A Dream that I saw in Diwali 2019,
I was always fond of Varanasi (Banaras) and I always wanted to explore and travel the streets of Varanasi!
I wanted to visit Varanasi as soon as I saw RANJHAANAA, God I was in love with that movie as soon as I saw it, Streets of Varanasi, foods and the especially the Holy Ghats.
You will not believe that I saw RANJHAANA at least 50 plus times, because I was in love with that character (KUNDUN).
I am not a fan of Dhanush (The actor who played Kundun), but the way he played that character, I was in love with it.
The way he loves that girl (zoya) ohh god ,I was in love with the songs immediately , I used to sing and hear the songs all day on loop even while bathing , I used to dance on that songs.
Maybe, I love that character because I relate myself with that character a lot, I have too done many things for my love but still she behaves like zoya hahahahaha.
ye humara hi failaya hua sanichar hai, par hum bhe kya karte hum sanichar se he dil laga bethe❤️
My story is as same as RANJHAANA but, I’m not willing to give my life for her in the climax. hahahahahahaha
Tum tak chala hu tum takk chalunga tum tak tum tak tum tak tum tak tum tkkkkkkk
Enough about me , back to Banaras now.
So I recall a faded memory of mine when I was young, I had visited Varanasi with my family but the memory is too faded to remember, all I remember is that it was a hot afternoon the sun was exactly right overhead and I was sitting on the Ghats for approx. 5 minute and the ghat was so busy and I don’t even remember which ghat I was vibing, I haven’t been to my native in my life, except for this one time so I was very excited to visit such places now.
I kind of atheist person, but I don’t know why I was still attracted to Varanasi.
I can say that, I stared my reading journey with this awesome book named "The Immortals of Meluha".
It was the first book I read, I had many question before reading it, that will I be able to read it, understand it, but I was wrong, I was amazed by that book, and it encouraged me to read in even further.
I worship Lord Shiva because , he was a man who later evolved to a god because of his ethics, moral and judgments.
The one thing about Varanasi they say is: “Varanasi to Mahadev ka nagar hai”.
So, I started to watch vlog of Varanasi on YouTube and live stories on snap chat. I’m sure I have seen all the vlog related to Varanasi on YouTube, believe me when in say this, I was crazy about it.
I started to talk to my mom about this trip but, she instantly declined it, I kept convincing her about the trip every day and finally she let me go to Varanasi.
But now I needed to convince my friends for this trip, I expected it to be the hardest part but it was like a piece of cake, they too were desperate to go on trip.
I still remember on Diwali I meet Ankit and told him about the trip and he agreed to it. Soon Ronak too joined us, I must say I was a little uncomfortable to travel with him, but now I can proudly say I can travel with him anywhere without anything planning , that trip made him a friends on whom I can have full faith and land on.
I took a huge risk for this trip, as I knew my mom would never let me go on this trip so I lied to her that coincidentally my college I.V(Trip) is going to Varanasi. Yes Hard to believe but true. I made her think that my college is taking us there and soon she believed me. Believe me I told my folks not pay any visit to my house for a while, and I explained them everything about the same.
Soon, I planned the whole trip and we were all set to depart for the trip.
I didn’t expect them to join me in this trip as Varanasi is not an ideal destination for guys like us. Irony is that I had cancelled my Manali trip so that I can visit Varanasi.
We were finally in game. But there was many more obstacles in our path which was soon to be hit us hard.
Just one day before the train, I was very excited and was conscious about my looks because I had medium length hair, And I wanted to click some goods photos In Varanasi so I decided to cut them, I didn’t wanted to but I had to do it, feel me? Hahahaha
While I was having haircut I video called Ankit and Ronak and I was surprised that within minutes they were here in the salon
I love my long hair, and they were also surprised to see me cutting them, it was a big decision for me as well.
I was sleepless that night; I was very excited as anyone could be a day before trip.
I packed my bags, checked everything a million times, met my trip friends to discuss the plan a zillion times.
I still remember I had to leave the house at 9:30, I was all set and ready to leave at 8 o’clock but that one and half hour felt like eternity to me.
But eventually time passed I met my friends, we all were too excited and started our journey by saying “HAR HAR MAHADEV”
We reached Vashi station took train to CST, As I remember I was dancing in the train , I remember Ankit and Ronak were distracted when they saw something or someone at the CSMT station. Hahahahahah
We landed on our seats shortly, played some cards, enjoyed, and slept.
In morning, we had fun, played etc., People in our coach were very friendly to say, and they even offered us food and tea. And it was interesting to see other people around us and making jokes on them.
As soon as we left Maharashtra, temperature begin to drop, I remember the train took a halt at a station for 10 min and we went out it was cold and we took face wash challenge, I must say the tap water was icy cold, we were again dancing because of the sensation and as we didn’t expected the train journey to be this wonderful. Trust me travelling with friends is like a blessing. I was so excited that I didn’t sleep properly. I couldn’t wait to see the board of Varanasi.
Soon we reached KASHI station it was 5 in the morning. believe me it was freezing cold out ,it wasn’t supposed to be that cold but it was , we reached Varanasi station within 1 hour approx., finally we were in Varanasi.
It was 6 in the morning and freezing cold for us, Although I was good because of jacket and all but, Ankit and Ronak were in bad shape as they used their handkerchief to make bandana to cover their ears and Ankit even went a step ahead and used his shaul to cover himself, trust me looked like a high-class beggar at that time hahahahaha.
Just to say we all were in bad condition, our hands and legs felt numb and weren’t able to speak properly.
I stepped onto a platform and watched another world unravel in front of me.
But there was something special about Varanasi. There was something in the air it really felt good, it was all fogged and cloudy but still was happy that we were in Varanasi.
We navigated our way out of the station and trust me we all were surprised and shocked to see how the station looked from the outside, still remember Ankit saying “are vo dekh”,
Varanasi station looks like a big temple from the outside with all the colorful lights and all, after seeing I was sure I took the right decision to visit Varanasi.
As soon as step outside we could feel something in the air, we did a small photo shoot outside and we could see the happiness on each other’s faces.
Soon we meet the guy who was there to pick us up and then he escorted us to the hotel, we all were freezing but still were happy the first thing we did was to ask the guy to take us to the best place to have tea, and then we had these teas in “kullad” (clay utensils) and trust me, I’m not a tea person but it tasted so good with the flavor of clay and the aroma was lit.
Varanasi is regarded as spiritual capital of India, an ancient city dated back to the 11th century BC.
I couldn’t believe I was finally going to get to explore Varanasi.
Then we reached our hotel, the plan was to rest for the day, but within 30 min we all were fresh and ready to explore, I was very excited to roam on busy streets of Varanasi.
As we stepped out on the street, we could see a busy city around us, everyone going about their business. There was many people around us, we saw some smiling faces, heard some laughter, some people in hurry, some other quarrelling, the heavy traffic with continuous honking of horns, children playing, hawkers hawking...... There was so much happening around.
We had our breakfast while reaching the Ghats, we had chole bhature and yaar it was too good and the spices were so different from Mumbai.
Soon we started Google maps and started to follow it and while reaching the Ghats , we were followed by narrow lanes and the atmosphere was so cool, I must say there is something in the atmosphere of Varanasi , which makes you feel alive and the vibes can’t be explain.
From the very beginning I could feel it was a very scared place and there was some mysterious energy that stirred.
It was a combination of temperature, atmosphere, location and the lanes. Now I can say that I can feel the song “tu banja galli Banaras ki mai sham tak bhaktu tujhme”.
Varanasi has thousand of temples and is the home of Holy river Ganga.
Soon we reached the keader Ghat and it was a dark lane in the starting but it ended with a full clear view of Ghats and the first thing Ankit mumbled "woooooo yaar ider dekh"
It was a breath-taking view from the stairs above the Ghats. The lovely aroma of Varanasi, the Ghats, the holy Ganga and the happiness in the heart.
Ghats along the river ganga were stoned and narrow, it looked like the streets resembled some of fairy tale books. With magnificent architecture alongside the Ganga
I was so excited that all the vlogs and photos that I have seen in the phones, but now I’m gayzing the beauty with my naked eyes.
I can’t tell you how much happiness I felt, I could fell butterflies in my stomach, my heart was pumping and I could feel the warmness in my body. I felt connected to the nature and more to lord Shiva.
What I felt, is kinda hard to describe. But above all I was happy.
I was mentally satisfied, I wander off away from the group, just walking around, taking it all in, absorbing all the beauty around me, thinking about the house I will have if I lived here( I did the same thing throughout the trip) and was listening “phir se udhh chala”.
We roamed the Ghats for a while, returned to the hotel with booze, had fun and relaxed. We were finally in Varanasi.
Later that night, we went outside it was 11 in the night we had some lassi with malai and rabdi in that kullad,
It was amazing you can’t get anything like that in Mumbai for sure.
Soon we were on the busy roads , trust me when I say this, I was dancing in the middle of the street like crazy on RANJHAANA song assuming myself as kundun, I still have all that memories captured in my snap chat and then we were again in the narrow lanes away from the crowd ,
Varanasi is famous for its narrow lanes, it was dark and empty, I remember when I suddenly started to dance again unexpectedly and a guy on cycle behind me got scared and fell from the cycle and scolded me. Hahahahaa it as not me alone we all three were dancing.
The alleys seem really confusing to us, but will eventually lead you to any ghats or the streets.
We reached Dashwashmeth ghat it was empty and we could hardly see couple of guys, we relaxed, we were all alone there for a while, and then took off to hotel.
Why have I waited so long to come here? Why did I not known of this place long before? Always question pops in my head while returning to the hotel.
Next morning we decide to visit Sarnath, it’s the place where Gautama Buddha gave his first speech and teaching, soon we hired an electronic rickshaw, and must say the driver was too cool to be a driver and got mixed with us in our talks.
Having a ride in that rickshaw as cool, I felt different and amazing, the cold winds, peace, the songs and the roads of Varanasi,
On the road trip, I remember dancing on the song.
"Dunya ke sau roop saare niraale,,
Baithon na rum aise mann ko sambhale
Prem nagariya ki tum bhi dagariya chalo
Hum to chale sang tum bhi gujariya chalo".
Soon we reached Sarnath while enjoying the road.
To be honest it was the cleanest city I have ever seen and it was beautiful with a giant statue of Buddha and small lakes with lotus and rose in it and the gardens and the temples with the history engraved on the walls. We even saw monastery and it was peaceful.
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On the way back to hotel we tried “maliyo” it is a foam textured sweet , like furr or something but it was awesome I could feel the taste of it on every buds of my tongue 10/10.
Later that night we visited the Ghats for the EPIC Ganga aarti. Trust me once in a lifetime you must visit Varanasi for that aarti. Listening to the aarti got me Goosebumps. As soon as the arti started, I could feel my heart pounded in my chest and blood running in my veins,
Soon the atmosphere was filled with the satisfying Ganga aarti.
The vibes and the feeling ohhh I can’t express it, Me and Ronak recorded the whole aarti by sharing the camera in turns, it took us almost 55 minutes to record it and tremendous pain in our hands but, the aarti relived our pain. The aarti was so satisfying both mentally and physically.
One should definitely have this experince. There were thousands of people on the ghats to witness the magic of Ganga aarti, the sun had set and the lights of the ghats were up.
Sitting on the ghat and seeing the Ganga River and the boats, the people the sadhus and the atmosphere, I can’t describe my feeling, I was in heaven.
Everything was shining in different colors and the Ganga aarti made the scenario delightful, As the sun started to drown in the river ,what can I say more.
Even now listen to the Ganga aarti, it helps me, it works as a stress buster for me. If you haven’t listen to it please give it a try and listen it on YouTube.
Soon then we went to explore this shop named “deenaa chat bhandar”, we almost walked 2km to find that shop to have the chat and especially “Tamatar Ki chat”, as it was mouth-watering and so yum, it had chachni, ghee, sugar, lemon, chrunchies, and god knows what, we tried many different chats which were served in kullad, even now while I’m writing this my mouth is again watering, hahahaahaha
We started our day with a cup of tea and took off to witness the beauty of Assi Ghat, as it is considered as one of the important ghat of Varanasi.
On the way we had the world famous Banaras pan, “wo khte hai na ki Banaras aye our Banarasi paan nhi khaye to kya khaak Banaras aye ho babuya” hahahaha
Varanasi is so much fun, the streets, the people and the vibes.
Soon we reached Assi ghat, it was too cold there, We witness the beauty of Ganga river with our naked eyes, the water the temples the sadhus and all, I remember we had lemon tea there, it was almost 7 degree and the hot lemon tea felt like a life saver, it was something we can’t forget.
We wandered the Ghats and soon we reached Keder Ghat which was closed to our hotel. As all the ghats are well connected with each other’s, trust me walking along the ghats and Ganga river is the most peaceful thing.
Sitting in the hotels terrace and seeing the kites flying in the blue sky and people there.
Later, that evening we again went to Assi ghat for the boat ride, we met this guy, he took us on a half tour of Ganga and the Ghats. It was to peaceful on the boat, we had some snacks for the birds who flew over the Ganga river, once we feed them they followed us for couples of minutes, it felt divine on boat, covered with birds and looking the beauty of Ghats, and the sunset.
You should witness a perfect red sunrise and sunset on a boat along the Ganga river and watch as the water and sky becomes one.
We clicked some photos with the birds and enjoyed the peace, the guys told us various facts about the Ghats and even told us a horror story, It was normal for me and Ronak, but Ankit was scared as shit, that guys took us to the other side of the river , Ankit was so scared that he didn’t even left the boat because it was too dark and no one was there, Ronak and I roamed for a while there and returned to the boat and then we saw the Ganga aarti form the boat, seeing Aarti from the Ghats and from the boat is two different experience, one should get
Anything I say about that Ganga Aarti is less to what I experienced, it made me realized what mental peace is. Sometimes even now, I listen to it whenever I feel low............
It was way too cold when the boat ride ended, at a point we were alone in the river on that boat, it was way too dark and foggy to see anything, and it felt like we are some pirates going to loot some island or something.
It was the first time when I felt that it was too cold, it was like we were freezing out there, I felt so cold that I placed my water bottle on the bonfire where people were warming them, when someone told me that bottle has changed his shape because of the heat, but still the water was chilled, trust it was the coldest I have ever felt, my hands and legs felt lifeless and numb.
We used to remove our gloves to use our phones; well I know it is normal thing in cold places, but we didn’t expected this in Varanasi
We were all set to leave for RAMANAGAR FORT, yes it is the same fort where many movies shooting has been shot,
There is an interesting mix of different people around Varanasi.
The cold winds that brushed our faces was so exciting, listening songs and dancing on it, pretending yourself as the star of the song was so satisfying and entertaining..
Soon we reached that fort, first we looked and walked the fort and then we entered it, at first I thought it was a waste of time but I was so wrong, it was way to cool all the vintage cars, weapons , clothes and ahh the that fort was so beautiful,
Ankit and I had way to fun discussing our opinion about lifestyle of king and her 200 queens, hahahahaha and what a life the king was living, and what we could have done if we were the kings, we still laugh about that topic,
Sitting in the huge balcony of fort and looking at the Ganga was something very special, some people were bathing in the gangaa and we could see the river as far our eyes could see
I felt what is life, earning money?, no but having peace and your love ones with you, Varanasi has something special, that attracted me towards it.
Then we explored the local market near the fort, but to be surprised it was ladies market, I thought to buy something for “zoya” but thought, what’s the matter of doing it, I felt bad for a while that I can buy gifts but I don’t have anyone to give them, except “zoya”, I still remember saying Ankit that, “this pink salwar kamez would look so good on her”, but I didn’t buy it because as I recall we were on no speaking terms.
Then we again had malaaiyoo and lassi in kullad, it as the best, it was so awesome that we still remember the name of that shop “phelwan lassi” and then ended the day with Ganga Aarti.
It’s time to leave... I still don’t believe I managed to come here. But now I must leave. Why do I have to leave? I’m almost in tears. I was already making future plans in my head to visit again I have to come back and spend at least one month here.
We spend the last day on the Ghats and tried to absorb as much of Varanasi in our hearts, and on that day fog was limited as compared to other day and we could see the all the Ghats clearly, and it was the most beautiful view any eyes could see, we took a last ride in boat again, and sat on the Ghats and saw the view and locked then in our life,
And then we took off to railway station but first we went to the famous “batti choka”. It was a bit difficult to find that restaurant.
Where we were served the typical Banaras food and it was great, I still wonder if I can have it again.
Then we boarded in our train with memories and finally said goodbye to Varanasi. Roaming in the streets of Varanasi is something I can never forget and definitely want to visit Varanasi again, I felt like I lost something of myself in Varanasi and it is calling me again there.
Its a pity that I couldn't be in Varanasi longer but my journey had to continue, I walked away from Varanasi with a feeling in my heart that I simply can't put into words.
In the last I want to say, they say that travel teaches you something about how to look at life with different perspective. Varanasi had left an imprint in my heart.
I realized what’s peace is in Varanasi.
Om Namah Shivay .
The universe bows to lord Shiva. I bow to lord Shiva.
All Hail Lord Shiva.
Ye banaras hai, launda saala yaha bhe haar gya to jeetaga kaha? ❤
 and I always wanted to explore and travel the streets of Va...){kind=link}
13 comments
Wowww
ReplyDeleteAs varanasi is a very tradational old city. It have many things to see which we cant see anywhere in this world and the proud feeling which we feel as being a banarsiya this is absolutely not anywhere in this world...
And i just se banaras as bana+ras which means banaras is having different and memorable things to see,eat,felt which is not available anywhere...
And i have read all seriously all the way you have described varanasi is so adorable and it clearly seems that u are in love with varanasi...
Varanasi holds a special place in my heart❤️
DeleteFgg
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written! you have admired Varanasi so much that i wish I could visit that place atleast once .#keeptravelling&keepwriting
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear you feel that way ❤️
DeleteOhh Bhai awesome Yaar ab hum bhi jaayenge Banaras ek Baar dream city Mann fabb
ReplyDeleteZarur bhai saath me gyenge "Mahadev ki nagri" me❤️
DeleteThank you for writing this blog while reading this blog I had regained my memories when I was visited varanasi with my family. Nicely described
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, appreciate that❤️
DeleteWow you've actually covered the whole Varanasi! I'm glad you loved the place❤️ Two years back when I came to Varanasi, even I reacted the same by seeing the station, I was astonished!
ReplyDeleteYour write-up actually made me miss Banaras more, since due to COVID-19 I'm stuck somewhere else....The food, the lanes, the people, the ghats every other thing about Banaras is something special!
I really miss this place! Thank you for sharing your experience in Varanasi.
varanasi is not a place its an emotion , can`t wait to explore varanasi again
DeleteWow❤️ my memories got revived
ReplyDeleteWhen I first came varanasi for my studies....😌 Awesome vlog 👍
You just made my day,
DeleteThank you😍😭