6 best places to visit in Varanasi (Banaras)

People have different reasons for traveling. If your reason for traveling is to visit a sacred place that offers an amazing and unique experience with its historical value apart from its pilgrimage then Varanasi could be the right choice. The old town has amazing places that will never fade in your memory once you visit the place. Varanasi is located on the banks of the famous and mighty river Ganges. Ganges has great faith in Hinduism adherents. The river is believed to wash away sins when taking a dip in the river. Varanasi is famously called the city of temples and learning. Varanasi is a mix of religion, philosophy, culture and crafts. Here are the 6 places to visit in Banaras trip.

1. River Ganges

Ganges is famous for the religiously minded Hindus who owe it to their beliefs about the power of the river in washing away their sins. Whether you take a dip in the Ganges River or not, you shouldn't miss the river on your trip to Varanasi. You would love a walk along the river while getting to see the place all day which is busy with activities. Riding the boat during sunrise and sunset will give you a spectacular view. The river's cultural richness is amazing and the views are breathtaking. The burning candles and the supply of flowers in the evenings are sights not to be missed. It would be great to see the different activities of daily life performed in full view of the people.

2. Sarnath

Sarnath is 10 km from Varanasi. The place is famous for being the place where Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Emperor Ashoka, who was a staunch follower of Buddhism, erected a stupa in Sarnath sometime around 234 BC. More structures were built in the coming centuries. The tallest statue of Buddha in India can be found here and Sarnath is visited by many tourists every year.

3. Manikarnika Ghat

The most famous ghat in Varanasi is the Manikarnika Ghat. This is a place of cremation by the Hindus. If you are ready to feel boldly what it feels like to watch the ongoing cremations take place, this could be the place. You might be wondering if this is a place worth visiting while on vacation, you might change your mind once you're here. It gives a view of life in its full nakedness and when you really see that this is the ultimate, you experience a unique feeling. Knowing about life is different and seeing so many cremated corpses and how it just happens as a routine is another story altogether.

4. Male Mandir Ghat

Man Mandir Ghat is yet another Ghat in Varanasi and an ancient one. The place is worth a visit if you would like to see the Rajput's architectural splendor in full form. Man Singh of Jaipur, the Rajput king, built a palace on this site in the year 1600. Sawai Jai Singh, the Second, built an observatory here. If you have an eye for space, you will enjoy the astronomical instruments here.

5. Ramnagar Fort

This was the residence of the former King of Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort was built by the king of Banaras in the year 1750 AD. It is built with red stones. It is gaining in significance because it is an astronomical wonder. The large clock in the palace shows the day, week, month, year and details the astronomy of the space objects. It has a museum with a rich collection of swords, costumes, sedans and so on. The majestic palace is a combination of architectural excellence and astronomical brilliance.

6. Chunar Fort

Chunar Fort is located on the banks of the river Ganges and 40 km away from the city. The fort is spread over a whopping 34,000 square meters and is known for its rich antiquity. The fort was built by Ujjain King Vikramaditya for Bharthari, his brother. The fort is of historical importance and it served as an important post when the battle between Humayun and Sher Shah took place. It was under the control of several rulers and the last rulers to rule the fort were the East India Company.

Varanasi is one of the great places to spend some time in your life. The place where you can visualize the end of life because of the religious practices performed here also offers several attractions. It is a city rich in cultural heritage with an ancient history and keeping its freshness even if its customs and customs are old. It is one of the major tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh.