TRAINS

TRAIN NO. TRAIN NAME SOURCE DESTINATION DEPARTURE ARRIVAL DISTANCE CLASS FARE
2301 CAL RJDHANI HOWRAH JN. ALLAHABAD JN. 04:45 PM 02:42 AM 814 KM A3 Rs.1110

5160 SARNATH EXP ALLAHABAD VARANASI 12:55 PM 04:10 PM 136 KM A3 Rs.251

2334 VIBHUTI EXPRESS VARANASI HOWRAH 06:00 PM 07:55 AM 773 KM A3 Rs.831

HOWRAH – ALLAHABAD (CAL RJDHANI) ROUTE

SLN STN CODE STN NAME ARRIVAL DEPARTURE DISTANCE DAY
1 HWH HOWRAH ---------- 04:45 PM 000 KM 1
2 DHN DHANBAD JN 07:42 PM 07:47 PM 259 KM 1
3 PNME PARASNATH 08:15 PM 08:16 PM 306 KM 1
4 GAYA GAYA JN 10:19 PM 10:22 PM 458 KM 1
5 MGS MUGHAL SARAI JN 12:50 AM 01:00 AM 661 KM 2
6 ALD ALLAHABAD JN 02:42 AM 02:45 AM 814 KM 2

ALLAHABAD – VARANASI (SARNATH EXP) ROUTE

SLN STN CODE STN NAME ARRIVAL DEPARTURE DISTANCE DAY
1 ALD ALLAHABAD JN 12:30 PM 12:55 PM 000 KM 1
2 PLP PHULPUR 01:46 PM 01:47 PM 037 KM 1
3 JNH JANGHAI JN 02:23 PM 02:24 PM 060 KM 1
4 BOY BHADOHI 03:02 PM 03:03 PM 091 KM 1
5 BSB VARANASI JN 04:10 PM 04:30 PM 136 KM 1

VARANASI - HOWRAH (VIBHUTI EXPRESS) ROUTE

SLN STN CODE STN NAME ARRIVAL DEPARTURE DISTANCE DAY
1 BSB VARANASI JN ------------- 06:00 PM 000 KM 1
2 KEI KASHI 06:10 PM 06:12 PM 006 KM 1
3 MGS MUGHAL SARAI JN 06:40 PM 07:00 PM 017 KM 1
4 DLN DILDARNAGAR JN 07:40 PM 07:42 PM 075 KM 1
5 BXR BUXAR 08:10 PM 08:12 PM 111 KM 1
6 DURE DUMRAON 08:28 PM 08:30 PM 128 KM 1
7 BEA BIHIYA 08:50 PM 08:52 PM 158 KM 1
8 ARA ARA 09:10 PM 09:12 PM 180 KM 1
9 DNR DANAPUR 09:47 PM 09:49 PM 219 KM 1
10 PNBE PATNA JN 10:20 PM 10:30 PM 229 KM 1
11 FUT FATWA 10:54 PM 10:56 PM 251 KM 1
12 BKP BAKHTIYARPUR JN 11:20 PM 11:22 PM 274 KM 1
13 BARH BARH 11:33 PM 11:35 PM 292 KM 1
14 MKA MOKAMEH JN 11:56 PM 11:58 PM 318 KM 1
15 KIUL KIUL JN 12:38 AM 12:40 AM 352 KM 2
16 JAJ JHAJHA 02:05 AM 02:15 AM 406 KM 2
17 JSME JASIDIH JN 02:47 AM 02:52 AM 450 KM 2
18 CRJ CHITTARANJAN 03:54 AM 03:56 AM 536 KM 2
19 ASN ASANSOL JN 04:30 AM 04:40 AM 560 KM 2
20 DGR DURGAPUR 05:15 AM 05:17 AM 603 KM 2
21 BWN BARDDHAMAN JN 06:28 AM 06:33 AM 666 KM 2
22 HWH HOWRAH JN 07:55 AM ----------- 773 KM 2

TOUR PLAN:
DAY DETAILS
1 Catch Train from Howrah at 4:45 PM
2 Reach Allahabad at 2:42 AM. Check-in to Hotel and site seeing.
3 Site seeing and rest.
4 Catch Train from Allahabad at 12:55 PM and Reach Varanasi at 4:10 PM. Check-in to Hotel.
5 Site seeing Varanasi
6 Go for excursion to Sarnath and others on the way.
7 Take rest at Varanasi
8 Catch Train from Varanasi. at 6:00 PM
9 Reach Howrah at 7:55 AM
 ALLAHABAD
About the City:
A city of many dimensions is what befits a description of Allahabad. In addition to being a major pilgrimage centre, the city has
played an important part in the formation of modern India. Hindu mythology states that Lord Brahma, the creator god, chose a
land for 'Prakrishta Yajna'. This land, at the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, blessed by gods,
came to be known as 'Prayag' or 'Allahabad'.

Foreseeing the sanctity of the place, Lord Brahma also called it as 'Tirth Raj' or 'King of all pilgrimage centres.' The Scriptures -
Vedas and the great epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata, refer to this place as Prayag.

Centuries followed. Allahabad became the headquarters of North Western Provinces, after being shifted from Agra. A well
reserved relic of the British impact includes the Muir College and the All Saints Cathedral.

Many important events in India's struggle for freedom, took place here - the emergence of the first Indian National Congress in
1885, the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence movement in 1920.

This confluence of history, culture and religion makes Allahabad, a unique city.

Area: 63.07 Sq. km.

Population: 1022365 (1991 census)
Altitude: 98 meters above sea level.
Season : November - February
Clothing:
o Summer: Cottons
o Winter: Woollens
Language: Hindi, English, Urdu.
Festivals: Magh Mela, Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumb Mela, Dussehra.
Local Transport: Taxis, Buses, Rickshaws.
STD Code : 0532

Accessibility:
AIR Bamrauli Airport is 14 Km from Allahabad.
Regular Flights from Allahabad to Delhi
Jet Airways: Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 4:15 PM
Air India: Monday to Saturday at 4:20 PM

RAIL Allahabad is well connected by trains with all major cities, viz. Calcutta, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai. Some of
the important trains providing access to Allahabad are:
2311/2312 Kalka Mail (Kalka/Delhi-Calcutta)
2381/2382 & 2303/2304 Air Conditioned Express (Amritsar-Delhi-Calcutta);
2815/2816 New Delhi-Puri Express;
3007/3008 Udyan Abha Toofan Express (Shriganganagar/Delhi-Calcutta);
3011/3012 Howrah Express (Calcutta-Delhi);
2321/2522 North East Express (New Delhi-Guwahati);
2391-2392 Magadh Vikramshila Express (New Delhi-Patna);
2417/2418 Prayag Raj Express (New Delhi)

ROAD Allahabad, on National Highways 2 and 27, is connected to all parts of the country by good roads. Some important
road distances are:

Agra - 433 KM Calcutta - 799 KM Jaipur - 673 KM Nagpur - 618 KM

Ahmedabad - 1207 KM Chennai - 1790 KM Jhansi - 375 KM Patna - 368 KM
Ayodhya - 167 KM Chitrakoot - 137 KM Khajuraho - 294 KM Udaipur - 956 KM
Bhopal - 680 KM Delhi - 643 KM Mumbai - 1444 KM Varanasi - 125 KM
Trivandrum - 2413 KM Hyderabad - 1086 KM Lucknow - 204 KM
Place of Interest:
SLN LOCATION INFORMATION
1. Sangam Around 7 km from Civil Lines, overlooked by the eastern ramparts of the fort, wide flood plains
and muddy banks protrude towards the sacred Sangam. At the point at which the brown
Ganges meets the Greenish Yamuna, pandas (priests) perch on small platforms to perform puja
and assist the devout in their ritual ablutions in the shallow waters. Beaches and Ghats are
littered with the shorn hair of pilgrims who come to offer pind for their deceased parents.
2. Allahabad Fort The massive fort built by emperor Akbar in 1583 A.D., the fort stands on the banks of the
Yamuna near the confluence site. In its prime, the fort was unrivalled for its design, construction
and craftsmanship. This huge, majestic fort has three magnificent galleries flanked by high
towers. At present is used by the army and only a limited area is open to visitors. The
magnificent outer wall is intact and rises above the water’ edge. Visitors are allowed to see the
Ashokan Pillar and Saraswati Kup, a well, said to be the source of the Saraswati river and
Jodhabai Palace. The Patalpuri temple is also here. So is the much revered Akshaya Vat or
immortal Banyan tree.
3. Patalpuri Temple Within this underground temple, inside the fort, lies the Akshaya Vat – or the immortal tree.
Believed to have been visited by Lord Rama, the temple was also seen by the famous Chinese
traveller and writer Hiuen Tsang during his visit to this place.
4. Ashoka Pillar This gigantic Ashoka pillar, of polished sandstone stands 10.6 meters high, dating back to 232
B.C. The pillar has several edicts and a Persian inscription of Emperor Jahangir inscripted on it,
commemorating his accession to the throne.
5. Akshaya Vat The immortal tree within the Patalauri temple, has found mention in the description of several
ancient scriptures, writers and historians. The tree stands in a deep niche above an
underground shaft, which is said to lead to Triveni.
Visitors need permission to visit the Fort, Patalpuri Temple, Ashoka Pillar and Akshaya Vat from Commandant, Ordinance Depot,
and Fort. Allahabad Phone: 6064738, Extn. 213.
6. Hanuman Mandir Near the Sangam, this temple is unique in North India, for its supine image of Hanumana. Here
the big idol of Lord Hanumana is seen in a reclining posture. When the Ganga is in spate, this
temple gets submerged.
7. Shankar Viman 130 feet high with four floors, it has the idols of Kumaril Bhatt, Jagatguru Shankaracharya,
Mandapam Kamakshi Devi (with 51 Shaktipeethas around), Yogsahastra Sahastrayoga Linga (2ith 108 Shivas
around).
8. Mankameshwar Situated near Saraswati Ghat, on the banks of Yamuna, this is one of the famous Shiva Temples
Temple of Allahabad.
9. Minto Park It is situated near Saraswati Ghat, it has a stone memorial with a four-lion symbol on top, the
foundation of which was laid by Lord Minto in 1910.
10. Swaraj Bhawan The old Anand Bhawan, which in the year 1930 was donated to the Nation by Moti Lal Nehru, to
be used as the headquarters of the Congress Committee. Moti Lal Nehru renamed it as Swaraj
Bhawan. Late Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi was born here.

Visiting hours: 09:30 am to 01:00 pm and 02:00 pm to 05:30 pm. Closed on Monday's.
11. Anand Bhawan The erstwhile ancestral home of the Nehru family. Today it has been turned into a fine museum.
Here, many momentous decisions, events, related to the freedom struggle took place. The main
building houses a museum which displays the memorabilia of the Nehru family.

Visiting hours: 09:30 am to 05:00 pm. Ticket: Rs.2.00. Closed on Mondays and Government
holidays. Phone: 600476.
12. Jawahar Planetarium For a celestial trip of the scientific kind, visit the Planetarium. Its worth every moment.

Visiting hours: 11:00 am to 04:00 pm. Ticket: Rs. 5.00. Closed on Mondays and 4th Thursday of
the month. Phone: (0532)600493.
13. Allahabad University One of the most famous universities of India, it has a sprawling campus, graced by fine buildings
in Victorian and Islamic architectural styles.
14. Allahabad Museum The museum has a good collection of sculpture, especially of the Gupta era.
15. Muir College (1874) Designed by William Emerson, this is an excellent mix of Gothic and Indian architectural
elements. Commenced in 1874 and opened in 1886, it has an arcade quadrangle which is
dominated by a 200 feet minaret tower in cream coloured sandstone from Mirzapur with
marble and mosaic floors. The domes of the Indo-Saracenic structure are clad in Multan glazed
tiles.
16. Chandra Shekar Azad Adjacent to the museum, this splendid park was once known as Company Bagh. It has some fine
Park colonial Buildings, including a public library.
17. All Saints Cathedral This magnificent cathedral, designed by Sir William Emerson in 1870 and consecrated in 1887, is
(Patthar Girjaghar) the finest of Anglican Cathedal in Asia is faced in White Stone with red stone dressing. No one
visiting the cathedral can fail to be impressed by the beauty of the marble altar with intricate
inlay and mosaic work.
18. Khusro Bagh A large garden in which tombs of Khusro, son of emperor Jahagir and Shah Begam are located.
19. Public Library (1864) Standing at Chandra Shekhar Azad Park (Alfred park)l The memorial has a lofty tower and
arcaded cloister. In 1879, the library was shifted to the present premises at Alfred Park. It has
about 75,000 books, besides a treasure trove of manuscripts and journals.
20. Mayo Memorial Hall Situated near the Thornhill and Myne Memorial, this large hall has a 180 feet high tower. The
(1979) interior of this memorial hall was ornamented with designs by Professor Gamble of the South
Kensington Museum, London. Completed in 1879 this hall was meant for public meetings, balls
and receptions in commemoration of the assassinated Viceroy.

Excursions:
SLN LOCATION INFORMATION
1. Jhusi (Pratisthanpuri) For people looking for mental peace and spiritual healing. A place of many Ashrams and
Temples. Situated just 9 km from Allahabad, across the Ganga. Approachable by Taxis, Buses,
Boats, etc.
2. Bhita An archaeological site 20 km from Allahabad, with remains dating back to 300 B.C.
3. Shringverpur A famous kingdom of Nishadraj (King of Boatmen) situated 40 km from Allahabad. Excavations
have revealed a temple of Shringi Rishi. On the banks of Ganga there’s a platform `Ramchaura’ –
said to be the place where Lord Rama stayed overnight while going to the forest and his feet
were washed by Nishadraj, before steering Rama across the Ganga in his Boat.
4. Tons River Aqueduct A popular picnic spot situated around 43 km from Allahabad.
5. Upardaha Lake One of the protected lakes in Uttar Pradesh, just 44 km away from Allahabad.
6. Kaushambi Situated at around 62 km from Allahabad. It is a place traditionally associated with the
Mahabharata; the city was also once a great Buddhist centre. Lord Buddha is believed to have
visited Kaushambi twice to deliver discourses. The ruins of an ancient fort bear witness to the
antiquity of the place. There are also remains of a monastery.
7. Kara 69 km. On the banks of Ganga, this provincial capital of the Mughals has many ruins.Sheetla
Mata Mandir and Kaleshwar Mahadevji temple are famous temples of Kara.

Accommodation:
SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
1. Hotel Kanha Shyam (4 star) 22/1 Strachey Road, Civil Lines 2560123-32
2. Hotel Grand Continental (3 star) Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines 2605888, 2605999
3. Hotel Presidency (2 star) 19-D Sarojini Naidu Marg 2623308-09
4. Hotel Kohinoor 10 Noorulla Road 2656323, 2655501
5. Hotel Milan 46, Leader Road 2403776
6. Hotel Vashishtha Johnstonganj 2405359
7. Hotel Allahabad Regency 16, Tashkant Marg, Allahabad 2601519, 2601735
8. Hotel Samrat 49-A/25-A, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2561200-07, 2604879
9. Hotel Yatrik 33, Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2601713-14
10. Hotel Taoosi 31-A, Stanley Road, Allahabad 2600187
11. Hotel Finaro 8, Hasting Road, Allahabad 2622452
12. Hotel Prayag 73, Noorullah Road, Allahabad 2656416, 2656329
13. Mayur Guest House 10, Sardar Patel Marg, Kohli Bhawan, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2561262-64
14. Royal Hotel Civil Lines, Allahabad 2623285, 2609733
15. Hotel Illawart, UPSTDC Tourist 35, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2601440, 2604377
Bungalow

Restaurants:
SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
1. Bar & Restaurant Tourist Bungalow, UPSTDC, 35, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, 2601440, 2604377
Allahabad
2. Jade Garden Hotel Tepso, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2623635, 2621802
3. El Chico Restaurant 24, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2420753
4. Kwality Restaurant Civil Lines, Allahabad
Hospitals
SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
Dufferin Hospital Chowk 2651822
Kamala Nehru Hospital Tegore Town 2608830
Moti Lal Nehru Hospital Colvin 2652141, 2654546
Nazareth Hospital Kamla Nehru Marg 2600430, 2601796
Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital Stainley Road 2642687
Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital M.G. Road 2603782
Northern Railway Hospital 2624085

Tourist Information and Travel Agency:

SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
Government of U.P. Regional Tourist Bungalow, 35, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad 2601873
Tourist Office
Krishna Travel Agency Bai-Ka-Bash, Allahabad 2604121
Pratap Travel Agency 50, Zero Road, Allahabad. 602540, 607680
Varuna Travel Agency Maya Bazar, Civil Lines, Allahabad. 2624323
Airodia Travels Clive Road 2420020, 2420626
Gupta Motels Auto Sales Building, 18, Kanpur Road 2422082

VARANASI
About the City:
Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Many names have been given to Varanasi, though its recently revived
official appellation is mentioned in the Mahabharata and in the Jataka tales of Buddhism. It probably derives from the two rivers
that flank the city, the Varana to the north and the Asi to the south. Many still use the anglicized forms of Banaras or Benares,
while pilgrims refer to Kash, first used three thousand years ago to describe the kingdom and the city outside which the Buddha
preached his first sermon; the "City of Light" is also called Kashika, "the shining one", referring to the light of Shiva. Another
epithet, Avimukta, meaning "Never Forsaken", refers to the city that Shiva never deserted, or that one should never leave.
Further alternatives include Anandavana, the "forest of bliss", and Rudravasa, the place where Shiva (Rudra) resides.

Varanasi’s associations with Shiva extend to the beginning of time: legends relate how, after his marriage to Parvati, Shiva left
his Himalyan abode and came to reside in Kashi with all the gods in attendance. Temporarily banished during the rule of the
great king Divodasa, Shiva sent Brahma and Vishnu as his emissaries, but ultimately returned to his rightful abode protected by
his loyal attendants Kalabhairav and Dandapani. Over 350 gods and goddesses, including a protective ring of Ganeshaa form a
mandala or sacred pattern with Shiva Vishwanatha at its centre.

Each name carries an additional meaning in terms of the sacred symbolism of the city, with each defining aprogressively
decreasing arc starting and ending on the west bank of the Ganges. While the boundary of Kashi is delimited by the circular
Panchakroshi Road, Varanasi is the main city, extending from Asi Ghat and circling around to the confluence of the Ganges and
the Varana. Yet a smaller area, defined as Avimukta, starts at Kedara Ghat in the south and ends at Trilochana Ghat. Most
important of all is Antargriha, the "Inner Sanctum" around the Vishwanatha Temple, which encompasses Dashashwamedha
Ghat, Surya Kund, the lingam of Bharabhuta, and Manikarnika Ghat. Another, later, interpretation suggests three sectors of
khandas in the form of Shiva’s trident, each centred on the temple – Omkara to the north, Vishvanatha in the centre and Kendra
to the south.

A city which, since it is both an exalted place of pilgrimage and an idealize centre of faith, has been likened to Jerusalem and
Mecca.According to the historians, the city was founded some ten centuries before the birth of Christ. The city is mentioned in
Holy Scriptures like 'Vamana Purana', Buddhist texts and in the epic 'Mahabharata'.Mark Twain,the English author and
litterateur,who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Banaras,once wrote:"Banaras is older than history,older than
tradition,older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Varanasi's prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrivalled. For the devout Hindu the city has always had a special place,
besides being a pilgrimage centre, it is considered especially auspicious to die here, ensuring an instant route to heaven.The
revered and ancient city Varanasi is the religious centre of the world of Hindus. Varansi is a city where past, present, eternity
and continuity co-exists.

The city of Banaras is situated on the west bank of the holiest of all Indian rivers, the Ganga or Ganges. The relationship between
the sacred river and the city is the essence of Varanasi - 'the land of sacred light'. The Ganga is believed to have flown from
heaven to wash away the worldly sins of the human race of mortal's .The life and activities in the city centre around the holy
river. Life on the banks of the Ganga begins before dawn when thousands of pilgrims - men, women and children - come down
to the river to wait for the rising sun when immersion in the sacred river will cleanse them of their sufferings and wash their sins
away.

Along the water's edge, there are the burning ghats. The most sacred one is Manikarnika, associated with Goddess Parvati, Lord
Shiva's wife. The major shrine is the Vishwanath Temple the abode of Lord Shiva, the most important of the trinity, Brahma,
Vishnu and Maheshwara, the Lords of this universe. Around this temple evolved the spiritual identity of Varanasi .The holy city
within Banaras is thus called, Kashi, the luminous one or the city of the light.

It is beside the holy waters of the Ganga that the activities for which Banaras is held sacred are performed. Everyday thousands
of residents and pilgrims bathe, offer prayers to the elements, to the rising sun, and to their dead ancestors who have been
carried away by these waters. What draws people to the river is an ingrained belief that these waters can absolve the sins of
many generations.

Everyone has their own way of celebrating the ritual contact with the holy Ganga: some bathe; other dip themselves entirely
into the water once, thrice or any number of times; some drink the water; other make water offerings to the sun; while others
fill their pots with holy water to take back to their homes to perform rituals and purification.The offerings to the sacred waters
vary. Pilgrims give flowers, fruits, lamps and their respectful prayers. On festival days and religious occasions the riverside is
thick with their colorful bobbing up and down on the waters.

The land around Banaras is also held sacred since Shiva is believed to have lived here.There are thousands of temples at Benaras
dedicated to different gods and goddesses, particularly to the deities of good fortune and prosperity-and to the sun and the
planets. The most important are those that honor the diverse manifestations and attributes of Shiva.The major shrine at Banaras
is the Vishvanatha Temple, devoted to Shiva, the Lord of the Universe.

The appearance of the pillar of light is said to have occurred at the site of Vishvanatha Temple. The holy city within Banaras is
thus called Kashi "The Luminous One' or the 'City of Light'. Light in Hindu philosophy has great meaning for it exemplifies the
wisdom that destroys the darkness of ignorance. Sin and evil are understood to be the acts of ignorance. When wisdom is
acquired, evil will disappear. Sin cannot be washed away by water or prayer but only by wisdom. Immorality is also reached
through wisdom and understanding. So the City of Light is the City of Eternal Wisdom as well. To die in the city beside the river
of life is to die with a promise of redemption, a promise to be liberated from the endless cycle of life and death and
reincarnation, and to gain moksha or eternal absolution. So for centuries thousands of people have come to Banaras to die and
thousands have brought the ashes of the dead here to immerse them in the holy waters.

Banaras has always been associated with philosophy and wisdom. A place of learning for many years, the Banaras Hindu
University carries on this tradition. The University campus, to the south of the city, was built at the beginning of this century.
Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya was instrumental in founding it. On campus is the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which originated
from the private collection of Rai Krishnadasa.

The Banaras region was administered by Hindu rulers for several hundred years until the 17th century, when it fell into the
hands of the Mughals. As was the practice many buildings of the previous rulers and the religious structures of the Hindu and
Buddhists were demolished during the wars of the conquest.

In Banaras we find many places where a temple once stood and where now mosque or some other structure stands. However,
there is a little known farman, or royal decree, in the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, which claims that Aurangzeb, the last great
Mughal ruler, ordered his administrators to abstain from destroying any more temples. In succeeding years as Banaras
continued to grow, the temples that were destroyed, were rebuilt or relocated.
Since Banaras is a pilgrimage centre, revered and honored throughout India, pilgrims come from all parts of the country to visit
it. Some travel 2,000 kilometers to bathe in the Ganga and to honor their dead. Earlier pilgrims used to walk to Banaras on foot,
and along the way visited other pilgrimages.The antiquity of Banaras is known not just by the archeological remains but by the
diverse and varied literature of India

The inflow of pilgrims developed Banaras as a trade centre. Besides traders, crafts people also settled in Banaras. Today the city
is renowned for its silk weavers, who prepare the finest types of woven silk fabrics. A Banaras silk sari or shawl is traditionally a
single colored textile with motifs and patterns woven in gold or silver threads. The technique is intricate, the procedure complex
and demands great expertise .As the warp and the weft are interwoven on the loom, small, often minute shuttles with gold
thread are introduced to form the motif. When the design of the motif is completed, a knot is made and the gold thread cut. The
weaving continues until the next design. The smaller the motif or the more intricate the design, the more complex the weaving
skills required.

Silk weaving in Banaras is a cottage industry and in many areas of the city, especially the Muslim quarters, one can see looms at
work all day. Entire families are involved; Children often pick up the art from the elders at an early age. There are shops in
Banaras, and throughout India that sell these fine silk fabrics

Festivals and Varanasi:

The months of January and February herald the end of the cold months. On the moonless night between February and March,
Shivratri, the night of Shiva, is celebrated.on the moonless night between February and March.

Between March and April the new Hindu month of chaitra commences. This marks the beginning of spring. On the festival of
Holi, colored powder and paint are thrown into the air, or over relatives and friends, in an attempt to capture the colors of
spring and the season of renewal, the season of new beginnings. This is followed by the nine-day celebration of the goddess.
Banaras has some very ancient shrines, dedicated to manifestations of the female powers. There is the Chausat yogini shrine,
dedicated to the 64 yoginis or manifestations of Sakti, the goddess of fertility, growth and prosperity. Others to the powers
against illness and diseases, Shitala Devi, and to Lakshmi the goddess of bounty and prosperity.

During summer, the snows in the distant Himalayas begin to melt, and later during the monsoon the River Ganga at Banaras
swells and rises as thousands collect to bathe in her sacred waters.

August and September are the months when festivities, parades and decorations mark the special days of Ganesh, the Lord of
Good Fortune and the Remover of Obstacles.

The birthday of Krishna, the cow herd incarnation of Vishnu, is celebrated on Krishna Janmashtami.

The cooler months of October and November are the best to be in Banaras. There are numerous festivals during this period,
including the Navratras (nine auspicious nights) and the celebration of Dussehra. This festival lasts for ten days and is associated
to the worship of the goddess Sita and the story of Ram, a reincarnation of Shiva. Their entire story is enacted and relived on the
streets of Benaras.

The festival of Divali,the festival of lights follows soon after, commemorating the homecoming of Ram., after he was exiled for
14 years. It is the festival of lights, the festival of good fortune. People clean and decorate their houses to entice Lakshmi the
goddess of wealth and prosperity to enter their homes.

Finally there is Kartik Purnima in November. Thousands of pilgrims collect to celebrate the full moon. On this occasion the dead
are honoured by lighting lamps beside the holy waters of the Ganga. Paper lamps are strung on tall bamboo poles and kept by
the waters' edge to lighten up the way for the dead. It is a blessed night, one of the most auspicious at Banaras, and it
summarizes the mystery of this holy city.

Music in Varanasi
Renowned as a centre for north Indian classical music Varanasi, attracts students from all over the world, and is famous for its
exhilarating school (gharana) of tabla (paired hand drum) playing The city is home to such legendary figures as Ustad Bismillah
Khan (sehnai oboe) and Pandit Shanto Prasad (tabla) and Pandit Ravi Shankar (sitar) has also been based here. Small schools and
instrument shops in the alleys off Dashashwamedha try to catch the transient tourist trade but if you want to probe deeper the
traditional scene based around student teacher relationships continues to thrive. Between Jangambali post office and Bengali
Lane the International Music Ashram. D33/81 Khalishpura, holds concerts and organizes classes aimed at foreigners Asi Ghat has
always been known for its rapidly changing music scene, and there's a lively performing arts departinent at BNU.

Varanasi is renowned for big music festivals particularly during winter and spring held during Shivratri (Feb/March) the Dhrupad
Mela is devoted to Dhrupad an archaic form in which the voice treated as a musical instrument is accompanied by the double
membrane barrel drum pakhawaj. Pakhawaj solos are particularly vibrant; the drum has a deep and sonorous tone and
performances rise to energetic crescendos. A four-day music and dance festival the Ganga Mahotsav takes place at Rajendra
Prasad Ghat near Dashashwamedha and is held around Kartik Purnima - the full moon after Diwali (Oct/Nov); entrance is usually
free: Varanasi's large Muslim community also makes its mark, - there is an active Sufi tradition, and at dargahs (shrines) you may
chance upon a qawwali performance; these are often given on Thursdays at the Dargah of Chandan Sahid, Raj Ghat.

Most of the best instrument makers are tucked away in the alleys of the old city known only to practitioners some also supply
the Dashashwamedha tourist shops who then add on a hefty mark up. For those in the know much the best idea is to have an
instrument made to order.

The following places are worth a look if you are hooked:

Bassaruddin, near Arya Samaj Temple,Lalapura. Run by one of the Varanasi's best craftsmen, tabla maker to the professionals;
expect to pay from Rs. 1300 for a pair of made to order tablas and Rs.2000 with a case.

Imtiaz Ali, D47/195 Ramapura, opposite Mazda Movie Hall. General music shop with a motley collection of instruments.
Although prices are reasonable, quality is mediocre; they will arrange better quality instruments on demand - but of course, at a
price.

Kesho Prasad, C K 38/5 Gyanwapi, near Dashashwamedha. Specializes in string instruments such as the sitar and tanpura
(drone).

Nitai Chandra Nath, 35/181 Jangambali, near International Music Ashram. A good sitar maker and once the instrument
technician to BHU; good sitars for around REs3500 and cases for Rs1500.

Sur Sangam, D16 Man Mandir Ghat. Aimed at tourists, this shop charges outrageous prices and is best avoided.

Area: 73.89 sq. km.

Population: 1322248 (1991 census)
Altitude: 80.71 mtrs. above sea level
Season: October – March
Clothing:
o Summer: Cottons
o Winters: Woollens
Language: Hindi and English
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
Accessibility:
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, and Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhuvaneshwar airports.
RAIL Varanasi and Mughal Sarai (one of the main railway stations of Varanasi) are the important rail junctions, with train
connections to all major cities of India. Some important trains are:

Rajdhani Exp ( Hawrah - Mughal Sarai - New Delhi)
Toofan Exp ( Howrah - Mughal Sarai - Delhi)
North East Superfast Exp ( Delhi - Mughal Sarai Guwahati)
Magadh Exp ( Delhi - Mughal Sarai Patna)
Mahanagari Exp ( Varanasi - Mumbai )
Pawan Exp ( Varanasi - Mumbai )
Sabarmati Exp ( Varanasi - Ahmedabad)
Ganga Kaveri Exp (Varanasi - Chennai)
Poorwa Exp (Howrah - Varanasi - Delhi)
Himgiri Exp (Jammu - Varanasi - Howrah)
Sealdah Exp (Varanasi - Jammu Tawi).

ROAD Varanasi, on NH 2 from Calcutta to Delhi, NHZ to Kanya Kumari and NH 29 to Gorakhpur is well connected to the rest
of the country by good motorable roads. some of the major road distances are:

Agra - 565 KM Bodhgaya - 240 Km Lucknow – 286

Allahabad - 128 KM Kanpur - 330 KM Patna - 246 KM
Bhopal - 791 KM Khajuraho - 405 KM Sarnath - 10 KM

Place of Interest:
SLN LOCATION INFORMATION
1. River Front (Ghats) The great river banks at Varanasi, built high with eighteenth and nineteenth-century pavilions and
palaces, temples and terraces, are lined with an endless chain of stone steps – the Ghats –
progressing along the whole of the waterfront, altering in appearance with the dramatic seasonal
fluctuations of the river level. Each of the hundred Ghats, big and small, is marked by a lingam,
and occupies its own special place in the religious geography of the city. Some have crumbled over
the years, others continue to thrive, with early-morning bathers, Brahmin priests offering puja,
and people practicing meditation and yoga. Hindus puja, and people practicing meditation and
yoga. Hindus regard the Ganges as amrita, the elixir of life, which brings purity to the living and
salvation to the dead; sceptical outsiders tend to focus on all-persuasive and extreme lack of
hygiene. Ashes to the dead, emissions from open drains and the left-over from religious rites float
by the devout as they go about their bathing and ceremonial cleansing.

For centuries, pilgrims have traced the perimeter of the city by a ritual circumambulation, paying
homage to shrines on the way. Among the most popular routes is the Panchatirthi Yatra, which
takes in the Pancha, (five) Trithi (crossing) of Asi, Dashashwamedha, Adi Keshva, Panchganga and
finally Manikarnika. To gain merit or appease the gods, the devotee, accompanied by a panda
(priest), recites a sankalpa (statement of intent) and performs a ritual at each stage of the journey.
For the casual visitor, however the easiest way to see is to follow a south-north sequence either
by boat or on foot.
2. Asi Ghat to Kedara At the clay-banked Asi Ghat, the southernmost in the sacred city, at the confluence of the Asi and
Ghat the Ganges, pilgrims bathe prior to worshipping at a huge lingam under a peepal tree. Another
lingam visited is that of Asisangameshvara, the "Lord of the Confluence of the Asi", in a small
marble temple just off the ghat. Traditionally, pilgrims continued to Lolarka Kund, the Trembling
Sun", a rectangular tank fifteen metres below ground level, approached by steep steps. Now
almost abandoned, except during the Lolarka Mela fair (Aug/Sept), when thousands come to
propitiate the gods and pray for the birth of a son, Lolarka Kund is among Varanasi’s earliest sites,
one of only two remaining Sun sites linked with the origins of Hinduism. Equated with the twelve
adityas or divisions of the sun, which predate the great deities of Modern Hinduism, it was
attracting bathers in the days of the buddha.

Much of the adjacent Tulsi Ghat – originally Lolarka Ghat, but renamed in the honour of the poet
Tulsidas, who lived nearby in the sixteenth century – has crumbled. Continuing north, above
Shivala Ghat, hanuman Ghat is the site of a new temple built by the ghat’s large south Indian
community. Considered by many to be the birth place of the fifteenth-century Vaishnavite saint
Vallabha, who was instrumental in in the resurgence of the worship of Krishna, the ghat also
features a striking image of Ruru, the dog Bhairava, a ferocious and early form of Shiva.

Named for a legendary king said to have almost lost everything in a fit of self-abnegation,
Harishchandra Ghat, one of the Varanasi’s two cremations of burning ghats, is easily recognizable
 from the smoke of its funeral pyres.

Further north, the busy Kendra Ghat is ignored by pilgrims on the Panchatirthi Yatra. Above its
steps, a red-and-white-striped temple houses the Kedareshvara lingam, an outcrop of black rock
shot through with a vein of white. Mythologically related to Kedarnath in the Himalayas, Kedara
and its ghat become a hive of activity during the sacred month of Sravana (July/Aug), the month of
the rains.
3. Chauki Ghat to Northwards along the river, Chauki Ghat is distinguished by an enormous tree that shelters small
Chaumsathi Ghat stones shrines to the nagas, water-snake deities, while at the unmistakable Dhobi (Laundrymen’s)
Ghat clothes are still rhythmically pulverized in the pursuit of purity. Past smaller ghats such as
Mansarovar Ghat, named after the holy lake in Tibet, and Narada Ghat, honouring the divine
musician and sage, lies Chaumsathi Ghat, where impressive stone steps lead up to the small
temple of the Chaumsathi (64) Yoginis. Images of Kali and Durga in its inner sanctum represent a
stage in the emergence of the great goddess as a single representation of a number of female
divinities. Overlooking the ghats here is Peshwa Amrit Rao’s majestic sandstone haveli (mansion),
built in 1807 and currently used for religious ceremonies and occasionally, as an auditorium for
concerts.
4. Dashashwamedha Dashashwamedha Ghat, the second and business of the five tirthas on the Panchatirthi Yatra, lies
Ghat past the plain, flat-roofed building that houses the shrine of Shitala. Extremely popular, even in
the rainy season when devotees have to wade to the temple or take a boat, Shitala represents
both both benign and malevolent aspects – ease and succour as well as disease, particularly
smallpox.

Dashashwamedha is Varanasi’s most popular and accessible bathing ghat, with rows of pandas
sitting on wooden platforms under bamboo umbrellas, masseurs plying their trade and boatmen
jostling for custom. Its name, "ten horse sacrifices", derives from a complex series of sacrifices
performed by Brahma to test King Divodasa: Shiva and Parvati were sure the king’s resolve would
fail, and he would be compelled to leave Kashi, thereby allowing them to return to their city.
However, the sacrifices were so perfect that Brahma established the Brahmeshvara lingam here.
Since that time, Dashashwamedha has become one of the most celebrated tirthas on earth, where
pilgrims can reap the benefits of the huge sacrifice merely by bathing.
5. Man Mandir Ghat to Man Mandir Ghat is known primarily for its magnificent eighteenth-century observatory, equipped
Lalita Ghat with ornate window casings, and built for the Maharajah of Jaipur. Pilgrims pay homage to the
important lingam of Someshvara, the lord of the moon, alongside, before crossing Tripurabhairavi
Ghat to Mir Ghat and the New Vishwanatha Temple, built by conservative brahmins who claimed
that the main Vishwanatha lingam was rendered impure when Harijans (untouchables) entered
the sanctum in 1956. Mir Ghat also has a shrine to Vaishalakshi, the Wide-Eyed Goddess, on an
important pitha – a site marking the place where various parts of the disintegrating body of Shakti
fell as it was carried by the grief-stricken Shiva. Also here is the Dharma Kupa, the Well of Dharma,
surrounded by subsidiary shrines and the lingam over all the dead of the world – except here in
Varanasi.

Immediately to the north is Lalita Ghat, renowned for its ganga Keshava shrine to Vishnu and the
Nepali Temple, a typical Kathmandu-style wooden temple which houses an image of
Pashupateshvara – Shiva’s manifestation at Pashupatinath, in the Mathmandu Valley – and sports
a small selection of erotic carvings.
6. Manikarnika Ghat North of Lalita lies Varanasi’s pre-eminent cremation ground, Manikarnika Ghat. Such grounds are
usually held to be inauspicious, and located on the fringes of cities, but the entire city of Shiva is
regarded as Mahashmashana, the Great Cremation Ground for the corpse of the entire universe.
The ghat is perpetually crowded with funeral parties, as well as the Doms, its Untouchable
guardians, busy and pre-occupied with facilitating final release for those lucky enough to pass
away here. Seeing bodies being cremated so publicly has always exerted a great fascination for
visitors to the city, but photography is strictly taboo; even having a camera visible may be
constructed as intent, and provokes hostility.

Lying at the centre of the five tirthas, manikarnika Ghat symbolizes both creation and destruction,
epitomized by the juxtaposition of the sacred well of Manikarnika Kund, said to have been dug by
Vishnu at the time of creation, and the hot, sandy ash-infused soil of cremation grounds where
time comes to an end. In Hindu mythology, Manikarnika Kund predates the arrival of the Ganga
and has its source deep in the Himalayas. Vishnu cared the kund with his discus, and filled it with
perspiration from his exertions in creating the world, at the behest of Shiva. When Shiva quivered
with delighted, his earning fell into this pool, which as manikarnika – "Jewelled Earring" – became
 the first tirthas in the world. Every yea, after the floodwaters of the river have receded to leave
the pool caked in alluvial deposits, the kund is re-dug. Its surroundings are cleaned and painted
with brightly coloured folk art, which depicts the presiding goddess, Manikarnika Devi, inviting
pilgrims to bathe and worship at its small Vishnu shrine, and at the paduka (footprint) of Vishnu
set in marble on the embankment of the ghat. The most important of the lingams is the remains of
Tarakeshvara, Shiva as Lord of Taraka mantra, a "prayer of the crossing" recited at death.

Strictly speaking, Manikarnika is the name given to the kund and to the ghat, while the constantly
busy cremation ground is Jalasi Ghat, dominated by a dark smoke-stained temple built by Queen
Ahalya Bai Holkar of Indore in the eighteenth century.
7. Scindia Ghat Bordering Manikarnika to the north is the picturesque Scindia Ghat, with its titled Shiva temple
lying partially submerged in the river, having fallen in as a result of the sheer weight of the ghat’s
construction around 150 years ago. Above the ghat, several of Kashi’s most influential shrines are
hidden within the tight maze of alleyways of the area known as Siddha Kshetra (the field of
Fulfilment). Vireshvara, the Lord of all Heroes, is especially propitiated in prayer for a son; the Lord
of Fire, Agni, was supposed to have been born here.
8. Panchganga Ghat to Beyond Lakshmanbala Ghat, with its commanding views of the river. Lies one of the most dramatic
Adi Keshva Ghat and controversial ghats, Panchganga Ghat, dominated by Varanasi’s largest riverside building, the
great mosque of Alamgir, known locally as Beni Madhav-ka-Darera. With its minarets now much
shortened, the mosque stands on the ruins of what must have been one of the city’s greatest
temples, Bindu Madhava, a huge Vishnu temple that extended from Panchganga to Rama Ghat
before it was destroyed by Aurangzeb and replaced by an impressive mosque. Panchganga also
bears testimony to more favourable Hindu-Muslim relations, being the site of the initiation of the
medieval saint of the Sufi-Sant tradition, Kabir, the son of a humble Muslim weaver who is
venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike. Along the river front lies a curious array of three-sided
cells, submerged during the rainy season, some with lingams, others with images of Vishnu, and
some empty and used for meditation or yoga. One of these is a shrine to the Five (panch) Rivers
(ganga) which, according to legend, have their confluence here: the two symbolic rivulets of
Dhutapapa (Cleansed of Sin) and the Kirana (Sun’s Ray), which join the mythical confluence of the
Yamuna and the Yamuna and the Sarasvati with the Ganga.

Above Trilochana Ghat, further north, is the holy ancient lingam of the Three (tri) Eye (lochana)
Shiva. Beyond it, the river bypasses some of Varanasi’s oldest precincts, now predominantly
Muslim in character; the ghats themselves gradually become less impressive and are usually of the
kaccha (clay-banked) variety.

At Adi Keshava Ghat (the "Original Vishnu"), on the outskirts of the city, the Varana flows into the
Ganga. Unapproachable during the rainy season, when it is completely submerged, it marks the
place where Vishnu first landed as an emissary of Shiva, and stands on the original site of the city
before it spread southwards; around Adi Keshva are a number of Ganesha shrine.
9. Vishwanatha The Old City at the heart of Varanasi, between Dashashwamedha Ghat and Godaulia to the south
Khanda and west and Manikarnika Ghat on the river to the north, lays Vishwanatha Khanda, sometimes
referred to as the Old City. The whole area rewards exploration, with numerous shrines and
lingams tucked into every corner, and buzzing with the activity of pilgrims, pandas and stalls
selling offerings to the faithful.

Approached through a maze of narrow alleys and the Vishwanatha Gali (or Lane), the temple
complex of Vishwanatha or Visheshwara, the "Lord of All", is popularly known as the Golden
Temple, due to the massive gold plating on its shikhara (spire). Inside the compound - which is
hidden behind a wall, and entered through an unassuming doorway - is one of India's most
important shivalingams, made of smooth black stone and seated in a solid silver plinth, as well as
shrines to the wrathful protectors Mahakala and Dandapani, and the lingam of Avimukteshvara,
the Lord of the Unforsaken, which predates Vishwanatha and once held much greater significance.
The current temple was built in 1777 by Queen Ahalya Bai Holkar of Indore, and is closed to non-
Hindus, who have to make do with glimpses from adjacent buildings.

Vishwanatha's history has been fraught Sacked by successive Muslim rulers; the temple was
repeatedly rebuilt, until the grand edifice begun in 1585 by Todar Mal, a courtier of the tolerant
Moghul Akbar, was finally destroyed by Aurangzeb. On its foundations, guarded by armed police
to protect it from Hindu fanatics, stands the Jnana Vapi Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque
of Aurangzeb. Its simple white domes tower over the Jnana Vapi (Wisdom Well), immediately
north, housed in an open arcaded hall built in 1828, where Shiva cooled his lingam after the
 construction of Vishwanatha. Covered by a grate to prevent people jumping in, in search of instant
moksha, and covered with a cloth to stop coins being thrown in, only the presiding brahmins have
access to its waters, considered to be liquid knowledge.

Pilgrims offer their sankalpa or statement of intent here, before commencing the Panchatirthi
Yatra. Slightly north, across the main road, the thirteenth-century Razia's Mosque stands atop the
ruins of a still earlier Vishwanatha temple, destroyed under the Sultanate.

Close by, the temple of Annapurna Bhavani is dedicated to the supreme Shakti ("She, the Being of
Plenteous Food"), the queen and divine mother also known in this benevolent form as Mother of
the Three Worlds. As the provider of sustenance, she carries a cooking pot rather than the
fearsome weapons borne by her horrific forms Durga and Kali a subsidiary shrine opened only
three days a year houses a solid gold image of Annapurna. Nearby is a stunning image, faced in
silver against a black surround, of Shani or Saturn. Anyone whose fortunes fall under his shadow is
stricken with bad luck - fate devotees try to escape by worshipping here on Saturdays.
11. The Kashi Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city.
Vishwanath Temple Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva
manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth’s crust and flared towards the
heavens. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains
the devotional focus of Varanasi. Entry restricted for foreigners.

Excursions:
SLN LOCATION INFORMATION
1. Sarnath
2. Chunar 40 Km. Chunar has an immense fort overlooking the Ganga. This place has been the scene of
battles since 1540, when Sher Shah took it from Humayun. Akbar recaptured it in 1575. In the
mid - 18th century it was appropriated by Awadh and subsequently, the British. The fort has a
sun - dial and a huge well, and affords a splendid view of the Ganga.
3. Chandraprabha Wildlife 70 km from Varanasi are the forests of Chandraprabha, within which are the Rajdari and
Sanctuary Deodari Waterfalls. A beautiful secluded spot for a picnic.
4. Vindhyachal 75 km. The famous temple of Vindhyavasini Devi, Ashtabhuja Devi and Kalikhoh are the major
attractions.
5. Kaimoor Wildlife 130 km. Spread over an area of 500 sq. km, the sanctuary has a variety of wildlife. The Mukha
Sanctuary waterfall is a tourist attraction. Other excursions include Jaunpur ( 58 km, See Index),
Allahabad (128 km, see Index) and the Vindham and Chachai falls.

Accommodation:
SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
1. Hotel Taj Ganges Nadesar Palace Grounds, Cantt. 2503001-19
ganges.varanasi@tajhotels.com
2. Hotel Varanasi Ashok ( ITDC) The Mall, Cantt. 2346020-30
3. Hotel Clarks Varanasi The Mall, Cantt. 2348501-10
4. Hotel Hindustan International C-12/3, Maldahia. 2351484-90
5. Hotel De Paris The Mall, Cantt. 2346601-8
6. Hotel Diamond Bhelupur 2310696-700
7. Hotel ideal Tops The Mall 2348091-92
8. Hotel Pallavi International Hathwa Market, Chetganj 2356939-43
9. Hotel Ganges View Assi Ghat 2313218
10. Hotel India 59 Patel Nagar, Cantt. 2342912
11. Hotel Malti V.M Road 2351395
12. Radiant YMCA Tourist Hostel 28 A, Sampoornanand Nagar, Mahmoorganj Sigra 2224951
road. radiantymca@yahoo.co.in
13. Rahi Tourist Bungalow Parade Kothi, Opp. Cantt Railway Station 2208545,2208413
rahitbvaranasi@up-tourism.com

Restaurants:
SLN NAME ADDRESS PHONE
1. Mandarin Restaurant Lahurabir
2. Shahi Restaurant near Rathyatra Crossing
3. Yelchico Bar & Restaurant Godaulia
 4. Amrapali D-58/9 Varanasi 2354161
5. Ashiyana Restaurant Varuna Bridge, Clark Road 2343264
6. Hilarious Restaurant 20/51, Clark Road, Varuna Bridge 2348670
7. Temple Restaurant/Gangotri Dashashwamedha Road 2321097
Restaurant
8. Haveli Restaurant The Mall, Cantt. 2348250-53

Shopping:
Varanasi is famous for its silk weaving, and Banarasi silks are a part of every girl’s wedding trousseau. Banaras Brocades are
prized the world over. Brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys and exquisite gold jewellery are some of the other craft
the city is famous for. The hand - knotted carpets of Mirzapur and musical instruments are among the other shopping
attractions. Banaras is also famous for its ‘ Langda Aam’, a variety of mangoes available in the summer. Betel leaf is also a
specialty. The main shopping areas are Chowk, Vishwanath Gali, Thatheri bazaar, Lahurabir, Godoulia , Dashswamedh Gali and
Golghar.

With hustlers and rickshaw drivers keen to drag tourists into shops offering commission, shopping in Varanasi can be a
nightmare but it’s worth seeking out the city's rich Silk weaving and brasswork. The best areas to browse are the Thatheri Bazaar
(for brass), Jnana Vapi and the Vishwanatha Gall with its Temple Bazaar (for silk brocade and jewellery). State run emporia in
Godaulia, lahurabir and the Chowk - the three Handlooms outlets at Lahurabir, Nadesar and Neechi Bag, and Mahatex in
Godaulia - of fixed prices and assured quality. Housed in a former palace opposite the Taj Hotel, Cantt, the CIE has a large and
impressive selection but, despite its official-sounding name, is outrageously expensive Kashmiri-run chain aimed exclusively at
the fivestar market.

Sales pitches tend to become more aggressive when it comes to silk, and you need be wary of the hard-sell. Qazi Sadullahpura,
near Chhavi Mahal Cinema, lies at the heart of a fascinating Muslim neighbourhood devoted to the production of silk. Upica, the
government-run emporium has the advantage of fixed prices, with outlets at Godaulia opposite the Taj Hotel, Cantt. Handloom
House, D64/132K Sigra, another government sponsored chain, is the best and safest place to buy silk with a modern showroom
although the sales staff appear disorganized. For tailoring, try Paraslakshmi Exports, Chandrika Colony Sigra (ph: 361496), a silk
business providing a good and prompt service; they'll deliver to your hotel, and also offer ready-made waistcoats and boxer
shorts.

M/s Bhagwan Leela Sports, 41-Sindhu Nagar Colony, Sigra, Varanasi..

M/s Mohan Silk Store, D-5/154, Vishvanath Gali, Varanasi.
M/s Bhagwan Store, D-10/3, Vishvanath Gali, Varanasi.
M/s J. R. Ivory, Arts & Curios, D-20, Vishvanath Gali, Varanasi.
M/s Chaudhari Brothers, Thatheri Bazar, Varanasi
M/s Mahalaxmi Sari House, 10, Chandrika Colony, Sigra, Varanasi.
M/s Bhagwan Silks, S-10/86, Sarnath, Varanasi.
M/s Mehrotra SSilk Factory, S. C. - 21/72, Englishia Line, Varanasi.

Banks:
State Bank of India, Cantt, Banaras Hindu University.
Indian Overseas Bank, Lahurabir.
Bank of Baroda, Godoulia.
Canara Bank, Nichibagh.
Andhra Bank, Godoulia.
Allahabad Bank, Nadesar and Chowk.
Central Bank of India, Chowk.
The Banaras State Bank, Luxa.

Post & Telegraph:

Vishweshwar Ganj. Ph: (0542)2331398

Hospitals:
 Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital, Kabir Chaura. Ph:(0542)333723
Sir Sundar Lal Hospital B.H.U. Ph :(0542)2312542-45
Rajkiya Hospital, Shivpur . Ph : (0542)2382226
Hindu Seva Sadan , Chowk . Ph : (0542)2352143
Mata Anand Mai Hospital, Bhadaini. Ph : (0542)2310592
Ram Krishna Mission Hospital, Luxa. Ph : (0542)2321727
Marwari Hospital , Godoulia. Ph : (0542)2321456
Cancer Institute, N.E. Railway Lahartara. Ph : (0542)2425338

Tourist Information:
UP Government Tourist Office, Parade Kothi, Cantt. Ph: (0542) 2206638, 2208162
UP Government Tourist Information Counter, Cantt. Railway Station, Varanasi, Near Enquiry Office, Main Hall. Ph :
2346370
Government of India Tourist Office, 15 B the Mall, Cantt, Varanasi. Ph : 2343744
Government of India Tourist Information Counter, Babatpur Airport.
Bihar State Tourist Office, Englishiya Market, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Cantt. Ph : 2343821

Travel Information:
AIR:
Indian Airlines. Ph: 2345959, 2348637.
Air India. Ph : 2346326, 2346457
RAIL:
Varanasi Railway Station, Ph : 131, 132, 133
Mughal Sarai Railway Station, Ph : 92-255703, 255782