Holy Places in Varanasi form the main source of attraction in the ancient city of Varanasi. The temples of this city are counted amongst the foremost Tourist Attractions in Varanasi. Most of these temples are positioned along the by lanes and the lanes of this city. The most famous temple of Varanasi is the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple where the presiding deity is Lord Shiva. The evening aarti in most of these temples is a treat to watch. The banks of the pious river Ganges are the centre of several religious activities that take place in the city. The Ghats in Varanasi built along the river-banks for different religious activities attract many travelers from far and wide. Numerous legends go into the making of a majority of these Ghats. In the wee hours of morning, you may take a boat ride in the river to see hordes of people who come here to take a dip in the holy water and worship the rising sun.

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is located in the heart of the cultural capital of India, Varanasi. It stands on the western bank of India's holiest river Ganges. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is the center of faith for millions of Hindus. The Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, is enshrined in the Kashi Vishwanath temple, considered as one of the holiest temples of India. In Hindu religion it is believed that a simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and Bhakti (devotion). A single darshan of Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than the darshan of other jyotirlingas, scattered in various parts of India. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living picture of the timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts Hindu devotees and other visitors not only from India but also the world over. Lord Vishwanath is considered the supreme repository of the spiritual truth and strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood. Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore built the temple in the present shape, way back in 1780. In the year 1785, a Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple at the instance of Governor General, Warren Hastings. In 1839, two domes of the Temple were covered by gold, donated by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the ruler of Punjab. The management of the Kashi Vishwanath temple rests with a trust.

DURGA TEMPLE :

Goddess Durga is a significant manifestation of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. In fact she is said to be Shakti, or the manifestation of Parvati that signifies the female element of Power and harmony in nature. Traditionally Durga temples are rare in places that are renowned as 'Shaivite' strongholds. In that case, it is surprising to find a Durga temple in the very epicenter of Shaivism. This is precisely because a Bengali Maharani built this temple in the 18th century. It is worth notable that Bengalis are considered to be the most ardent fans of Goddess Durga.

The Durga temple is considered one of the most important temples in Varanasi. Built in 18th century the Durga temple is stained in Red with ochre. Though the temple might have Bangla influence spiritually, it is built exclusively on the North Indian pattern called Nagara. Multi-tired spires that decrease in diameter in horizontal pattern mark this style. Actually separate spires are clubbed together one over another to give this feel. Though this style looks less attractive than the South-Indian Gopuram pattern, it has a feel of its own. Lately, people have started calling it Monkey Temple due to the menace created by the monkeys that inhabit the campus of this Temple.

Dasaswamedh Ghat falls second in line of the Panch-Tirtha Yatra. When you start moving from Assi towards North then falls past the plain, flat-roofed building that houses the shrine of Shitala. The name of Dasaswamedh Ghat indicates that Brahma sacrificed (medh) 10 horses here. Conveniently central, it's one of the most important and busiest ghats and therefore is a good place to linger and soak up the atmosphere. Dasaswamedh is an extremely popular pilgrimage. Even in the rainy season when Ganges is on spate, people can be seen visiting the temple on boats. It is interesting to know that Shitala represents both benign and malevolent aspects of life; ease and succor as well as disease.

Manikarnika Ghat has a great significance not only in Hindu mythology and way of life but also in the philosophies of life and death. Manikarnika is basically a cremation Ghat. It is interesting to know that cremation Ghats are usually placed outside the main town, as they are considered inauspicious. Nevertheless this doesn't stand true in the case of Varanasi where Manikarnika is situated quite in the middle of town itself. This is precisely because the entire city of Varanasi is considered a "Maha-Shmashan" or the Great Cremation Ground.

Manikarnika Ghat is perpetually crowded with funeral parties. You will find shops lined up with things used during the cremation such as Ghee, wood, offerings and clothes. These cremations are felicitated by Doms who are considered the guardian of dead. Seeing bodies being cremated so publicly has always exerted a great fascination for foreign visitors to the city who find it utterly amusing and deviated from the one practiced in Semitic religions. It is worthy to note that photography is strictly considered a taboo. So please avoid doing that as this might be seen as a provocation and act of hostility and might lead to unwanted troubles.

Assi is a clay-banked Ghat that stands at the southernmost part of Varanasi where river Assi meets Ganges. This Ghat is the first when you start walking from South towards the Manikarnika. It is mandatory for the pilgrims to bathe at this Ghat before worshipping at a huge lingam under a Peepal tree. There is another Lingam that is worth visit. It is called Asisangameshvara or the "Lord of the Confluence of the Assi". This has been placed in a small marble temple just off the Assi Ghat.

There has been a long held tradition where pilgrims visit the Lolarka Kund next. Lolarka Kund or the tank of "Trembling Sun" is a rectangular tank that is 15 meters below the ground level that is approached by a flight of stairs. This tank has rather sadly been abandoned lately and comes to life only during the Lolarka fair, when thousands come to propitiate the gods to bless them with a son. Interestingly Lolarka Kund is considered one of the two sun-sites that are related to the origin of Hinduism and is considered the oldest site in Varanasi. The Kund is equated with the twelve divisions of the sun and attracts pilgrim on the day of Buddha Purnima. The Assi Ghat is also considered one of the five special ghats that pilgrims are supposed to bathe at in sequence during the ritual route called Panch-tirthi Yatra.

Varanasi has a reputation of being a center of learning since time immemorial. The city in the past has been home to several educational institutions of repute. It is not surprising that the city still boasts off as many as 6 different universities; a feat almost unachievable in India. Nevertheless, the most important and prominent among these is Banaras Hindu University of BHU. It is sometimes also called Banaras Hindu Vishwavidhyalaya.

BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant did the conceptualization and implementation of this university. Raja of Kashi donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of the sprawling campus.

BHU is the largest residential university in Asia. It has been developed as a center for education in Indian art, music, culture and philosophy and for the study of Sanskrit. The campus also houses the Bharat Kala Bhawan that has a fine collection of miniature paintings and sculptures that dates from 1st to 15th centuries. The 5-square kilometers campus of BHU, houses as many as 55 hostels. The campus has other attractions too such as the Birla Mandir that is popularly called VT. Close by is an airstrip and a flying club. The central library named Sayajirao Gaekwad Library is also worth a visit. Apart from various manuscripts and periodicals, it houses as many as 14 lacks or 1.4 million separate volumes. There is a 1000 bedded hospital too. It is called Sir Sunder Lal Hospital. Apart from concrete buildings, the campus features open spaces, greenery and peacocks, the national bird of India, which are found roaming around almost every part of the university.

There is a concept of Shaktipeeth in India. Shaktipeeth are actually places where the Goddess of power or the female part of power is supposed to be residing. The female part of Power has been named Shakti and is worshiped in the form of Goddess Durga. There are as many as 51 Shaktipeeth in India Vindhyachal is one of them. Situated at the distance of 90 Kilometers from Varanasi, Vindhyachal is worth visiting once. The place is famous for its temples namely Vindhyavasini, Asthbhuja and Kalikhoh.

According to the Hindu mythology when Sati died, Lord Shiva set out to world tour carrying her body. In days to come, the body started decaying and begun to fall apart. It is said that the left toe of Sati fell at the place where the current temple of Vindhyavasini is located. The temple is on a very low hillock and it is believed that Goddess Durga had established herself here after having killed the demon king Mahishasura. Thus the Goddess Durga is referred to as Vindhyavasini in these regions.

Chunargarh is located just 45 odd kilometers from Varanasi and falls in Mirzapur district. The city has a very deep historical importance because of the Chunar Fort that stands just off the town. It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar as back as 56 BC. King Sahdeo who also built a stone umbrella like cenotaph inside the fort in order to commemorate his victory over 52 different rulers later inhabited it.

The Chunar fort also got famed because of its association with Mogul ruler Babur and Afghan Governor Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah Suri got the possession of this fort after marrying the widow of Taj Khan who was the Governor of Ibrahim Lodhi. Emperor Humayun made an attempt n the year 1531 to capture the fort but was ruthlessly and convincingly vanquished by Sher Shah. It was later won by Akbar in the year 1574 but only after Sher Shah Suri died in an accident. It remained under the Moguls till 1772 AD after which, The East India Company annexed it.

The fort is famous for its fusion architecture. Though the fort is not very impressive in itself, some parts will surely catch your eyeballs. For example there is a defunct sundial that was most probably commissioned by King Vikramaditya. There is a very huge and deep well too, which was probably the source of water for the residents of the fort. The west embankment of the fort offers a splendid view of the Ganga. The northernmost point of Kaimur Hills offers an impressive view of the invincible sandstone battlements of Chunar that overlook a bend in the Ganges.