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Varanasi
Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Plains, India, Asia

wear for chilly days and nights, instead.

See
Varanasi is not a city with distinct tourist destinations as such: instead, the experience is in watching the spectacle of life and death on the river and meandering through the alleys of the old city. Vishwanath Temple - also known as the Golden Temple, security is tight making entrance difficult and sometimes completely off limits to foreigners. No bags, cellphones or pens are allowed. They can be deposited in the shops by the temple entrance. The temple was destroyed multiple times by Mughal invaders and was re-constructed by Hindu kings who followed them. Kaal Bhairav Temple - is the temple for Kaal Bhairav - a dreadful form of Lord Shiva symbolizing death. Its a tradition to buy black threads (costs about Rs. 15 per 50 threads as of Sep 2009), keep it in the shrine and then wear it on the arm, wrist or around the neck as a protection against evil forces. Nepali Hindu Temple - A small golden temple, built in Nepali architecture, near Lalita Ghat Alamagir Mosque - overlooking Panchganga Ghat, it's a great place for a bird's eye view of the area. Man Mandir Observatory Tulsi Manas Temple Durga Temple Banaras Hindu University - a very green and peaceful campus. Few actually know that this University was built during Indian freedom struggle and is known as Oxford of the East. This is the largest residential university of Asia, having approx. 124 independent departments. You can also visit Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum of Art and Archeology inside the university. There is also a huge white marbled temple called Vishwanath Temple which was bulit by Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of the university.

Sarnath - It is believed that in Sarnath Buddha gave his first sermon to his disciples after getting enlightenment. There is also a Museum in Sarnath. The exact location is also known as Deer Park. Sarnath is 13 Km from Varanasi and is very peaceful. Several Asian countries have built Buddhist temples there following their own ancient architectural traditions. Ram Nagar Fort - the fort of the King of Kashi which is situated at the other side of the river. Gauri Matha Temple - The devi at this temple is supposed to be the sister of the lord Kashi Vishwanath. Its a tradition to visit her just before you leave Kashi. You buy sea shells at this place and offer them to the God saying that the virtues of donating the shells goes to her while you keep the virtues of having visited the holy shrines in Kashi and bathing in the ganges. The trip to Kashi is expected to yield results only after completing this custom. festivals Diwali is a great time to be in Varanasi, with special preparations going on in many temples. The once-in-a-year decorations and aarti at the ghats are spectacular. Shivaratri is another great time to be in Varanasi. The day of Shivaratri is also the last day of the Dhrupad Mela, a festival of classic indian music going on night and day for three days. Since the date of the festival is decided by Hindu calendar, the date is never clear and changes every year. ghats
Floating away While the use of ghats for cremation is well known, they are also used to give last rites to those who do not need cleansing by fire to purify their soul, including young children and pregnant women. Instead, their bodies are wrapped in cloth, weighted with stones and deposited

About
Understand Varanasi [5link], once known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi, is a historical city in northern India. The city is sacred to Hindus and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In many ways Varanasi epitomizes the very best and worst aspects of India, and it can be a little overwhelming. However, the scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganges at sunrise set against the backdrop of the centuries old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world. Some people believe that Varanasi is a must see destination on any trip to northern India. Others do not find it particularly interesting to see Hindus bathing themselves in the Ganges, and are turned off by the feces that floods the Ganges and covers the alleys of Varanasi. The city can be scorchingly hot in the summer months so, if possible, time your visit to fall between October and March, and bring something warm to

2 - Varanasi - www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides

into the Ganges. However, it is fairly common for the ropes to give way, resulting in putrefying corpses washing up on the east shore across from the city. Steer clear if squeamish.

Do
Walk Get lost in the alleyways - the sounds, sight and smells are just unbelievable! walk along the ghats. best way to explore varanasi is by walk. Otherwise, many hotels in Varanasi organise 'free' boat rides for you, the catch being that the 'free' portion of the ride is usually only half an hour, and after seeing 30mins of the river enough people agree to pay for more to make it worth their while. Sankrit Tour Zone has its extension counter on Dashaswamedh ghat which books Sunrise boating directly online and offline. Fixed rate shop with no bargaining. email: sankritabhishek@gmail.com or +91-9648000010. During the trip "market boats" will float up to you selling overpriced trinkets which can be bought much cheaper on land. Any offers of flowers for puja will definitely not be free; Rs 2 per flower bowl and Rs 5 per candle bowl are the going rates, though as a tourist you might be asked for as much as Rs 100 each. Hindi Language Center
B1\150 L-10 Assi http://hinditeachervaranasi.com/ initkumar_mishra@rediffmail.com 91 9452247010 b

offers a wide range of classes on topics related to classical indian studies in english.
[5link]

A ghat is a series of steps leading down to the river, used by bathers and pilgrims, and riverside Varanasi consists of a long sequence of these. It's generally possible to walk directly between them, though near Manikarnika Ghat you'll have to navigate your way up and around through the alleyways. The best option for viewing the ghats is to charter a boat and see them from the river. Hindus consider it auspicious to die in Varanasi, so some ghats are known as burning ghats, where bodies are cremated (in full view) before their ashes are placed in the Ganges. Some of the main ghats, from north to south: Panchganga Ghat - the meeting of the five rivers Manikarnika Ghat - the main cremation ghat; a must-see, but remain quiet and never take photographs (note: scams are plentiful here; see the "Staying Safe" section) Dasaswamedh Ghat - the main ghat and site of the large evening aarti; only reachable by foot at some times of day, about a 5 minute walk south from Godaulia Rana Ghat Kedar Ghat - brightly painted in stripes and busy with bathers, very photogenic Narad Ghat - the ghat on which bathing with spouse is not advised because the myth of contention Harishchandra Ghat - the cremation place were Raja Harishchandra did the last rituals of his son. Hanuman Ghat Shivala Ghat Tulsi Ghat - site of the large water purification plant Assi Ghat - a popular place to stay with many hotels, restaurants and internet cafes

Bathe Over 60,000 people come down to the waters edge every day to take a dip in the sacred waters of the ganges. try not to think too much about the dozens of sewage pipes and sunken corpses in the waters around you and you'll find it's not nearly as bad as you expect once you're actually in it. although medically, bathing in water in which a corpse rests risks infection with numerous blood borne diseases (notably hepatitis) and many infections. Boat rides Are very popular, especially at sunrise and sunset. the most popular sunset ride is to start at dasaswamedh ghat and head up to manikarnika ghat to see the cremations in progress, and then return to dasaswamedh and watch the evening aarti from the boat. sunrise is another magical time for a ride, when the ghats are filled with hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in india. you can bargain the price down to around rs 30/person per hour (even for just 1 person in the boat), but expect to be quoted much higher the current bargained down 'foreign tourist' rate for a boat ride is rs 300! in fact there is a price limit set by the city in 1998 but still in force today that sets a price range from rs 50 for boats up to four seats to a maximum of 125 for very large boats. (that's per hour and boat not per person.) at dasaswamedh there is even a huge sign (in hindi only) alerting tourists to that fact. if you go nishadraj ghat, a few minutes walk from assi, you can find a boat driver named bhomi, a local singer renowned for his incredible voice and charming, beautiful songs; during the boat ride he sings anything from local folk songs to modern film songs and old devotional ones, and often improvises lyrics over his own songs to communicate with you and the various people gathered on the ghats. Kriti Gallery
Raman Niwas, Mahmoor Ganj, Varanasi ry.com 9839058007 11-6 pm www.kritigalle

Learn Hindi with teacher Binit Kumar Mishra. Mr. Mishra can teach anyone enough Hindi in a few days to conduct the kinds of simple business that travelers must do every day. A little Hindi opens many doors. Sanjeevani Booti
Assi Ghat http://www.booti.org info@booti.org

A sexual health, drug, and HIV education NGO. There is always demand for foreigners to visit because there is always work related to public health education to be done. A great volunteer opportunity. Yoga Is also popular, and the same rules apply. Benares Hindu University

www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides - Varanasi - 3 A place to interact with contemporary art in the city of Varanasi Punarnava Health
Assi drpramodbhu@gmail.com k for Dr.Pramod Kumar.

cheese nan and the pancakes! Middle-Eastern Food This temple has been usurped by thugs who

(near godowlia crossing) good assortment of exotic chats. try out the aloo tikia chat. Rabri/Malai shops (a couple of shops, near godowlia crossing opposite to the church) try out fresh rabri and malai in the evening (7pm-9pm). really good stuff !!! one of the best rabri shops is on the alleyway that leads to the vishwanath temple (the main shiva temple) from the dashashwamedh ghat side. this is a tiny hole-in-the-wall rabri shop next to a big sari shop (kanjilal and company) and loads of shops selling bangles. Another excellent place for rabri malai is Atul's shop (6-12 pm), another hole-in-the wall shop on the alley that starts beside the Bank of Baroda ATM on Dasaswamedh ghat ; just ask anybody for Atul Bhaiyyas shop once you enter the alley. Madhur Jalpan The best place for laddoos and other famous sweet delicacies is 'madhur jalpan', a shop that has been frequented by more than two prime ministers of india! madhur jalpan is on baradev - next to the kainiya chitra mandir. again, on a small alleyway, but the sweets are to die for. Shiv Lassi Bhandar (near the main gate of ramnagar fort) lassi with layers of malai and rabri. superb stuff. Bufffalo's Restaurant (near kedar ghat post office)newly opened restaurant. every sunday they have a chess tournament and jamming sessions on thursday. great thali. Mona Lisa Cafe (just south and opposite shiva cafe). another good and popular cheapie, with a good range of things on offer, notably a thali for rs 20, and some japanese and korean dishes thrown in for good measure. A C Shahi Restaurant kesari restaurant near dasashwmedh ghat in godaulia and shahi restaurant near rathyatra crossing

+91 9453109313; as sponsor this restaurant. Avoid on ethical grounds. No

Ayurvedic treatment, Ayurvedic massage, Shirodhara, steam bath, leech therapy, health package, Panchkarma, etc. Learn Ayurvedic food habits, daily routine. Basics of Ayurveda course, massage therapy course. 'Super Lingua Solution' a translation company based in Varansi, (Shop No. 17, ABC Tower, Sigra, Varanasi) may help you to bridge the gap of language. You can contact Rajesh Kumar Ojha-95803 60440, rajesh.oza7@gmail.com for any kind of help.

other heritage Indian temple has a restaurant in its courtyard ! very good magnetosphere quality, pleasant open air

Possibly due to a high influx of tourists from Israel, a number of Middle Eastern restaurants have opened in Varanasi, all of which serve very similar food, cater to a predominantly tourist clientle, and charge a little over Rs 100 for a thali. The food is awful too with the Jordanians gone. Hayat mediterreian' Near assi (new location= behind dumraon bag colony park), managed by authentic middle-easterners (from jordan). try the labanha (dry yoghurt), or the baba ghansoush (eggplant) with pita. the nanas (mint-lemon drink) are the best in town. the feta is a tad high in salt, but at least they have it. the restaurant has a tent-like lounge atmosphere that gives it a cult presence. ask for "hello to the queen" and see smiles. Phulwari / Sami Cafe Near the vishwanath temple crossing, you sit beside a religiously near-defunct but architecturally gorgeous mahadev temple, and sip on iced teas and nanas. some locals still consider this a holy site and aren't too happy about the cafe being so close. Haifa Cafe Assi ghat, (in hotel haifa). most popular for its middle-eastern cuisine such as the thali (delicious!), but has a wide range of indian and continental dishes and is also popular at breakfast. the jordanian brothers aren't here anymore. its now just a regular hotel. benarasi delicacies Kashi Chat Center

Eat
CHINTU
POSTOFFICE

DARI VIKRETA There are numerous food outlets and a very dynamic range in quality. The restaurants closer to the ghats cater more to foreign tourists, with variable success. To get really authentic Banarasi Khana you're going to have to get to the main market area or, better, to have a banarasi friend inviting you at home. Benares Dum Aloo is a local specialty, and the city is also known for its desserts. You can't go away from Benares without eating local specialities as aloo chat and pani puri and, in general, the street food. Paan, a betel nut mixture usually containing tobacco, is not really food, but is something Benares is famous for all over India. Nice cafe
Bengali Tola 7am - late 25-55 for meal

Great food cooked only by mum and family. Home kitchen. Clean. Friendly and helpful owner. Very reasonable prices, except on festival days when hot chocolate is poured over everyone for a fixed price of 1000 rupees per person. Check out the garlic /

4 - Varanasi - www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides serve very good vegetarian north / south indian dishes. Diamond Hotel And jaika restaurant near vijaya talkies crossing in bhelupur serve very good north indian dishes. Ganga View On the roof of sita guest house d 22/16 chaustti ghat, varanasi,up india,indian continental and western food fresh food and purified water (non-veg not available) Ganga Paying Guest House Rooftop Restaurant (near assi ghat on the bank of river ganges) +91-9936491103. a very nice place to eat with an awesome view of river ganges and all the ghats. the food is very nice but it takes a little time but with that beautiful view you would like to spend more time sitting there even without food. 99 Not Out - Veg Cafe
6 Kashiraj Apartment, Kamachha http://www.99notout. in 0091-9415226752 12.00 Noon to 10.30 PM

Aum Cafe / Ayurvedic Cafe Near assi ghat, owned and run by shivani ayurvedic food/ organic teas and coffees, healthy vegan/ vegetarian friendly atmosphere with free wi fi. hearty nutritious dishes. some indian and western choices. located behind the temple on assi ghat. Open Hand Shop Cafe Assi ghat, (around the corner from hotel haifa), +91 542 2369 751, [5link]. the bakery has daily fresh bread, cakes, pies various pastries. the food selection includes set breakfast, salads, breadrolls and fruit salad. the espresso-based coffees and fresh fruit smoothies are the main attractions. the shop is selling fixed-price merchandise on fair-trade principles. free internet I would not recommend this at all. Set up by an American James Hetherington who claimed to be a businessman ; it was actually a front for his Christian missionary activities. He hails from Kansas, Missouri and Bread of Life Bakery originated there www.breadoflifebakery.net/ Zaika Restaurant - in shivala, opposite hotel broadway. good indian / chinese dishes; try the sweet-corn-pakoras. Moti Mahal Delux Restaurant - in sigra, 3rd floor, ip mall, in the heart of the city. +91-542-2220555. one of the best indian and mughlai restaurant in the city with a unique fine dining experience. also provides free delivery of your meal at any location in the city. also serves authentic chinese and continental. Weekly Event:A movie is shown every Sunday at 6pm followed by a special dinner. Madhur Milan Cafe Dashashwamedh road, is a nice place for indian snacks and meals at cheap prices. the price range for a persons full meal varies between rs. 40 - 150. cafe is primarily famous for its fried hot samosas, dosa and kachori sabji. website : [5link].

Flavours Cafe Lanka, ('above axis bank). great coffee and desserts. strong filter coffee and lighly accented lattes with a quiet ambiance make for a needed break from the city. free wireless is also a plus. Bread of Life Bakery Shivala road, (a few hundred metres north of assi ghat), +91 542 227 5012. good baked goods, but also a full restaurant with okay breakfasts including "american" pancakes and canned-oj (freshly-squeezed no longer). used to be very popular but the quality is now questionable. Megu Cafe Kalika gali (near meer ghat), has excellent vegetarian japanese food made by a japanese woman who settled in varanasi a number of years ago. all dishes are rs. 85 or less. closed on sundays. [december 2011] menu prices of all items have increased and expect to pay around rs. 100-130 for a vegetarian and around rs. 180-200 for non vegetarian main meal. Brown Bread Bakery Near meer ghat, 09838888823. is a good bakery run by a german baker in varanasi, be wary of the indian run bakery on the opposite side of the road who claims charity but is just fake. breads and pastries made from organically grown ingredients. also a nice range of cheeses. the restaurant has a large menu including continental, italian, german and indian classics, has a great rooftop and offers a breakfast buffet from 7 to 12. quality is mostly pretty good and a part of the proceeds supports the learn for life society which operates a free school for disadvantaged children in aurangabad, varanasi. www.brownbreadbakery.com; www.learn-for-life.net Filocafe' ( +91-9839066788), a space to study, read, network, converse, experiment, thinks filocaf provides a perfect heaven for this and much more. come here to showcase or appreciate up-and-coming talents ss musical, intellectual, artistic ss or use this free space any other activity that relates to the city or

Extremely neat clean place serving pure veg burgers, pizza, pasta, chowmein, hot dog etc. A wide range of thick shakes and exclusive cold drinks alongwith full range of Ice Creams. Samara Restaurant
B-38/1-S, Mahmoorganj http://www.samararestaurant. com 0542-2364484 11AMto 11PM

Pure Vegetatian Indian, North Indian, Chinese, South Indian Shiva Cafe and German Bakery D 26/4 narad ghat, (near himalaya lodge). in the main little alleyway that runs parallel to the river between dasaswamedh ghat and assi ghat, this place is deservedly popular. the food takes time, but that's because it's prepared fresh, and you'll be happy you waited when the food arrives. staffed by enterprising nepalis this has authentic pastas, sandwiches etc.healthy food. favourite amongst long stay residents.

www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides - Varanasi - 5 makes us grow as people equipped free wi-fi and electrical outlets available to all, filocaf offers a variety of over 45 types of teas, real espresso coffee (yes those which come out from those italian machines :d) and its creative varieties, fresh juices and a few munchies.. open from 12pm to 8:30pm. The Taj is excellent as usual. Varuna And chowk, taj ganges hotel, nadesar palace grounds. tel+91 542 250-300 - two restaurants respectively offering indian and western cuisine. Azure Paying Guest house is located very central of the town of Varanasi and is about 10 mins of walk from the river and the city center. The house has two double rooms with attach bathroom, two double rooms with shared bathroom and one dormitory with shared bathrooms . Bathrooms have western loos ( wc), wc with needed amenities like free wifi , common sitting area , balcony and place to lounge in. The large rooftop area provides a great advantage to hang around and even practice yoga or chill out. The house also have a family kitchen where you can enjoy the taste of Indian cuisine with various types of delicious foods like Pakoda , Thalis, Chai etc. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available on order. The area where the guest house is located is very quiet and have green atmosphere so that you can relax and enjoy your time . Roomsss rent starts from rupees 400 upto rupees 600. Come and experience the difference ss The most interesting area to stay is around the ghats. This is where most foreigners hang out - and with good reason. In addition to the ghats and river, Varanasi's most famous temples and main market are all located in this area. Another choice is Sarnath, about 8km from Varanasi. It is a little removed from 'the action' but much safer and calmer than Varanasi. Some budget accommodations advertise free morning and evening boat rides along the river. Technically, it is not free. The boat will take you half-way along the river and then let the boat-load of passengers know that for the second-half there is a fee of 60 rupees per person. Those who do not want to continue can get out of the boat and walk back to their lodging. Beware that Varanasi, particularly during summer, is prone to many hours of power outages a day. It is best to double check that you fan of A/C is run from a backup generator, or you may not have it for much of the day. Hotel Ganges
Between Gadaulia and Dashashwamedh Ghat, on the lef t Rooms between Rs. 500 to Rs.2000 per night.

The Hotel Ganges is situated very close to the Vishwanath Temple lane. The washrooms are clean, and A/C rooms are available. Stay here if you want to stay in the midst of things in Benaras. Vishnu Rest House
Pandey Ghat +919936438706

A hotel spanned over 200 year old Vishnu temple. A very clean and friendly guest house over looking the river, some rooms with views. You will often find classical music programs and puja held during morning and evening time. The rooms are with power backup and hot water. Lord Vishnu Rest House
Pandey Ghat +919450870727

Drink
help Alcohol Is available at a few restaurants and hotels, such as the radisson and taj. there are several wine shops in the old city but they don't offer any sitting arrangement. you can buy whatever you want and bring it to your hotel room. Bhang Is a potent, powdered form of marijuana often mixed into "special" lassis, simply called bhang lassi. the drink is especially popular on holidays as varanasi is a major center of shiva worship as it is offered to the lord in form of prashad. it can be quite intoxicating. Thandai Is cool milk based drink made with pistachios, almonds and kesar and topped off with a large dollop of malai (cream). bhang is often added to thicken the concoction, though it can be made without. many tandai stores are located near the main godowlia, and most also serve lassi.

Just behind Vishnu Rest House. A very clean and friendly guest house over looking the river, some rooms with views. Close to Vishnu rest house amenities and bigger rooms with peaceful place to stay. The rooms are with power backup and hot water. Groovy Ganges Guesthouse
B2/225, B-6-A, Bhadaini info@groovyganges.org eek http://www.groovyganges.org 993.618.0896 Rs 3000/w

Live in an Indian home with an Indian family. Unlimited broadband internet access comes with every room, making this an ideal place for long-term students, researchers, and activists wanting to integrate into local culture. Boiled water used for all cooking. Hotel River View
a couple ghats north of Panchganga Ghat 0 Rs 100 - 25

Shanti Rest House

B. 4/30, Hanuman Ghat 09236848106 250+

Sleep
Azure Paying Guest House
Plot number 30, Vijayanagaram Colony Bhelupur, Varana si , Near Bhelupur Water Tank and Coffee House www. azureguesthouse.com 05422276015 400

A knockoff of Shanti Guesthouse near Hanuman Ghat. Rickshaw drivers from the train station will try and bring you here. Plain rooms from 250 rupees, 50rs fee for wifi use. Rude and pushy staff. Radiant YMCA Tourist Hostel

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Sampoornanand 895 0542-2224951,2223831 Rs 315 - 1 Burning Ghats. The travel agent in the rooftop bar is

Rooms with Air-Conditioner and Hotwater and 24 hour Restaurant available. The facilities include inhouse Laundry, Doctor(on call), Full Travels Sightseeing faciliy, Acceptability of Credit Cards, Generator Backup, Parking, Internet. Tiwari Lodge
B-1/243-A, Assi Ghat 2315129 Rs 100 - 150

reported to overcharge. The cafe's food is priced Rs 40-100. Fans are run on generator during power outages, but not A/C. Double fan room Rs200. Golden Lodge
D. 8/35, Kalika Gali goldenvaranasi@gmail.com 2-2398788 Rs 125 - 1200 054

This place is very clean, quiet, and recommended. Newly opened, the guest house has the most fascinating Ganges views and the exotic sunrise from its balconies, rooms and terrace. All rooms have 24 hrs hot water with attached bathrooms. Buest Guest House
K 54/84 DARANAGAR, Varanasi 221 001 rajapayinglo dge@gmail.com +91 964 800 0010 Rs 150 - 1500

Monu Family Paying Guest House

D8/4 Kalika Gali, Varanasi http://www.monuguesthous e.com monufamilyguesthouse@gmail.com +91 542 2 40 0908 Rs 400 - 900

Tucked away in the alleyways, this guest house has astoundingly cheap rates (20% discount) in the low season and friendly staff. 24 hour internet and refreshments available, restaurant on site. Rooms range from a single bed with a fan to a triple en-suite with AC. Maa Vaishno Guest House
B 5/188 vermadinesh81@gmail.com 69 Rs 200 - 500 +91-93891785

Property is situated right in the centre of the old town. Yoga courses are available by Yog Guru. Sita Guest House
Chausatti Ghat http://www.sitaguesthouse.in sthouse@yahoo.com 542 2450061 or 3251088 sitague

Rooms are available with attach bathroom, western loo, hot and cold shower and free wifi internet access. Music, cookery and language courses are available in house. Ganga Fuji Home
Rs 350 - 990

Some rooms have shared bathroom; more expensive rooms have A/C and TV. All rooms are clean, with clean sheets and towel. The rooftop restaurant offers evening concerts every night. Maruti Guest House
Sahodarbir (near Assi Ghat) http://www.marutiguestho use.com 231.2261 Rs 50 - 400

Family run guesthouse situated two minutes from the Shivala Ghat. A very short walking distance to the burning ghats but far enough away to avoid smoke and smell. 10 clean rooms, all with attached bathroom with running hot and cold shower and view of the Ganga. Roof top restaurant, sunrise sun set from roof room. Broadband internet (paid),pick up services. laundry, train, bus and air ticket arrangement and other travel services available. Mishra Guest House
Ck 8/178 Garwasi tolla Gaumath Varanasi mishraguesthouse.com +91 542 240 1143 50 http://www. Rs 150 - 9

A very short walking distance to the burning ghats but far enough away to avoid smoke and smell. Rooms are clean and of a good size all with view of the river. Hot water in every room and roof top restaurant. The hotel also has generator for the many power cuts in Varanasi. The hotel provides many services for its guests, including internet, in house laundry, train and air ticket bookings. Hotel Malti
Vidyapeeth (542)356844 351395

Diamond Hotel
Bhelupur,Varanasi, 221010, http://www.hotel-diamond. com/ diamotel@hotel-diamond.com +91 0542 227669 6 Rs 2000 - 5000

Friendly family run guest house with clean well lit rooms. There is a roof top garden and restaurant where fresh home made food is served. Power backup for the rooms and hot showers are available as well as broadband Internet access. The owner of the guest house, Dr. V.N. Tripathi, gives Yoga and meditation lessons upon request. Shanti Guesthouse There are several hotels near the ghats that have taken the name Shanti after the original's good reputation. The original is a clean but very basic building with several floors of windowless rooms (cooler and safer than ones with exterior windows). There is a dorm on the roof. The rooftop cafe offers money changing, internet access, and a view of the

The rooftop restaurant offers evening concerts every night Free.

At Diamond Hotel, centrally air conditioned rooms extend a warm and hospitable staying experience. The Hotel offers a range of options for guests interested in arranging conferences, seminars, Shiva Kashi Guest House parties and get-togethers indoor and outdoors for up D22/4 Chausatti Ghat http://www.shivakashiguesthous to 400 people.
+91 923 551 2294 Rs 2500 - 40

evaranasi2gmail.com 00

Hotel New Temple's Town

53, Patel Nagar, Cantonment http://www.newtemplesto wn.com/ reservation.newtemplestown@gmail.com +9 1-542-2507733, +91-542-2507735

Very clean, well-decorated, quiet guest house. Pleasant and helpful staff. Rooms have windows, are light and airy. Some have great balconies. Hot water morning and evening. Western toilets. Great value. Sahi Riverview Guest House
Rs 200

Kautilya Society residence

D 20/21 Munshi Ghat http://www.kautilyasociety.com info@kautilyasociety.com +91-542-2452179; +91-542-

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2455139 s6 membership plus s6-10

Located on the banks o the river Ganges at the city centre, it is not an Hotel but it is a NGO for intercultural dialogue, that also offers rooms for students and scholars. The atmosphere of Ram Bhavan remains faithful to the simple comforts of an Indian home with a splash of colour. Walls are painted in the colors of the ancient city: a cooling forest green facing the court; peacock blues in the bedrooms; Annapurna rose in the kitchen. Furniture is colonial Teak or cane. By Indian law it is necessary for all residing guests to become members of the Society; annual membership is s6. Rooms in high season cost from per day, including half board (s 1 a day for additional guests sharing the same room). In low season rates are approximately 20% lower. Special prices can be obtained by long term guests. Hotel Surya
The Mall Cantonment 542 2508466 http://hotelsuryavns.com +91

wish to go to has burned down, is flooded, or closed. Don't believe him. Drivers receive commission from hotels for bringing in new guests, and this is one way to trick newcomers to going to these places. Don't get annoyed, but see the exchange as playful banter and part of the Varanasi experience. However, if the Wow India driver continuously refuses to follow your instructions, Assi Ghat threaten to get out of the rickshaw. If after all this you A large collection of handicrafts from all over the still end up to a different place, just refuse to pay until country, a good herbal teas, incense and plenty you arrive at your hotel. The same procedure will more. Prices are moderate and fixed. need to be followed when sight seeing, as drivers will inevitably try to take you to handicraft stores, from Pratha which they receive commission. If calling for a pickup Shop No.38, Kashi Anathalaya Building, Maldahiya (00 from a more resepctable hostel, be wary that other 91)9451089499 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM taxi drivers may listen in to your phone conversation A small shop by the corner, showcasing Hand Block then tell another taxi driver who will pick you up printed cotton kurties, suits and accessories. This pretending to be your hostel, then take you to a store does not offer commissions to guides. commision charging hostel. Government Approved. Has set, reasonable prices and a good selection of handwoven pure silk Sarees, dress materials, bedcovers and hot chocolate and other silk materials. Sri Guru Perfumers
D, 32/15, Munshi Ghat

K 4-8A, Lal Ghat, Raj Mandir

(0091)542 2435892

Very nice selection of perfumes and natural oils, some of them are made by the family of the owner Nadesar Palace Grounds gateway.varanasi@tajhotels. Shankar Roy. Homemade incenses are great. You com +91 542 250 3001 enter Bengali Tola Lane on the way to Dasaswamedh A five-star hotel owned by the Taj Group, it's the Ghat. Turn at the Bank of Baroda ATM. There is nicest in the city. Rooms from $150 (or even less another perfume shop on the corner before Sri Guru Perfumers, so be aware. off-season, inquire about discounts) The Gateway Hotel Radisson
The Mall, Cantonment +91 542 250 1515 http://www.radisson/varanasiin

Information
Violent crime is rare, but still do be careful in the lanes after dark. Carry a lamp; power outages are extremely common, and the alleys are hard enough to navigate in daylight, let alone in pitch dark, because of their broken paving stones and cows common. Women especially need to dress conservatively and to be careful. Even taking precautions, expect to have the odd local young man try to quickly grope you and run away. Respond aggressively and loudly to try to discourage this behavior as much as possible. Rickshaw/taxi scams are a norm in Varanasi, and the driver will inevitably tell you that the hotel that you

As you approach Manikarnika Ghat you will probably be ushered toward a plain concrete building to view the funeral pyres. The person that leads you there will say that he is a volunteer at the hospice center and will tell you how he takes care of poor people that don't have enough money to buy wood for their funerary burning. He'll tell you that wood costs 300 rupees per kilogram (it's actually closer to 5 rupees per kilogram) and that most foreigners donate between 5 and 10 kilograms of wood to his center, at which point he'll ask for a donation from you. If it isn't obvious already, this is a scam. Either tell him you have no money or that you don't feel comfortable donating at the time. contact BSNL, Reliance,Idea, and Airtel are the most popular cell phone services in the region. If you bring your GSM cellphone from home, you can get a cheap connection and cash card from Idea or Airtel from anywhere in India and call within India and abroad. Internet is widely available, especially in the lanes between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat. Price is usually Rs 20-30/hour. Several branches of Iway BROADBAND (rs.15-20)are sprinkled around town as well.

Buy
Loan arts
s.20/52a,nepalikothi 0091--9336062161 12

Silk carpets, hand-made, hand-knotted oriental Persian carpets, silk products, silk pashminas, hand embroidered and hand stitched cashmere wool, papier mache and lots of handicrafts. Varanasi is famous for its fine silk - it's on offer everywhere, but shop around and bargain hard! Mehrotra Silk Factory

8 - Varanasi - www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides Calling abroad is cheap from Iway branches. Now a days, it is not so easy to get a new sim card because of security reasons. Normally the shopkeeper will ask for identity as well as address proof for the sim card. He will ask for photograph also which is the standard procedure. Before giving access to internet, shopkeeper will ask for Identity proof and he will note down your details. In some cases, he will take a photostate copy of your identity proof and will keep photostate copy with him. This is as per the instructions of authorities. respect There is, rather understandably, some resentment at tourists traipsing up to the cremation ghats for raucous sightseeing at the funeral ceremonies of loved ones. Behave respectfully and do not take photographs of cremations, even from the river. You can take photographs if it is from a distance ; most do not mind. There are touts who for a fee will "stop minding". Note that if it is the family that objects then you have to respect it but not if local riff raff object in the interest of extracting money. Offer the money and if they seem ready to accept ,withdraw it and photograph ! Call the police if necessary. also as this city is full of temples you will have to take off your shoes/sandals at every point. so wear a flip flop which is easy to take off. travel agencies: There are very few travel agency in varanasi India which worked based on Sanskrit phrase " Atithi Devo Bhava" english meaning is "Guest is God". Sankrit Tour Zone(India) : Located in central varanasi market and they have branches in Bodh Gaya,New Delhi and Patna and cordinating agents in European countries. Varanasi sightseeing for Indian Citizen (INR. 250) and Non- Indian citizen INR. 400.Head office: C 21/4 - A, Maldahia, Varanasi, uttar Pradesh(India)Contact at +91-9648000010 or +91-542-2401071 email: sankritabhishek@gmail.com. Url: http://www.sankritstockbroking.com/TRAVEL_TICKETING.php arrive at Mughal Sarai Junction (IR station code : Map: MGS), about 15 km east of the city (Rs 20, 45 min in http://local.google.co.in/maps/place?georestrict=input_srcid:068ebfcbaca0bca3=en a rickshaw). If travelling to/from Agra/Tundla, Mughal Sarai is a more convenient station.

Getting there
Varanasi is well connected by train and bus, with multiple of each heading in every direction daily. The trains and buses are dirty and overcrowded by Western standards. Varanasi Airport (IATA: VNS) is about 25km from the city center. Indian Airlines [5link], Jet Airways/JetLite [5link], Kingfisher [5link] and SpiceJet [5link] all have daily flights to Delhi and there are daily flights to Mumbai on JetLite ,Indian Airlines and SpiceJet. air viva operates direct flights between Varanasi and the Nepalese capitol Kathmandu. Allow plenty of time to get to the airport, it can take an hour or more depending on traffic. A taxi (from the pre-paid stand just outside the terminal) should run around Rs 400-500 (plus Rs40 parking toll) or about Rs 125 in an auto-rickshaw, but most drivers will want to charge double since they will likely be coming back empty. If it suits your schedule there is a daily bus at 10AM that leaves from Hotel India and costs Rs 50. There are daily buses to the Nepali border and other points around northern India. Local buses leave from the main bus station near the train station, almost every hour in the morning and one in the evening, to Gorakhpur (5-6 hrs, Rs 120), from where buses leave to the Nepali border at Sonauli (~3 hrs, Rs 56). There are buses run by state government from Lucknow (8hrs), Kanpur (9hrs - Rs. 195) and Allahabad(3hrs - Rs. 88) Trains are the easiest way to reach Varanasi, with multiple daily services to cities including Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata. Varanasi is served by two major railway stations. Many trains arrive at Varanasi Junction (IR station code : BSB) in the heart of the city, and many others

Here is a list of useful trains to reach Varanasi: Train Number Train Name Rajdhani Express Rajdhani Express Shivganga Express Lokmanya Tilak (T) Varanasi Express Lokmanya Tilak (T) Bhagalpur Express You may board at You may alight at Mughal Sarai Junction Varanasi Junction Varanasi Junction

2424

New Delhi New Delhi, Lucknow New Delhi Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)

2436 2560

2165

Varanasi Junction Mughal Sarai Junction Mughal Sarai Junction, Varanasi Junction Mughal Sarai Junction Varanasi Junction Mughal Sarai Junction

2336

2333

Vibhuti Express

Howrah (Kolkata)

2307

Howrah-Jodhpur Howrah Express (Kolkata) Ganga Kaveri Express Chennai Central

2669

2295

Bangalore City, Sangamitra Chennai Express Central

www.journeum.com - free downloadable travel guides - Varanasi - 9 Mughal Sarai Junction, Secunderabad-Patna Secunderabad Varanasi Express (Hyderabad) Junction Marudhar Express Jaipur, Agra Fort Varanasi Junction Varanasi Junction By car There are many car rental companies available.

See around
Gaya - One of the most sacred places to do Pind Dan (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased) Sarnath - One of the most sacred places for Buddhists, known as the place where Lord Buddha gave his first speech after his enlightenment. Agra - the next point on the tourist "Golden Triangle". Buses and trains, including overnight trains, leave several times a day. Nepal - buses travel to the Nepali border where you can transfer to Kathmandu and Chitwan buses. Most buses go via Gorakhpur and can take 8-12 hours, or there are daily flights. There are a number of travel agents in Varanasi which will sell you tourist/AC buses to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Avoid these services (especially the operator Paul Travels) because they are not actually tourist buses. Instead, they are actually the local, public buses and once you get across the Nepal border, they will try to get more money from you.
This travel guide to Varanasi was created using www.journeum.com on 20 February 2013. Parts of the content of this guide are derived from the corresponding Wikitravel page and are available under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 license. Visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Varanasi to get the full list of the authors. Get more customizable travel guides for free at www.journeum.com. Please consider environment before printing this guide.

7091 4854

Marudhar Jaipur, 4864 Express Agra Fort Also see Rail travel in India

Getting around
taxiGUIDE.in
http://www.taxiguide.in/TourPackages/Varanasi_Car_Ren tal.aspx support@taxiguide.in +91 888 023 4455 In quiry: 7am to 11pm Fares starting Rs.1222 for within cit y and Rs.9.5/km for outstation

Many of the sights are in the tiny narrow winding alleys of the waterfront. Rickshaws are only useful for longer trips across town or to the train stations. A cycle-rickshaw from the Junction train station to Dasaswamedh Ghat (or Godaulia if the road is closed) should cost Rs 20, an auto rickshaw about Rs 70. From Godaulia to Assi Ghat is Rs 10. Taxis exist but traffic makes them impractical. There is a pre-paid auto-rickshaw stand at the Varanasi Junction (Cantt) train station, however if you go with this option make sure to keep your prepaid receipt until the end of your journey, or your driver may not take you the whole way. Rs55 is enough to get to the old town. By foot is the only way to see the waterfront and the ghats but be ready to be hot, sweaty, and lost - locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. The names of ghats and signs pointing to restaurants and hotels are often painted on the walls in Roman letters. For better orientation, walk into any book store and pick up a small guide/map book that will have the list of all the ghats and their historical background.