Let me take you to the home of Shiva, the land that breathes and lives on the Trishul of Shiva. The oldest city in the world, the spiritual capital of India, the city of Light, Kashi. Also known as Varanasi and Banaras, Kashi has always been treated and views as one of the holiest places on Earth to exist.
Hello There! Parul here again, and after living in Kashi for more than 3 months, today I’ll share with you my three day, budget friendly guide to Kashi which will include most of the best experiences.
Reaching Kashi
Varanasi is well connected by road as well as railway lines. You can arrive here by car, bus, plane or rail, all depending on your comfort and budget!
Day 1: Exploring the Temples and Ghats of Varanasi
After reaching Varanasi I checked into WanderStation hostel. It is a great hostel, located near the Dashashwamedh Ghat. The people at the hostel were super friendly, and I made some great new friends. Small talks led to the creation of a whole group of people from all around the world and it was so much fun to explore Kashi together with them! This hostel can be a little expensive for the budget so I will recommend choosing from other cost friendly hostels/hotels online (booking.com).
I spent the first day visiting the Kal Bhairav Temple and the Vishwanath Temple. It is always a great experience because of the spiritual and devotional energies these places carry. The Kal Bhairav temple is much more crowded because of narrow streets so I always end up meditating for a while in the Vishwanath Temple after darshan.
I witnessed the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the Dashashwamedh Ghat. The chants, the lights, and the atmosphere were just surreal! I ended up crying as the sound from the conches filled the air and I completely gave myself up to the energy of the place. You can see people from all over the world sitting around the aarti are lost in the same spiritual trance. I ended the day by trying some local delicacies like Kachori, chaat, and Lassi, and trust me, they were finger-licking good!
Must Try
Tamatar chaat, Lemon tea, hot milk, kachori sabzi, aaloo kachori, dahi batashe
Day 2: Subah-e-Banaras, Street Food, and Visiting the Manikarnika Ghat
The next day, I started my day early with the Subah-e-Banaras. I woke up around 5 AM and walked to the Assi Ghat through the ghats with some of my friends from the hostel. Subah-e-Banaras is a morning routine that happens on Assi Ghat every day, it begins with a peaceful aarti, then leads to traditional songs and yoga which you can join too. I watched the sun rise at Assi while enjoying ginger tea, after that I got to try some fried idlis and other local street food. I then visited the Banaras Hindu University, the Sankat Mochan Temple, the Durga Kund, and the Manas Mandir and the Mani Mandir. It was just amazing to see how deeply rooted the culture and spirituality is in the city.
In the afternoon, I visited the Manikarnika Ghat, which was the main cremation ghat of Varanasi. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but then I realized that it’s just a part of the cycle of life and death. The rituals and traditions associated with death and the afterlife were just fascinating! I ended up meditating there and lost all track of time.
Travel Tip: You must travel on foot most of the times to save good money on your trip. The rickshaw and auto will over charge you, so you must always bargain. Eat in small eateries to have fulfilling, good quality and cheaper food options.
Some Good Hostel Options
WanderStation Hostel, Good Vibes Hostel, Mother Hostel, Live Free Hostel, GoStops Hostels, Zostel
Day 3: Wandering on the Streets, Boat Rides, and Exploring Sarnath
On the last day I had train in the evening so I spent the morning wandering on the fascinating streets of Varanasi and meditating on the ghats. I also took a boat ride to see the holy city from the Ganga. After that, I took an e-rickshaw to Sarnath, which was a where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The city instantly calmed me down and filled me up with positive energy. Lord Buddha has always been one of my greatest inspirations and exploring a city which had so much of his presence left me awe-struck. I explored the ruins, visited the monastery, different temples and tried some snacks before heading back to my hostel. After that I checked out, watched the aarti one last time, had dinner at Godolia and left for the station.
Varanasi has always been enriching and fulfilling. It has opened my eyes to a different way of life. It has helped me meet my truest self in ways that I cannot explain and I can never truly come back from Varanasi. I have left a part of my soul there forever. So, if you’re planning a trip to Varanasi, I highly recommend it! Trust me, you won’t regret it!
About the Traveller
Adya loves to explore places by becoming a part of the destination. She takes her time to slowly understand the places she visits and embrace the local stories and folklore. Travel for her is about leaping into the unknown without any fear. What’s better than meeting new people, having new adventures and striving to be Alive?
