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O n the opposite bank
of river, this 17th century fort is the home of the former Maharaja
of Benaras. It looks most impressive from the river, though the
decrepit planking of the pantoon bridge you cross to reach it is
somewhat of a distraction. During the monsoon access is by ferry.
The intresting museum here contains old silver & brocade palanquins
for the ladies of the court, gold-plated elephant howdahs, an
astrological clock, marcabre elephant traps and an armoury of swords
and old guns. |
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This place is well
connected by rail, road and airways. There are very good hotels and
restaurants to suit the requirements of all
Kaashi, Benares and Varanasi are the names of this city where houses
this Temple of Lord Shiva. This Jyotirlingam is one o f the twelve jyotirlingams of India. This place is situated at the bank of Holy
River Ganges. In the words of Hyuen Tsang, one of the Chinese
travellers who visited Varanishi in the 7th century,
wrote that there was a
hundred feet high statue of Lord Shiva made of brass. This region is
also known as Anandakanana which delights all the pilgrims and the
Lord.
It has been mentioned in Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ramayana etc
that Kaashi is the place of liberation and salvation. Kaaskhi is one
of the oldest city of ancient India and famous for its holiness and
its culture. The
Benares Hindu University is also known
as Kaashi Vishwavidyalaya situates in this city which is the seat of
learning. Thousands of scholars come here from India and abroad to
study the old scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas. It is one
of the oldest cities of learning. Mahashivratri in the month of
February is a very big festival at this temple. All pilgrims first
bath in the Holy
Ganges and then go to the temple of Lord Vishwnath and perform
Abhishek with the Holy Water of River Ganges.
There is a belief that persons who die and cremated here in
Manikarnika Ghat at the bank of River Ganges in Kaashi will be
liberated from the cycle of life and death. Accordingly thousands of
Hindus come and reside here to die in their old age
types of the visitors. February, March, April, and September,
October and November are temperate months for the visitors and
pilgrims. |