Holy Ganges
View allAll Photos Tagged Banaras
Boats ferry tourists through the day in Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India. The famous Banarasi ghats attract millions of people from across the world. But you may have missed a vital part of Varanasi’s real flavour if you have not taken a boat ride on the Ganga river. Here a boatman parks his boats after a day of gruelling work.
Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together ~ Mark Twain
took a boat trip before dawn. It was dark and cold, and all we could see was the riverside lights. As the sun rose through the mist, I turned away from the lively river bank and took a shot over the water of a fishing boat. It was an ethereal, otherworldly scene.
‘Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together’ wrote Mark Twain about the ancient city of Banaras, on the banks of river Ganges in India. It still retains much of its mystique, with yogis frequenting its banks for their morning and evening prayers. On a foggy morning, I captured one of them (with due permission, of course) as he draped his saffron robe; a stark contrast to the almost colourless expanse of the river. Once again, as in my earlier post, I tried to keep the frame minimal and tried to balance the composition with the boats.
Varanasi- a melting potpourri of different elements which somehow manage to blend and harmonise. The serene Ganga, the hustle and bustle of the ghats , the narrow by lanes, the chaotic traffic. the sadhus and pilgrims, street food, hash and bhang, Pandits and Pandas are all there to make a visit to Banaras an unforgettable experience.
“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” - Mark Twain
Varanasi, once known as Banaras and Kashi, is a historical city in northern India. Varanasi is situated on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins. The city is sacred to Hindus and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
It's a early winter morning on the thousands of year old lanes in Benaras .. .... The current political regime is not so kind about this road ..They view it as backwardness ( staying hungry is probably not in their books). They want to build a very wide road for the VVIP people in India rameging through these lanes leading to the kashi biswanath temple ... Probably one of the oldest cities in the world ... heritage and Culture are reducing to ashes in the hands of political class. ( Personal Opinion)
Daytime Long Exposure shot of Varanasi....
Just Connect with my on Facebook for Upcoming Dev Deepawali Tour to Varanasi 2015 :)
© Nimit Nigam Photography
© Varanasi Photos
© Frames Catcher
Banaras locomotive works , varanasi assembled 37436 ED ( ERODE ) WAP-7 powering my fav 12610 MYSORE JN - MGR CHENNAI CENTRAL ~ INTERCITY EXPRESS skips BYPL
Varanasi | City in Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Mark Twain, the English author and literature, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote : “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together. ”
The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.
Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries.
Varanasi- also known as, Banaras, or Kashi, is a city in the northern India, dating to the 11th century B.C., is regarded as the spiritual capital of India. The city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon, "The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma", at nearby Sarnath.
The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi. During the Muslim rule through Middle Ages, the city continued as an important centre of Hindu devotion, pilgrimage, mysticism and poetry which further contributed to its reputation as a centre of cultural importance and religious education. Tulsidas wrote his epic poem on Rama's life called Ram Charit Manas in Varanasi. Several other major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including Kabir and Ravidas.
Guru Nanak visited Varanasi for Maha Shivaratri in 1507, a trip that played a large role in the founding of Sikhism.
In the 16th century, Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the Mughal emperor Akbar who patronised the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, though much of modern Varanasi was built during the 18th century, by the Maratha and Brahmin kings.
Varanasi has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Of particular note are the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat, the last two being where Hindus cremate their dead and the Hindu genealogy registers at Varanasi are kept here.
The Ramnagar Fort, near the eastern bank of the Ganges, was built in the 18th century in the Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and scenic pavilions.
Among the estimated 23,000 temples in Varanasi are Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, and the Durga Temple. The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi, and an essential part of all religious celebrations.
Varanasi is a remarkable educational and musical centre in India, where many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived, and it was the place where the Benares gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed. One of Asia's largest residential universities is Banaras Hindu University (BHU).