Varanasi Things to See

Those interested in mythology and history should definitely make a trip to Varanasi, the oldest city of the world. Varanasi has been famous for spiritualism, Indian philosophy and Hinduism for centuries which are reflected in the many temples, ghats, ashrams and sects of Varanasi. As Varanasi is associated with Buddhism and Jainism, along with Hindusim, you find many Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples here. Varanasi is also considered to be a mirror of old Indian civilization where you find artifacts like the archeological museum of Sarnath housing the national emblem of India, the Ashoka pillar. The Ganga Ghats are centers of religious activities and rituals and is one of the main attractions of Varanasi. The Alamgir mosque which is a blend of Muslim and Hindi types of architecture is also worth a visit when in Varanasi for a vacation. The important temples of Varanasi you have to visit are Durga temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Vishwanath temple, Bharat Mata temple and Tulsi Manas temple. The Bharat Mata temple is special as it houses a huge relief map of India and the Tibetan plateau. The other places of attractions of Varanasi are Banaras Hindu University, Sarnath, Bharat Kala Bhavan, the Archaeological Museum and Buddhist Stupas and temples found in Sarnath. You can also go shopping while in Varanasi as there are many souvenirs for you to take back home. Silk weaving of Varanasi and Banaras silk saris and the world famous gold and silver brocades are best buys when in Varanasi. Besides this, you could also consider wonderful pieces of copperware, wooden and clay toys, brassware and antique, heavy gold jewelry. The hand knotted carpets of Mirzapur, musical instruments, the sweet and sour Langda Aam and betel leaves are all specialties of Varanasi that have to be bought on a trip there.