Varanasi is the holy city of India and is also called Benaras and Kashi. This is a sacred place of the Hindus and one of the oldest cities in the world. Millions of pilgrims visit this place every year and bathe in the river Ganges early in the morning at sunrise and offer their prayers. Bathing in the Ganges is believed to wash away all sins. There are numerous shrines in Varanasi which is also known as the city of temples and attracts spiritual lovers from various quarters.

Varanasi has a humid subtropical climate and has great variations in the summer and winter seasons. Summers are long and hot, so it’s best to avoid visiting in the summer season. Winters are very cold and cold snaps from the Himalayas make it even colder. The formation of fog will cover the view in winter making the trip difficult. Post-monsoon season and early summers are the right time to visit Varanasi.

Although weaving, manufacturing, and agriculture are some of the major industries in the area, tourism outstrips them all. Here fine silks, tapestries and lampshades are made, focusing on the tourists who come to this place. Although this is an old city, there are many modern buildings, shopping malls and multiplexes built these days.

There are many museums in Varanasi worth visiting such as Jantar Mantar, Archaeological Museum, Bharat Kala Bhavan and Saraswati Bhawan at Ramnagar Fort. Jantar Mantar is an observatory built during the time of Maharaja Jai ​​Singh in 1737, the archaeological museum is located in Sarnath and is the oldest such museum in India and houses the antiquities and has five galleries displaying items from 300 B.C. C. until 1200 d. C. which were excavated at Sarnath, Bharat Kala Bhawan was established in 1920 and has more than 100,000 objects including costumes, paintings, philately and archival materials and personal collections and Saraswati Bhawan houses many books including the precious handwritten manuscript by Tulsidas. There are also more than 100 ghats in Varanasi.

There is a domestic airport in Varanasi called Babatpur Airport which has regular flights to selected destinations in India. Varanasi Junction is one of the major railway stations in North India, connecting all major Indian cities. NH 2, NH 56 and NH 7 connect Varanasi with other neighboring cities and reaching Varanasi by road is the easiest option for those living in the surrounding area.

There are many restaurants offering different kinds of food and the ones closer to the ghats cater to the tastes of foreign tourists. The Banarasi Khana is available in the main market area and Benaras Aloo Dhum is popular with the locals. The place is also famous for its paan. As home stays are famous here, home-cooked meals are also very popular.

Many good places to stay are around the ghats. The most famous temples and the main market are located here. Another good place where you can find the best hotels is Sarnath. To find the right Varanasi hotels and restaurants, take a look at the good Varanasi travel guide.