Varanasi
One of the holiest sites of Hindu pilgrimage, and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is a colourful, frenetic assault on all the senses. Life and death are played out in public on the banks of the Ganges, bathers wash in its holy water while evening ‘Aarti’ draws both worshippers and tourists to the Ghats.
Life in Varanasi centres on the revered Ganges, night and day the ghats are filled with pilgrims coming down to pray in the water, women washing brilliantly vibrant saris and Sadhus meditating on the steps. As dusk falls, the smoke from the incense and chants of the pujas fills the air, as hundreds of tiny candles illuminate the river.
Brij Rama Palace
Varanasi, Delhi and the North, India
Occupying an enviable position on the banks of the River Ganges, Brijrama Palace is one of the city’s oldest buildings and has been sensitively restored to its former grandeur to offer an opulent and regal stay with sensational views over the river.
Taj Ganges, Varanasi
Varanasi, Delhi and the North, India
The Taj Ganges Varanasi offers a sense of tranquillity and greenery against the backdrop of one of the most vivid and dramatic cities in India. The Taj Ganges Varanasi is set in 40 acres of lush gardens set a little away from the Chowk.