Varanasi is a fascinating city for people of all ages, and children will enjoy the excitement and activity on the banks of the Ganges. While the cultural and religious significance of some of Varanasi’s most famous sites might be lost on young ones, unexpected attractions such as the monkeys at Durga Temple will surprise and delight. On the outskirts of the city are two acclaimed wildlife sanctuaries, providing the perfect escape from the congested city. For an educational experience, head for the Carpet Weaving Centre where you and your children can learn about ancient weaving techniques.
Boat Trips
Taking a boat trip on the Ganges is an exciting way to see the city from a different perspective. Accompanied by an adult, this is a suitable daytrip for children, with boats available for rent all along the river bank. Typically, visitors rent a boat with driver for a 1-hour period, or alternatively you can rent the boat for a longer period and stop at some of the more interesting ghats along the way. From the boat, you can enjoy sights of colourful laundry drying along the concrete slopes of the banks, holy men strolling, and hundreds of people of all ages bathing in the waters.
Carpet Weaving Centre
This centre in Bhadohi makes for an interesting and unique excursion for children. This is where carpets are produced by hand by a collection of skilled craftsmen who have been taught traditional weaving methods that have been handed down for generations. Visitors can see the craftsmen working and various stages of production as well as purchase completed works.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Perhaps the biggest highlight for children in the area is the Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, 55kms from Varanasi. Covering an area of 78 square kilometres, this recently established wildlife sanctuary is one of India's lesser-known nature spots. However, it is well worth a visit for its beautiful picnic areas, lush forests, and picturesque waterfalls including Rajdari and Devdari. Also attracting hundreds of tourists each year is the Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary, a little farther away at 130kms from Varanasi. This larger park is 500 square kilometres and comprises leopards, chital, chinkara, ratel, blackbuck, and peafowl. Phone: +91 542 52404.
Thought by many to be the cultural and spiritual heart of India, Varanasi is teeming with cultural activities. As a centre for religion, music, philosophy and the study of Sanskrit, the city attracts not only pilgrims in their thousands, but students and tourists too. Among the city’s cultural highlights are its fascinating museums, the ghats, educational institutes and of course its dozens of temples.
Archaeological Museum
Situated 10kms from Varanasi in Sarnath, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, this comprehensive museum houses the Ashokan pillar, whose symbol of four lions back-to-back has become the state symbol of India. Other archaeological finds of interest housed here include figures and sculptures from various periods of history as well as the earliest Buddha image to have been found at Sarnath. Some of the Buddha images date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, while sculptures of Hindu gods date to a later period between the 9th and 12th centuries.
Benares Hindu University
Established in 1915 by Pandit Malaviya, this centre of education has become the largest residential university in Asia and a renowned authority on Indian art, music, philosophy, the ancient language of Sanskrit and culture. On campus, there are several attractions of interest to visitors. Bharat Kala Bhavan houses a collection of miniature sculptures and paintings from the 1st to 15th centuries as well as old photographs of Varanasi. Perhaps of greater interest is the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum and its superb collection of paintings, sculptures and textiles. Highlights here include stone sculptures from the 2nd century BC; rare images from Gandhara, a famous centre of learning; a Buddhist stupa; precious Banaras silk and brocades; and rare Chamba rumals, richly embroidered with stories from the life of Krishna and once used to wrap ceremonial offering and gifts. Phone: +91 542 230 9624.
Durga Temple
Constructed in the 8th century by Bengali Maharani, this temple is characterised by its red-coloured stone, which was stained with ochre. A fine example of north Indian Nagara architectural style, the temple comprises a multi-tiered shikhara, or spire. Dedicated to Durga, many festivals are held in honour of the deity throughout the year. Many visitors enjoy the monkeys that gather here, giving the temple the nickname ‘Monkey Temple’. As with most of Varanasi’s temple, only Hindus can enter the inner sanctum.
Jantar Mantar
This unusual place is surprisingly not as well-visited as some of the more popular sites in Varanasi, yet it offers a fascinating insight into India’s early advancements in the science of astrology. Constructed by the ruler of Jaisingh, the observatory is one of five that he built, with the others being found in Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain and Jaipur. The instruments at Jantar Mantar observatory can record the motion, speed and properties of various planets, stars and other cosmic objects with exactness, even today. Considering the observatory was constructed in 1600 and can still match any modern instrument today, it is a wonder to observe.
Kashi-Vishwanath Temple
Popularly known as the Golden Temple, this temple is the most sacred of the Hindu shrines, dedicated to the patron saint of Varanasi, Lord Shiva. Built by Rani Ahillya Bai Holkar in 1776, the temple underwent reconstruction in the 18th century. At this time, gold plating on the 'shikharas' was added as a gift from the one-eyed Sikh King Maharaja Ranjit Singh. While non-Hindus can enjoy the temple’s exterior, they are prohibited from entering the inner sanctuaries.
Manikarnika Ghat
This important ghat is one of the most fascinating to visit, being the holiest place a Hindu can be cremated. Also known as the ‘burning ghat’, visitors to Manikarnika can view ‘doms’ handling the dead. The bodies must first be carried through the narrow alleyways of the old city to the ghat on a bamboo stretcher. Should you approach the ghat from one of the narrow alleys, it is commonplace to have to duck to the side to let bodies pass. The dead are doused with water from the Ganges before being cremated on a stack of firewood, which is then lit. Visitors are allowed to watch the cremations from a distance for a few minutes, but photos are strictly prohibited and considered disrespectful. Cremations can also be viewed from boats.
New Viswanath Temple
Built on-site at Benares Hindu University, the New Viswanath Temple is dedicated to Varanasi’s patron deity, Lord Shiva, and is considered by some to be the most sacred Hindu shrine in the city. Originally constructed up to 1,000 years ago, the temple was attacked and destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s forces. Restored by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore in the 18th century, it wasn’t until the 19th century that gold plating was added to the dome by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. The temple houses what is said to be the original shivalingam, an altar representing Lord Shiva, housed in the Gyan Vapi. Non Hindus may not enter the temple, but they are welcome to observe it from outside.
Varanasi is a centre for textiles, with carpets, weavings and embroidered silk all widely available and of a high quality. Traditional techniques, which have been handed down for generations, are often used in the production of these textile items.
Local silk is a popular buy and is frequently exported to places abroad. Likewise, the unique Bhadohi carpets demonstrate intricate detail and are excellent value for money when considering the workmanship that goes into making them. For clothing, there are hundreds of tailors peppered throughout the city which can produce clothing within 24 hours. Larger orders typically take a few days to complete.
Other handicrafts in Varanasi include carved wooden sculptures as well as beautifully crafted musical instruments, with Varanasi being a centre of music and the arts. Classical Indian musical instruments available include the tabla and sitar. You will also find copperware, brassware, ivory-ware, wood and clay items and stone inlay work. For women, huge varieties of glass beads and bangles are for sale, with colours to match every sari.
Popular shopping areas include Chowk; Vishwanath Gali, for silk brocade and jewellery; Thatheri Bazaar, for brass works; Lahurabir; Godoulia; Dashswamedh Gali; Qazi Sadullahpura, for silk; and Golghar.
Some of the top-end hotels in the city have their own boutiques located inside the hotel or nearby, but these are normally extremely overpriced. Skip these tourist traps and stick to the more popular shopping areas for excellent value for money. An exception to this is the government-run emporium Upica, which offers fixed prices.
Visitors are typically approached by ‘middlemen’ in the streets who work on a commission basis. These men can be useful if there is a particular product you want to buy and don’t know where to look, but if you are just browsing you will probably have a more relaxed shopping experience on your own as there will be no pressure to buy anything. Remember to bargain hard and be wary of fake items and scams.
Varanasi has hundreds of eateries catering to locals and visitors as well as markets selling street food. The city is not known for any specialities, but instead you will find a cross-section of dishes from across India. Popular among locals is thali, a selection of vegetarian dishes served on a partitioned stainless steel plate, and various kinds of dahl and masala. Restaurants are typically divided into vegetarian and non vegetarian establishments.
International cuisine is not a big thing here, with a distinct absence of popular chains such as McDonalds, but you will find that many hotels and restaurants in the old city cater to western tastes with things such as sandwiches and pancakes. In addition, the mid to upper range hotels normally offer a selection of international dishes. Service is normally good, but you may have to wait a long time for your food to arrive in some establishments.
The hygiene at some establishments is questionable so it pays to choose somewhere other travellers have recommended, or a place that is busy and looks clean.
The Ganges is the focus of all activities in Varanasi, and taking a boat out onto its waters is a popular activity and a great way to see the ghats from a different perspective. If you would rather stay on solid ground, the wildlife and nature parks on the outskirts of the city provide relaxing areas in which to picnic and stroll away from the city traffic. Alternatively, get in with the locals for a game of cricket – the most popular sport in the city.
Boating
Set on the west bank of the River Ganges, boating is a popular pastime in Varanasi and a practical way of getting around. While most visitors opt for a boatman to do all the hard work, most will be happy to let you have a go at rowing. A boat trip along the Ganges allows for unrivalled views of the ghats and is best done at dawn, when pilgrims bathe, practise yoga and receive blessings. Boats can be rented by the hour from most ghats.
Cricket
Indians have a passion for cricket and Varanasi is no exception. The sport is played throughout the city on the roofs of guesthouses and homes, and even in the narrow alleyways of the old city and along the banks of the Ganges. Visitors are welcome to join in local games or organise a game of their own.
Picnicking
Indians are great fans of having a picnic and there are some stunning locations for this activity near to Varanasi. Tanda Falls, a beautiful nature spot with lush forest and a pretty waterfall, is 88kms from the city and a popular daytrip spot. Alternatively, Wyndham Falls is 90kms from Varanasi and also provides a great picnic getaway for those looking to escape the crowded city.
At a walking distance from the Gange river or the railway station, it is a convenient place to explore the city on foot. Unfortunately, the swimming pool was close for unknown reasons....
