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Some of the important tourist sites in Varanasi are:
One of the major attractions of Varanasi is the long string of Ghats- chain of stone steps-along the western bank of the Ganges. There are about hundred ghats in Varanasi and each of them is marked by a lingam, and has a special significance.
The Durga Temple is also known as the Monkey Temple due to the numerous aggressive monkeys that reside here. Non-Hindus are only admitted into the courtyard and not the inner sanctum.
The Alamgir Mosque is a blend of the Hindu and Mughal styles of the architecture. It was built by Aurangzeb, on the site of the Vishnu Temple.
Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the Bharat Mata Temple. Instead of any gods or goddesses, a huge marble relief map of the entire Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau is instituted here.
The Vishwanath Temple is located in the premises of the Banaras Hindu University. The temple was built by the Birlas and planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Unlike many other temples in Varanasi, this temple is open to all irrespective of caste or creed.
The Banaras Hindu University was built in 1917, and is one of the oldest educational centres in India. The new Vishwanatha Temple is also located within the campus.
Tulsi Manas Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is located where Tulsidas the great medieval seer, is believed to have lived and written the great epic "Shri Ramcharitmanas". The two tier walls of the temple are engraved with the verses and scenes from this epic.
Significant excursion sites near Varanasi are listed below:
Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are all sacred places for Buddhists around the country. Several Buddhist structures are situated in these places. The Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained salvation, and the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple are located in Bodhgaya, the Sarnath Stupa in Sarnath, and the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar.
The 17th-century Ramnagar Fort houses a museum with a collection that includes horse-drawn carriages, old motor cars, gilded and ornate silver howdahs (elephant seats), hookahs, costumes, a collection of minute ivory carvings, an astronomical clock etc.
One of the holiest cities of India, the ancient city Allahabad finds mention in the Vedas, Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as Prayag. It is located at the confluence of two of India's holiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna. The confluence called the Sangam is the venue of many sacred fairs and rituals and attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.
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