Varanasi

On 9th January 22 at 12 noon we checked out hotel Amrita, Jammu and at 2 PM we boarded Begampura Express (Jammu to Varanasi) and reached next day 10th January to Varanasi at 12.30 PM.  By auto we went to Jay Vishwanath Hotel at Rs 100/-, checked in hotel Jai Vishwanath at 2.30 PM.  In the evening I went to Kedar ghat by walking and others rested at hotel.

On 11th January 2022, at 9 AM by auto (Rs.40) we went to Kedar ghat, ate idli, Vada over there and then took a boat ride (Rs 1400) to Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna, Kal Bhairav nath Temple.  Boatman guided us to all temples.  First we took a dip in holy Ganga river, changed clothes.  Here my daughter and my Papa took camel ride at the bank of river Ganga. Then while boating we enjoyed watching lots of Siberian birds flying around us.   We saw  birds,  river,  people and  butterflies in the sky. Everything is incredible. We feel very cool. We feed birds Shev. As soon as we throw shev in water, birds come to grab it.  Then we went to Kashi Vishwanath darshan.  The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a famous hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of  Shiva temples. The Rs-800-crore project was launched by the PM  Narendra Modi in his parliamentary constituency in March 2019, with the aim of restoring the “lost glory” of the spiritual centre. The Kashi Vishwanath temple lacked direct access to the Ganga, and a 20-foot-wide corridor was envisaged to connect Lalita Ghat on the holy river to Mandir Chowk on the temple premises. Shiv bhakt can take a dip in the river every morning and worship the Lord in the temple, which will now have direct visibility from the ghat,
After darshan we went to Annapurna temple but temple was closed for Pooja so boatman asked us to take Prasada at Annapurna temple bhojnalaya, so we went to take Prasada and had a very very tasty food as prasad. Then took darshan and Aarti at Ma Annapurna.  It was a very very divine and unforgettable experience for us. An 18th-century idol of Goddess Annapurna, stolen from Varanasi about 100 years ago and retrieved from Canada recently,  returned to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and reinstalled there on November 15th 2021.  We were lucky to have darshan.  Then boatman took us to Kalbhairva temple, but it was closed, as boatman not ready to wait till temple opens,  we were helpless and came back to hotel at 3 PM.  If one want to do all darshans by boating, then one has to do lot of walking through narrow roads and lanes. In the evening I alone went to Kashi Vishwanath temple by auto to experience night view and it was fabulous.

On 12th January 22 at 1.30 PM me and wife went to Ramnagar fort by auto.  But due to Pandemic, fort was closed for tourists. We did boating around the fort and came to hotel. The Ramnagar Fort is a fortification in Ramnagar, Varanasi, India. It is located near the Ganges on its eastern bank, opposite to the Tulsi ghat. The sandstone structure was built in the mugal style in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja  Balwant Singh. In the evening we all again went to Kashi Vishwanath temple darshan. While coming did some shopping.  As vehicles are not allowed, auto drops us far away and we have to walk about 2 KMs to and fro for Mandir. Most of the times we used cycle rickshaw at Varanasi. At Varanasi daily we used to drink Amma Lassi which is exact opposite to our hotel.

On 13th January 22 at 3 PM  by cycle Rickshaw we went to Kedar ghat and by boating Rs 500/- went to Manikarnika ghat,  Ratneshwar Temple.  Reclining submerged temple of Lord Shiva, shivling is completely merged in sand. Even when water level is low Garbh gruh is not accessible.  This temple in Varanasi, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir, is taller than the Tower of Pisa, and leans far more. Yet, forget the world, it is not known even in India. The temple is famous for having a tilt of about nine degrees. Tower of Pisa leans about 4 degrees, less than Ratneshwar Temple which leans at over 9 degrees.
Then we went to kalbhairav temple darshan which we missed earlier.  The temple is dedicated to Bhairava (Kaal Bhairav), a fierce form of Shiva and wears a garland of skulls and carries a club of peacock feathers. The word "Kaal" means both "death" and "fate". Kaal Bhairav also means the one whom even death fears ( It is believed that even death is afraid of Kaal Bhairav). After Kalbhairav darshan again we went to Kashi Vishwanath darshan and then Annapurna temple where we favoured with khichdi Prasad. Then we came by  cycle Rickshaw to hotel.

On 14th January 22 at 12.40 PM we boarded Begampura Express from Varanasi for Jammu which expected to reach Jammu next day at 11 AM.

But on 15th January early morning we decided to get down at Jalandhar and go to Amritsar. So we reached Jalandhar at 10 AM, from railway station took auto to bus stand Rs.200/-  and by Govt. bus went to Amritsar Rs.440/- and reached Amritsar at 1.30 PM. By auto Rs 150/- went and checked in Hotel M M Paradise, Amritsar.