A Varanasi travel blog

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This Varanasi travel blog (Kashi travel blog) continues from where I left off last week: If you haven’t read Part 1 of this story, please read it here before proceeding further. Here is the link:

Maha Bodhi temple, Bodh Gaya

Heading to Varanasi

We left peaceful Bodh Gaya to head to another interesting place, a place where we would experience a sensory overload—Varanasi (Also known as Banaras or Kashi). This blog on Varanasi is also a photo story on Varanasi.

After a few hours of a train journey from peaceful Bodh Gaya, we found ourselves in one giant confusion known as Varanasi.

If you believe Bangalore has the worst traffic jams, you must visit Varanasi. Cows, people, e-rickshaws, 2-wheelers, rickshaws, and cars jostle for a little free space on the roads with horns continuously blaring. Miraculously, 8-lane traffic squeezes through a single lane without too many incidents.

streets of varanasi (banaras)
Varanasi Streets

Varanasi food

Among many other things, Varanasi is a paradise for foodies. Pictured here is the ‘Blue Lassy shop’- a shop famous for its delicious lassis.

One crazy custom we noted here was that customers put up their passport-sized photos on the wall to mark their visit.

You can also get bhang lassis (a potent cannabis-laced lassi) in some Government licensed outlets in Varanasi, but I wouldn’t recommend drinking one if you have a train or flight to catch in a few hours.

blue lassi shop varanasi
Blue Lassi Shop
varanasi malaiyo
What is a Varanasi travel blog without photos of some tasty food? Another lovely delicacy is Malaiyo – a fluffy milk-based sweet prepared only in Varanasi during the winter season.
kachori gali varanasi
Kachori Gali is the place to go for awesome snacks in Varanasi. The lane has several shops selling sweets, kachoris, tikkis and other snacks.
Bati-Chokha from Pallavi restaurant
Bati-Chokha from Pallavi restaurant.
varanasi sweets
Suffering from the sweet tooth? Book your travel to Varanasi now.
varanasi street food
Found this small hole-in-the-wall shop selling piping hot idly-vada-sambar. What more can a Madrasi in North India ask for? Like my roomies from yore used to say: “Brahman khush hua!”

Banarasi Paan

banarasi paan
So we finally got to eat the famous Banarasi paan. In fact, we were eating one every hour.
varanasi paan
Close-up shot of the Banarasi paan.

Ghats of Varanasi

varanasi ghats at dusk
The ghats of Varanasi at dusk.
Ganga Aarti in progress at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Ganga Aarti is in progress at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
ganga aarti varanasi
People watch the aarti from their boats.
ganga aarti at varanasi
A close-up shot of the aarti.
varanasi ghats
We walked across the length of the ghats.
Manikarnika ghat
The most confronting ghat, Manikarnika ghat–where dead bodies are cremated 24 X 7.
Manikarnika ghat
Manikarnika ghat in daylight. Boats keep supplying firewood continuously.
Bhonsale Ghat
Bhonsale Ghat.
varanasi sadhoo (sadhu)
A sadhu in Varanasi.
varanasi sadhoo (sadhu)
Them Sadhus sitting around the ghats.
varanasi graffiti
Along the ghats, you will find these occasional, beautiful graffiti.
varanasi graffiti
Here’s another wall art.
maria sabina graffiti varanasi
And another.
brown bread bakery varanasi
This small, cosy bakery that serves cakes and continental food is near one of the ghats.
kashi vishwanath temple
A small lane that leads to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
varanasi street photo
An open-air barbershop.
varanasi ghats
One last look at the ghats.
morning aarti at Assi ghat
The morning aarti at Assi ghat.

An end to another wonderful journey – a trip where we met the most cheerful people, ate the most wonderful of food, experienced raw life energy, got some new perspectives, and came back to a loving family. I hope you enjoyed this Varanasi travel blog.

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