Varanasi, Benaras or Kashi – call it what you may, came to be the holiest of all cities due to its pilgrimage and evidence of spiritual/religious amalgamation. One of the must-see here is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. One of the holiest temples dedicated to lord Shiva, the temple which cannot be seen from the outside goes unnoticed through the alleys which define Varanasi. As you enter the site though, you can see gold, stone and etchings which tell us tales of who all have donated, dedicated and designed the holy house. It has been and destroyed multiple times and finally completed in 1780 by the Maratha ruler Ahilya Bai Holker of Indore.
When it comes to food, there’s no dearth of options here. One cannot go to this city and not have the famous paan. The little digestive made in a betel leaf and Areca nut combined with mukhwas {mouth freshener} is eaten by every inhabitant and represents a strong culture. Though, we wouldn’t suggest it to any tourist who has a weak gut and doesn’t want to walk on the wild side. We had one too many during our time there and can almost relive it again as we think of it. Other things to be eaten and tried include the chaat {street food} which its widely popular for. The gol gappas with yogurt in them, the kachori and papdi are must-haves.
Open Hand cafe is a great American joint for breakfast and all day dining with scrumptious and freshly baked goods, milkshakes and meals. Also make sure you try the thandai. This milk-based creamy drink has multiple variations and needs no occasion to be consumed. With strong flavours of cardamom, nuts, saffron, black pepper, watermelon seeds, fennel and more, it’s delicious and is also a staple during festivals like Holi, Maha Shivratri and the ever-so-popular Kumbh Mela.
Given how colourful this city is, there will be plenty of shopping attractions- from clothing {Benarasi saree, anyone?} to accessories, you will find a lot that will make for superb additions to your wardrobe.