travel
It sounds quite intimidating to write a travel guide for the spiritual capital of India but nonetheless here it is. But before i start let me put some perspective, India is for experience, pictures, texts and videos don’t do justice to it. And Varanasi is the epitome of that. As i always say it is the people that make a place and imagine the energy of a city where people come for salvation, meditation and enlightenment.
How to reach Varanasi
There are direct trains taking about 10 hours from the capital, Delhi. Both overnight and day options available. Flights take about 1.5 hours from Delhi. Car will take about 10 hours.
Where to stay
We had a comfortable stay in Taj Varanasi. Some family members also stayed in Hotel Clark and they found it great too.
Places to visit in Varanasi
- There are more than one temple in almost every lane in old Varanasi. Hence also sometimes called the ‘City of Temple’ must visit are Kashi Vishwanath and Sankatmochan.
- The ghats - you can rent a boat and hop on and off on any of the 84 ghats, favourite for photos are Raja ghat, Munshi ghat and Tulsi ghat.
- Ganga arti on Dhaneshwar ghat. Be early to get the best seat or try for reservation through your hotel or someone. You can also see the Aarti from a seat on the boats. Timing 6.30 pm.
- Take a car ride in the sprawling campus of Benares Hindu University.
- Visit Tulsi ghat and the adjoining areas. 1. The spot where Tulsidas wrote Ramayan, now a temple 2. A 400 year old wrestling place 3. Warrior princes Laxmi Bai’s birthplace. Most movies shot in Varanasi are shot in this area.
- Visit Sarnath, 10 kms away from Varanasi famous for its stupas.
Where and what to eat in Varanasi- THE MUST EAT
- Pehalwan lassi
- Chachi puri behind Pehalwan Lassi
- Chaat in the old city.
- Chai at Pappu
all the 4 are extremely popular and most people will be able to guide. or just put in google map.
Some facts about Varanasi
Some facts about Varanasi
- Varanasi is one of the oldest crematoriums in the world.
- Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga it is the most sacred city in Hinduism, Jainism and one of the most sacred in Buddhism.
- It is also a seat of learning and culture. The benares hindu university spread over a sprawling 4000 acres is one of oldest universities of India and the largest university in Asia. It gives education from kindergarten level to doctorate.
- Ramayan was written by Tulsidas in Benares.
- It is one of the oldest living cities in the world.
- Varanasi has 88 ghats ( as set of steps leading to the river) . Making it the city with the most ghats in the world.
- In the Hindu religion it is believed that the person who breathes his last breath in this city attains salvation.
- The city is the birthplace of many celebrated artists, musicians and dancers like Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan.
- Homeland of Benarsi silk an extremely rich traditional indian hand made fabric.
- It is India personified. Colourful, chaotic, overwhelming, inspiring, magical and truly incredible.
I was at my most overwhelmed state during my trip to Varanasi. Extremely calm but inspired, full of thoughts and energy. That is what great places do to you.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Suggested - Ranthambore Rajasthan travel guide
Love
Chichi
Varanasi the spiritual capital of India, a travel guide
It sounds quite intimidating to write a travel guide for the spiritual capital of India but nonetheless here it is. But before i start let me put some perspective, India is for experience, pictures, texts and videos don’t do justice to it. And Varanasi is the epitome of that. As i always say it is the people that make a place and imagine the energy of a city where people come for salvation, meditation and enlightenment.
How to reach Varanasi
There are direct trains taking about 10 hours from the capital, Delhi. Both overnight and day options available. Flights take about 1.5 hours from Delhi. Car will take about 10 hours.
Where to stay
We had a comfortable stay in Taj Varanasi. Some family members also stayed in Hotel Clark and they found it great too.
Places to visit in Varanasi
- There are more than one temple in almost every lane in old Varanasi. Hence also sometimes called the ‘City of Temple’ must visit are Kashi Vishwanath and Sankatmochan.
- The ghats - you can rent a boat and hop on and off on any of the 84 ghats, favourite for photos are Raja ghat, Munshi ghat and Tulsi ghat.
- Ganga arti on Dhaneshwar ghat. Be early to get the best seat or try for reservation through your hotel or someone. You can also see the Aarti from a seat on the boats. Timing 6.30 pm.
- Take a car ride in the sprawling campus of Benares Hindu University.
- Visit Tulsi ghat and the adjoining areas. 1. The spot where Tulsidas wrote Ramayan, now a temple 2. A 400 year old wrestling place 3. Warrior princes Laxmi Bai’s birthplace. Most movies shot in Varanasi are shot in this area.
- Visit Sarnath, 10 kms away from Varanasi famous for its stupas.
Where and what to eat in Varanasi- THE MUST EAT
- Pehalwan lassi
- Chachi puri behind Pehalwan Lassi
- Chaat in the old city.
- Chai at Pappu
all the 4 are extremely popular and most people will be able to guide. or just put in google map.
Some facts about Varanasi
Some facts about Varanasi
- Varanasi is one of the oldest crematoriums in the world.
- Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga it is the most sacred city in Hinduism, Jainism and one of the most sacred in Buddhism.
- It is also a seat of learning and culture. The benares hindu university spread over a sprawling 4000 acres is one of oldest universities of India and the largest university in Asia. It gives education from kindergarten level to doctorate.
- Ramayan was written by Tulsidas in Benares.
- It is one of the oldest living cities in the world.
- Varanasi has 88 ghats ( as set of steps leading to the river) . Making it the city with the most ghats in the world.
- In the Hindu religion it is believed that the person who breathes his last breath in this city attains salvation.
- The city is the birthplace of many celebrated artists, musicians and dancers like Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan.
- Homeland of Benarsi silk an extremely rich traditional indian hand made fabric.
- It is India personified. Colourful, chaotic, overwhelming, inspiring, magical and truly incredible.
I was at my most overwhelmed state during my trip to Varanasi. Extremely calm but inspired, full of thoughts and energy. That is what great places do to you.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Suggested - Ranthambore Rajasthan travel guide
Love
Chichi
London is full of pretty places, maybe should not be even said, it is definitely the most instagram worthy city in the world. So much character, parts so distinct of each other all rocking their own vibe. New and better dazzle being added on the daily so writing an instagram guide for the city is a herculean task or should i say an unjustifiable task. Hence i call this post A girls London Instagram guide. Girls who love to chat with their girlfriends sitting in pretty places sipping tea and eating avocado toast and the likes. I will write less because Instagram is pictures so let these pictures do the talking.
1. Aubaine Selfridges - Wisteria season in London is short and sweet but Aubaine has them laden all year round. Breakfast is the best time and you can dot so at leisure. What to order - Avocado breakfast with tea and juice. Tip to get the best shots as told by the staff, the cafe opens at 9.30 but if you reach by 9 they let you in to take pictures. Nearest tube station - Bond street
2. Peggy Porschen cakes - All seasons are done justice at peggy. But spring is got to be my favourite. Flowers and pink can’t get any better. What to order- Your choice of cupcake with a pot of tea or juice. Tip to get the best pictures at peggy porschen cakes- I haven’t waited much anytime but a good tip will be to reach off time when people wouldn’t really go for cake and tea. Around 10 or 6. People know others are waiting so they order, take pictures, eat + enjoy and leave. Nearest tube station - Victoria
3. Farm girl cafe - Has the most famous pink table in London. The table in the open at the corner is what you have to get. Well I have got it every time without wait. And the only tip is to go a little early say around 11.30 for lunch or 8.15 for breakfast. If you can’t go early best don’t go. On my last visit there was a cue within 15 mins and i also spotted a couple of famous bloggers waiting, lol!!!! What to order - Avocado toast, rose latte, acai bowl. Nearest tube station - Notting hill gate
4. Spring restaurant - This one is a more formal sit down out of the lot. But very pretty and well done. The pink sofa makes the prettiest picture, couldn’t resist lounging on it. You can take your time here, i wouldn’t mind hours by the window. The food also comes super fast. What to order - Lemon cod + fresh juice but the menu keeps changing. Tip to get the best picture - You can book in advance and reach early. Nearest tube station - Holborn
5. Elan cafe - The latest pretty place entrant in the market where i have yet to go. But i know i will love and can't wait.
Those are some of the prettiest and my favourite places to take instagram photos in London. 3 are also spotted in the Christmas time in London Vlog. Hope this post is helpful in planning out your London itinerary, also please share any of your favourites.
Suggested post - The cutest streets in London
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
A girls London Instagram guide
London is full of pretty places, maybe should not be even said, it is definitely the most instagram worthy city in the world. So much character, parts so distinct of each other all rocking their own vibe. New and better dazzle being added on the daily so writing an instagram guide for the city is a herculean task or should i say an unjustifiable task. Hence i call this post A girls London Instagram guide. Girls who love to chat with their girlfriends sitting in pretty places sipping tea and eating avocado toast and the likes. I will write less because Instagram is pictures so let these pictures do the talking.
1. Aubaine Selfridges - Wisteria season in London is short and sweet but Aubaine has them laden all year round. Breakfast is the best time and you can dot so at leisure. What to order - Avocado breakfast with tea and juice. Tip to get the best shots as told by the staff, the cafe opens at 9.30 but if you reach by 9 they let you in to take pictures. Nearest tube station - Bond street
2. Peggy Porschen cakes - All seasons are done justice at peggy. But spring is got to be my favourite. Flowers and pink can’t get any better. What to order- Your choice of cupcake with a pot of tea or juice. Tip to get the best pictures at peggy porschen cakes- I haven’t waited much anytime but a good tip will be to reach off time when people wouldn’t really go for cake and tea. Around 10 or 6. People know others are waiting so they order, take pictures, eat + enjoy and leave. Nearest tube station - Victoria
3. Farm girl cafe - Has the most famous pink table in London. The table in the open at the corner is what you have to get. Well I have got it every time without wait. And the only tip is to go a little early say around 11.30 for lunch or 8.15 for breakfast. If you can’t go early best don’t go. On my last visit there was a cue within 15 mins and i also spotted a couple of famous bloggers waiting, lol!!!! What to order - Avocado toast, rose latte, acai bowl. Nearest tube station - Notting hill gate
4. Spring restaurant - This one is a more formal sit down out of the lot. But very pretty and well done. The pink sofa makes the prettiest picture, couldn’t resist lounging on it. You can take your time here, i wouldn’t mind hours by the window. The food also comes super fast. What to order - Lemon cod + fresh juice but the menu keeps changing. Tip to get the best picture - You can book in advance and reach early. Nearest tube station - Holborn
5. Elan cafe - The latest pretty place entrant in the market where i have yet to go. But i know i will love and can't wait.
Those are some of the prettiest and my favourite places to take instagram photos in London. 3 are also spotted in the Christmas time in London Vlog. Hope this post is helpful in planning out your London itinerary, also please share any of your favourites.
Suggested post - The cutest streets in London
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
As I said in my last post, Christmas is the best time to be in London and that's exactly where I am going to be next year too!!! I mean everyone and everything is at its best so of course!!!
Here is a vlog of how it is in London in December, enjoy!!
This is my first video and I am so happy I did it because there is no better feeling than taking forward steps and learning. There are many more videos and vlogs, better in all ways, coming your way so stay tuned.
Thank you for stopping by, See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Vlog- Christmas time in London
As I said in my last post, Christmas is the best time to be in London and that's exactly where I am going to be next year too!!! I mean everyone and everything is at its best so of course!!!
Here is a vlog of how it is in London in December, enjoy!!
This is my first video and I am so happy I did it because there is no better feeling than taking forward steps and learning. There are many more videos and vlogs, better in all ways, coming your way so stay tuned.
Thank you for stopping by, See you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Let me officially put it, December is the best month to be in London. No matter how the weather behaves, which also is not that crazy, because no city in the world does Christmas like London. If one word can describe London around Christmas time it is, magical, very magical and for a girl who believes in magic there is no better place. By December I mean the days before Christmas, can get a tad bit dull and sad after.
1. December is off tourist season, ok I accept that people are shopping and the streets can be a bit crowded specially regent street and bond street, etc but its nothing like the touristy summer months.
2. Everywhere you go specially central London there is beautiful decoration, lights and it all. Christmas songs playing in the stations, taxis, on the street basically the festive mood is everywhere. I love to carry my camera around everywhere, taking snapshots of my beloved city. And the decked up beauty makes up for everything, like seriously.
3. People are super jolly and happy, greetings and cheers. I believe it's the people that make a place and happy people make London more magical around Christmas time.
4. There are zillion things to do. Skate at the ice rinks, my favourite is somerset house or go to winter wonderland. Eat at the Christmas markets and load up on the mulled wine. Bursting with season activities.
5. Visit the Christmas lit Covent garden, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, Liberty or just wrap up warm and walk around Mayfair and soak into the season.
Christmas day is dull because no one is literally there, you can have the whole Oxford street to yourself, which can be a good thing if you are a blogger, lol and then you can hit the stores on 26 for boxing day sales. But I suggest online shopping for all the many reasons.
I encourage you to experience this mood of London and fall in love with it all over again.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Suggested posts - Reasons to love London
- Best day trip from London
- The cutest streets in London
- How to spend the most perfect 24 hours in London
Love
Chichi
Why December is the best month to be in London
Let me officially put it, December is the best month to be in London. No matter how the weather behaves, which also is not that crazy, because no city in the world does Christmas like London. If one word can describe London around Christmas time it is, magical, very magical and for a girl who believes in magic there is no better place. By December I mean the days before Christmas, can get a tad bit dull and sad after.
1. December is off tourist season, ok I accept that people are shopping and the streets can be a bit crowded specially regent street and bond street, etc but its nothing like the touristy summer months.
2. Everywhere you go specially central London there is beautiful decoration, lights and it all. Christmas songs playing in the stations, taxis, on the street basically the festive mood is everywhere. I love to carry my camera around everywhere, taking snapshots of my beloved city. And the decked up beauty makes up for everything, like seriously.
3. People are super jolly and happy, greetings and cheers. I believe it's the people that make a place and happy people make London more magical around Christmas time.
4. There are zillion things to do. Skate at the ice rinks, my favourite is somerset house or go to winter wonderland. Eat at the Christmas markets and load up on the mulled wine. Bursting with season activities.
5. Visit the Christmas lit Covent garden, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, Liberty or just wrap up warm and walk around Mayfair and soak into the season.
Christmas day is dull because no one is literally there, you can have the whole Oxford street to yourself, which can be a good thing if you are a blogger, lol and then you can hit the stores on 26 for boxing day sales. But I suggest online shopping for all the many reasons.
I encourage you to experience this mood of London and fall in love with it all over again.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Suggested posts - Reasons to love London
- Best day trip from London
- The cutest streets in London
- How to spend the most perfect 24 hours in London
Love
Chichi
There has been a fad of late to find the most hidden gems, places no one has ever been to, discoveries even in busy and frequented cities like London. I will lie if I say I am not a fan of that, I am, but somehow I am very drawn to the old popular landmarks, even more, something about the time they have been around, memories and things like those. In London spending time by the Thames is one of my favourites and the view over it and the city from The London eye definitely on my top 5.
Most recently I had the chance to experience the views from Coca cola London Eye on the last day of London fashion week ss17, which means around the same time last year. After a hectic yet super exciting fashion week, I and my 2 blogger friends decided on ditching a cocktail event and instead of heading towards the Thames for a spin on our favourite wheel there is. We were so done with all the hustle and wanted a relaxing time, luckily the sun was out and River Thames glistened. London eye always seems extremely soothing to me. Almost makes me feel like a child easing the tensions of adulthood. And so it was. Awestruck as ever to look at the Thames from up above, the Buckingham Palace, a scattering of autumn leaves below, trees some barren some still holding, it was a refreshing feeling and a wonderful sight. Bringing back many nostalgic memories for the 3 of us. One such memory for me was of my 4-year-old niece whose eyes twinkled just like the twinkle of the Thames on her first spin on the London Eye. She couldn't contain herself with her first 360 degrees view over the London landscape!!! Equally exciting for her were the tablets set at the perimeter of the capsule giving crisp info on the 44 featured buildings ( London's top attractions like The British Museum, St Pauls, etc) when were they made, distance from the London Eye, etc
We came down and to commemorate our visit got a picture clicked and then decided to take a small walk. There was still time so sat down for a hearty girly chat. It was around 4 pm and there was a sudden chill in the air but the view of our favourite Ferris wheel and the conversations were so comforting and warm that ice cream sounded like a good idea. Yes, we got two scoops each from the ice cream van near the entrance. Ah, I miss the day so much. Luckily for me, I have a visit planned around Christmas this year with my family. We are thinking of booking a slot around sunset, just can't wait, can't wait to reminisce old memories and to make new ones.
Sharing with you some of my favourite pictures of The London Eye in my collection! Hope you enjoy!
OOTD on my visit around the same time last year!
Suggested posts- Reasons to love London
- The cutest streets in London
- The best day trip from London
- How to spend the most perfect 24hrs in London
Have you been on The London Eye? What is your favourite memory?
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next!
Love
Chichi
Have you visited The London Eye yet?
There has been a fad of late to find the most hidden gems, places no one has ever been to, discoveries even in busy and frequented cities like London. I will lie if I say I am not a fan of that, I am, but somehow I am very drawn to the old popular landmarks, even more, something about the time they have been around, memories and things like those. In London spending time by the Thames is one of my favourites and the view over it and the city from The London eye definitely on my top 5.
Most recently I had the chance to experience the views from Coca cola London Eye on the last day of London fashion week ss17, which means around the same time last year. After a hectic yet super exciting fashion week, I and my 2 blogger friends decided on ditching a cocktail event and instead of heading towards the Thames for a spin on our favourite wheel there is. We were so done with all the hustle and wanted a relaxing time, luckily the sun was out and River Thames glistened. London eye always seems extremely soothing to me. Almost makes me feel like a child easing the tensions of adulthood. And so it was. Awestruck as ever to look at the Thames from up above, the Buckingham Palace, a scattering of autumn leaves below, trees some barren some still holding, it was a refreshing feeling and a wonderful sight. Bringing back many nostalgic memories for the 3 of us. One such memory for me was of my 4-year-old niece whose eyes twinkled just like the twinkle of the Thames on her first spin on the London Eye. She couldn't contain herself with her first 360 degrees view over the London landscape!!! Equally exciting for her were the tablets set at the perimeter of the capsule giving crisp info on the 44 featured buildings ( London's top attractions like The British Museum, St Pauls, etc) when were they made, distance from the London Eye, etc
We came down and to commemorate our visit got a picture clicked and then decided to take a small walk. There was still time so sat down for a hearty girly chat. It was around 4 pm and there was a sudden chill in the air but the view of our favourite Ferris wheel and the conversations were so comforting and warm that ice cream sounded like a good idea. Yes, we got two scoops each from the ice cream van near the entrance. Ah, I miss the day so much. Luckily for me, I have a visit planned around Christmas this year with my family. We are thinking of booking a slot around sunset, just can't wait, can't wait to reminisce old memories and to make new ones.
Sharing with you some of my favourite pictures of The London Eye in my collection! Hope you enjoy!
OOTD on my visit around the same time last year!
Suggested posts- Reasons to love London
- The cutest streets in London
- The best day trip from London
- How to spend the most perfect 24hrs in London
Have you been on The London Eye? What is your favourite memory?
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next!
Love
Chichi
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