From Scenic Morning Boat Rides To Enjoying Malaiyo On The Streets, Here’s Why Visiting Varanasi In Winters Is A Good Idea!

If you’re confused between a beach vacation and a mountain getaway this winter, then let us suggest something for you instead. How about planning a trip to the spiritual city of Varanasi with your loved ones? Believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, this city has something for everyone and if you want to experience its true essence, then winter is the best time for it. Scroll on so that we can convince you to plan a trip to this city ASAP!

Soak In Varanasi’s Spiritual Vibes In Winter

Earlier in December, I visited Varanasi with my parents and it was probably one of the best vacations we had in recent times. We spent four days there and it was an experience I’ll treasure for life. Right from the beautiful vibe of this city to the food, everything here was wonderful. And I personally believe that winter is the best time to visit this place and I have my reasons as well.

Like most of Northern India, summer in Varanasi is quite extreme. So, exploring and visiting different places can be quite difficult. On the other hand, in winter you can visit ghats and temples even in the afternoon, without worrying about the harsh weather. I visited Assi Ghat in the morning to attend the famous morning aarti and it was beautiful. The cool winds, the foggy weather, the serene vibes, and the mantras playing in the backdrop–this is one experience I treasure from this trip the most. After that, we took a boat ride there and the cool weather and morning fogginess added a beautiful filter to the city.

To avoid the massive rush during the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, we booked a river cruise. The cruise takes you around the Ganga River and you can see all the ghats in Varanasi from there. At the time of the aarti, the cruise ship parks in front of the priests performing the aarti, so you can experience it from there.

I visited the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple at night and I feel it’s the best time to soak in the spiritual vibes of the temple. I even got to attend the Bhog Aarti there and enjoy the prasad without any crowd or rush! You can witness the temple priests decorating the shivling in the temple and the beautiful dumroo beats played by them as they perform the aarti.

Also Read: Indian Railways Makes Travel To Omkareshwar, Kashi & Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlingas Easier With New Projects On Mumbai-Prayagraj-Varanasi Route

Food & Winter Delights Of The City

You can roam around Varanasi in auto-rickshaws but to find the hidden gems, you will have to walk a lot and navigate through narrow streets. Also, while Google Maps is great help, nothing beats local help when it comes to finding a place in the city, so don’t shy away from asking people for directions. I found Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar like this and it is one of my favourite places in Varanasi now. We enjoyed a breakfast of chena vada, aloo kachori, choti kachori with chane, and jalebi here, and it was all amazing!

We also tried the famous Kashi Chat Bhandar and the place lived up to its name with its delicious tamatar chaat, samosa, aloo tikki, and samosa chaat. Between all this, we had endless lassis and malaiyo, which is available everywhere in winter in Varanasi. Malaiyo is a winter delicacy famous in the city and it is light and fluffy. Its texture is similar to a soap sud but it is so delicious that I ended up hogging it every day while I was there! Since it’s only available in winter, it is another reason why you should visit Varanasi during this season.

Also Read: Is Indian Tax Department Using DigiYatra Data To Identify Tax Evaders?

So, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to Varanasi this winter and experience the beauty of this place.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva & Tashika Tyagi