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Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat is the southernmost Ghat in varanasi, where pilgrims bathe before paying their homage to Lord Shiva in the form of huge lingam situated under a peepal tree. Assi Ghat also constitutes the southern end of conventional city. Another lingam worshipped here is the Asisangameshwar lingam representing the lord of confluence of the Asi, enshrined in a small marble temple near the Assi Ghat. It was at the Assi Ghat where the famous Indian poet saint, Tulsi Das had written the much-celebrated Ramcharitmanas.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	Top^
BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant did the conceptualization and implementation of this university. Raja of Kashi donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of the sprawling campus. BHU is the largest residential university in Asia. It has been developed as a center for education in Indian art, music, culture and philosophy and for the study of Sanskrit.
Chunar Fort	Top^
Chunar is about 40 km from Varanasi and is known for the Chunar fort. The Chunar fort looks beautiful upon the Kaimur Hills that provides a fantastic view of the meandering Ganga River. This is the same 'Churnargarh', on which the famous Hindi classical novelist Devinandan Khatri based his renowned work 'Chandrakanta'. Another important and historical place around Varanasi is Jaunpur. The Tughlaq ruler, Feroz Shah built Jaunpur in 1360. It was built to guard the eastern frontier of the kingdom. The town still has some of the beautiful monuments of that period. It is said that Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain established the fort of Chunar. According to the Alha Khand, King Sahadeo made this fort as his capital and established the statue of Naina Yogini in a cave of Vindhya hill. To commemorate his victory on 52 rulers, King Sahadeo built a stone umbrella inside the fort.
Bharat Mata Temple	Top^
The Bharat Mata Temple was therefore constructed and in the year 1936. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. The holy city of Varanasi, situated in Uttar Pradesh, India is known as the city of temples. Apart from the various temples dedicated to deities, there is a unique temple in Varanasi called Bharat Mata Temple. The temple is located approximately 3 km west of Godaulia, on the outskirts of the old city, and is in the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. The Bharat Mata Temple is the only temple that is dedicated to the nation. Bharat Mata is being depicted as a woman clad in saffron sari, holding a flag. This temple has a relief map of the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau, carved out of marble in three dimensions. The map vividly portrays major mountains, rivers, plains, oceans and the holy pilgrimages of India.
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir	Top^
Kashi Vishwanath temple, is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the holy city of Varanasi, India. The temple stands on the western bank of Hinduism's holiest river Ganges and the deity is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas the holiest of Shiva deities. The main deity is known by the name Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara meaning the Lord of the World. The temple town is the oldest living city in the world with 3500 years of documented history. It is also called Kashi and hence the temple is popularly known as Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Due to this 15.5m high golden spire, the temple is sometimes called the Golden Temple.
Durga Temple	Top^
The Durga temple is considered one of the most important temples in Varanasi. Built in 18th century the Durga temple is stained in Red with ochre. Though the temple might have Bangla influence spiritually, it is built exclusively on the North Indian pattern called Nagara. Multi-tired spires that decrease in diameter in horizontal pattern mark this style. Actually separate spires are clubbed together one over another to give this feel. Though this style looks less attractive than the South-Indian Gopuram pattern, it has a feel of its own. Lately, people have started calling it Monkey Temple due to the menace created by the monkeys that inhabit the campus of this Temple.
Sankat Mochan Temple	Top^
Sankat Mochan temple is one of the most important temples of Varanasi city. It is one of the oldest temple. There is idol of lord Hanumaan in it. A large number of people visit the temple in the morning and evening on every Tuesday and Saturday. There are many shops of sweets and flowers outside the temple. Many devotees buy sweet and flowers from these shops and offer to temples. It is said that the idol of Hanumaan in the temple was established by Tulsi. This temple is set in a peaceful area of city. There are many monkeys in this temple. Devoties consider these monkeys as another form of Hanumaan and also offer them sweet and flowers. Many foreigners also visit this temple. They want to took photographs of this temple. But photography is prohibited for every-one. In its calm and peaceful atmosphere people perform their religious rituals and other important function. Many people come here for mental peace and feel relaxed after visit this temple.
Tulsi Manas Temple	Top^
Tulsi Manas Temple next to the Durga temple is this modern marble sikhara-style temple. Built in 1964, the walls of the temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ram Charit Manas, the Hindi version of the Ramayana. This tells of the history and deeds of Rama. Its medieval author, Tulsi Das, lived here while writing it and died in 1623. On the 2nd floor you can watch the production of moving and performing statues and scenes from Hindu mythology. If you are at all familiar with figures from the Ramayana or Mahabharata, you will find a visit here very enjoyable. Wonderful landscaping around the temple adds to its appeal. Non-Hindus are allowed into this temple.
Dashashwamedh Ghat	Top^
Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi is located close to "Vishwanath Temple", and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses in a yajna here. A group of priests daily in the evening at this ghat perform "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.
Gyaan Kupor Well	Top^
Gyaan Kupor Well as a tourist attraction of Varanasi also known as the Wisdom Well, it is their belief that this well was a form of enlightment even in liquid state. Pilgrims visiting Varanasi give their Sankalpa (statement of Intent) at this place before the start of pancha-tirtha tarta. Tourist that are non-Hindus are only allowed to glance through a hole and cannot step inside the temple. But the hole is well-placed that you can have a good view of Siva-linga and other episode happening inside the temple.
Vindhyachal	Top^
Vindhyachal is about 90 km from Varanasi and is one of the several Shaktipeeths in India, which is believed to be the abode of Goddess Durga. In Vindhyachal, Varanasi, one of the major tourist attractions is Sitakund. According to the mythology, Sita became thirsty at this place while Ram, Lakshman, Sita were under banishment period. In order to quench Sita’s thirst, Lakshman threw an arrow. It gave birth to a fountain. Thus in this location a temple was constructed in their memory. Thus the name has derived as one can quench his or her thirst at this place.
Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum	Top^
Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the BHU campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. The Bharat Kala Bhavan was established in the year 1920 A.D. In the main hall of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand. The figure is said to be of Lord Krishna, lifting Mount Govardhana. Many images in the Bharat Kala Bhavan confirm to the existence of Krishna cult in Kashi in 15th and 16th century. Bharat Kala Bhavan also has a great collection of miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and other Kingdoms and principalities.
Ashoka Pillar	Top^
The Ashoka Pillar in one of the artefacts to be seen at the Sarnath Archaeological Park. It is one of many pillars inscribed by Emperor Ashoka between about 243 B.C. and 242 B.C. and placed all over his empire. On these pillars are edicts covering a wide range of topics including religion, law, religious tolerance and the protection of animals. Only ten pillars still exist today, out of over 30 Ashoka pillar edicts. The pillars are on average about 40-50 feet high and weighed up to around 50 tons each.
RamNagar Fort	Top^
The Ramnagar fort lies about 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of river Ganga. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. Maharaja Balwant Singh built this fort-palace in the eighteenth century. The fort is built in red sandstone. The Ramnagar fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds and the temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. The Ramnagar fort houses a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal palkies, an armory of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. The Durga Temple and Chhinnamastika Temple are also Located at Ramnagar.
Jantar Mantar	Top^
The Jantar Mantar, Varanasi is one such famous tourist site in Varanasi. Established in 1737 by the Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh, this is a popular lookout in Varanasi and perhaps was the first observatory in Varanasi. Jai Singh appreciated science and technology to a great extent. It was actually constructed for various astronomical purposes like to measure the Sun’s declination, the stars’ declination, the local time, altitude and the planets. Jantar Mantar, Varanasi was built with the aim of ascertaining the different eclipses. The Meridian Pass Time, duration of day and night, and the location of the Pole Star could also be determined. The position of the Zodiac and the constellation of other stars could be detected from this observatory. The Jantar Mantar, Varanasi features many stone devices to indicate and read the speed and the motion of the stars and other planets. There are other smaller and greater exclusive structures which are meant to perform as astronomical instruments.
Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary	Top^
Chandraprabha sanctuary is situated in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh, the northern province of India. Although one of India's lesser-known sanctuaries, it is well endowed with beautiful picnic spots, dense forests, and scenic waterfalls like Rajdari and Devdari that attract tourists every year to its vicinity. Located southeast of the city of Varanasi-a popular religious center for Hindus and a seat of education-the sanctuary was established in May 1957. Asiatic lions were introduced at Chandraprabha in 1958. The exercise was successful in the beginning, with the number of lions rising from three to 11 by 1969. However, the following year the lions were found missing. One can only assume that they fell prey to poachers or succumbed to changes in their living conditions. The plan was again revived in 1993 although the Indian Government is yet to take a decision in this regard.
Sarnath	Top^
Sarnath is a very popular place of Varanasi where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Sarnath is also known as Rishipatana, Mrigdava, and Mrigdaya. Lord Buddha takes the decision after attaining Enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Bihar that he should lecture his dharma for the benefit of all human being. He came to Sarnath, Varanasi to know that his five former companions were then staying at Sarnath. Here he gave first lecture. Buddhist called it dharma chakra pravartan (Turning of the wheel of Law). At the Sarnath Lord Buddha laid the establishment of his sangha. Yasa, whose belong to a rich family of Varanasi, together with his fifty four friends, was attracted with teaching of Lord Buddha. These fifty five group and first five monks Lord Buddha sent to various places to lecture his dharma.