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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: February 7: Ever changed your plans of an impending train journey and opted for road travel instead? Almost immediately the journey takes on a new meaning. The pace becomes slow and the opportunity is created to savour the little moments which otherwise pass in a jiffy. Such is the feeling when you visit the land of temples--call it Kashi, Benares or Varanasi. Life suddenly starts moving in slow motion...

No one seems to be in a hurry. With the markets opening only after 11 am, people have ample time to laze around. The day starts with a hot sizzing 'kullad ki chai' - a perfect beginning. Mostly people come to this place to either cremate the dead or to take a dip in the Ganges but if you explore you will find the hidden beauty of the place which lies in its simplicity. You will still find the cycle rickshaws which are an absolute joyride and the paan shops at every nook and cranny-almost everyone seems to be chewing a paan here!

Known for its abundant temples and ghats, you will find temples at every corner and street of Benares. The 'Kashi Vishwanath' temple is the most famous of them. The shivlinga here is one of the twelve lingas which has come up on its own. People flock here in tons to take the blessings and especially on Monday the temple is full with devotees and sadhus. The striking part is that the temple has access from all the four directions.

The temple is linked with a long road which is called 'Vishwanath Gully'. It is one of the most sought after shopping places. Exquisite jewellery and garments can be found here. The recommended items to shop for without fail are the famous Benares silk sarees and the 'lac' bangles both of which are reasonably priced although a little bargain could fetch you a better deal.

The next best thing is the 'Benarasi Chaat and Sweets'. Jalebis, Malaiya, Malai pudi, Rosogullas are the local favourites here. The mouth watering aromas will make it difficult for anyone to escape. Also the sweets are not overdone with sugar and hence it gives a satisfying pleasure to the taste buds. There is an interesting food item called 'Chewda Mutter". Its made of poha and green peas and is a must try for the lovers of mirch masala.

As the day turns dusky the ghats seem to be calling you. There are 365 ghats in Benares which means there is one for each day. Evenings are the best time to go to the ghats, although a lot of people take their daily morning bath in the Ganga. Some of the famous ghats are Prayag Ghat, Panchmukhi Ghat, Manikaran Ghat (where the dead are cremated) , Rajendra Prasad Ghat, Scindia Ghat. The 'Ghat Aarti' is the cynosure of all. Tourists and localites flock to the 'Dashashwamegh Ghat' to attend and be a part of this one hour magical experience. The aarti takes place in the evening from 6 to 7 pm and is performed simultaneously by nine people together. There is a group of people who play musical instruments and one of them sings the aarti bhajans to which the audience adds as the chorus. The entire process is illuminating and strikes a chord in the hearts of one and all. Its a sheer feast for the eyes and not to be missed at all.

Also there are a lot of boatrides throughout the day at the ghats. In the evenings, lot of kids are seen selling flowers and diyas to be offered in the Ganga. These lighted diyas floating on the river Ganga make a picturesque sight, especially in the night when its dark. Outside the ghats too there is a market where you can find exotic beaded stuff and 'pooja samagri'.

The best time to visit Benares is winters when its really cold and breezy. The summers are very hot and it rains well too so winter is the season to get going to this holy land of Ganga. Also carry your woollens as it is very cold in winters. For accomodation plenty of good hotels are available but recommended is Jaipuria Lodge because it serves hot food made by pandits over logs of wood. And the food is just like the one your mommy makes at home.

For travel enthusiasts, it is advisable to visit 'Sarnath' which is a half an hour journey from Benares. A beautiful monk place, you will find architectural wonders in the form of temples and stupas but the peace you will feel there is unparalleled.

So when you want to run away from the din and bustle of the city life and unwind yourself head to this crazy town of Varanasi where the soul just cant get enough.

Shilpa Sachdeva