A Spiritual Journey to the Holy City of Varanasi

Other than being holy, soulful, delightful, and amazing, Varanasi is famously called the spiritual city or centre of India. This city of Lord Shiva has numerous names, like Avimukha, Banaras, Anandavana, Kashi, Mahashmashana, and Rudravasa. Varanasi originated by combining the names of the Ganges tributaries, Varuna and Assi, which flow together in the centre of the holy city. 

Hindus go on a religious pilgrimage or Kashi Yatra to Varanasi. They regard it as one of the most essential religious journeys, an essential part of our religious practices and beliefs. You can find regular flights to India, connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi with major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. 

Most airlines like IndiGo, Air India, Go First, and Vistara operate connecting flights from Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, Jaipur, or New Delhi and Varanasi. They are one-stop or two-stop flights operated by a single or multiple carrier.

What Is the Significance of the Varanasi Spiritual Trip?

Varanasi, known as the land of the prime Ghats, is a place beyond time, sparking curiosity among tourists from places across India and the world. The holy city draws thousands of tourists from all over the world. When some visitors come for a spiritual retreat, others come to seek moksha, rediscover who they are, or search for life’s meaning.

The Kashi Yatra includes several practices and rituals, making it an elaborate one. The pilgrimage often starts with a stop at Prayagraj, wherein visitors bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters, which by doing this is believed to cleanse the soul and remove sins.

Once at Varanasi, pilgrims perform many rituals, including worshipping Lord Shiva and feeding the hungry. They also visit various holy sites. One of the most significant rituals of the Kashi Yatra is the Ganga Aarti, which is conducted in the evening at the river. 

In the traditional rite known as the Ganga Aarti, priests burn incense and offer candles to the river while singing hymns and playing music. Devotees are said to be able to purify their souls, find peace, and amass material wealth by engaging in this rite.

Activities to Do in Varanasi

In this holy city, you can engage in the following activities:

  • Discover the Ghats 

You should spend some time on the Ganga Ghats, and without it, your journey to Varanasi is not complete. Take a boat trip at sunrise or during the sunset, or stroll along the Ghats. You can enjoy picturesque views of Varanasi riding the boats. An ideal way to experience the city’s diverse culture is by taking a linear walk along the Ghats. You will find the Ghats crowded with pilgrims, fortune tellers, sadhus (holy men), boat operators, yoga practitioners, snack vendors, trinket dealers, and tourists anytime.

When pilgrims congregate for the morning prayer at the riverbank, they create the most ethereal atmosphere along the Ghats by offering water from the holy Ganges to the rising sun and bathing in the river to atone for their sins. You can start from Assi Ghats, walking to Scindia Ghats through Dashashwamedh and Manikarnika.

  • Visit Kashi Vishwanath Shrine

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is the most important place to see and pray. The shrine, among the famous Jyotirlingas, is situated on the banks of the River Ganga and is regarded as the pinnacle of mythological wonder. You can worship Lord Shiva, the deity of the shrine. Visitors who come to this place are awestruck by its beauty and spirituality. 

The term Lord Vishwanath, which Lord Shiva is also known as, is thought to be the place where all the faithful souls who have passed on go to find peace. The gold dome and spire of the temple are its most recognisable features, and legends say that Lord Vishwanath would grant a wish if you look at the dome.

  • Wander the Streets of Varanasi

Finding your way around Varanasi’s confusing network of winding alleyways can be challenging, but the real Varanasi experience is getting lost. All you need to do is find the closest Ghats to orient yourself. Shops, food booths, hidden shrines, homes painted in bright colours, candlelit shrines, and venerated cows vying for room in narrow alleyways are all lined up along the alleys.

  • Visit Sarnath

There is more than simply Hinduism in Varanasi. Being a Hindu city, Varanasi is also called a Buddhist city. You need to travel north in a rickshaw through the chaotic alleys of Varanasi to the holy Sarnath, a place of serenity where the Buddha delivered his first speech after attaining enlightenment.

For travellers, especially Hindus, a pilgrimage to Varanasi is a journey of devotion and faith holding great significance. You can book your tickets on any of the cheapest flights to India online.