{"id":274048,"date":"2026-03-31T18:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/?p=274048"},"modified":"2026-04-01T19:03:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:03:49","slug":"wanderlust-more-than-a-pilgrimage-ayodhya-and-varanasi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/wanderlust-more-than-a-pilgrimage-ayodhya-and-varanasi\/","title":{"rendered":"Wanderlust: More Than A Pilgrimage \u2013 Ayodhya and Varanasi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Varanasi\u2019s<\/i> world renowned Ganga Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat (All photos: Shreeya Jain).<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Forget what you think you know about these \u201cspiritual\u201d towns. These two ancient cities\u202faren\u2019t\u202fjust pilgrimage\u202fsites;\u202fthey\u2019re\u202fenshrined with spectacles bringing in travelers from all over the world. The architecture and calmness hit different no matter who you are, where\u202fyou\u2019re\u202ffrom, or what you believe. <\/span>Shreeya Jain <\/span><\/b>writes about her recent trip to Ayodhya and Varanasi.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ayodhya\u202fand Varanasi are two of the most ancient cities on the planet.\u202fAlthough they\u2019re renowned as\u202fcornerstones of Hinduism,\u202fit\u2019s only part of the story.\u202fWestern\u202ftravel coverage\u202fforgets that\u202fthese cities host some of the mostvisceral\u202fexperiences ever. You\u202fdon\u2019t\u202feven\u202fneed to be Indian or Hindu\u202fto feel it. You just need to see it to believe it.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ayodhya: More Than You Expect<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Graphic depictions of the \u201cRam Katha\u201d carved on the walls of Ram Katha Park (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If\u202fyou\u2019ve\u202fonly heard of\u202fAyodhya\u202fthrough headlines,\u202fyou\u2019d\u202fmistake it for\u202fa politically charged destination with religious significance.\u202fThe reality is different. The city is\u202fundergoing a\u202fmassive radical transformation:\u202fnew infrastructure, restored \u2018ghats\u2019, and at its center, the Ram Mandir.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A mural showing Hanuman fighting a demon (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cultural and religious significance aside, the temple is an architect\u2019s heaven.\u202fThe carvings are intricate, meticulous, and\u202fof skillful craftsmanship. Thousands of people\u202fcycle through\u202fdaily,\u202fand\u202fenergy\u202fis\u202falways brimming. At the heart of the temple sits the Ram Lalla idol,\u202fcarved by sculptor Arun\u202fYogiraj.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202fstriking. Even if you\u202fdon\u2019t\u202fknow a thing, the craftsmanship\u202fis bound to catch your eye.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A sizzler at a street-side \u201cdhaba\u201d in Ayodhya (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then there\u2019s Hanuman\u202fGarhi,\u202fan ancient hilltop temple overlooking the city. The climb is short but steep,\u202fbut\u202fthe panoramic view\u202fmakes the steep climb worth every step.\u202fAtop the temple, one sees the\u202fold city with new construction, with the river glistening in distance.\u202fTotal and utter bliss.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A 40 ft Veena erected as a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But the real\u202fbeauty\u202fshines\u202fat dusk:\u202fSaryu\u202fGhat.\u202fOff\u202fthe banks of the\u202fSaryu\u202fRiver,\u202fSaryu\u202fGhat\u202fcomes alive for the evening aarti.\u202fThis part is\u202fdifficult to convey through text. The sound of temple bells layered\u202foverflowing\u202fwater, the low hum of chanting from hundreds of people, the oil lamps reflecting off the river;\u202fit\u2019s\u202fa once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, yet\u202fit\u2019s\u202fa routine\u202foccurrence\u202fin\u202fAyodhya.\u202fAgain, one has to see it to believe the enormity of this spectacle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Varanasi: Sensory Overload in the Best Way<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Glimpses of the Ghats in Varanasi (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If\u202fAyodhya\u202fis a slow burn, Varanasi is a wall of sound.\u202fIt is often cited as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Processing life, death, spirituality, commerce, art, and pure chaos for around five thousand years. Nothing about it spells subtle.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple\u202fanchors the city\u2019s center. The gold-covered spire catches sunlight in a way\u202fthat\u2019s\u202falmost theatrical. The open courtyard creates a sense of space\u202fthat\u2019s\u202frare in a city this dense.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A priest performing the Ganga Aarti (Shreeya Jain).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Varanasi\u2019s special feature is the Ganga Aarti at\u202fDashashwamedh\u202fGhat.\u202fAs\u202fthe sun\u202fsets\u202fbehind the Ganges, priests line the riverbank with massive\u202fdiyas\u202fand begin a ceremony that\u2019s equal parts ritual and spectacle. Hundreds of small boats crowd the river, packed with visitors, be it\u202fIndian families, European backpackers,\u202for\u202fJapanese tour groups. It is, without exaggeration, one of those rare travel moments that transcends cultural context.\u202fYou may not understand a single word, but\u202fyou absolutely can feel it.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t\u202ftake my word for it, take British motoring legend James May\u2019s word for it. He believes it was\u202fone of the most extraordinary things\u202fhe\u2019d\u202fever\u202fwitnessed.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Less Marketed Side of India<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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A ‘Dhurandar’ themed ad makes billboards in Varanasi (Seema Gupta\/Siliconeer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Western travel media has a habit of flattening India into few categories: luxury retreats in Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal in Agra, or poverty tourism in the slums of major cities.\u202fAyodhya\u202fand Varanasi\u202fare \u201chidden\u201d gems for Western travelers.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These cities will leave a strong impression on you.\u202fIf the\u202farchitecture\u202fdoesn\u2019t\u202fstagger you, the food will.\u202fFrom the\u202fstreet-side kachoris\u202fto\u202fthe chai that somehow tastes better\u202ffrom a clay cup. Pair that with constant sensory stimulants,\u202fthe bells, the incense, the colors, the crowd energy, the river, the lights\u2026 You get the point. The scenery\u202fwill stick with you long after your flight home.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ayodhya\u202fand Varanasi\u202faren\u2019t\u202fcheckboxes.\u202fWhether\u202fyour family has been visiting these ghats for generations or\u202fyou\u2019re\u202fGoogling \u201cwhat is aarti\u201d right now,\u202fit\u202fdoesn\u2019t\u202fmatter. Go. Stand on the banks of the\u202fSaryu\u202fat dusk. Take a boat on the Ganges at night. Let the sounds\u202fand the light and the sheer\u202fintensity wash over you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Varanasi\u2019s world renowned Ganga Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat (All photos: Shreeya Jain). Forget what you think you know about these \u201cspiritual\u201d towns. These two ancient cities\u202faren\u2019t\u202fjust pilgrimage\u202fsites;\u202fthey\u2019re\u202fenshrined with spectacles bringing in travelers from all over the world. The architecture and calmness hit different no matter who you are, where\u202fyou\u2019re\u202ffrom, or what you believe. Shreeya…<\/p>\n

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