Varanasi, India
77%
77%
What's Hot
Getting Around, Culture, Value For Money, Weather
Getting Around, Culture, Value For Money, Weather
What's Not
Partying, Things To Do, Eating Out, Chilling Out
Partying, Things To Do, Eating Out, Chilling Out
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Varanasi Reviews ( 5 reviews )
| Varanasi Reviews |
by orla
| 1 May 2007 | 100% |
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Varanasi is a holy town where Hindi people try to get to at least once in their lifetime. It is said that it is the closest place to heaven so the elderly try to come here to die, so they are one step closer to heaven. It is located on the Ganges and along the river there are various ghats (holy places) where people come to pray (and wash) in the river. You can get sunset and sunrise boat trips along the ghats which is highly reccommended to see the full impact of the ghats. One particular ghat where they dont really like to take tourists, is where they burn the deceased and then send the burning body out on a small raft decorated with flowers. It is a priviledge for people to die here and they celebrate their loved ones passing in such a holy place. Needless to say the town itself has quite a morbid feel, but it is colourful and cheery in its own ways, wuch as the praying that occurs nightly on particular ghats along the river, where everyone is decorated with flowers and bright colours and loud colourful music is blared from speakers as their form of praying. Highly reccommended is a trip around the temples in the area where your tour guide will give you a summary of the religion. The town is also amazing for shopping to get the usual backpacker gear along with clothes made to fit, and brightly coloured jewelery and sari's, along with indian artifacts. These shops are located in the small lanes of the town, where you sometimes have to wait for that cow to move out of your way to get to the next shop. |
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by lovinb
| 21 Jan 2007 | 80% |
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Try the sizzling brownies at Mings Garden Restaurant... they are sooo good! Shopping is fantastic and heaps cheaper then Deli and Rajastan. Lots of culture and traditions. getting around is easy. Make sure you jump in a boat to watch the sun rise and the evening cremation ceremony plus the blessing ritual. |
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| 12 Nov 2007 | 80% |
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Had to call for the transfer from the train station - it was a wild double rickshaw ride... Good place, great view of the Ganges on Meer Ghat. You may encounter a monkey or 2 going to the toilet upstairs.... |
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| 25 Nov 2007 | 60% |
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Hotel Surya is not the closest hotel to the old city and Ghats and takes some getting to by rickshaw or taxi! |
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