1st Jyothirlinga Kashi Vishwanath🕉️
Visiting the 12 Jyotirlingas was one of my dearest dreams, but I never thought I could accomplish it within just one year! 😊 Here’s my itinerary of the 12 Jyotirlinga trip to share with all of you wanderlust souls out there. 🗺️
The Sacred City of Banaras (Kashi) 🕉️
Banaras! I had always been longing for this place.. reading about it, seeing it in movies and videos.. but somehow I was never able to travel there. You know what they say: sometimes God needs to call you! 🙌 Finally lord Mahadev called us to see him, we prepared our itinerary to visit Banaras, booked our flights, and then came the tough part: searching for good hotels.
We chose Hotel Ganesh Palace, which was near Dashashwamedh Ghat, and this proved to be one of the best decisions ever! Everything was so nearby and walkable from there. In holy places, it’s necessary to stay near the temple or ghat even if you have to pay a premium price, otherwise, later travel becomes difficult, and you can’t rely on Ola/Uber in holy places. Plus, it’s tough to bargain with local auto/rickshaw drivers!
The Magical Ganga Aarti 🪔🌊
We visited the famous Ganga Aarti and had to rush there by 5 PM to get good seats. It was a huge crowd, but ultimately, by the end, we were very near to where the aarti was happening! What an experience! 😍 We also did a small boat ride.. pro tip: choose group boats, which are cheaper! The personal boat rides cost an astonishing amount unless you’re a local or have a good hold on Hindi to bargain. 🚣
After the aarti, we indulged in some local delicacies:
- Chaats at Deena Chaat Bhandar (since Kaashi Chaat Bhandar was very crowded, but this was equally delicious! 😋)
- Thandai at Raju Thandhai Ghar near Nandi Chowk (the BEST thandai EVER!!! 🥤💯)
- Pan at Gama Pan Bhandar on our way back, he customized the paan as per our taste and gave different mukwas for tasting! 🌿
Temple Hopping and Divine Darshan 🛕
The next morning, we had booked a special darshan and had a very peaceful experience we also visited Vishalakshi temple one of the Shakti peeth which was near by and walkable. Next, we went to Kalbhairav Temple , the queue was like a maze! We had to wait more than an hour, but it was worth it. ⏰
We had booked a rickshaw-wala for a package for a day, who would take us to places nearby. He was excellent! 👍 He took us to:
- Durga Temple
- Tulsi Manas Temple
- Tridev Temple
- Mani Mandir
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
- BHU Shiv Mandir where we had the most amazing cold coffee that just ticked all the boxes perfectly! ☕✅
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir
Next, we visited Sarnath, it was a perfect mix of ancient heritage and Buddhist teachings. What a serene place! 🧘♀️ We had requested our rickshaw-wala to take us to Gowri Kedar Mandir (charged extra for this!!), They say that going to this mandir is like visiting Kedarnath itself! 🏔️
The day then continued with indulgence and exploring kachoris from different spots tried Neelu Kachori Bhandar, Babu lal Kachori, Lakshmi Chai wala(not worth the hype and also overpriced) their “Cesarean toast”, we saved best for the last.. oh my goodness, the kachoris at Gowri Shankar Kachori Wale the BEST I’ve had in my entire life! ❤️ (I repeated this place during my second trip to Banaras because they were that good! also bought back home🤤)
Subah-e-Banaras: A Magical Morning 🌅
Our rickshaw-wala told us about the morning aarti at Assi Ghat, and we decided to visit the next day. Early morning, we attended the program called “Subah-e-Banaras”, organized by the government. We paid for front seats, and they even asked us to light the aarti! 🪔✨ We saw a wonderful aarti, and there were some cultural programs going on. We enjoyed it so much!. We saw all the ghat’s on the boat when sun was just raising it was an amazing view and it was just very less since we went on group boat.
Afterwards, we went to Ram Bhandar to have their kachoris, but honestly, I still liked Gowri Shankar Kachori Wale’s more! There are nearby shops as well near Ram Bhandar, and almost all have the same taste. 😄 tried Malaiyo also near by but it was very sweet for my taste.
Shopping and Spiritual Souvenirs 🛍️
We went shopping in Kunj Gali and near Manikarnika Ghat, where we bought beautiful Banarasi sarees. 🥻✨ We roamed around in the hand-pulled rickshaws (hathgadi) and enjoyed the day thoroughly, though we missed a few places. I’ll cover a longer itinerary in my second Kashi post, which was even more enjoyable!
We didn’t forget to bring holy Ganga water, which is part of an important ritual in Hindu tradition. The ritual involves taking Ganga water from Kashi and putting it on the Rameshwaram deity and also in the ocean, then bringing ocean water and sand back to make a Shivalinga in Kashi, worshipping it, and finally putting the linga and water back in the Ganga. This completes the sacred lifecycle of a Sanatani. 🙏💧
Final Thoughts: A Journey of a Lifetime 💫
This trip to Banaras was just the beginning of my 12 Jyotirlinga pilgrimage, and what a magnificent start it was! 🌟 Every ghat, every temple, every bite of kachori, and every sip of thandai added to the magic of this ancient city. Banaras isn’t just a place.. it’s an experience, a feeling, a spiritual awakening. 🕉️
If you’re planning to visit, remember: book your stay near the ghats, bargain with a smile, eat at every chaat corner you see (seriously, don’t skip this! 😄 especially Gowri shankar kachori wala), and most importantly, let the city work its magic on you. Trust me, when God calls you to Kashi, you’ll know it! ✨
Stay tuned for more adventures from my 12 Jyotirlinga journey! Next stop… another divine destination awaits! 🚩🙏
Travel Tips
Travel Mode 🧳
Flight 🛫
Nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) in Kashi, or Prayagraj Airport (IXD) if you’re feeling adventurous! Both work great, though Varanasi airport puts you right in the heart of the action.
Train 🚂
Connected from all major cities via train, and if you’re lucky, catch the fancy Vande Bharat Express running from New Delhi Railway Station! Trust us, it’s worth the upgrade from regular trains (hello, working toilets! 😄).
Bus 🚌
Well-connected with other cities in UP and Madhya Pradesh. Budget-friendly, but pack some patience and snacks for the journey! 🍪
Accomodation 🏨
Option 1: Near Dashashwamedh Ghat (Recommended! 👍)
Stay here if you want to be in the thick of things! The temple and all major locations are super nearby, plus it costs minimal for internal traveling. You can literally roll out of bed and be at the ghat in minutes! Perfect for early morning aarti enthusiasts. 🌅
Option 2: Near Assi Ghat (The Chill Zone 😎)
Choose this if you want to relax, rejuvenate, and have fewer temple visits on your agenda. It’s more peaceful and perfect for café-hopping and yoga sessions. BUT beware: rickshaw-walas charge more from here (they know you’re on vacation mode! 💸). However, there’s a fun option of reaching the temple via boat ride! 🚣
Food stops 🍽️
- Gauri Shankar Kachori Wale
- Deena Chaat Bhandar
- Kashi Chaat Bhandar
- Raju Thandai
- Gama Pan Shop
- Neelu Kachori Bhandar
- Ram Bhandar
Shopping zone 🛍️ 💳
For Authentic Banarasi Sarees:
Head to Kunj Gali – this is THE place for authentic, high-quality Banarasi sarees! You can even get leads from local shops for trusted dealers. Quality over quantity, folks! 🥻✨
For Gifting (Budget-Friendly Option):
Check out the shops near Annapurneshwari Temple for sarees and shawls at cheaper rates. Perfect for gifts without breaking the bank! 🎁
General Shopping Lane:
The entire stretch from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Kashi Chaat Bhandar is a shopping paradise! 🛒 BUT remember: bargaining is the key! 💪
Pro shopping tip: Don’t buy from the first shop you see. Walk around, compare prices, and then circle back. Works like a charm! 😉