Exploring Varanasi: India’s Spiritual Heart – Part 2

Varanasi (24th February 2023 to 26th February 2023)

DAY 2 (Varanasi Local Sightseeing)

We started off our day by performing Puja at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir early in the morning. Since we were running out of time and were aware that the queue for the Puja takes several hours to enter the Mandir and offer prayers, we decided to book a special permission request called Sugam Darshan. You can obtain this permission online from here: https://shrikashivishwanath.org/…/U3ViQWhsYms2WUoydkx5V…, or you can also get it from the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Trust, located near gate no. 4.

The cost is Rs 300 per person, and you can select your preferred time slot (we chose the slot from 6 AM to 7 AM). They will provide you with a pandit ji, and after the darshan, you will receive a Prasad box that you need to collect from the trust office.

Therefore, we reached the trust office by 5:45 AM, and we were assigned a panditji who would accompany us to the special darshan queue. We purchased the necessary Puja items from the roadside sellers.

It took us only 30 minutes to complete the entire process, and we were able to offer Puja peacefully within that time.

After that, we headed towards Laxmi Chaiwala and tried their special Chai, Malai Toast, and Butter Toast. They tasted delicious. You can also try their Cesarian Toast.

Then, we went to Ram Bhandar, which is famous for Kachori and Jalebi. It was extremely crowded, and we had to wait for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour. However, honestly, it wasn’t worth the wait. I found Kolkata Kachori to be more delicious than Ram Bhandar’s Kachori, but the Jalebi was delicious. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend visiting Ram Bhandar; instead, try the local hing kachori from any roadside shops.

After that, we returned to our hotel, rested for a while, and then went out for a local sightseeing tour.

• Our first stop was Shree Kal Bhairav Baba Temple. People say that one must visit Bhairav Baba’s temple when visiting Varanasi, or else their journey will be incomplete. He is the Protector of Varanasi. We performed Puja and then proceeded to our next stop.

• Our next stop was Bharat Mata Mandir. The temple is not dedicated to any particular deity or religious figure but instead honors the spirit of a unified and sovereign India. It serves as a symbol of patriotism and national unity.

• After that, we headed towards Ramnagar Fort, which I was very eager to visit. The fort exhibits a blend of Mughal and Indian architectural styles. It is constructed with red sandstone and features intricate carvings, balconies, and ornate pavilions. The fort is spread over a large area and encompasses several buildings and structures.

• After exploring Ramnagar Fort, we made a stop at the famous Shiv Prasad Rabdi Lassi, which is just a 5-minute walk from the fort. It is a must-visit place. If you’re in Varanasi and looking for a delicious and authentic lassi experience, Shiv Prasad Lassi is definitely worth a visit. It’s a great place to cool down and indulge in the rich flavors of this classic Indian drink.

• Our next stop was the BHU campus, where you can find the replica of Vishwanath Temple made by the Birla group. We tried Om’s Cold Coffee on the BHU campus, and it tasted amazing. We also had our lunch inside the campus. I don’t remember the name, but the food was really good and tasty.

• After that, we went to Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir. After the darshan, we bought the famous Peda, which is available inside the temple premises.

• This was our last stop for the day as we wanted to have an evening boat ride. However, if you have time, you can visit Durga Mandir and Tulsi Manas Mandir on the same day. Unfortunately, our evening boat experience was very disappointing, and I didn’t enjoy it at all.

• We had our dinner at Dawat restaurant, which is near Godowlia Mor. I highly recommend having your lunch or dinner at this place, but only if you have enough time on hand, especially if you’re going with a large group.

• And that’s how we ended Day 2 of our Varanasi Trip.

The last-day itinerary from our Varanasi trip will be posted soon. Please wait until then.

Thank you, everyone.