Trip to Kasi (Varanasi/Benaras)

Varanasi or Kasi or Benaras is one of the oldest living cities in the world and a holiest city for Hindus and Buddhist. The name Varanasi derived from the two rivers that run’s in the city, the Varuna to the north and the Asi to the south. The city is also called by various names such as City of Light (Kashika), Light of Shiva. If you plan to take a trip to Kasi. I like to guide you with some useful.

About the city:

• Area: 73.89 sq. km.
• Population : 3,147,927
• Altitude: 80.71 mtrs. above sea level
• Temperature : Summer 32°C - 43°C ; Winter 5°C - 15.5°C
• Season: October – March
• Rainfall : 111 cms annually ( approx )
• Language: Hindi, English & Bhojpuri
• Festivals: Shivratri, Dussehra, Ganga Festival, Bharat Milap, Dhrupad Mela, Hanumat Jayanti, Nakkatyya Chetganj, Nag Nathaiya Panch Kroshi Parikrama.
• Local Transport : Buses, Cycle-rickshaws, Auto-rickshaws
• STD Code : 0542

How to reach Varavasi:

Air

· The nearest airport is Babatpur, 22 km from Varanasi and 30 Km from Sarnath.

· Direct flights for Varanasi are available from Delhi, Agra, Khajurao, Calcutta,Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhuvaneshwar and Kathmandu ( Nepal).

Rail

· Varanasi and Mughal Sarai are the important rail junctions, with train connections to all major cities of India.

· The trains connects Varanasi from other parts of India

1. Rajdhani Express (New Delhi-Mughal Sarai Junction)

2. Rajdhani Express (New Delhi, Lucknow-Varanasi Junction)

3. Shivganga Express (New Delhi-Varanasi Junction)

4. Lokmanya Tilak -Varanasi Exp (Lokmanya Tilak (Mumbai) - Varanasi Junction)

5. Lokmanya Tilak -Bhagalpur Exp (Lokmanya Tilak (Mumbai) - Mughal Sarai Junction)

6. Vibhuti Express (Howrah (Kolkata)-Mughal Sarai Jn, Varanasi Jn)

7. Howrah-Jodhpur Express (Howrah (Kolkata) - Mughal Sarai Junction)

8. Ganga Kaveri Express ( Chennai Central - Varanasi Junction)

9. Sangamitra Express (Bangalore,Chennai - Mughal Sarai Junction)

10. Secunderabad-Patna Express (Secunderabad (Hyderabad) - Mughal Sarai Jn, Varanasi Jn )

11. Marudhar Express (Jaipur, Agra Fort -Varanasi Junction)

12. Toofan Exp (Howrah, Delhi -Mughal Sarai Junction)

13. North East Superfast Exp (Delhi, Guwahati - Mughal Sarai Junction)

14. Magadh Exp (Delhi, Patna - Mughal Sarai Junction)

15. Mahanagari Exp (Mumbai - Varanasi Junction)

16. Pawan Exp(Muzaffarpur, Mumbai - Varanasi Junction)

17. Sabarmati Exp (Ahmedabad - Varanasi Junction)

18. Poorwa Exp (Howrah, Delhi-Varanasi Junction)

19. Himgiri Exp (Jammu, Howrah - Varanasi Junction)

20. Sealdah Exp (Jammu Tawi - Varanasi Junction)

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket booking in India use
http://www.irctc.co.in/

Road

Varanasi is on

1. NH 2 from Calcutta to Delhi,

2. NHZ to Kanya Kumari

3. NH 29 to Gorakhpur

The major road distances are:

Agra - 565 km, Allahabad - 128 km, Bhopal - 791 km, Bodhgaya - 240 km, Kanpur - 330 km, Khajuraho - 405 km, Lucknow - 286, Patna - 246 km, Sarnath - 10 Km.

For Travel by Private bus use:
http://www.redbus.in/

Place to Stay:

· Sahi Guest house in Assi ghat:

AC rooms costs Rs.700 and one with balcony costs Rs.900.

Contact: +91-054-22366730, 2311244

Mr.Sahi: 9415818171

· Hotel Palace on Ganges

Room costs Rs.2000 & above

Contact: +91-0542-2315050, 2314304, 2314305

Fax 2314306,22044898

Email: palace onganges@indiatimes.com

· Udipi house

Rooms cost Rs.200

Contact: +91- 0542-2310260

Mr.Jayaprakash: 9838615375

Places to See

· River Front (Ghats)

· Asi Ghat to Kedara Ghat

· Chauki Ghat to chausathi Ghat

· Dashashwamedha Ghat

· Man Mandir Ghat to Lalita Ghat

· Manikarnika Ghat

· Scindia Ghat

· Panchganga Ghat to Adi Keshva Ghat

· Vishwanatha Khanda

· The Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple)