Varanasi - The ultimate exploration of soul

I took Begumpura express and it will drop you in the holy city in the afternoon and you have a whole evening to be spent all by yourself by the ghats. Take a hotel/hostel near Assi Ghat (the most convenient way to start off your ghat walk)

Assi ghat has a hippie touch and you can experience it with the westernized cafes and the crowd at the ghat. Attend the Sham-e-Banaras there and then go for a boat ride which will take you across to the other end of Banaras giving you a massive view of Ganga and all its pristine ghats.

Aarti at Dasashwamegh and Rajendra Prasad Ghat is a must watch. Both ghats are adjoining and attract a lot of tourists during Ganga Aarti. The best way to experience it is by sitting in the boat and the whole visual becomes flawless.

Manikarnika Ghat should be next on your list. It is believed that dead human souls find salvation when cremated here. Words cannot describe this place where life and death meet. The realization of the thought that this is the ultimate destination gives you chills.

There is a lot to try for all the food enthusiasts. Blue lassi is the most famous 75 years old lassi shop in the small streets and offers the best lassi in town. Being in Banaras and not trying out on Bhang Thandai would be an offense ;). Deena chaat bhandar bubbles up your savory taste buds. Litti chokha, the regional dish with a heavenly serving of ghee should be on your check list. As you sit by the ghats, keep sipping lemon tea.

Pay a visit to the holy temple of Kashi Vishwanath. It holds one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples. Your trip to Kashi isn't complete without visiting Kaal Bhairav Mandir, representing one of the fiercest form of lord Shiva.