5 off-the-beaten-path places to explore in and around Varanasi

Varanasi, which is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, is famous for its old temples and a highly spiritual ambiance. There are plenty of well-known places here like the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Ganga Aarti, which are landmarks that pull in a great number of individuals, but now we are going to discover the offbeat places in Varanasi that are rather underwhelming and tourists must surely check out the spiritual location:

A grand 17th-century fort and palace which was constructed by Maharaja Balwant Singh in 1750. This fort is also a home to the Maharaja of Banaras. A marvel of architecture which is a blend of Rajput and Mughal styles with its huge walls and exquisite carvings. The complex houses the Veda Vyasa Temple, a museum, residential complex of the king, and a Dakshin Mukhi temple of Hanuman too. In the museum, there is vintage cars, armoury, old manuscripts, and an exclusive collection of medieval artifacts which will surely enchant the visitors. This location provides the visitors with a view of the historic royal way of life along with picturesque views of the Ganges.

This temple is in honour of Sage Vyasa, a saint who penned the epic of Mahabharata. It is said that Sage Vyasa was forcibly driven out from Varanasi or ancient Kashi by Lord Shiva and was never permitted to enter the city again. Sage Vyasa proceeded to the other bank of the river, which is Ramnagar today, and constructed a hut, which is also where he wrote the Mahabharata. This is where the Sage resided, prayed, meditated, and wrote the Mahabharata and was built into a temple as a tribute to Sage Vyasa. The temple is on the side of the Ganga river opposite Varanasi. This temple is a must-visit location to receive the blessings of the saint.

This historical temple is devoted to Goddess Siddheshwari, is situated in Varanasi, and is famous for its rich cultural heritage as well as spiritual significance. The goddess is revered by devotees on the 9th day of Navratri chiefly, as Goddess Siddheshwari is believed to be the 9th manifestation of Goddess Durga and as she provides all types of siddhis to her followers. Here, Goddess Siddheshwari has been depicted with four hands and a lion as her vahana, and she holds a chakra in her left hand and a lotus flower in the right hand. Her followers are believed to be liberated from grief and they attain salvation.

Situated in the sacred city of Varanasi, this beautiful temple was initiated by Swami Shivananda and was constructed to propagate the teaching of Advaita Vedanta. The temple is made of Chunner stone and has an architectural style that resembles an old temple in Kashi. This two-storeyed temple contains a sanctum for the marble idol of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna on the marble altar with a photo of the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. The ashram emphasizes Vedantic teachings and provides meditation, spiritual study, and social service courses. It is a center for seekers who want to delve deeply into Indian philosophy and practice within a setting that encourages contemplation and community service.

A nearby pilgrimage site from Varanasi that is of great importance in the history of Buddhism. It is where the first sermon of Gautama Buddha was given after achieving enlightenment, hence a site that is visited by those in search of spiritual comfort. The serenity in this environment would actually assist an individual in soothing their mind. One ought to come here early in the morning or in the evening when the golden light brings a magical glow to the location.