Varanasi at Ganges

Varanasi or Benaras is said to be the oldest city in India. Considered holiest by the Hindus it is considered an ideal place to be cremated in order to achieve salvation. The steep embankments on the Ganges River are populated with pilgrims, sadhus, and tourists alike. 

Varanasi is famous for its Ghats of which there are many. The city finds veneration among the Jains and Buddhists as well. It was at Sarnath nearby that Buddha delivered his first sermon under the Bodhi tree.   The city was known as Kashi during the olden times and the Maharaja is the chief cultural patron.   

Maha Aarti at Varanasi

The city is home to greats like Bismillah Khan shehnai players and is associated with Pandit Ravi Shanker the famous sitarist. Being the cultural seat of Uttar Pradesh in North India the city finds many patrons of fine and performing arts. 

In the modern era, Benaras Hindu University is a notable institution in India. There are many reputed technical institutes in this destination. The city is well industrialized as well. The Ganges which I visited at Allahabad is the chief focus here and it is auspicious to perform the holy rites on its banks.  

A large number of foreign tourists visit Varanasi for spiritual quests and sightseeing. They partake in some religious ceremonies as well. Discourse with sadhus is a common practice for pilgrims and tourists alive. Maha Aarti is a grand spectacle performed here. This is an assemblage of priests who conduct prayer sessions on the banks of the Ganges.       

Festivals being one of the seven holy cities of India a number of Hindu festivals are organized here. Besides Diwali, Hanuman Jayanti, Shivratri, and Ramilla are major festivals celebrated in this town.     

Places of interest: 

• Ahilya Ghat 
• Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Jantar Mantar
• Aswamegh Ghat
• Kala-Bhairava Temple 
• Birla Mandir 
• Durga Temple

The Jyotirlinga or Lord Shiva is situated at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Hence the deity is most important for Hindus on pilgrimage.

There are a number of shopping centers many dealing in artifacts of interest to foreign tourists. Modern Malls, Eateries, and Cinema Houses abound. 

Boating on the Ganges

                                                                              

     In order to facilitate tourism a number of hotels ranging from budget to four-star are established here. The holy city of Varanasi teems with tourists during the winter times. Most of the tourists are inbound but a large number of pilgrims also arrive here from all over India.   

A postcard from Nicke James

Foreign Nationals coming to India hoping to experience the exotic and intrigue. Though the country does not fail them, the system exasperates them. 

My Guests Nicke & Paul at Courtyard House in Kanha 

On the tiger safari, the road at Kanha was closed for n number of days and we could not explore the park well for tigers. Nevertheless, we could see the elusive sloth bear, bison, and magnificent sambar stag.  

The journey ahead to Agra was washed down with 4 hours train delay at Jabalpur and it reached Agra nine hours late.  Good times followed at Jaipur and more to come at Goa. Flight to Goa was delayed but the lovely beaches will wash off the experience. 

Here are some images by Nicke James on her tour to India.

Dining at Courtyard House Kanha

Fort in Rajasthan

Goa Beaches

Hawa Mahal

AirportatJabalpur

JabalpurRailwayStation

JeepSafariKanha

Kanha National Park

Lake Palace

NickeJames

Nicke&Paul

Palace at Rajasthan

PoolatCourtyardHouse Kanha

Taj Mahal

Hindu Temple

Goa Resort

     

Highly recommended travel tips for India tour – follow them and enjoy!

Visa on arrival has been instituted for many countries recently by the new Government.This is applicable to more than fifty countries and will facilitate tourism in India.

Whether it is the matter of relaxation, honeymoon, simply traveling or religion; India has plenty to offer you in all the fields. This is possible because of its diversity in linguistics, culture, food and of course history and geography.. If you want to enjoy your tour to India at the fullest without facing any legal or health issue, you should know well how to prepare and what rules to follow while you are on the run! The following tips will help you to enjoy this trip to India with full pleasure and joy.
 

Health and hygiene
 

Since India is a developing country, it may pose some issues related to your health thus; you need to worry about it a little more than other western destinations that you have already traveled. Yes, before you come to India as a tourist, you should vaccinate your body against some of the common diseases which can take you in clutch. One of the common harmful diseases waiting for you is Malaria for which you will need advance vaccinations. There are preventive drugs available which you can take as prescribed.

On the other hand, if you are worried about hygiene in India, you should further take foods and pure water into account. No doubt, Indian foods are tasty and special but you should never forget that you should not get addicted to it. Thus, you can keep your first-aid kit ready with plenty of stomach and digestion related drugs for immediate effect. Moreover, you should avoid eating street foods in this sub-continent which can harm you.

Always be in touch with your family and friends

What keeps you tension-free in a distant place is maintaining proximity to the loved ones. This is not essential only in Indian tours rather this is a common tip for every destination in the world. When you will be in touch with your close friends and family members, you can inform them regularly about your well-being, relevant travel details and above all; you can call them in cases of emergency.

Climate
India is a vast land which enjoys different types of climatic conditions and weather changes all the year. In general this country comes up with unexpected humidity and moisture in most of the areas however; the climatic conditions greatly depend on the place where you are visiting. In southern India, you may face regular monsoon season for which you should come well-prepared. Just find the climate details for the place you are visiting and plan your tour accordingly.

Society and manners
Etiquette and behavior of a person reflect the actual personality and you must follow it in India. Since this country is a land of different cultures, religions and colors; your dressing and manners must be proper to communicate with people. In addition to this, you should also practice well-mannered etiquette in case of public gathering, family eating and other places where you are being noticed by others.