganges, Varanasi has been a centre of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years.Besides being a pilgrimage centre,it is considered as an auspicious place to die, ensuring an instant route to Heaven Apart from Hinduism it is also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists as it was at Sarnath (10 km from Varanasi), Lord Buddha gave his Ist sermon after enlightment. It is the only city in Asia with three Universities.

Area :	73.89 Sq Kms
Temperature	Summer Max : 46 C, Minimum 32 C Winter Max : 15 C, Minimum 05 C
Distance	It is 565 Kms from Agra ,Allahabad 122, Delhi 765 Kms, Khajuraho 406 Kms, Calcutta 677 Kms, Gaya 246 Kms, Gorakhpur 225 Kms, Kanpur 315 Kms, Patna 246 Kms.
Altitude	81 Metres.
Getting There By Air By Rail	Varanasi is an International Airport and has flights to Kathmandu. Indian Airlines connects Varanasi with Delhi , Mumbai , Agra , Lucknow , Khajuraho . Varanasi has Trains to all major cities of India through Mughal Sarai.
Places to visit	Bharat Mata Mandir, Benares Hindu University, New Vishwanath Temple, Durga Temple, Ramnagar Fort, Sarnath.
Places to Stay	5 Star : Taj Ganges, Clarks 4 Star : Hindustan International,Varanasi Ashok 3 Star : Ideal Best Western, Pallavi International

Varanasi : the oldest surviving city of the world and the cultural capital of India.

2009-08-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Varanasi is the oldest surviving city of the world and the cultural capital of India. It is in the heart of this city that there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in which is enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Here gravitate the teeming millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual peace by the darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondages of maya and the inexorable entanglements of the world. A simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and bhakti. Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga has a very special and unique significance in the spiritual history of India. Tradition has it that the merits earned by the darshan of other jyotirlinga scattered in various parts of India accrue to devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Deeply and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living embodiment of our timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values. The Temple has been visited by all great saints- Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak and several other spiritual personalities. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts visitors not only from India but abroad as well and thereby symbolises man's desire to live in peace send harmony with one another. Vishwanath being a supreme repository of this spiritual truth thus strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood and fellow feeling at the national as well as global levels. On January 28, 1983 the temple was taken over by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and it's management ever since stands entrusted to a Trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi Naresh, as president and an Executive Committee with Divisional Commissioner as Chairman. The Temple in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year 1785 a Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple by the then Collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings. In 1839, Two domes of the Temple were covered by gold donated by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Third dome still remains uncovered, Ministry of culture & Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. is taking keen interest for gold plating of third dome of Temple.

Varanasi, Benaras,Or Kashi:

2008-08-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Varanasi, or Benaras, also known as Kashi, is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Mark Twain, the English author and literature,who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote : "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together" . According to the ‘Vamana Purana’, the Varuna and the Assi rivers originated from the body of the primordial Person at the beginning of time itself. The tract of land lying between them is believed to be ‘Varanasi’, the holiest of all pilgrimages.

Importance of Banaras in India

2008-08-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

1. Importance of Banaras in India and especially for Hindus; various aspects of Banaras, its many names and what makes it the cultural capital of India.

2. Archaeology, Mythology, Geography, and History of Banaras- its unique situation on Ganges, and its journey through the history of India, and quest to know what makes it oldest living city.
3. Religious Varanasi- Many religions, place and types of worship, a religious place and institutions. You will find that even Primitive worship cults are still practiced in this city. Discover the city of Buddha, Jain Tirthankars, Shaiva and Vaishnava saints or Devoted saints like Kabir and Tulsi.
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Ghats Of Varanasi

ASSI GHAT:
Assi Ghat an important ghat of Varanasi traditionally constitutes the southern end of conventional city. Numerous References about this ghat are found in early literature Particulalry in matsypurana, again purana, kurma purana, padma purana and kashi khanda. According to a belief goddess Durga after slaining demon Shumbha- Nishumbha had thrown her sword. The place, where sword (Khadga) had fallen resulted in flowing of big stream known as asi river. The on confuewce place of river Ganga and Asi known as Asi or Assi ghat. In Kashi Khand it is referred as Asi "Saimbeda Tirtha" one gets punaya of all the Tirthas ( religious places) by taking a dip here. Infact this ghats was extended from Assi to Bhaidaini ghata ealier . In Gaharwal Danpatra(11th 12th cent.) reference of Lolark ghat is given As famous Aditya Pitha (place of sun worksing).During 16th , 17th Cent. .A.D.Sant Tulasi Das has written Ramcharitmanas here, After 19th Cent.A.D.Asi Ghat was divided in five Ghats i.e.Asi, Gangamahal (First) Rewan, Tulasi and Bhadaini. Followers of Hindu relegions , take sacred dip here, particularly in Chaitya (March/ April) and Magh (Jan/Feb.). Other important occasion are soler/ lumar eclipse, Ganga Dashahra. Probodhoni Ekadashi, Makar Shankranti, etc.

2. GANGA MAHAL GHAT(I):
Ganga Mahal Ghat is named after a palation building of ex. Maharaja of Banaras to wards the northern end of Asi ghat. Infact Ghat has a little cultural significance except the Beautiful carvings depiction the Rajput and local architectural grandeur of 16th cent. A.D. However the palace was built in the first half of 20th cent. A.D. Read More....

VARANASI : THE ETERNAL CITY

2008-08-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

The holy city of Varanasi, known as the city of temples and learning , is a place of great historical and cultural importance. This religious capital of India is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges and is presided over by Lord Shiva. It is the heart of India and an epitome of the synthesis of cultures, religions and races. The river-front of the city is decorated by hundreds of well built ghats which is a unique feature. The holy Buddhist place, Sarnath is in its precincts . Varanasi is the premiere most place of oriental learning. Simultaneously it is keeping pace with modern advanced knowledge. It has three universities .one Tibetan Institute and an Institute of Arabic Studies.Read More..

Jyotirlinga Shrines

Varanasi - Benares - Kaasi is considered to be the holiest of all pilgrimage sites in India. It is considered home to Shiva - Visweswara. Benares is also known as Kaasi because it is beleived that Supreme brilliance shines there, and lights the way to salvation (Kas - to shine). Varanasi is located between two rivers Varana and Asi, and hence the name Varanasi.
This place is said to give the greatest delight to God and hence the name Anandakanana; the five elements lie in this great cremation ground as will all dead bodies at the time of the final deluge and hence the name Mahasmasaanam.Read More...

Developmental Plan For Varanasi

2008-05-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh interacted with many delegations from the city of Varanasi, including a delegation of weavers led by Dr. R.K. Mishra, MP. The Prime Minister mentioned that the following issues would be pursued by the Government soon for the benefit of the people of Varanasi and weavers of Varanasi. Decisions on these would be taken soon.
1. Public Transport for Varanasi – Varanasi is a major city and deserves top class public transport. Varanasi is included in the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Under the JNNURM, the Central Government would be willing to fund a major public transport project for Varanasi. Adequate funds would be provided to enable Varanasi to have a modern transport system in keeping with its importance as a Heritage City. The State Government will be requested to forward a project to Government of India and a decision will be taken on this proposal favourably. The Government of India will provide all possible support for preparing the project.
2. Heritage Development of Varanasi – Varanasi is one of the few cities included in JNNURM, which have an ancient heritage value. The Ministry of Tourism also has taken up Varanasi under its Mega Projects Scheme for tourism development. Budget-2008 also has a provision for tax concessions to hotels in districts with heritage monuments. The State Government would be requested to form a Group of Experts to prepare a Heritage Development Plan for Varanasi which would be funded from the JNNURM and other sources.
3. Development of a Mega Cluster for Silk Weavers – Varanasi is one of the six locations chosen for infrastructure development under the Mega Cluster Scheme announced in Budget 2008. Under this, Rs. 70 crores will be provided to Varanasi to improve the infrastructural facilities for weavers through better storage facilities, weaving facilities, production facilities, health facilities, training and design facilities, etc.
4. Health Insurance for Weavers – Over one lakh weavers from Varanasi are being covered under the weavers’ health insurance scheme. There are also a large number of powerloom workers. They could be covered under the Rashtriya Swastiya Bima Yojana, to be launched on 1st April 2008. We will work with the State Government on this. 5. Payment of overdue electricity bills – The Prime Minister is aware of the problems being faced by weavers on account of overdue electricity bills. The government is working to see how relief could be provided to weavers from the burden of past electricity bills.

MUNSHI PREMCHAND : THE GREAT NOVELIST

2008-05-25T03:01:00.000-07:00

A pioneer of modern Hindi and Urdu social fiction, Munshi Premchand’s real name was Dhanpat Rai. He wrote nearly 300 stories and novels. Among his best known novels are: Sevasadan, Rangmanch, Gaban, Nirmala and Godan. Much of Premchand’s best work is to be found among his 250 or so short stories, collected in Hindi under the title Manasarovar.Three of his novels have been made into films.Premchand’s literary career started as a freelancer in Urdu.
He was born at Lamahi near Banaras (now Varanasi) on 31st July,1880. His father Munshi Ajaib Lal was a clerk in the postal department. Premchand’s early education was in a madarsa under a maulvi, where he learnt Urdu. Premchand was only eight years old when his mother died. His grandmother took the responsibility of raising him but she too died soon. He was married when he was 15 and in the 9th grade . His father also died and after passing the intermediate he had to stop his study. He got a job as a teacher in the primary school. In 1919, he passed his B.A., with English, Persian and History. After a series of promotions he became Deputy Inspectors of Schools. In response to Mahatma Gandhi’s call of non-cooperation with the British he quit his job. After that he devoted his full attention to writing. His first story appeared in the magazine Zamana published from Kanpur.In his early short stories he depicted the patriotic upsurge that was sweeping the land in the first decade of the past century. Soz-e-Watan, a collection of patriotic stories published by Premchand in 1907, attracted the attention of the British Government In 1914, when Premchand switched over to Hindi, he had already established his reputation as a fiction writer in Urdu. While writing Urdu novels and short stories he emphasised in presenting the realities of life and he made the Indian villages his theme of writing. His novels describe the problems of the urban middle-class and the country’s villages and their problems. He also emphasised on the Hindu-Muslim unity. His famous works include Godan, Maidan-e-Amal, Bay-wah, Chaugaan etc.It would not be wrong to say that Premchand was the Father of Urdu short- stories. Short stories or afsanas were started by Premchand. As with his novels, his afsanas also mirror the society that he lived in. With a simple and flowing writing some of his works depict excellent use of satire and humour. His later works used very simple words and he started including Hindi words too to honestly potray his characters. His famous afsanas are Qaatil Ki Maan, Zewar Ka Dibba, Gilli Danda, Eidgaah, Namak Ka Daroga and Kafan. His collected stories have been published as Prem Pachisi, Prem Battisi, Wardaat and Zaad-e-Raah.
Premchand was the first Hindi author to introduce realism in his writings. He pioneered the new form - fiction with a social purpose.He supplemented Gandhiji’s work in the political and social fields by adopting his revolutionary ideas as themes for his literary writings.
Besides being a great novelist,Premchand was also a social reformer and thinker.His greatness lies in the fact that his writings embody social purpose and social criticism rather than mere entertainment. Literature according to him is a powerful means of educating public opinion.He believed in social evolution and his ideal was equal opportunities for all.Premchand died in 1936 and has since been studied both in India and abroad as one of the greatest writers of the century.

A Word Of Caution For Tourists

2008-05-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

To all tourist - beware of touts, if, new to the place. On the Ghats there are many posing as 'Pundits', these people try to extract money from the devotees who come on the the banks to perform religious ceremonies. While going around the city it is better to fix the fare in the rickshaw and auto before hand as these small vehicles are without fare meters. The drivers have a tendency to overcharge and take the commuter for a ride so it is advisable that get prior information and the route before hiring any vehicle.In Varanasi there is a trend is that the agents come in between the buyers and sellers of handicraft items. Do not fall in the traps of these agents. In the temple incidents of snatching and pickpocketing have been common. Keep your valuables in the hotel. While visiting the Kashi Viswanath temple / mosque make sure that you are not carrying any arms or ammunitions as the security arrangements in this place is very strict.

Climate in Varanasi

2008-05-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

Varanasi has a extreme type of climate. Located besides the Ganges Varanasi can be difficult place to visit during the summers. Summers are very hot and temperatures shoot upto 46 degrees and winter can be cold with mercury dipping down to 5 degrees. This place can be a really bad during the rainy seasons and is advisable not to visit Varanasi during monsoons. The best season to visit Varanasi during September to March.

Shopping in Varanasi

2008-05-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

Varanasi or Banaras, since ages has been famous for the handicraft items. The delicate and intricate work on the sarees, carpets, wooden works are unmatched. The famous Banarasi Silk Sarees and Brocades are every women's dream.The local silk weavers produce the silk which are in demand not only in India but across the world these silk items are in great demand. The Bhadohi carpets can match the delicacy of weaving in any part of the world. Banaras has been famous for the 'Gharanas' in the Classical Music and Singing. These styles of singing and music have been amply supported by the musical instruments which are manufactured in Varanasi.Apart from the Silk Sarees, Brocades and Carpets Banaras also offers you Brassware, copperware, Ivoryware, stone inlay work, Glass beads and bangles, wood and clay toys, Zari work and exquisite gold jewellery. The main shopping areas of the city are the City chowk, Godoulia, Vishwanath lane, Gyan Vapi, Thatheri Baazar, Dasashvamedh, Goldhar and Lahurabir. The Emporia and Souvenir shops approved by the UP tourism are good place to look for genuine and good stuff too purchase.

Excursions of Varanasi

2008-05-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

Chunar Chunargarh of 'Chandrakanta', the classic novel by Babu Devakinandan Khatri is 40 kms from the city of Varanasi. Today the place is known as Chunar. Along one of the meanders of Ganges, where the Kaimur Hills are taking a North face, are built the imposing fort of Chunar. § SarnathAbout ten kms from Varanasi, is the place where lord Buddha after enlightenment gave his first sermon or as the Buddhist say set the wheel of dharma or law rolling. Today Sarnath is considered as one of the richest place to have antiques since the Ashoka period to the 12th century. Suggested reading on the Buddhist places in Uttar Pradesh. § JaunpurIn 1360 Feroz Shah built this town to guard the eastern side of his Delhi sultanate. Jaunpur is located 65 kms from Varanasi. Jaunpur is bisected by the river Gomti and the two sides are connected by the massive Akbari Bridge. This bridge was designed by an Afghan and was built in the 16th century. The fifteen stone arches of the bridge have withstood earthquakes and floods. On the southern end of the bridge is the sculptures of a lion tussling with an elephant. This marked the provincial milestone. Other places to visit in Jaunpur are Sheetla Chowkia Dham, Yamdagni Ashram, Atla Mosque and Char Anguli ki Masjid. § Vindhyachal There are many Shaktipeeths in India. These are the places where the Goddess of power is said to be residing and people worship her viz- Goddess Durga. Vindhyachal is one of such peeths or abode of Shakti. The place is 90 kms from Varanasi. The temples of Vindhyavasini Devi, Asthbhuja and Kalikhoh are a must visit here.§ KaushambiThe mention of this town can be seen in the Mahabharata. It is said that the Pandav brothers lived here. Budhha visited this place many times and the gave sermons after his enlightenment in 6th and 9th century. Kaushambi developed as a major center for Buddhism. The ruins of an old fort tells the saga of the towns antiquity. Kaushambi is 185 kms from Varanasi. § Chandra Prabha Wildlife SanctuaryEstablished in 1997,Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, a small sanctuary sprawling over an area of 78 sq. kms, is located on Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks in Vindhya forest range, in Chandauli district§ Kaimoor Wildlife SanctuaryKaimoor sanctuary, located on the Uttar Pradesh - Bihar border, is spread over an area of 500 sq. kms.

VARANASI : THE ETERNAL CITY

2008-05-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

The holy city of Varanasi, known as the city of temples and learning , is a place of great historical and cultural importance. This religious capital of India is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges and is presided over by Lord Shiva. It is the heart of India and an epitome of the synthesis of cultures, religions and races. The river-front of the city is decorated by hundreds of well built ghats which is a unique feature. The holy Buddhist place, Sarnath is in its precincts . Varanasi is the premiere most place of oriental learning. Simultaneously it is keeping pace with modern advanced knowledge. It has three universities .one Tibetan Institute and an Institute of Arabic Studies. The city is reputed for silk fabrics, perfumes, artistic brass and copper wares and a variety of handicrafts. It is an important centre of literature, art and culture. It has produced great poets. writers, musicians and scholars. This vibrant city of joy knowledge and liberation has a magnetic attraction for people all over the world.

GETTING AROUND

Varanasi is well connected both by air and rail with all the important places of India . Its distance from Delhi is about 700 Kms. The Railway Station is about 10Kms. and the airport about 32 Kms. from the University. The city is relatively free from the menace of pollution. Its weather varies from 400 C in summer (May-June) to 50 C in winter (December-January). During the major part of the year the city has a temperate climate The city is very hospitable. It has a large number of 4 and 3 Star hotels and moderately cheap lodgings.All kinds of food are available here..

HOW TO GET THERE

Varanasi is well connected by air, rail and road.

AirRegular service connects Varanasi with cities as Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Bombay, Bhubaneswar and Katmandu. Varanasi is on several Indian Airlines flights including the popular daily tourist shuttle Delhi/Agra/Khajuraho/Varanasi and back. Sahara Airlines also has flights to Calcutta, Mumbai and Lucknow. Jet Airways operates flights to Delhi and Khajuraho. The airport at Babatpur is about 22 km away from the city.

RailVaranasi is major rail junction. Several trains a day come to Varanasi from both Kolkata and Delhi. The city is linked by trains with all metros and major cities across the country - New Delhi (760 Kms), Mumbai (1509 Kms), Calcutta (735 Kms), Madras (1970 Kms), Lucknow (286 Kms), Allahabad, Patna, Jaipur, Gorakhpur and Khajuraho.. There are not many trains running directly between here and Delhi or Calcutta but most Delhi to Calcutta trains do pass through Mughal Sarai, 18 km south of Varanasi.

RoadVaranasi is connected with Calcutta (677 Kms.), Delhi (765 Kms.), Madras (1901 Kms.), Bangalore (1763 Kms.) Varanasi is very well connected by a network of roads and road transport to all major towns of Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas.There are buses running from Varanasi to Jaunpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Faizabad, and Gorakhpur.

Ghats

The city's life revolves around its seven km long sweep of about 100 bathing ghats that skirt the west bank of the Ganges. Most of them are used for bathing. Some are used for cremating bodies. The most sacred ghats are the Asi, Dasashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika and Panchganga. Pilgrims who bathe in each one consecutively believe their prayers will be fulfilled. A short boat trip from Manikarnika Ghat can be an interesting introduction to the river. It is believed that cremation at Manikarnika ghat ensures a safe place in Heaven, as the cremators of this ghat are believed to have the patronage of Shiva. The furthermost upstream ghat is Assi Ghat, which marks the confluence of the Ganges and the Assi rivers. It is said that after striking down demon Shumbha and nishumbha, Durga's sword fell and created a curved ditch, which later became the Assi Channel. This Ghat is one of the five special ghats which pilgrims are supposed to bathe at in sequence during the ritual route called ' Panchatirthi Yatra' ending in the Adikeshva ghat in the north. Nearby is the Tulsi Ghat, where Goswami Tulsidas lived till his death in 1623A.D. The Bachra Ghat is used by Jains and there are three riverbank Jain Temples. The Dandi Ghat is used by fakirs , yogis and ascetics and nearby is the very popular Hanuman Ghat. Dashashvamedh Ghat, Varanasi's liveliest bathing place was constructed by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It's name indicates that Brahma sacrificed (medh) 10 (das) horses (aswa) here. It's one of the most important ghats and is conveniently central. Nearby is the grand Man Mandir Ghat (1637) and an observatory both built by Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1710. Mir Ghat leads to a Nepalese temple, which has erotic sculptures. Dattatreya Ghat bears the footprint of the Brahmin saint of that name in a small temple nearby. The Ram Ghat was built by the Raja of Jaipur. Panchaganga Ghat, where India's five holy rivers are said to merge. The Trilochan Ghat has two turrets emerging from the river, and the water between them is especially holy. Another important cremation ghat is the Hirishchandra ghat, named after the king Harishchandra who worked as a cremator at the cremation grounds.

The best time to visit the ghats is at dawn when the river is bathed in a magical light and pilgrims come to perform puja to the rising sun. The best view of the Ghats can be had from a boat midstream or from the Malviya bridge. Burning pyres, people getting their hair shaved off, the chanting of sacred slokas, giving of alms to Brahmins, Pandas (Brahmin Priests) sitting under huge umbrellas offering prayers for their clients, devotees praying and drinking water from the holy river are the common sight at these ghats.

Sarnath

The Buddha came to this hamlet, 10 Km. north-east of Varanasi, to preached his message "Maha-Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, 'turned the wheel of the law') after he achieved enlightment at Bodhigaya. Later, the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and near it erected a pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adored lions, which today forms the national emblem of India. Ashoka erected several memorial towers or stupas.

Saranath probably derived its name from one of Buddha's title, Saranganath, Lord of the Deer. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrims, Fa-hsien and Hiuen Tsiang who visited in the 5th and 7th centuries respectively, both recorded impressions of their stay. The huge swastika (110ft) covered Dhameskh Stupa dates from AD 500 and is thought to mark the place where Buddha gave his sermon. Sarnath has been a premier centre for Buddhism. It is a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics and antiques comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images on display at the excellent Archaeological Museum (open 10am to 5pm except on Friday).

Saranath's annual festival is Buddha Purnima, which commemorates Buddha's birth with colourful fair and procession of his relics held on the full moon of May/June. RamnagarThe residential place of Kashi Naresh (Former Maharaja of Varanasi) across the Ganges at Ramnagar houses a museum with the exhibits of palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres, etc. Dussehra celebration of Ramnagar is an interesting event to witness.14 km. from Varanasi. The fort at Ramnagar houses a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage cars, Royal palkies, an armoury of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clock. The Durga Temple and Chhinnamastika Temple are also located at Ramnagar.

Fort and Palace

Chunar Fort

The Chunar fort is situated 40 Km. from Varanasi. Chunar Fort, overlooking the Ganges, has had a succession of owners representing most of India's rulers over the last 500 years. Sher Shah took it from Humayun in 1540, Akbar recaptured it for the Mughals in 1575 and in the 18th century it passed to the nawabs of Avadh. They were shorty followed by the British, whose gravestones here make interesting reading. Chunar sandstone has been used for centuries, most famously in Ashokan pillars - and is still quarried, leaving the surrounding hills looking ravaged in places.

Ram Nagar Fort and Palace Ramnagar Fort which was built in 1750A.D by the Maharaja of Banaras, is on the right bank of River Ganga. Built of red stones, it provides strength and stability to the city. Visit : Daily from 0900 t0 1200 and 1400 - 1500. It is the residential palace of the former Maharaja of Varanasi. The palace is an astronomical and astrological wonder. Inside the giant walls of the palace, there is a big clock. Besides showing year, month, week and day, it baffles the onlooker with astronomy of the sun, moon and constellation of stars. This wonder clock or Dharam Ghari was made by the court astronomer of Banaras in 1852A.D. The palace has a temple dedicated to Ved Vyas and a museum set up by the last Maharaja of Banaras, Vibhuti Narain Singh. The museum has a collection of brocade costumes, palanquins, weapons and has expensive coaches made of ivory. The palace is decorated majestically and it vibrates with colour and life, during Dussehra festival. The celebrations comes to an end on Vijayadashmi, when the huge effigies of demon king Ravana and his kinsmen are sent up in flames, signifying the victory of good over evil.

ABC Art Gallery This gallery is situated opposite of Tulsi Manas Mandir, Durga Kund Road. Opens from 1500 to 1900. Entry - free. This gallery exhibits the work of well known artists of India. It gives a picture of the contemporary culture of Varanasi.

B.H.U. & Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U) founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in 1917A.D is the largest residential University in India. At the entrance, there is the grand statue of its founder and the Vishwanath temple in its centre. The huge temple was built in 1966, under patronage of the Birlas. It has a 677 meter high rising white top and its well carved architecture attracts pilgrims. In the cool and calm surroundings of B.H.U is the Bharat Kala Bhavan which has established in 1920A.D and has a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological studies. In the main hall of the Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand. The figure is said to be of Lord Krishna lifting Govardana. In the halls of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there are many rare images that testify to the existence of Krishna cult in Kashi in 15th and 16th century Gupta period. It has the miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and the Hindu Princes of Punjab Hills. Visit : Monday to Saturday . Opens from 1030 to 1600. Entry - free.

Ashoka Pillar It is at Saranath, 10km north of Varanasi. Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first sermon is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The Ashoka pillar stands in front of the main stupa where Ashoka sat and meditated. The Sarnath Archaeological Museum at Ashoka Marg, houses a copy of Ashoka's lion pillar and some sculptures. Temples and Mosques

Vishwanath temple (Golden Temple)

The most sacred temple in Varanasi is the Vishwanath temple, located at Vishvanath Gali dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hindus believe Shiva lives here, so it's far too holy a place for non-Hindus to view, the followers of other religions are permitted a view from the Naubat Khana (seat of temple choir). The shivalinga at the Vishwanath temple is among one of the 12 Jyotrilingas. The current temple was built in 1776 by Ahalya Bai of Indore with about 800 kg of gold plating on the towers, which gives the temple its colloquial name, Golden Temple. The gold plated spire, was the gift of the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore in 1835, more than 50 years later. The well of wisdom or 'Gyan Vapi' which is nearby is believed to have been built by Lord Shiva himself to cool the 'linga' of Vishwanath with water.

Durga Temple

It was built in the 18th century by a Bengali maharani and is stained red with ochre. The Durga Temple is commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the many frisky monkeys that have made in their home. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard but not the inner sanctum.

Kedareshvara Temple It is the most important Shiva temple of the city. The stone linga here is said to have emerged spontaneously. The myth narrate that a pure hearted devotee of Shiva prayed for a chance to visit the famous Kedareshvara Shiva temple in the Himalayas. Shiva, who is the god of destruction is always kind to his bhaktas (devotees). Shiva was touched by his bhakta's piety and instead of bringing him to the mountain, Shiva brought his image to the bhakta. This image (linga) emerged out of a plate of rice and lentils. It can be still seen by the believers on the rough surface of the natural stone linga.

Sankat Mochan Temple It is at Durga Kund Road. The word Sankat Mochan means deliverer from troubles. The temple belongs to Hanuman (monkey God), an incarnation of Vishnu. The best time to visit this temple is in the early evening.

Shitala Temple This white temple is dedicated to Shitala, the smallpox goddess. It is situated at Shitala Ghat. The Santoshi Mata (Mother of Contentment) shrine is added to this temple.

Chausath Yogini Temple This temple is situated just above the Chausath Yogini Ghat. It was originally devoted to a tantric cult. Now it is devoted to Kali. The deity here is known as 'Ma' (mother).

Gyanvapi Mosque This mosque was built by Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The foundation and the rear part of the mosque are the remains of a temple. One of its minarets which dominated the skyline of the holy city, collapsed in the1948 floods.

Alamgir Mosque This mosque was constructed by Aurangazeb. It is a blend of Hindu and Muslim designs. A famous bathing point, Panjaganga Ghat lies below it.

Hotels Varanasi

2008-05-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

One of the oldest cities in the world and the most important pilgrimage site in India. Varanasi or Benares, with its array of shrines, temples and palaces rising in several tiers from the water's edge, is one of the most picturesque cities in the east. The main attraction here are the Ghats (wide stairways, descending from the buildings down to the water's edge), each with its own significance. Since the sixth century BC, this city has been a center of learning and the tradition has been kept alive in a continuous tradition. Most Indians believe that anyone dying in Varanasi attains instant enlightenment. For the western tourist, Varanasi is an ideal window to view thousands of years old Indian cultural traditions. No other place in the world has this timeless quality or such a holy and soulful atmosphere.

Varanasi Travel Packages:

Golden Triangle Tours

Temple Tours Varanasi - Nepal Tours

Five Star Hotels:
Hotel Taj Ganges
Hotel Clarks Varanasi
Hotel Ramada Plaza

Four Star Hotels:

Hotel Hindustan International
Hotel Varanasi Ashok
Hotel Radisson

Three Star Hotels:

Best Western Kasihka Hotel

Pallavi International Hotel

Hotel De Paris

Budget Hotels:

Hotel M M Continental

Hotel Temple on Ganges

Sahi Riverview Guest House

Jyotirlinga Shrines

2008-05-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

Benares has been a pilgrimage center since time immemorial. It is believed that the fifth head of Bhrama which clung to Shiva's palms came unstuck only after he reached Varanasi. Varanasi has been mentioned in the Tamil Tevaram hymns of the first millennium CE. Kasi is mentioned repeatedly in the scriptures such as the Bhramanas, Upanishads, Kavyas and Puranas. It is the oldest center of learning, and is vibrant with centuries of tradition.
Benares houses the Kaasi Visweswara (Viswanatha) temple, enshrining one of the twelve Jyotirlingams of Shiva. This temple was desecrated and rebuilt several times. The latest structure dating back to the 18th century (thanks to the efforts of Rani Ahilyabhai Holkar) is the center of attention of the millions of pilgrims who converge here, to perform an abhishekam to the sacred Jyotirlingam, with water from the Ganges.
Benares is also considered to be one of the Shakti Peethas of India. It is believed that the left hand of Sati fell at Varanasi, and that Annapurna or Visalakshi represent the Shakti Peetham here.
Apart from these temples, there are five other sacred spots in Benares. The Asi-Ganga sangamam, at Lolarka houses a temple to the Sun God. The rivers Ganga and Varana converge at a spot where there is a shrine to Kesava. The Panchaganga Ghat houses a temple to Bindu-Madhava. It is believed that five rivers Kirana, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati and Dhuta-papa converge here. The Dasaswamedha Ghat where it is believed that the ancient kings performed the aswamedha sacrifice ten times and took a dip in the Ganga.
The last of the sacred spots is the Manikarnika Ghat. Legend has it that Vishnu dug a pit with his chakra, and the sweat created during his meditation filled the pit. Shiva shook his head and his jeweled earring fell into the pit, hence the name Manikarnika. Tradition has it that those that die at Benares and get cremated at the Manikarnika ghat, get liberated from the cycle of life and death.
Hyuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller visited Varanasi in the 7th century. His travel accounts speak of the grandeur of the city and of its temples. This writer describes a hundred feet high statue of Shiva Maheshwara made of brass that adorned the city.
Several other temples and shrines adorn the city of Benares. Virtually every block houses a shrine here. Mention must be made of the modern shrine to Kaasi Viswanatha elsewhere in the city. Shivaratri in the month of Aquarius is a season of great festivity at Benares.

Bismillah Khan

2008-05-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

Sarnath Temples

2008-05-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

Sarnath Stup

2008-05-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

Sarnath Stup

2008-05-22T03:31:00.000-07:00

Banarasi Saree

2008-05-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

Ganga Ghats

2008-05-22T01:48:00.000-07:00

Subahe Banaras

2008-05-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

Handicrafts of Varanasi

2008-05-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

Varanasi has, since times immemorial, been hailed as a premier centre for some of the finest handicrafts. The most renowned craft of the city is silk weaving. ‘Baranasi Sarees’ produced by local craftsman are among the most preferred, not only in India but across the world. Brassware, copperware, ivorywork , glass bangles, wood and clay toys and exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other crafts the city is famous for. Bhadohi Carpets and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions.
Varanasi is famous for it silk weaving, and Banarsi silk are a part of every gril’s trousseau. Banaras brocades are prized the world over. Brassware, Copperware, Wooden ,Clay toys and Exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other crafts the city is famous for. The hand-knotted carpets Mirzapur and Bhadohi and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions. Banaras is also famous for its ‘Langda Aam’, a variety of mangoes available in the summer. Betel life is also a speciality. The main shopping areas are Chowk, Vishwanath Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Lahurabir, Godoulia, Dashswamedh Gail, Golghar and Dalmandi. Some Of the leading Dealers and Manufacturers are as follows:
Address. 1/88. Gola Ghat, Ramnagar Varanasi-221008 Banarasi Silk Saree Tanchhua Patola Warp - Katan ( Mulbery Silk) 20*22 Width - Katan ( Mulbery Silk) 20*22 Length of Saree - 5.50Mts-5.65Mts. Width of Saree - 45"-46" Colour - Fast Price - Rs.2700.00
Diamand Silk Co-operative Society Ltd. Development Commissnor for Handioom Govt. of India (Ministry of Textiles) (Under Export Promotion Plans) Add. (Handloom Complex) J.11/63-101.Nati Imli Bunkar Colony Varanasi-221002
GRAND INDUSTRIAL CO_OPERATIVE SOCIETY ltd. Phone:2331555,2336036,2336376,-A.26/1-A-11.Hasanpura,Varanasi-221001.
Diamond Silk Cooperative Society Ltd. Handloom Complex J.11/63-101 Nati Imli Bunkar Colony Varanasi-221002
Jalan's Showroom , Bansfatak Varanasi.
Jalan's Showroom, Kabira Complex, Durgakund Varanasi
GOVT. EMPORIA
UPICA, Nadesar
U.P. Handlooms – Lahurabir & Nichi Bagh
Tantuj-Bengal Emporium, Dashashwamedh Road
Handloom House, Sigra.

Chunar

2008-05-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Chunar is situated in the Vindhya range at a distance of 42 kms. Its District headquarter Mirzapur which is a very famous for its natural beauty, Historical events, Handicrafts & other Industrial setups and from the religious aspects as well. Especially Chunar town is existing in a triangular form on the right bank of holy Ganga and the left bank of the Jirgo.
As Per Puranas the oldest name of Chunar was Charanadri as Lord Vishnu had taken his first step in his Vaman in carnation in the dynasty of Great King Bali in the age of Satyug. It also told that a very powerful man had travelled from Himalya to Kanya Kumari in the age of Dwapar and took rest here whose feet impression a rock became todays Chunar. The third one deals with Bhartihari, the ruler of Ujjain who came here for penance. A kingdom was later on built here. The fourth story sheds light on a rock statue built by Raja Sahadeo, who named the place as Nainagarh.
However Chunar is highlighted after the visit of Babar followed by Shershah Suri, Humayun, Akbar, Aurangzeb and finally,’ the Britishers.
FORT HISTORY
Basically the fort of Chunar was established by Maharaja Vikrmaditya the King of Ujjain to commemorate the stay of his brother Raja Bhartihari who had taken his Samadhi in alive stage and still that Samadhi Sthal is worshiped.
As per Alha Khand in 1029 AD. King Sahadeo made this fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill and put the name as Nainagarh. King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella based on 52 pillars in the memory of the victory on 52 other kings, inside the fort which is still preserved. He had a brave daughter who got married with Alha the then King of Mahoba whose marriage place in still preserved with the name of Sonya Mandap. Beside this some other stories are also related with the fort as Magna- Deogarh, Ratan Deo’s Burj (tower) and King Pithaura who named it Patthargarh as well.
It has got much importance due to the stay of the founder of Mughal Dynasty Babar in 1525 AD. Later on Shershah Suri obtained the possession of the fort by marrying the wife of Taj Khan Sarang-Khani, the Governer of Ibrahim Lodi. In 1531 AD. The second King of Mughals Humayun done an unsuccessful effort to capture this fort. In 1574 AD. Akbar the great captured this fort and since that very time it was in the Mughal regime upto 1772 AD. Once emperor Jahangir appointed one Iftikhar Khan as Nazim and in the regime of Aurangzeb one of his Governor’s Mirza Bairam built a mosque in 1663 AD. near the Bhairo-Burj.
In 1772AD this fort was captured by East India Company who established in it a depot of Artillery and ammunition. Later it was taken by Maharaja Chet Singh of Benaras temporarily and after Chet Singh outbreak in 1781 AD. Warren Hestings retired for safety to Chunar where a force was collected by Major Phophan, which expelled Chet Singh from his strong hold in his neighbourhood. Hastings liked the situation and climate, his residence is still standing. Near it, there is a Sundial bearing the inscription.
"Erected by order of the Hon’ble Warren Hestings. Esq. Governor General c & e in 1784". Latitude 25’ 07’ 36’ N and Longitude 83’ 09 15" E , from Greenwich. James S. Ewart Lieutenant."
At present it is the Training Centre of Provincial Armed Core (PAC).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Latitude/ Longitude 25/ 7 .N/82.54 E
Altitude 80.7 mts. above Sea level
Language English/Hindi
Temperature Summer 32C to 43C
Winter 5C to 15C
Rain Fall 111cms.(annual) approx.
Clothes Summer-Cotton
Winter Light Woolen
Best Season July to March
STD Code 05443
APPROACH:
AIR
Nearest Airport Babatpur (Varanasi) at a distance of 61 kms.
RAIL
Well connected with all the major cities of India
ROAD
Well connected with all the major cities.
HANDICRAFT
Chunar Pottery especially Clay, Toys etc.
ACCOMMODATION
Tourist Bungalow, UPSTDC Chunar
Inspection Bungalow U.P Cement Corporation, Chunar.
Inspection House PWD, Chunar.
A few lodges.
PLACES OF INTEREST
1-CHUNAR FORT
As a major part of History of Chunar Fort is already been given in the History of Chunar. Chunar fort is constructed at a height of 80’ to 175’ from the land level of Chunar. The fort area is approx. 3400 Sq. yard, its length is 800 yard & width is 133 to 300 yard. At present the fort is itself worth seeing with Sonva Mandap, Raja Bhartihari Samadhi, Bavan Khamba & Solar Watch are the sight seeing places inside the fort.
2-GANGESHWAR NATH TEMPLE
3-GURU TEG BAHADUR SAHEB GURUDWARA.
4-CHURCH
5-DARGAH SHAREEF.
6-DARGA CAVE TEMPLE.
EXCURSIONS:
1-JIRGO Dam-- Situated at distance of 14kms.from Chunar
2-Siddhanath Dari- A beautiful water fall at distance of 14kms from Chunar.
3-Shakteshgarh Fort – Ruins of the fort surrounded by natural beauty, situated at distance of about 25kms.
4-Lakhania Dari- Beautiful water falls at a distance of about 28kms. From Chunar.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT :
U.P.TOURISM 3, Naval Kishore Road, Lucknow-2260 01(U.P) INDIA.
NEW DELHI- 36, Chandralok, Building, Janpath.
BOMBAY- World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade, Colada.
CHANDIGARH- SCO 1046-47,1ST Floor,Sector 22B.
MADRAS- 28, Commander-in-Chief Road.
CALCUTTA- 12A, Netaji Subash Road.
AHMEDABAD-303, Ashwamedh House,5Smriti Kunj,Navarangpura. .

Varanasi:Very Important Information

2008-05-22T00:42:00.001-07:00

BANKS /MONEY CHANGERS .
State Bank of India, Cantt, Varanasi
State Bank of India, Banaras Handu University, Varanasi.
Indian Overseas Bank, Lahurabir Varanasi.
Bank of Baroda, Godowlia, Varanasi.
Allahabad Bank, Nadeser,Varanasi.
Allahabad Bank, Chowk, Varanasi.
Central Bank of India, Chowk, Varanasi.
Canara bank, Bansphatak, Varanasi.
IDBI Bank, Arihant Complex, Sigra, Varanasi
HDFC Bank , Arihant Complex, Sigra, Varanasi
ICICI Bank , Gyanwapi Chowk, Varanasi
Punjab National Bank, Lahurabir ,Varanasi
HOSPITALS
S.P.G. Hospital, Kabirchaura, Varanasi. Phone: (0542)-2333723
S.S.L. Hospital, BHU, Varanasi. Phone: (0542)- 2312542-45
Govt. Hospital, Shivpur. Varanasi Phone: (0542)-2282226
Hindu Seva Sadan, Chowk..Varanasi Phone: (0542)-2412143
Marwari Hospital, Godowlia, Varanasi. Phone: (0542)-2321456
Mata AnandMai Hospital, Bhadaini Phone: (0542)-2310592
Ram Krishna Mission Hospital, Luxa. Phone: (0542)-2391727
Cancer Institute, NE Railway, Lahartara. Phone: (0542)-2425338
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES
Regional Tourist Office, U.P.Tourism. Parade Kothi, Cantt. Ph:(0542)-2206638, 2208413
U.P. Tourist Office, Sarnath.Open: 10 a.m.- 5 pm. Closed on Sundays and Govt.holidays.
U.P.Government Tourist Information Counter.Varanasi Cantt, Railway Station, Near Enquiry Office , Main Hall. (Opens daily 6 am.-8 pm.) Ph: (0542)-2346370
Railway Tourism. Ph: (0542)-2506670
Govt.Of India Tourist Office.15B, The Mall Cantt.Varanasi. Ph: (0542)-2501784
Govt. Of India Tourist Information Counter,Babatpur Airport, Varanasi.
TRAVEL AGENTS & TOUR/COACH OPERATORS.
The city has numerous travel agents and tour operators. Some of them are :
Cosmic Travels & Movers, Varuna Bridge. Ph: (0542)-2502246, 2504526
Ashok Tour & Travel, Indian Airlines Building Cantt,Varanasi. Ph: (0542)- 2503432
Mercury Travels, Varanasi.
Sita World Travels, 53 cantt.
Surbhi Travels & Tours Cooperative Building Nadeser. Ph: (0542)-2502664
Tour Aids, Hotel India
Travels Assistance, Varuna Bridge ,Varanasi. Ph: (0542)-2502954
Travel Corporation Of India.
Varuna Travels, Pandey Haweli. Ph: (0542)-2393371-72
Inpac Tours, Nadesar
GUIDE SERVICES
Approved tourist guides for local sight seeing may be hired through the Govt. Of India Tourist Office.
RESTAURANTS
Varanasi’s various restaurants searve a variety of cuisines- continental, chinese, indian and of course, the traditional 'Mughlai' .
Mandarin Restaurant, Parade Kothi
Winfa restaurant, Lahurabeer
Shahi restaurant, near rathyatra cross
Yelchico Bar & restaurant, near Sigra crossing
Amrapali, D.58/9 Varanasi.
Aashiyana Restaurant , Varuna bridge,
Haveli Restaurant, The Mall cantt.
Ayyar`s Cafe, Banaras Lodge, Dashaswamedha Road, Varanasi
Annapurna Restaurant, Piplani Katra Lahurabir
Kerala Cafe , Bhelupur, Varanasi
Kesari Restaurant, Godowlia Varanasi
SHOPPER`S PARADISE
Varanasi has, since times immemorial, been hailed as a premier centre for some of the finest handicrafts. The most renowned craft of the city is silk weaving. ‘Baranasi Sarees’ produced by local craftsman are among the most preferred, not only in India but across the world. Brassware, copperware, ivorywork , glass bangles, wood and clay toys and exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other crafts the city is famous for. Bhadohi Carpets and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions.
SHOPPING See Also: Banarasi Saree Handicrafts of Varanasi
Varanasi is famous for it silk weaving, and Banarsi silk are a part of every gril’s trousseau. Banaras brocades are prized the world over. Brassware, Copperware, Wooden ,Clay toys and Exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other crafts the city is famous for. The hand-knotted carpets Mirzapur and Bhadohi and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions. Banaras is also famous for its ‘Langda Aam’, a variety of mangoes available in the summer. Betel life is also a speciality. The main shopping areas are Chowk, Vishwanath Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Lahurabir, Godoulia, Dashswamedh Gail, Golghar and Dalmandi.
GOVT. EMPORIA
UPICA, Nadesar
U.P. Handlooms – Lahurabir & Nichi Bagh
Tantuj-Bengal Emporium, Dashashwamedh Road
Handloom House, Sigra.

Excursions

2008-05-22T00:38:00.000-07:00

SARNATH
10 km. from Varanasi is the site where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, ‘turned the wheel of the law’) after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka downto the 12th century A.D Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and near it erected a pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adorsed Lions, which today forms the national emblem of India.
Among other structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple representing the Mula- Gandha Kuti, ruins of stupas and monasteries. Among the more imposing ones is the Dhamekh Stupa, adorned with delicate floral carvings in the lower part, the Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society’s Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple. Sarnath has also yielded an extremely rich collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images which can be seen at Archaeological Museum, Sarnath.

RAMNAGAR
14 km. from Varanasi .The fort at Ramnagar houses a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal Palkies, an armoury of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. The Ved Vyas , Durga Temple and Chhinnamastika Temple are also Located at Ramnagar.

VINDHYACHAL
80 km. One of the Shakitipeeths, Vindhyavasini Devi Temple, Ashtabhuja and Kalikhoh are the major attraction .
CHUNAR FORT
The Chunar fort is situated 40 km. from Varanasi. Saint Bhartrihari took live Samadhi inside the fort. The historical fort at Chunar is ascribed to one of the greatest warrior – rulers, Sher Shah Suri. Sonwa Mandap, Sun clock and a huge well are some of the attractions inside the fort. The fort offers a splendid view of the river Ganga. There is a PWD Rest House for overnight stay.
KAUSHAMBI
185 km. from Varanasi. This ancient city is ascribed to the Pandav brother of Mahabharat. The ruin of an old gigantic fort are testimony to the city’s antiquity. Lord Buddha visited Kaushambi in the 6th and 9th year after his enlightenment, giving several sermons and discourses and elevating it to a great centre of Buddhism.
CHANDRAPRABHA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
70 km, Varanasi are the forests of Chandrapha. These forests nestle within them the Rajdari and Devdari waterfalls. A beautiful secluded place for a relaxed outing or a picnic.
KAIMOOR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
130 km. from Varanasi. Spread over an area of 500 sq. km., the Sanctuary has a veriety of wildlife. The Mukha waterfall is a tourist attraction.
JAUNPUR
Jaunpur has the pride of being the capital of the independent Sharqi State, the rulers of which were great patrons of art and architecture. The city still boasts of its rich cultural past. Important monuments worth visiting are the Atala mosque built in 1408, Jama Masjid, the Lal Darwaza Masjid, Khalis Mukhlis Ki Masjid, the Shahi Bridge and the tombs of Sharqui Sultans. The ancient temple of Shitla Chowkiya Dham, Trilochan Mahadev temple and the Yamadagni Ashram are also much revered places for Hindu pilgrims.
Other Tourist Places
Chandra Prabha (65 K.M)
Rajdari-Devdari (70 K.M.)
Lakhaniya Dari (50 K.M.)
Jargo Dam (45 K.M.)
Chunar Fort (42 K.M.)
Sidhaya Nath Dari (60 K.M.)
Vindham Fall (80 K.M.)
Vindhyachal, Ashtabhuji, Kalikhoh (65 K.M.)
Markandaey Mahadeva Ji, Kaithi (28 K.M.)
Latifshah Dargah (45 K.M.)
Dargah Kasim Suleman (42 K.M.)
Dargah Kanti Sharif (65 K.M.)

Central Institute Of Higher Tibetan Studies

2008-05-22T00:37:00.001-07:00

The only institute of its kind in the world, imprating education in the Tibetan language, it was Est. by the Dalai Lama in 1971. Presently located at Sarnath, the institute has a rare collection of Buddhist texts, Tibetan manuscripts and other journals.

Jain Temple

2008-05-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

The Famous Jain Saint Shvetambar temple is there juust on the way from Railway Station to BHU, before Bhelupur street.

Bharat Mata Temple

2008-05-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

This Temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 and houses one perfect relief maps of India carved out of marble.The Temple was gifted by the nationalists Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta (Barat Ratana ) and shri Durga Prasad Khatri, leading numismatists and antiquarians.

Alamgir Mosque

2008-05-22T00:32:00.000-07:00

An amalgmation of Hindu-Muslim religious sentiments, this mosque is also known as " Beni Madhav ka Darera". Curiously, the entire lower portion of the mosque is retained as a Hindu temple.

Tulsi Manas Temple

2008-05-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

Constructed by family of Varanasi, this modern temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is situated at the place Where Tulisdas, the great medieval seer, lived and wrote the epic "Shri Ramcharitmanas", which narrates the life of Lord Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. Verses from Tulidas’s epic are inscribed on the walls.

Durga Temple

2008-05-22T00:29:00.001-07:00

Godess Durga is considered as the goddess of Strength and Power. This temple was built in the 18th century with red stone work. A fine example of Nagara art. This temple falls on the main route from Railway Station to BHU, just before Tulsi Manas temple and Sankatmochan temple.

River Front (Ghats)

2008-05-22T00:27:00.001-07:00

The spectacular 4 km sweep of the Ghats is unique sight, best viewed at dawn, in that "soft first light" when the river and Ghats have a timeless appeal. Life is almost panoramic detail unfolds here from dawn to dusk as a steady stream of devotees-swelling to thousands on auspicious days –perform rituals by the Ganga. The Ghats are best approached by Dashashwamedha ghat, where boats are available on hire.

Musuems And Arts Galleries

2008-05-22T00:24:00.002-07:00

Archaeological musuem Sarnath open 09:30 am.- 5 pm. Friday clossed. Ramnager fort musuem, open 10 am.-5 pm. Clossed on Friday. Bharat Kala Bhawan B.H.U. open 10:30 am.- 4 pm. Clossed on Sundays & university holidays. Archaeological musuem, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University open 10 am. – 5 pm. Clossed on Sunday & university holidays.

Kashi Vidya Peeth

2008-05-22T00:24:00.001-07:00

The Kashi Vidyapeeth was set up in 1920 by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta to provide alternate education arrangement discarding that of the British. It soon became a centre of natoinal education with Hindi as the medium of instruction. Acharya Narendradev, Babu Sampurnanand, Babu Sriprakash & many more Luminaries of the time have been associated with this institute.

Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum, Ramnagar

2008-05-22T00:22:00.000-07:00

Ramnager fort was originally built by Maharaja Balwant Singh (1740-70 AD.) The Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum is housed in the Ramnager fort itself. The museum collection mainly Comprises of textiles, pieces of decorative arts, arms & armours, utilitarian objects, means of transport-old bagghis, palkis & haudasivories, furniture & manuscripts.

Bharat Kala Bhawan, B.H.U

2008-05-22T00:20:00.000-07:00

Started in 1950 as a university museum, Bharat Kala Bhawan in famous for its unique collection of miniature paintings. It has a rich collection of Rajasthani paintings, Pichhawai’s, pahari painting, Nepalese & Tibetan Thankas, Company paintings as well as paintings of contemporary artists, illustrated Mrigavati, Kalpa Sutra, Chora-Panchasika, Laura-Chanda, Shah-nama and some pages of Humza-nama Are the proud possessions of this museum.

Banaras Hindu University

2008-05-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

Banaras Hindu University is an internationally reputed temple of learning, situated in the holy city of Varanasi. This Creative and innovative university was founded by the great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, in1916 with cooperation of great personalities like Dr Annie Besant, who viewed it as the University of India. Banaras Hindu University was created under the Parliamentary legislation - B.H.U. Act 1915. It played a stellar role in the independence movement and has developed into the greatest center of learning in India. It has produced many great freedom fighters and builders of modern India and has immensely contributed to the progress of the nation through a large number of renowned scholars, artists, scientists and technologists who have graced its portals. The area of the main campus of this premiere Central University is 1300 acres, having well maintained roads, extensive greenery, a temple, an air strip and buildings which are an architectural delight. The Air Field of the campus was started for military training for flying during the second world war.
Another campus of the university at Barkachha , in Mirzapur district, covering an area of 2700 acres is coming up. The university comprises 3 Institutes, 14 Faculties 124 Departments, 4 Inter displinary Centers a constituent college for women's and 3 Constituents Schools, spanning a vast range of subjects pertaining to all branches of humanities,social science,technology, medicine ,science, fine arts and performing arts. It has 6 centres of Advanced Studies, 10 Departments under Special Assistance Programme and a large number of specialized Research Centers. Four Degree Colleges of the city are affiliated to the University. Bharat Kala Bhavan, the reputed museum of the university, is a treasure trove of rare collections. The 927 bed hospital of the University is equipped with all the modern a menities. The university provides a wide range of facilities for sport and hobbies, has large playgrounds, a big auditorium, a flying club and many auxiliary services and units like Printing Press, Publication Cell,Fruit Preservation Center, Subsidized Canteens, Employment and Information Bureau, Security etc. The University family consists of about 15000 students belonging to all streams of life, castes and religions and races, about 1700 teachers, and nearly 8000 non-teaching staff A large number of students from foreign countries like the U.S.A, the countries of Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa etc., come to study here. The university has taken a leadership role in promoting new ideas, the spirit of integration of the world, and cultivation of intellect and culture. Banaras Hindu University is small Virtually the universe in microcosm.

THE KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE

2008-05-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

THE KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE
Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is Said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which shiva manifested has supremacy over others gods, broke through the Earth’s crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Gaths and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi

Accommodation In Varanasi

2008-05-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

Star Hotels
Sl. No.
Hotel
Address and Phone
No. Of Rooms
No. Of Beds
1.
Hotel Taj Ganges
Nadesar, Ph.-091-542-2503001
130
260
2.
Hotel Radisson
The Mall ,Cantoment
117
234
3
Hotel Clarks
The Mall ,Cantoment
58
116
4
Hotel Sidhartha
Sigra Ph-2221961
32
64
5
Hotel Hindustan International
Maldahiya Ph.- 091-542-2393012
85
170
6
Hotel India
Nadesar
80
160
7
Hotel De-Paris
The mall ,Cantoment, Ph.-091-542-2505133
50
100
8
Hotel Vaibhav
Ph.-091-542-2507593
58
116
9
Hotel Meredian Grant
Patel Nagar
41
82
10
Hotel Pradeep
Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2204594
36
72
11
Hotel Pallavi International
-
43
86
TOP
Deluxe Hotels
Sl. No.
Hotel
Address and Phone
No. Of Rooms
No. Of Beds
1.
Gautam Grand
Pared Kothi, Ph.-091-542-2206886
36
72
2.
Rashmi Guest House
Maan Mandir, Dasaswmegh
14
28
3
Kaumesh Hut
Jagatganj, Ph.-091-542-2202689
20
40
4
Hotal Malti
Ph.-091-542-2222895
47
94
5
Hotal M.M. International
Bulanala
16
31
6
Hotal Gangej
Dasaswmedh
32
70
7
Hotal Gautam
Ram Katora, Ph.-091-542-2206450
37
74
8
Hotal Daimond
Bhelupur, Ph,-091-542-2276696
-
-
9
Hotal New International
Lahurabir, Ph.-091-542-2208507
30
60
10
Parytak Awas Grih
Ph.-091-542-2208413
40
46
11
Parytak Awash Grih
Sarnath, Ph.-091-542-2595965
10
38
12
Hotal Sarin In
Mahmoorganj
16
28
13
Hotal Tample On Gangej
Assi
27
54
14
Hotal Rigency
Andhrapul
41
66
15
Hotal Padmini International
Mahmoorganj, Ph.-091-542-2220079
40
80
16
Hotal J.K. International
Luxa
22
42
17
Hotal Lara India
Dashaswmegh
25
50
18
Hotal Surya
The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2508465/6
45
90
19
Hotal Baradari
Maidagin
17
30
20
Hotal Ashok
Sigra, Ph.-091-542-2221058
28
56
21
Hotal Salimar
The Mall, Ph.-091-543-2501888
17
34
22
Hotal Awnish
Maldahiya
21
42
23
Hotal Narendra
G.T. Road, Ph.-091-542-2208121/3
54
116
24
Hotal Alka
Mirghat, Ph.-091-542-2308445
20
37
25
Hotal Varuna
Gulabbag
17
54
26
Hotal Gaurav
Phatmaan road
18
34
27
Hotal Kashika West Western
The Mall, Ph.-091-542-2301011
40
80
28
Palesh On Gangej
Asshi, Ph.-091-542-2204963
22
44
29
Hotal Shiwam
Pared Kothi
26
52
TOP
Economy Hotels
Sl. No.
Hotel
Address and Phone
No. Of Rooms
No. Of Beds
1.
Preeti Guest House
Maldahiya
14
28
2.
Sai Kripa Guest House
Shivala
16
32
3.
Ambika Lodge
Englishia Line
12
24
4.
Hotel Ridge Lodge
Varuna Pul, Cantoment
8
16
5.
SriRam International
BansFatak
20
40
6.
Pawan Guest House
Parade Kothi
7
16
7.
Rashmi Guest House
ManMandir, Dashashwamegh
14
28
8.
Hotel Deewan
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
27
71
9.
Shiva Visram Bhavan
Luxa
7
11
10.
Garden Lodge
Godowlia
34
70
11.
Hotel Prabhat
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
7
13
12.
Hotel Moti Mahal
Godowlia
7
17
13.
Mint House Motel
Nadesar
12
24
14.
Hotel Samman
Dashashwmegh
18
38
15.
Satyanarayan Lodge
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
30
48
16.
Hotel Ganges
Dashashwamegh
32
70
17.
Hotel Buddha
Ramkatora, Lahurabir
22
44
18.
Hotel Temple Town
Patel Nagar
9
20
19.
SriRam Vishram Bhavan
Luxa
10
18
20.
Hotel Gautam
Ramkatora, Lahurabir, Ph-(0542)-2206450
37
74
21.
Shankari Tourist Lodge
MirGhat
5
13
22.
Hotel Awadh
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
21
36
23.
Girnar Lodge
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
24
46
24.
SriRam Lodge
Englishia Line
10
16
25.
Vishnu Rest House
Pandey Ghat
20
46
26.
Hotel Friends House
Dashashwamegh
6
15
27.
National Lodge
Kashi Vidyapith Road
11
19
28.
Hotel Modern
Lahurabir
21
42
29.
Murali Guest House
Bhogabir, Near BHU
19
23
30.
Sundaram Guest House
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
24
48
31.
Hotel Yamuna
Luxa
23
44
32.
Dashaswamegh Lodge
Dashashwamegh
19
35
33.
Palki Atithi Grih
Parade Kothi
16
22
34.
Dashaswamegh Boarding House
Dashashwamegh
22
57
35.
Hotel Vishnu Priya
Near Cantt. Rly. Station
12
21
36.
Sita Guest House
Chausatti Ghat
20
36
37.
Ashok Lodge
Chetganj
9
17
38.
Sun Blue Lodge
Kedar Ghat
8
12
39.
Hotel Jyoti
Luxa
24
50
40.
Anand Lodge
Pared Kothi, Near Cantt. Rly. Station
13
22
41.
Sri Venkateshwar Lodge
Vishwanath Gali, Godowlia
27
35
42.
Gokul Lodge
Sonarpura
11
20
43.
Hotel SunRise
Shivala
18
33
44.
Hotel Samrat
Nai Sarak
13
25
45.
Kedar Lodge
AgastKunda
23
40
46.
Sheetal Tourist Lodge
Bhelupur
10
20
47.
Vaishali Visram Bhavan
Luxa
13
31
48.
Hotel River View
Gayghat
7
12

How To Reach Varanasi

2008-05-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Varanasi is easily accessible from all parts of the country. Very well connected by road, rail and air, the City of. offers convenient and comfortable travelling options to and from other cities of India.
TOURIST OFFICE
Regional Tourist Office/ Tourist Bunglow , Parade Kothi , Opposite Railway Station Phone : (542) 2208413, 2206638
AIR
Indian Airlines flies to Babatpur airport which is 22 km. from Varanasi and 30 km. from Sarnath There is a. direct, daily flight connection between Varanasi and New Delhi. It also connects Varanasi to Delhi, Agra,. Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhuvaneshwar. The contact nos. of various airlines and other information are :
* Indian Airlines. Ph: (0542)-2502527,2502528,2502529
* SpiceJet 09871803333,18001803333 Website www.spicejet.com
* Sahara Airways (0542)-2507871,2507872
RAIL ( Visit Indian Railways: http://www.indianrail.gov.in/ & http://www.irctc.co.in/ )
Varanasi is an important and major rail junction. The city is served by trains from all metros and major cities across the country. New Delhi, mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Gwalior, Meerut, Indore, Guwahati, Allahbad, Lucknow, Dehradun… the city has direct rail connections. Varanasi Cantt Railway Station Enquiry number 135. Some important trains from Varanasi station are Kashi Vishwanath Express (Varanasi-Delhi), Shramjivi Express (Patna- Varanasi-Delhi), Farakka Express (MaldaTown-Varanasi-Bhiwani), Mahanagri Express (Varanasi-Mumbai), Pawan Express (Varanasi-Mumbai), Sabermati Express (Varanasi-Ahamedabad), Ganga-Kaveri Express (Varanasi-Chennai), Purva Express (Howrah- Varanasi-Delhi), Himgiri Express (Jammu-Varanasi-Howrah), Siyaldah Express (Varanasi-Jammu Tawi), Marudhar Express (Varanasi / Agra /Jaipur).
From Mughal Sarai Station: (16 Km. from Varanasi) Train from Mughal Sarai Station are Rajdhani Express (Howrah – Mughal Sarai- Delhi), Toofan Express (Howrah- Mughal Sarai- Delhi), North East Super Fast Express (Delhi –Mughal Sarai-Guwahati), Magadh Express (Delhi- Mughal Sarai – Patna).
ROAD
Varanasi, on (National Highway) NH2 from Calcutta to Delhi, NH7 to Kanya Kumari and NH29 to GoraKhpur is connected literally to the rest of the country by good motorable, all – weather roads. Some important road distances are: Agra 565 km., Allahabad 128 km., Bhopal 791 km., Bodhgaya 240 km., Kanpur 330 km., Khajuraho 405 km., Lucknow 286 km., patna 246 km., Sarnath 10 km., Lumbini (Napal) 386 km., Kushi Nagar 250 km. (via Gorkhpur), UPSRTC Bus Stand, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Golgadda Bus Stand.
LOCAl TRANSPORT
Taxis: Private taxis are available from travel agencies, hotels, etc., auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and three wheelers are also readily available. But on some routes specially the old Varanasi areas of temples and markets, one way traffic is maintained. And on that routes autorikshaws or big vehicles are not permitted. Tourist should aware on hiring private vehicles, usually cars/taxis/four wheelers are charged for 4,8,12 hours or for full day, with kilometer limit, for 8 hours the rate is between Rs. 500-800 for 4 seated cars. The rate of autorikshaw and rikshaw is about Rs.2 /= per Km. The tourist are advised to fix the fair before travelling.
CONDUCTED TOURS
* Varuna Travels, Pandey Haveli Ph:(0542)-2393371,2393372
* Ashok Tour & Travels, ITDC Indian Airlines Building, Cantoment Ph:(0542)-2503432,2502548
* Surabhi Travel, Cooperative building, Nadesar .Ph:(0542)-2502664 , 2507819
* Sita World Travels, 53 Cantoment Varanasi
* TSI , Sri Das Foundation, Cantt, Varanasi. Ph:(0542)-2505928,2500289
* Travel Assistant, Varuna Bridge Ph:(0542)-2502954
* Abhiyan Tour & Travel, Mint House, Nadesar. Ph:2311596
* Cosmic Travel , Varuna Bridge Ph:(0542)-2502246, 2504526
Morning Tours and Evening Tours are Organised from the Tourist Bunglow( Parade Kothi- Opposite Railway Station) and the Govt. Of India Tourist Office, Cantoment.
LEFT LUGGAGE FACILITY
Left luggage facility is available at both the Varanasi and Mughalsarai railway stations(24 Hours)

Varanasi at a Glance

2008-05-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

Geographical Location: Longitude: 83.0 Latitude: 25.20
Geographical Area( 2001) in Sq. Km. : 1535
Average Rainfall (2006): 244 m.m. Actual
Temperature(2004-05) in Celcius : Max.: 47 Min.:4.5
Population(2001):Total: 31.3867 Lakhs
Urban: 12.6057 Lakhs Rural: 18.7810 Lakhs
Literacy (2001) in Lakhs : Total:16.9440 Male: 10.5061 Female: 6.4379
No. of Tehsils: Two (Varanasi Sadar & Pindra)
No. of Development Blocks: Eight (Kashi Vidyapeeth, Cholapur, Badagoan, Chiraigoan, Harahua, Pindra, Arajiline and Sevapuri)
No. of Naya Panchayat: 108 No. of Gram Panchayat : 696
Total Village: 1327 Habited: 1289 Inhabited : 38 Forest Village: 0
Town & Town Area: 11 Nagar Nigam: 1 Nagarpalika: 1 Cantt. area: 1
Nagar Panchayat : 2 Census Town: 6
Police Stations(2006-07): 25 Urban: 18 Rural: 7
Post Offices(2006-07): 280 Urban: 135 Rural: 145
Nationalised Bank branches (2006-07): 163 Others: 28 Gramin Banks: 36 Co-operative bank: 14
Education:(2006-07) University: Three (B.H.U., S.S.U. & K.V.P.)
Polytechnic: One (Govt. Girls Polytechnic)
Degree College: 14 Post Graduate College: 8
Higher Secondary School: 279 Senior Basic School: 662 Primary school: 1404
Industrial Training Institute : 3 (ITI, Chauka ghat Girls, boys & Karaundi)
Teachers Training Institute : 1
Health (2006-07) Allopaethic Hospital:80 Aryuvedic Hospital:26 Unani Hospital:1
Homeopathic:13 Community Health Centre: 6 Primary Health Centre:30 Family welfare Centre: 41
Family welfare sub-centre:305 Special Hospital:- T.B. Centre: 2 Leprosy: 1 Infectious Disease : 1
Electrified Village( 2006-07): 911
Theaters (2006-07):22 T.V. Centre: 1

Fairs And Festivals in Banaras

2008-05-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

Chaitra:-
Bhadra:-
New-year(Vikram), Navratri Started
Bheemchandi Darshan, Vishwalakshi Yatra
GunGaur, Matasyavtar
Kajari Teel Bahula Chautha(manasa Devi Puja)
Ram Raja Mahotsav
Lalahi Chhatha, Halkhashthi-Balram Mahotsav
Suryakhashthi, Skandkhashthi
Krishna Janashtami okulashtami, Nandotav, Durvashtami
Oli(Jain)
Barah Awtar, Hartalika Teej, Barah Jainti
Ramnavami
Thelwa Chautha, Ganesh utsaw
Mahavir Jainti (Jain)
Rishi panchami, Bhartendu Jainti,
Hanuman Jainti
Lolarak Khashthi, Dev Khashthi, Krikunda Kajari Fair
Bashakh:-
Sarohiya Fair, Sri Chadra Jainti, Dashawer vrata
Panchkroshi Yatra
Vaman Dradawsi
Kachchap Jainti
Annat Chaturdasi, Ramleela Started, Ratan Trayvrata
Maha Prabhu Ballabhacharya Jainti
Nanadi Sradh, Lokpal Puja, UmaMaheshwer Vrata,
Amavas Satudan
Pritpaksh, Vishwakarma Puja, Lalita devi Yatra,
Chhatrapati Shiva Ji Jainti
Jeevit Putrika Vrata, Maha Lakshmi Darshan, Matri Navami,
Akshay Tritiya, Parshuram Jainti, Jhanjhaer Kshata Dan
Pritra visarjan, Mhalaya
Adi Shankeracharya Jainti
Aswan:-
Ramanuja Charya Jainti
Shardiya Navratri Started, shailputri Darshan,
Ganga Spatami, Shahanai Dangal
Braham Charani Darshan, ChitraGhanta Darshan,
Janki Jainti, Kuwer Singh Jainti
Kushmada Darshan.
Narsingh Chaturdashi
Skanda Mata Darshan, Upang Lalita Vrata,
Badhha Jainti, Kurma Jainti, Sarnath-Fair, Buddha Purmina
Katyayani Darshan, Akal Bodhan Puja, Kal Ratri darshan,
Jyeshtha:-
Durga-Puja Utsav, Mahanisha Puja, Maha Gauri Darsha,
Fair- Jangi Miya
Durga-ji Fair, Sindha Puja, Sidhidhtri Darshan Mahanavami
But-Savitri, Briksh Puja, Badasait Vrata
Vrata, Vijaya Dashami, Nilkantha darshan Shashtra Puja,
Ganga Dashahara, Birthday of Gaga, Gudia Visarjan
Shami puja, Ravan Badh, Durga Pratima Visarjan,
Nirjal Akadashi, Gangotsav, Deepotsav, Nakali Lathi Yudha
Madhwacharya Jainti, Dashahara, Bharatmelap
Bheemaseni (chhata, Juta, phal, Patra Dan)
Kojagari, Maharas, Kaumuri Mahotsav, Sharad Puja,
Sant Kabir Jainti
Balmiki Jainti, Lakshami Kuber Pujan.
Ashath:-
Kartik:-
Rathyatra -Fair, Shankudhara-Fair
Karva Chautha, Nakkataiya (chetganj), Ahoi Ashtami,
Vishnu Shayani, Ekadashi, Guru Purima, Vedbyas darshan,
Radha Jainti, Krinshna Lela At Assi Ghat, Goverdhan Puja,
Shivashayanotsav.
Dhanterash, Dhanwantri Jsinti, Kameshwer Jainti,
Shravan:-
Samundra Manthan, Narak Chaturdashi, Kali Chaturdashi,
Thakurain Teej
Hanumant Jainti, Kedar Gauri Vrata, Devali, Lakshami Puja,
NagPanchami
Mahavir Nirvan Divas, Annakuta Goverdhan Puja,
Balmik Jainti
Ramdwitiya, Bhaiyaduja, Chitragupta Puja, Suryakhashthi
Tulsi Jainti, Putra Akadashi, Jhulontsav
Dala Chhatha, Nag-nathaiya at Tulsi ghat, Gopashtami,
Kajali Purima, Rakshabandhan,
Akshya Navami(kahada Dan), Nagar Prikarama, Tulsi Byah,
Sarnath-Fair, Durga Ji-Fair
Hari Prabodhani Akadashi, Devuthauni, Bhisham Panchak,
Marg-Shirsha:-
Mahavinshnu Puja, Kartik Purima, Tripurotsav, GuruNanak
Guru Tej Bahadur Sahadat, Ram Vivah, Skand Khashthi,
Jainti, Rath-yatra(Jain), Mukki Dangal, Devdevali.
Champa Khashthi, Mitra Spatami, Surya Sptami, Nanda
Falgun:-
Navami, Gita Jainti, Lata Bhanta Fair, Dattatray Jainti,
Maha Shivratri, Rangbhari Ekadashi, Swarn Annapurna
Panchkroshi Yatra, Nagar Prikarma
Darshan, Govid Drawadashi, Holika Dahan, Holi Yatra,
Pausha:-
Chaita:-
Parshwanath Jainti, Guru Govinda Sigh Jainti, Shakambhari
Dhul Vandan, Holi, Chausathi Darsan, Rang Panchami,
Jainti, Badri Narayan Puja, Veda byas Fair, Ganesh Chautha
Buthawa Mangal Fair, Gulab Vari Chaiti Mahotsav,
Bada Ganesh Fair, Ramanucharya Jainti, Vivekanand Jainti.
Vahji Fair-Varuni, Mahavirji, Maha Maha Varuni
Mauni Amawsaya.
Magh:-
Kunr Chauth, Timul Chauth, Basant Panchami, Sri Panchami
Serswati Puja, Takshak Puja, Basantotsav, Ratikamotsav,
Vagishweri Jainti, Achala, Spatmi, Rath Sptami,Bhanu Sptami
Maha Nanda Navmi, Hersubarm Fair, Lala Rajpath Rai Jainti
Guru Ravidass Ji Jainti, Maghi Purima, Kalpvas

Ganga Mahotsav

2008-05-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

Ganga Mahotsav, the tourism festival of Varanasi is celebrated every year from Prabodhani Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima in the month of Oct.-Nov. The festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Varanasi.
Apart from the excelent cultural programmes and country boat race, displaying of marital arts also takes place. The concluding day coincides with the unique traditional festival of Dev Deepavali (light festivel of Gods), when more than a million erthen lamps (Diyas) are lit on the Ghats of Ganga

Mahashivratri

2008-05-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

On this day every Shiv Mandir is decorated. In Varanasi a marriage procession of Lord Shiva is taken out starting from Mahamrityunjaya Temple, Daranagar to Kashi Vishwanath Temple via Chowk.

Nag Nathaiya Leela

2008-05-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

In a performance, Lord Krishana jumps into Ganga for Nag Nathan at the local Tulsi Ghat. It is famous as Nag Nathaiya Leela . Many people congregate to see this event, held during the months of Nov.-Dec.

Nakkatayya

2008-05-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Showing a story from Ramayan in which Surpanakha- the sister of Ravan- comes to entice Ram and then Lakshman. But Lakshman cuts her nose and she goes back crying. This act is enacted as a stage- play during mid oct. in the locality of Chetgung. Numerous processions and tableaux are also carried out on the occasion.

Bharat Milap

2008-05-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Celebreting Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after 14th years of exile and his reunion with his brother Bharat, this festivel is held the day following Dussehra. Attended by the Kashi Naresh resplendent in regal finery, the festival attracts a large number of devotlees.

Ramleela- Ramnagar,Dhrupad Mela,Hanuman Jayanti

2008-05-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

RAMLEELA- RAMNAGER
The unique Ramleela of Ramnager performed in the pageant style, was started about 1830 by Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh of Banaras, and has today become famous the world over. Thousends gather to see the enactments during months of sep.- oct.
DHRUPAD MELA
A five days music festival of Dhrupad is performed by renowned artistes at Tulsi Ghat. It is very popular among foreign tourists.
HANUMAN JAYANTI
Jannotsav of Lord Hanuman is celebrated at Sankat Mochan Temple for five days with cultural & musical programmes by artistes from all over India.

Buddj Purnima - Sarnath

2008-05-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Buddha with trditional religious fervour. A large fair is held at Sarnath and the relice of the Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession on this day.

Banarsi Music And Dance

2008-05-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

BANARASI MUSIC & DANCE

MUSIC is the soul of life, OM or PRANAV is supposed to be the root of creation. SAMVEDA, one of our earliest scriptures is also our earliest music. Later SAMGAAN developed into various forms and styles of music.it is known that every land has its own music. These are called after the place as for example Karnatak Music or Pahari Music. Similarly a person of a group develops its own style and that becomes a school or Gharana of Music.
Kashi-Varanasi- Banaras is the oldest living city of the world and no wonder it has its own rich history and treasure of music.
When and in what form music developed in this area, it is difficult to say. When Renu (son of Vishwamitra) and Mahagovind founded this city, they also brought with them the Aryan traditions and the Vedic culture. It can therefore, safely be coneluded that during the Vedic period SAMGAAN must have echoed everywhere. The presiding diety of this city is Shiva- Mahadeva, the lord of Dance and Music (Natraj). Naturally the city worshipped him with Taals, Songs and Dance. This city has been called the capital of all learning and the Goddess Saraswati must have played her Veena here. Pauranic tales describe the Apsaras, Gandharvas and Kinnars lived here and made the city musical.
Jatak tales narrate the story of Veena competition in the "Sudershan" city. Ashwaghosh in his famous work "Sunnderanand" describes GANIKAS of kashi. During the Mahajanpada period we have a glimpse of Banarasi way of life full of Fairs and Fastivals with Music & Dancing. Guttal Jatak tells us that Kashi was the centre of Music and there was lot of Dancing and Singing in the temples.
During the Goiden Age of Guptas, we find Kashi vibrating with the poems of great poets like Kalidas and with Dhruvagayan & Prabandh Sangeet. The "Chatrurbhani" of the fifth century shows us a "Gayika"of Varanasi playing "Pichola" standing in a window in Ujjain. Excavations at Rajghat have given us a marvellous terracota wherein two musicians are playing percussion instruments with intense joy & pleasure.
During the nineth century Damodar Bhatt in his famous work "Kuttanimattam" Faithfully describes the "Shringar Heat" of Kashi and tells us of Music and Drama during Sheo Puja Krishna Mishra in "Prabodh Chandrodaya" describes the "Rasiks" ( Music-lovers) of Varanasi. The 12th century scholar Hemchandra describes "Banarasipan". Jin- prabha Suri in his Vividh Teerth Kalpa "describes"MADAN VARANASI". "Vikrant Kauravam" is a drama written in the 14th century buy Hastimal and here we find a beautiful description of Banarasi Music.
Fifteenth Century is the age of "Bhalci Movement" (Age of Devotion). Great saint Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Kashi and made the city "Kirtanmaya". Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya settled in Varanasi and the Vaishnava temples echoed with "Haveli Sangeet". Saints like Sur, Kabeer, Raidas, Meera, Tulsi made rich and valuable contributions to the Devotional Music and their Bhajans are still very popular. Ascetics of Banaras sing Nirgun Bhajans on Khanjari or Ektara.
During this period music took a new turn and developed DHRUPAD GAYAKI. We have a galaxy of great Dhrupadias like Swami Haridas. Baijiu, Tansen, Gopal Nayak who made the country vibrate with there music. Dhrupad had four schools: Dagar Bani, Gobarhaar, Noharbani and Khanhaar Bani. And Banaras was a centre of this Dhrupad style. Do you know Makrand pandey, father of great Tansen, breathed his last in Kashi?
In the 16th century Govind Chandra ruled Varanasi and during his reign Dhrupad was the royal music. With Dhrupad came its associates- the Dhamar, Hori & Chaturang and they still are a speciality of Banarasi Music.
This is the period when one ofthe great trios of Karnatak Msuic-Sri Muthuswami Dixitar lived here on the banks of Ganges for five years. Great writers of this are Ganapati in his "Madhvanal Kamkandha" and Damoodar in "Unkti Vyakti Prakaranam" give us a glimpse of music, Puppetry, Bhand plays. Similarly Banarasi Das in his "Aardh Kathanak" describes these very colourful music of Banaras.
During this period Jaunpur a city adjacent to Kashi had a Musical King the "Sharki" and he gave us "Jaunpuri", "Hussaini Todi" Almost during this period Indian Music took another turn and "Khayal" became the latest style. Sadarang and Adarang gave new dimensions to Khayal "gayaki" with slow and rapid speed. RABAB and SURBAHAR were great instruments the day.
While Nirgunias of Kashi sang the Famous Assarwari "Ghunghat ke pat Khol...", Nababs Awadh ruled Varanasi and the turbulent 18th century saw Meer Rustom Ali ruling Banaras as its Subedaar. Meer became a true Banarasi and patrnised Music Festivals like Jhoola, Jhoomar, Kajri, Birha, Dangal, Gulab Bari and Music Festivals on Boats. Soon a new Banarasi style emerged. Banaras bade tearful farewell to Meer and Raja Balwant Singh became Kashiraj. In his court we find great Kalawants like Jagraj Das, Khusal Khan and others.
He was succeeded by Raja Chet Singh and his court honoured musicians. Budhwa Mangal received Royal patronage and Dulari, Kajjan, Kishori, Rukmini,Chittan sang on the waves of Ganges.
In the court of Raja Maheep Narayan Singh, Tansen's sons Jivan Shah and Pyare Khan were appointed as the court singers. Next came Raja Udit Narayan Singh and during his reign Jahandar Shah ll- the Moghul prince came and stayed at Raja's palace in Shivala and in the retinue of Shah there were a number of Court Mussicians of Delhi.
Nabab Asafudaula was a music-lover and he gave a new turu to "Besarageeti" and called it "Tappa". Now the great savant of Tappa was Shori Miya. His disciple Gammu Khan with his son Shade Khan came and settled in Banaras and gave a new form to Tappa called "Banarasi Tappa". Shade Khan's disciple Nagendra Nath Bhattacharya taught this Tappa style to two of his worthy students-Chitra and Imambardi and when they sang in Calcutta, Tappa became a craze of the country.
Later in Kashiraj Darbar we find many musicians of Senia Gharana (of Tansen) like Zafar Khan, Basat Khan, Umrao Khan, Mohammed Ali and others.
In Nineteenth century we see Kali Mirza Mahesh Chandra in the darbar of Maharaja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh. Thakurdayal Mishra, a disciple of Adarang-Sadarang, and his two sons Prasiddhu-Manohar called "Shrutidhars" won acclaim all over the country. They were the music teachers of the last Moghul King Bahadur Shah Zafar. Nineteenth century of Banaras had great musicians like Badku, Rasulbux, Manju Khan, Mithai Lal, Dargahilal and other. There was a pair nicknamed "Demons of Music" the great Shiva- Pashupati, who had no equal in the country.
This century also saw a great galaxy of Gayikas Suggan, Maina, Tokhi, Gaffuran, Munna, Rajeshwari,Husna and others. Bhaiya Saheb Ganpatrao of Gwalior, great Harmonium player and Music Guru settled in Varanasi and his court we find Shyamlalji, Gauharjaan, Malka, and the phenomenal musician the doyen of Banarasi Thumri Moijuddin Khan and with him was the King of Banarasi Thumri Jagdeepji.
In the present era Maharaj Prabhu Narayan Singh gave shelter to Bahadur Shah's court Musicians like Waris Ali, Akbar Ali, Nisar Khan, Sadiq Ali and great Ashiq Ali Khan. Ali Mohammad and Ali Bux the sons of Basat Khan were considered the "jewels" of Kashiraj Darbar.
This galaxy of great musicians gave Banaras a place of pride in the country. Banaras developed unique Banarasi Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti,, Hori, Bhairavi, Kajri, Tarana, Ghato and what not, There was now less known, Tirwat, Sadra, Khamsa, Lavni,, Chaturang,, Sargam, Ragmala, Kirtan, Qauwali, Kathagayan, Bhajan, Ramayan and Birth and all of these reigned supreme.
Banaras has a very rich store of Folk Music like Bedesia, Pitma, Lachri, Badhaiya, Pujaiyao Geet, Fauwara, Gauri, Ghori, Nahchu, Alha, Sohar, Chandini, Nirwahi, Lachchan, Barahmasa, Maand, Sawani<>

Various Aspects Of Varanasi

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1. Importance of Banaras in India and especially for Hindus; various aspects of Banaras, its many names and what makes it the cultural capital of India.
2. Archaeology, Mythology, Geography, and History of Banaras- its unique situation on Ganges, and its journey through the history of India, and quest to know what makes it oldest living city.
3. Religious Varanasi- Many religions, place and types of worship, a religious place and institutions. You will find that even Primitive worship cults are still practiced in this city. Discover the city of Buddha, Jain Tirthankars, Shaiva and Vaishnava saints or Devoted saints like Kabir and Tulsi.
4. Arts, Crafts and Architecture of Banaras: You will be amused to see that Varanasi is a Museum architectural designs. It presents changing patterns and movements in course of history. It has a rich and original variety of paintingand sculptor styles and equally rich treasures of folkart. During the ages Varanasi has produced master craftsmen and Varanasi has earned name and fame for its Sarees, handicrafts, textiles, Toys, ornaments, metal work, clay and wood work, leaf and fibre crafts. With ancient crafts, Banaras has not lagged behind in Modern Industries.
5. Discover Ganga- the holiest of the holy river- its mythology, geography, socio- economic aspects, its monumental ghats and their story and the present condition of pollution.
6. The Capital of all knowledge- Discover the most ancient seat of education in India World the famous scholars and their `Shastrarthas', the great scholars, universities, college, schools, Madarsas and Pathshalas and Guru Shishya traditions, the epics, famous literary works, languages and dialects, journalistic traditions- newspapers and magazine, and famous libraries.
7. Discover the social and cultural fabric- Organisation of sacred complex and social spaces, the cultural pluristic, linguistic and ethnic groups. Discover the city of affluence, intellectuals, oral traditions, castes and customs, personalities, professions, communal harmony . Discover the rural Varanasi. And finally (and with deep insight) peep into, the pleasure of Pans, Thandai, Gamcha, Bahri Alang and Mauj Masti.
8. The City of Music and Drama and Entertainment: Banaras has been famous for its Music both vocal instrumental, it has its own dance tradition. Add to this a very rich stock of folk Music and drama (esp. Ramlila), the tradition Musical soirees, fairs and festival the rich tradition of Akharas, games and sports. Add to this classical Banaras Transport vehicles like Ekka and Modern Traffic Jam.
9. Industrial City: Discover the fast developing city of heavy, light and cottage industries, local handicrafts and other small scale industrial units. ( DLW, BHEL, Electric, Cycle,Pumps, Paper, Glass, Fertilizer etc.)
10. Medical World of Varanasi: Discover the ancient College of Plastic Surgery, Sushruta, Dhanvantri (God of Medicine), Divodas, and practice of all the ancient and modern systems of medicine in action.
11. The Unseen Banaras: Discover the spots around Varanasi, instituions, story of freedom struggle and the martyrs, history of Kashiraj, history of Sarnath, history of Bhadohi (Carpet town), of Mirzapur, of Ghazipur, know about the famous travellers and tourists, of the `Nijam'. And finally having seen the Panorama of Banaras, its continuity of culture, discover the identity of Banaras.

Panch Koshi Parikrama

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It has a special importance in the ancient Parikrama of India, starting and finishing at ManiKarnika Ghat. Each Parikrama passes through five places: Kardmeshwar, Bhimchandi, Rameshwar, Shivpur & Kapil Dhara.

Sarnath:General Information

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Buddhists wordwide look upon India as the land of the Buddha and a visit to this country means a pilgrimage to those places sacred to the memory of the Enlightened One. After the Bouddha attanined enlightenment in Bodh Gaya he came to sarnath. Here in the Deer Park, he delivered his first sermon, or in religious language, set in motion the wheel of Law (maha- Dharmachakra Pravartan). On the day before his death Buddha included Sarnath along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar as the four places he thought to be sacred to his followers.
The Emperor Ashoka, who spread the Buddha’s message of love and compassion throughout his vast empire, visited Sarnath around 234BC,and erected a stupa here. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. Sarnath is 10 km from the holy city of Varanasi, and is an exceedingly tranqiuil place. The ruins, the museum and temple are all within walking distance.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area : 2.80 sq. km.
Altitude : 80.71 mtrs. Above sea level.
Season : october- March
Clothing (Summer) :Cootons
Winter) : Woollens
Language : Hindia, English
Festivals :Buddha Purnima (Full Moon, April –May), Anniversary of First Sermon (Full Moon, July-August)
Local Transport : Buses / Cycle –rickshaws / Auto –rickshaws / Taxis
STD Code : 0542
ACCESSIBILITY
AIR
The nearest airport is Babatpur : 30 km.
RAIL
Sarnath is directly connected by Varanasi- Gorakhpur Exp 0549 / 0550 and Varanasi – Bhatni- Varanasi Exp 0551/ 0552. See Varanasi also.
ROAD
Sarnath 10 km from Varanasi, is well connected by road.
PLACES OF INTEREST
CHAUKHANDI STUPA
Chaukhandi is the first monument one encounters as one enters Sanath. It is a lofty mound of brick –work whose square endifice is surrounded by a octagonal tower. Originally said to built by Emperor Ashoka.
DHAMEK STUPA
The most remarkable structure at Sarnath, is the cylindrical Dhamek Stupa, 28 mts in diameter at the base and 43.6 mts in height, built partly of stone and partly of brick. The stone facing the lower part is adorned with delicate floral carvings of Gupta origin.

MULAGANDHA KUTI VIHAR
This mordern temple has been erected by the Mahabodhi Society. It has excellent frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu japan’s foremost painter and is a rich repository of Buddhist literature. The ancient Mulagandha Kuti temple is among the brick ruins of Sarnath.

SARNATH MUSEUM
Sarnath yielded a rich collection of sculptures comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva images. Considerde amongst the finest specimens of Buddhist art, these have been housed at the museum, adjiacent to the site. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, and closed on Fridays. Apart from the above the other objects of lnterest at Sarnath are the Dharmrajika Stup, magnificent Lion capital, India’s National Emblem at Sarnath museum, the Saddharmachakra Vihar’s at excavated ruins.
ACCOMMODATION
Forest Rest House, Sarnath.
Mahabodhi Dharamshala, Sarnath.
Jain Dharamshala, Sarnath.
UP TOURISM ACCOMMODATION
Tourist Bungalow, UPSTDC, Sarnath.
RESTAURANTS
Anand Restaurant, Sarnath.
Rangoli Garden, Sarnath.
Mrigdav Restaurant, Sarnath
BANK
State Bank of India, Ashapur, Sarnath
Canara Bank
Central Bank, Ashapur
POST & TELEGRAPH
Post Office, Sarnath
HOSPITALS
Govt. Hospitals, Sarnath
Dr. Baijnath Hospital, Sarnath
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES
UP Governments Tourist Bureau, Sarnath