Exploring Benaras: Temples, Ghats, and the Mystical Ganga Aarti

It would not be wrong to say that Benaras is the spiritual capital of the Hindus. This ancient city wakes up to the resonating chimes of temple bells echoing along the ghats. A blend of age-old traditions and modern bustling streets, the city remains the top choice of devotees and pilgrims from across the world.

Benaras has its own unique way of living. With sunrise,  the ghats come alive as pilgrims take their holy bath. It is not only the Kashi Vishwanath temple that draws tourists and devotees, but also several other attractions hidden in the narrow lanes and crowded roads of Benaras. In the temple, it is difficult to predict the length of the queue for darshan; on special occasions, the line may be much longer than on ordinary days. A very important point to note is that no goods or electronic gadgets are allowed inside the temple premises. At the entrance, security personnel thoroughly check devotees for any prohibited items.

The Vishwanath temple is a very sensitive area where security personnel always remain on high alert. However, we did not face any untoward incident and were able to have our darshan smoothly. After visiting the Vishwanath temple, our next destination was the Birla temple in the Banaras Hindu University campus. It is truly unique, situated in the heart of the university, surrounded by lush greenery that adds to its beauty. The temple is huge and has a beautiful garden with many ornamental plants and green fields. Whoever visits should spend some time resting on its green lawns. The entire area has a distinct charm and a divine aura. From the very entrance, it attracts devotees.

After visiting the Birla Temple, we moved towards the Sankat Mochan Temple of Lord Hanuman. The queue there was short, and this temple too is located within the city itself. In the premises, I noticed another queue near a well where devotees were waiting for their turn to drink water. The man serving water from the bucket requested everyone to drink only up to the brim, assuring them that no one would fall ill after having it. I also drank the water and filled one bottle to take back for my family members.

Inside the temple, I had the darshan of Lord Hanuman. One unique sight was that devotees were offering Tulsi garlands to the deity, and even as prasadam, the priest offered us holy water along with a Tulsi leaf. The temple premises were very captivating. Sweets were also available there to offer as prasad. Like other important temples, here too, security personnel did not allow visitors to carry electronic gadgets or items made of leather.

Benaras is truly a sight to behold—wherever you look, crowds of people flow like a river of faith. Among its treasures stands the Tulsi Manas Mandir, dedicated to Lord Ram, believed by scholars to be the place where Goswami Tulsidas composed the immortal Ramcharitmanas. The city hides countless layers within itself; the more you explore, the more it reveals. Every ghat, every temple, every road and crossing carries its own story and history. And when evening falls, the grand Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat becomes the heartbeat of the city. Thousands gather as chants rise, lamps flicker, and the air vibrates with devotion. To witness it from a boat on the river is to see Benaras in its most enchanting form—I too sat on the waters of the Ganga, watching the spectacle unfold, feeling as though the city itself was whispering its timeless mysteries. No matter how much one writes of Benaras, it always remains more mysterious, more profound than words can ever capture.