Varanasi - Banaras or Kashi
By Lokesh
Food Options for Varanasi
Dosa Cafe- nice: Dosas and Uttapams and drinks, walk back onto the road to Vishwanath temple from Dashashwamedh Ghat and take the Gulli from the bifurcation point.
Jogi Ram Tea Point: this is my latest find. It is on the road right outside Dashashvamedh Ghat and opposite the old green-coloured Dharamshala. Their lemon tea (10 rupees for full glass) is an addiction in winters! Their bun-butter (only 25) is a riot in your mouth. Also, try their bun malai.
Enjoy the super light and hot idlis at Dashashvamedh ghat at night for 15 rupees a plate.
Blue Lassi: one of the first Lassi shops which has inspired many of its kind where naturally flavoured lassis are sold. Must try Strawberry, mix fruits lassi.
Activities:
There is a museum right next to Dr. Rajendra Prasad ghaat, which is adjacent to Dashashvamedh ghaat. You will be blown away by how hitech it is and how it provides an immersive experience with its light and sound shows and talking walls and massive screens. Some sections of it are closed but it is still absolutely worth a visit or two. On the 1st floor is the Jantar Mantar observatory. Ticket for Indians is 25 rupees
Swim to the other side of the ghaat (it is doable) or take a shared boat ride and then bathe there in water for as long as you wish
Start from Assi ghaat and walk along the ghaats to reach the last ghaat, Raj ghaat. It will take you atleast a couple of hours. Do take breaks, sit where you wish to , eat when you want to, visit the temples that come your way, especially the leaning temple near Scindia ghaat/Manikarnika ghaat (It is somewhat like the leaning tower tower of Piza).
Take A boat ride after 7:30 pm when there is little traffic in the river and cleaner air. The ghaats looks more beautiful when they are lit up after dark. Keep your boat in the middle of the river to get the best view. The ride will be all the more memorable if you have someone special with you! Book Sumit (+91 99196 21825) who lives near Manikarnika Ghaat. He is 17 year old honest and humble boat rider. I suggest 250/hour rate with some tip for the boy , perhaps 50.
Sit at the ghaats and do nothing. Let the place be absorbed into you!
Watch Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghaat from in front of the podia. You can either find an empty boarto to sit in, or hire a boat that the pilot will park at a convinient place or youc an buy a seat on the deck of the ships that are parked strategically right in front of the aarti. Pay 100-150 if you are alone and not more than 250 if you're 2. The view from these deck is worth the prize I would say, atleast for once.
Take a boat ride before the sun rises and see the sun rise hieile you are in boat,
Attend the early morning religious music procession at Assi ghatt. It happens around 5 am and hence you will have to get up really early for it. It lasts for about 2 horus
Visit Ramnagar Fort- it is quite some distance from fort area, I think around 10 km. The fort has museum, achieves and even a famous temple overlooking the river.
Bharat Mata Temple- One-of-its-kind temple that has the model of pre-partition India. It is a private property and may be closed on some days.
Nearby Varanasi
Sarnath, 15 km away from Varanasi is the place where Budhda delivered his first speech after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The place is an archeological site and also has Japanese-Budha and Chinese Budha temple. One can at best devote half a day to it that too if one has a liking for archeology, else this place doesn't have much. Do not wear shoes as it would be irritating to remove and re wear them multiple times. If possible, rent a bike from Varanasi for Sarnath as autos tend to overcharge for reserved ride (150-200 one side) or you'lll take a highly uncomfortable sharing ride. The only nice place to eat is Vaishali Restraunt, stone throw distance from Chinese temple. Do try their fried rice.
Waterfalls- Rajdari and Devdari which fall under Chandraprabha wildlife sanctuary, 70 ke from Varanasi
you can also visit Chunar and if you're at Varanasi, you may visit Vindhyachal which is considered to be a shakti-peeth
You can visit chandauli, Sonbhadra and Mirzapur. So you may cover vindhyachal range which is unexplored in UP. Chandauli is mesmerising.. worth visit it.
Couple of lakes are there at Mirzapur too
Accommodations:
If you are willing to spend some money, the best options are Ganpati guest house(1500+Taxes) and Alka Guest house (both are adjacent to each other at Meer ghaat, and have hands down the best view of the river and ghaat among hotels in their range)
If you are fine with a non-attached sharing bathroom, then you can get a nice room at Alka for 700-800/day and can savour the amazing Ganga view and be right next to the Meer ghat. Use booking.com.
If you are alone and want to be near the ghat in a budget, then the best option perhaps will be Sunrise Lodge at Meer ghaat- 9335231160
Kaashi Guest House and Night Cafe. Nice place right near Manikanika Ghat with rooms @ 400 and excellent sitting/lying arrangement at rooftop cafe.
Shanti Guest house is also nice (the one near Manikarnika, not the one with hill top restraunt).
Another cheap option is Vishnu Guest house right on the ghaat (somewhere near Raja Ghaat)
Note: Ola works well in Varanasi