Friday, December 21, 2007

Visiting Varanasi in India

Varanasi in India is one of the most famous and sacred place in India. There are many mythological stories are related with the Varanasi. Visiting varanasi not only provides the tourists a spiritual satisfaction but also provides a chance to understand the most dynamic and ancient culture of India. The present paper examines the attractiveness of Varanasi as a tourist destination from the perspective of foreign tourists considering several important dimensions simultaneously. These are demographic characteristics of tourists, their expectation on touristic attributes of the destination as also satisfaction with the same and finally holistic impressions of the destination. A factor analysis carried out on 24 touristic attributes pertaining to the expectation of visitors gives rise to seven meaningful constructs. Results of step-wise multiple regression analysis between the perceived attractiveness and the above seven constructs reveal the importance of each of these seven constructs in explaining the perceived attractiveness of the destination. Holistic impressions of visitingVaranasi reveal that it is a city embodying the essence of Indian spiritualism and mysticism with Ganges and Ghats forming the heart of the city.

The the distant past of Varanasi is veiled in immortal time. An `eternal' city, it abounds with a rich and effervescent past. Varanasi has been the religious capital of Hinduism since times immemorial. It is one of the foremost tirthas.
Varanasi, as the legend goes was created by Shiva, the cosmic Lord. It figures prominently in the epic Mahabharat. Written records of the Skanda Purana and the Mahabharta mention its existence as long as 3000 years ago. Varanasi or Banaras is one of the oldest cities of India. This city has found place in the Buddhist scriptures as well the epic of Mahabharata. In Pali language Varanasi was called Banarasi hence it got the name 'Banaras'. Varanasi is also called 'Kashi' or the city of spiritual light. Kashi is the place where Shiva and Parvati stood when the "time started ticking". This ancient city of India is located on holiest river of India-Ganga. This relation is unique and has attracted thousands of pilgrims. One theory also goes that Varanasi is located on the land between the river Varuna and Assi hence the name Varanasi. For every visitor Varanasi has different experiences to offer. The shimmering red and golden water of the Ganges when rays of dawn falls on them, the high banks, the temples, the Ashrams, the pavilions all are an experience in themselves. Chanting of Mantras, the hymns along with the fragrance of incense in fills the air with mysticism which entrails every person. The refreshing dip in the Ganges with the splashing of water along the ghats- in Varanasi discovery and experience takes to the ultimate bliss. Not only for its temples, Ghats and Ganges Banaras has produced many exponents of art, music, literature and crafts. The Banarasi silk sarees and brocades are cherished as collector's items across the world.
Know the Climate by travelling to Varanasi:
Varanasi has a extreme type of climate. Located besides the Ganges Varanasi can be difficult place to visit during the summers. Summers are very hot and temperatures shoot upto 46 degrees and winter can be cold with mercury dipping down to 5 degrees. This place can be a really bad during the rainy seasons and is advisable not to visit Varanasi during monsoons. The best season to visit Varanasi during September to March..

No comments: