Varanasi is the oldest living city, a beautiful amalgam of ancient and modern culture. This city is more to be experienced and felt through your mind & soul than just sightseeing or surface browsing.
Kashi, Banaras, Avimukta, Anandavana, Anandakanana,Rudravasa, Mahashamshana, Surandhana, Brahma Vardha, Sudarsana and Ramya are the different names of this city at different period of times and some times co-existed as a second name. Out of these Kashi, Varanasi and Banaras are the three most popular ones which are used now also.
The morning of Varanasi has its own specific glamour and the same is said for evening of Lucknow, depicting this is a famous saying ‘Subah Banaras Shame Avadh‘. The morning starts with the first golden ray of sun falling on the holy river Ganga, people having the refreshing dips, tourists on the boats, sound of water splashing, chanting of mantras and hymns, fragrance of Scented Sticks and Dhoop, sound of Ghantas (bells) in temples …, everything fills the air with freshness, energy and a kind of magic. Yet, the morning is incomplete without the mention of hot fresh Jalebies and Kachauris (a special breakfast of this city). You can get this from early morning till about 11 O’ clock.
The whole day goes very busy in offices, markets, shops etc. with lots of noise, work, traffic and rush. Evening is time for relaxation and enjoyment which is extended till very late in night or almost whole night, so small gumties (stalls) of tea, pakories, other snacks and specially those of Paan, Thandai, Malai, Rabri can be found busy throughout. Till these mastmoula (carefree) Banarasies go to bed, the traditional and religious ones can be seen on their way with daatoon (neem stick used as substitute of brush and paste) in their mouth to start their day early in morning with a dip in Ganga. The gumties are again ready to serve these people with the same special breakfast. So, it can be very well said that the city never sleeps.
