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Varanasi is a city where the past and present live side by side. It is a well
known tourist spot in India and thousands of tourists not only from India but
even abroad visit the city every year. The city is famous for its temples, silk
sarees. It is also the land where many eminent personalities of India were born.
Ghats- Life in the city of Varanasi revolves around it's over one hundred Ghats
(river landings). Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe and worship in the river
Ganges at the first light of dawn. Boat rides down the river in the morning
are a very popular excursion.
Banaras Hindu University was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The campus
is huge it is situated on a wide spread area. There are separate buildings for
separate departments. There is a well stocked library. It is a recognized university
and it is one of the most important universities in India.
Alamgir Mosque is located in Panch Ganga Ghat .The Ghat is a sacred site where
the worshipers often take holy dips in the river Ganges. The mosque is built
on the site of Vishnu temple. The mosque represents the fine blend of Hindu
and Mughal architecture.
Jantar Mantar observatory was built by the ruler of Jaisingh in Varanasi. The
Varanasi observatory has all the instruments which were required to record the
motion, speed and properties of various stars and planets and other cosmic objects.
The observatory was built in 1600 and still the instruments give the exact measurements
which can match any modern instrument today.
Ramnagar Fort, built in 17th century is the home of the former Maharaja of
Benaras. It looks most impressive from the river. The interesting museum here
contains old silver and brocade palanquins, gold-plated elephant howdahs, an
astrological clock, macabre elephant traps and an armoury of swords and old
guns.
Monkey Temple (Durga temple) is a temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga
temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga
temple. The architecture is of Nagara Style, which is typical of North India.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred temples of Hindu god Hanuman
in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Tulsidas, the author of the famous
Hindu epic Ramacharitamanasa, founded the Sankat Mochan temple. Every Tuesday
and Saturday, thousands of people from different parts queue up in front of
the temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman and attain his blessings.
The Bharat Mata temple at Varanasi is the only temple dedicated to Mother India.
The Bharat Mata temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The statute
of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting
the mountains, plains and oceans.
Bharat Kala Bhavan is a museum which displays India's heritage. It is a mine
of knowledge which has preserved the past of our country. The Bharat Kala Bhavan
museum was established in the year 1920 A.D. It is an art and architecture museum
and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and
other materials of archeological importance.
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