The word Sankat Mochan translates to freer of troubles - and that's the tag devotees have put on the deity of this temple, Lord Hanuman. A busy religious sight in the holy city of Varanasi, the temple was restructured in the early 20th Century by the founder of Banaras Hindu University, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Inside the temple there are dual shrines of Hanuman and Shri Ram facing each other. The main offering here is the delicious Indian sweet Laddu. A must-visit location in Varanasi, Sankat Mochan temple is only minutes away from the popular Tulsi Manas Mandir and the stunning Durga Temple.
Traditionally this ghat represents the 64 yoginis (female mystics) of Hindu mythology who emerged from the primary goddess. The mystifying symbolic depiction of feminine power and its deep-rooted association with India's spiritual traditions that is lingering at the Chausatti Ghat is worth a study. This Ghat, on the banks of Ganges, has a temple dedicated to the yoginis. Renovated in the 17th Century, this is a major site of pilgrimage and many take a ritualistic dip in Ganga from here. With ceremonial ecstasy of colors, Holi, the color festival of India is celebrated here enthusiastically.
Extremely beautiful with a steep layout and a calm atmosphere, Jain Ghat has a visible prominence among the endless stretch of steps along the holy Ganga. A revered site of Jain religion, the ghat has a Digambar temple with a rising dome. This temple is visited largely by Jain believers and they use the ghat for prayers and bath. Once part of another ghat called Vaccharaja Ghat, this site is visually stunning in the moonlight.
Built by the revered Maha Bodhi Society in 1931, Mulgandha Kuti Vihar is a stunning deep brown temple whose architectural elements have to be seen to believed. Standing proudly amid the ruins of Sarnath, this temple sports a number of vibrant frescoes and murals specially created by the Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. A life-size golden statue of Buddha welcomes visitors into this holy enclave while a bell donated by the Japanese kings guards the entrance.
Mehta Art Gallery is located in the heart of Varanasi in Sigra. It is run by Amit Kumar who invites the locals as well as tourists to explore the ancient history and culture of India. The gallery has a gathering room and a meditation room where you can indulge in spirituality. Paintings, Books and other artistic piece of work can be marvelled here. The gallery is open to suggestions and invites its visitors to contribute in whatever way possible.
Believed to be set upon the confluence of 5 sacred rivers namely Ganga, Saraswati, Yamuna, Kirana and Dhutapapa, the Panchganga Ghat is relatively quieter than its counterparts but this makes it no less special. One of India's most venerated poets Tulsidas put together his masterpiece Vinay-Patrikahere right here. Several thousand years later not much has changed and one often finds pilgrims taking a holy dip in the river during full moon nights - this makes for a unforgettable spectacle! Easily identified even from afar by the looming outline of the Alamgir Mosque, Panchganga serves as one of the main entrances to the aforesaid mosque, the Bindu Madhava Temple, Shri Matha and Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple.