Varanasi Tour (Bhubaneswar,Gaya,Bodh Gaya,Allhabad,Varanasi & Sarnath)

Introduction:

During the third week of August 2008 we have planned to perform Kasi tour covering Varanasi, Gaya and Allahabad. We have planned to have our stay in Gaya during Mahalaya Ammavasi day i.e. 28.09.2008. The tour team was headed by Kandasami Sivachariyar who has visited Kasi several times. He has visited Amaranth, Chartham and Kailash. Totally 17 members were decided to participate in the Varanasi tour. We planned to start our tour from Chennai and visit half day visit in Bhubaneswar, one day visit in Gaya, half day visit in Allahabad and  2 days stay in Varanasi. The tour period was fixed as 26.09.2008 to 03.10.2008.


   
                  Boat journey to Sangam in Allahabad             
Arrangement:

We have reserved train tickets well in advance ( 60 days prior to the journey).We have booked tickets in AC Coaches only for a comfortable journey and for the safety. We have collected addresses of Satrams located in Gaya, Allahabad and Varanasi. We have contacted the managers of Satram by phone and arranged for our accommodation, food and local transport at the above places. They have assured that they will provide good accommodation and arrange food and local transport for us. Letter from Thirupanthal Kasi madam was also obtained for our stay in Varanasi as we felt that Kasi Madam at Varanasi is convenient and near the Ganga Ghat than Satram. We have collected Viboothi and Panner to bring to Varanasi and perform Abhishekam to Vasiwanathar at Kasi. We have prepared a detailed booklet giving information about all the tour members, their berth numbers in all the trains, train timing, schedule for each day, address of Satram, Madams etc.
   
Day-1: 26.09.2008 ( Friday )

The tour members have assembled in the waiting hall of Chennai Central Railway Station at 7.00 am. After our last minute purchase of water bottles and fruits in the station we have waited for the announcement of the platform number for our train. We have distributed the tour booklets to all the members. At about 7.45 am it was announced that the Coramondal Express arrived the Platform Number 11. We went to the platform 11 and located our coaches and put our luggage in the train.

   
 Chennai Central Station       Hotel in Varanasi (near Madam)

We occupied our seats and placed the suitcases and bags under the seats and put the chain and locked with the ring provided in the train. The train started at 08.45 hrs and crossed various bridges across big rivers. It crossed Pennar, Krishna and Godavari rivers. The train passes through AP and Orissa States. Some of the places crossed are Ongole, Vijayawada, Rajamundry, Visakhapatnam, Brahmpur, Khurda Road etc. We spent full day and night at train. The train journey was very pleasant. The train reached Bhubaneswar next day morning at 5am.

Day-2: 27.09.2008 ( Saturday)

The train arrived Bhubaneswar at 5am. Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Orissa state. We got down from the train with all our luggage. We take minimum things in a separate bag and put all other luggage in the cloak room. We went to Upper class waiting room in the first floor. There is one Gents room and one ladies room. They are comfortable large air conditioned rooms provided with tables and chairs and have mobile charger points and clean bathrooms.

We took rest in the rooms for about two hours. After taking rest we took our break fast in a South Indian hotel near the entrance of the railway station. We have arranged two vans for the local trip. At 8am we started for the local visit.

We first went to Dhauli and saw Ashoka Rock Edict. It stands as a testimony of the famous Kalinga war fought here by the river Daya back in 261 BC that changed Emperor Ashoka to an apostle of peace. It is at a distance of 8km from Bhubaneswar on the Puri road.

    
Lingaraja temple in Bhubaneswar & Mukteswar temple

Then we went to the Lingaraj Temple. It is a magnificent monument dedicated to Lord Shiva. Then we went to Mukteswar temple. This 10th century monument is near the Lingaraja temple. It is famous for the stone arch and sculptures depicting stories from Panchatantra and is considered the Gem of Orissa Temple Architecture.

    
Mukteswar temple in Bhubaneswar

In the evening we visited the local market. All the shops were beautifully illuminated for the Durga Pooja. We returned to station and boarded the train to Gaya. The train reached Gaya next day.

Day-3: 28.09.2008 ( Sunday)

The train arrived Gaya on 28th noon. After putting our luggage at station cloak room, we went to Satram with minimum luggage. We put the luggage in one room and proceed to Palguni river. Some of the members performed ritual in the river, Akshya Vata and at Vishnu Badar Temple. As today is Mahalaya Ammavasi day, there was a heavy rush in all the places. Then we had South Indian meals in the Satram.

We visited Vishnu temple on the banks of river Falgu which was built by Queen Ahilya Bai.. The temple has some great architecture and design which attracts devotees and tourists alike. A 30-meter high octagonal tower overshadows this temple.

At 4pm we proceeded to Bodh Gaya by Car. It is at a distance of about 15 km.
Bodh Gaya is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage center in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the Enlightened One.

   

                          Budhist temples in Bodh Gaya

It is the monasteries, Ashoka built for the Buddhist monks and the pillars known as Ashokan Pillars erected to commemorate innumerable historical sites associated with the Buddha's life, mostly intact to this day, that helped scholars and pilgrims alike to trace the life events and preaching of a truly extraordinary man.

There is a magnificent Mahabodhi temple and the Tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. The temple is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries, cultures and heritages.

The present Bodhi Tree is probably the fifth succession of the original tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment. Vajrasana, the seat of stability, is a stone platform on which the Buddha is supposed to have sat in meditation gazing east, under the Bodhi tree.

The Mahabodhi Temple stands in the east to the Bodhi Tree. Its architectural effect is superb. Its basement is 48 square feet and it rises in the form of a slender Pyramid till it reaches its neck, which is cylindrical in shape. The total height of the temple is 170 ft. and on the top of the temple are Chatras which symbolize sovereignty of religion.

Inside the temple, in the main sanctum, there is a colossal image of the Buddha in sitting posture touching the earth by his right hand. In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme enlightenment.

     
                    Huge Budha Statue in Bodh Gaya  ( 80 ft)       

There is a huge 80 ft Statue of the Buddha, Lotus Tank, Buddha Kund, Rajayatana, Brahm Yoni, Chinese Temple & Monastery, Burmese Temple, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, International Buddhist House & Japanese Temple, Thai Temple & Monastery, Tibetan Monastery, Archaeological Museum. After seeing all the above we returned to the Satram.

   

                         Budhist temples in Bodh Gaya              

Day-4 : 29/09/2008 Allahabad.

The train arrived Allahabad at 4.45 am. Three numbers of Autos arranged by the Satram waited for us. We proceeded to Satram with all our luggage. On arrival coffee was provided to all of us. One room was provided to put our luggage. The Satram manager arranged for our visit to Sangam.We have started from the Satram at 7.30 am by two autos. The auto dropped us at Yamuna river bed .There are lot of boats waiting for the people to go to Sangam.e have boarded a boat arranged by Satram to go to Sangam.

   

Allahabad Yamuna river and Sangam( Akbar fort in background)

We have seen lot of people from all over India are taking bath in the river bed. There is a huge Akbar Fort in the Yamuna river bed.We went to Sangam by boat.There are about six boat stopped neat a stationary boat in which a banda arranged by the Satram is waiting to perform rituals.

      

          Allahabad Yamuna river-people are taking bath.

All the six boats were tied by a rope and a make shift bath room is arranged in the center.We took bath and performed Thambathi Pooja.After pooja we take theertham in Ganga on the way to shore.

Then we visited a Hanuman temple in the Yamuna river bed.There is a Sankara Vimana Mandapam near the Sangam.It is a three story building.We visited the Mandapam. The view of Yamuna,Ganga and Sangam is clearly seen from the Manadapam. The other places to visit in Allahabad are Alopi Temple,Nagavasuki Temple,Veni Madhava Temple,Bharathwaj Ashram,Anad Bhavan and Nehru Planetorium.

  

Performing Thambathi pooja in Sangam & Hanuman temple.

After we visited all the places we returned to Satram.We took nice food arranged in the Stram.The Pongal vadai and Iddly are really very good in the Satram.We have proceed to Railway station at 12 pm to catch the Varanasi Train.

Arrived Varanasi:

The train arrived Varanasi Station at 16.45 hrs. We telephoned to Madam and informed our arrival to Varanasi and confirmed for our accommodation in the Madam. We proceeded to Madam and occupied our rooms. We got four rooms for team of 17 members. The rooms are well furnished with attached bath room. The Madam is located very near to Kedar Ghat and Kedareeswar Temple. There is a power cut for 16 hrs per day. As there is a generator available in the Madam we have no problem in the stay. There is a good vegetarian hotel opposite to the Madam. Tamil Nadu food is available there.

After taking some rest we went to Kedar Ghat and took bath in Ganges and worshipped Kedareeswarer. We took nice Tiffin in the hotel and went to bed. We recollect the journey and places visited starting from Chennai. Then we had nice sleep.

Day-5:30.09.2008 ( Tuesday)

We woke up at 6am and went to Kedar Ghat. There are lot of people taking bath in the river. We took sangalpam in the river and thanked God for giving this opportunity to visit Kasi, Allahabad, Gaya and have a holi dip in the Ganges. It is one of the important wishes in every Hindu’s mind to visit Kasi and bath in Ganges during his life time. We brought Ganaga water from the river and did abhishekam to Kedareeswarar. We have seen Harichandra Ghat near our Kedar Ghat. It is one of the important Ghat in Kasi.

  

Boat journey in Varanasi & Sarnath Budhist temple

Then we returned to our room and had our break fast in the hotel opposite our Madam. The pongal, vada and Idly are very good. We had tea in the nearby tea stall which is also very good. Lot of shops is there in the road to Kedar Ghat for any purchase.

Then at 10 am we proceeded to Ghat and arranged a motor boat and visited the entire length of the Gaga river. The numerous Ghats of Varanasi on the banks of river Ganges come alive with the dawn as the river water assumes different hue of red, orange, gold and yellow at the different times of the day and thousands of devotees take the ceremonial dip in them, offering prayers to the sun and the river while standing waist-deep in the water.


  

Our tour team of 17 members in front of Ganga river in Varanasi

There are over all 84 bathing ghats in the city, the most notable being the Dashashwamedha Ghat and the Manikarnika Ghat, where it is said that there is continuous burning of dead bodies at all times.The most important Ghat are we have seen are Asi Ghat, Dasaswameda Ghat,Manikarnika Ghat, Panchganga Ghat, and Varuna Ghat.

    

      Performing pooja to sand collected from Rameswaram

The boat stopped at a Ghat near Bindhu Madav temple. We climbed up steep steps and visited Bindhumadavar. We recollect our visit to the Sethu Madavar at Rameswaram and Veni Madavar at Allahabad.

We then stopped at a Ghat near the Viswanathar Temple. We proceeded in the narrow lanes and reached Kasi Viswanathar temple. The temple is located in the middle of a lane filled with lot of shops. The entrance and tower are not clearly seen from out side. The road is very slippery due to the drizzling in the night. We put all our bags in a cup board and locked and got the key. There is a heavy security arrangements in the temple. All the people are thoroughly checked before allowing to the temple.

   

                                 Ganga Ghats in Varanasi

Kashi Vishwanath Temple or the Golden Temple is one of the twelve temples around the world that enshrine the famous 'Jyotirlinga' that symbolizes Lord Shiva and is known as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha (meaning the God and Master of the World respectively). The present temple is said to be built by the Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780.

   

                       Boat journey in Ganga in Varansi

The boat man was waiting at the exit of the temple and after collecting our bags we returned to the boat. During the boat ride we have performed pooja to the sand collected from Rameswaram Agni Theertham and dissolved in the Ganges. Then after seeing all the activities in the river front we returned to the Madam. We took meals in the hotel opposite to the Madam. It was OK.

In the evening visited Sarnath which is at a distance of 10 km from Varanasi. Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath after attaining Nirvana. We have visited Mulagandha Kuti Vihar which is a monastery built in the 1930s by the Sri Lankan Mahabodhi Society, with beautiful wall paintings. We have seen Dhamek Stupa which is an impressive Stupa of 128 feet high and 93 feet in diameter. The Chaukhandi Stupa commemorates the spot where the Buddha met his first disciples, dating back to the fifth century or earlier and later enhanced by the addition of an octagonal tower of Islamic origin

  

                            Sarnath Budhist temples

The Sarnath Archeological Museum houses the famous Ashokan lion capital, which miraculously survived its 45 foot drop to the ground (from the top of the Ashokan Pillar), and became the National Emblem of India and national symbol on the Indian flag. The museum also houses a famous and refined Buddha-image of the Buddha in Dharmachakra-posture. There is also a Bodhi tree planted by Anagarika Dharmapala which was grown from a cutting of the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.

Then we went to Kasi Raja’s Palace and visited the museum which house good collection dresses and armories. There a temple dedicated to Vyasar called Vyasakasi in side the Palace. The Varanasi and the Ghats can be viewed from the terrace of the palace.

        
                            
                          Sun set in Ganges in Varanasi

Banaras Hindu University was founded Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya It sprawls across 1300 acres and has good roads and lots of greenery in its campus. The university is a small city in itself and has its own temple, airstrip, Bharat Kala Museum, hospital, large playgrounds, a massive auditorium, a flying club and many other facilities. New Viswanathar Mandir is located in BHU. It is a modern and beautiful temple built by Birla.

   

Varanasi Ghat.                    Allahabad opposite to Hanuman temple

Then we have visited Durga Mandhir, Tulsi Manas Temple,Hanuman Temple and Cholimadha temple. Tulsi Manas temple is one of the most famous temples of Varanasi. It is located near the Durga temple. It was built in white marble in the year 1964. The temple has been made more charming by the magnificent landscaping around it. The Tulsi Manas temple is dedicated to lord Ram. The walls of the Tulsi Manas temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitammanasa.

   

Kalabhairavar temple in Varanasi & boys selling Kasikkaiyiru

Durga Temple is one of the busiest temple of Varanasi. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The large rectangular tank called Durga Kund nearby has an idol of Goddess Durga seated on it and is believed to be the abode of Durga Devi, as stated in Puranas. It is said that she has lived here for centuries as the guardian deity of the city in the form of one of the warrior goddesses known as Chandikas.

       

Boat ride in Varanasi & Prayag Ghat

Bharat MataTemple is the unique temple is dedicated to 'Mother India' and is much more contemporary. The nationalists Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and Sri Durga Prasad Khatri built it. The temple has one of the perfect relief maps of India, which has accurate scaling and is made in marble. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the temple.

After taking rest in the room we went to Kedar Ghat and took bath. We saw the Aarathi performed in the nearby Ghat. There were about ten Bandas performing Aarathi to Ganges in the river front. We have seen lot of families came from Tamil Nadu. After enjoying all the activities in the river front we returned to the Madam.

In the night we took Masala Dosai and Idly in the hotel which are good. We have purchased Photos and other items from the small vendors near the entrance of the Madam.

Day-6: 01/10/2008 ( Wednesday)

Today is the last day in Varanasi.Hence we woke up at 3am and visited the Varahi temple in the early morning. The temple will be opened upto 5.30 am in the morning.Then we visited Viswanathar Temple, Visalakshi Temple and Annapoorani Temple.Then we returned to our room in the Madam. After taking some rest went to Kedar Ghat and took bath and Dharshan of Kedareeswar.

Annapurna Temple is a the temple complex with a small sanctum that enshrines the idol of Goddess Annapoorna (Goddess of Food). It was inaugurated in January 1977 and the famous Shankaracharya of Shringeri consecrated the idol. It is said that the devotes of the Goddess never suffer from starvation.

       

Kalabhairavar & Sarnath temple.

After taking tiffin in the near by hotel we went to Kala Bhairavar temple. We have purchased
the Kasikkayiru and some photos in the shops located inside the temple. Then we went to Viswanathar temple with abhishek materials. We have brought Palani Siddanathan vilas Vippothi and Panner from Neyveli for this purpose. We have performed Abhishekam to Viswanathar and collected the Vipoothi from the temple.

Then we purchased Video CDs of various temples and Kasi sombu with Ganga Theertham , photos of Kasi Viswanathar and Annapoorani. Lot of shops selling Pooja items are there in the market on the way to the temple. After made our purchase we returned to the Madam by 2.00 pm.

We got nice meals in the hotel. We have ordered for Chappati and variety rice for our train journey to Chennai from this hotel. We collected the parcel at 4.30 pm before leaving the room.We vacated the room at 5.10 pm and proceeded to Varanasi Railway Station by Car.

  

Arrived Chennai Station.           Kedar Ghat in Varanasi

We reached Station at 6pm and after last minute purchase we boarded the train Gangakaveri Express at 8pm.The train journey is very nice for two nights and one day.

Day-7 : 02/10/2008 (Thursday) & Day-8: 03/10/2008 ( Friday)

We enjoyed the full day travelling in the train on Thursday. We wake up early in the morning on Friday.The train stopped 5 mts at Ongole at 6.15 am.Wemay reach only  Gudur by 9 am.The train is behind schedule by about two hours . We enjoyed the full day in the train. The train arrived Chennai Central Railway Station at 11.55 am on Friday. We have successfully completed the Varanasi Tour. We get down from the train and proceed to Neyveli by the waiting car arranged for our Neyveli trip.