Crazy to choose Varanasi instead of Agra?
Jul 13th, 2011, 05:57 PM
#22
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And for yet another opinion, I'd choose Varanasi. I went to both on my first trip to India and they both wowed me. The difference for me was that the Taj was a 1/2 day stunning visual experience (Agra, was a -5 IMHO) whereas Varanasi was a 2-3 day immersion in the essence of India. On my last trip to India, I returned to Varanasi for its "essencenceness", its vitality, spirituality and eye jollies. Fortunately for you, there are no "bad " choices between the two.
Jul 14th, 2011, 10:34 PM
#24
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Like some have already said, go to see the Taj because it is what symbolizes a visit to India. Also it is beautiful culturally as well as sentimentally...man's love for his wife forever. It's a thing of beauty.
Varanasi for different experience..religious experience....your choice.
rhkkmk...FYI significance of River Ganges...river ganges by the time it gets to Varanasi is polluted. However, ganges river became sacred in old times because the river water will not let bugs, crawlers etc to grow. It has to do with the rocks it goes over and the chemical mix keeps the water pure (unlike possibly any other river in the world). Hence it became known as the "sacred ganges". So I presume if you remove the solid sediment pollution, the river water would be restored to it's original pure condition. While the religious pilgrims take a drink of the sacred water when they visit Varanasi, I would NOT recommend that you do that. Just to be safe!!
Varanasi for different experience..religious experience....your choice.
rhkkmk...FYI significance of River Ganges...river ganges by the time it gets to Varanasi is polluted. However, ganges river became sacred in old times because the river water will not let bugs, crawlers etc to grow. It has to do with the rocks it goes over and the chemical mix keeps the water pure (unlike possibly any other river in the world). Hence it became known as the "sacred ganges". So I presume if you remove the solid sediment pollution, the river water would be restored to it's original pure condition. While the religious pilgrims take a drink of the sacred water when they visit Varanasi, I would NOT recommend that you do that. Just to be safe!!
Jul 15th, 2011, 05:53 AM
#26
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magic--- you and margaret can drink all the water you want from that river and even bath in it, magic rocks or not.... i'm sticking to bottled water and hotel showers (and i'm not that sure about the showers).... haha
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i have some questions for you... thanks
please contact me: [email protected]
i have some questions for you... thanks
Jul 15th, 2011, 09:10 AM
#27
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Varanasi hands down. While the Taj may be the "symbol of India", I don't feel it honestly renders the experience of traveling through India, or of India iteself. It is completely centered around tourism, and while Varanasi also has its share of tourist influence, when there I still felt the strong sense of community and liveliness of a very old city with an incredible spiritual history. Take a sunrise boat ride down the Ganges and walk around the frantic streets!
Also, if you weren't already planning on it, check out Jaiselmer and Udaipur while in Rajasthan. I lived in Rajasthan for four months and these were two of my favorite destinations!
Also, if you weren't already planning on it, check out Jaiselmer and Udaipur while in Rajasthan. I lived in Rajasthan for four months and these were two of my favorite destinations!
Jul 15th, 2011, 01:54 PM
#28
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Another way to look at it:
Agra's sites are incredible monument to the past: The Taj Mahal, the Fort (as much a do-not-miss as the Taj Mahal, IMHO) etc.
Varanasi is a place where people do as they have done for years and years--you can see history as the present.
Hope this makes sense.
Realized this distinction in trying to help someone decide between Amritsar (Golden Temple) and Agra (TM Fort) and chose the former based on this way of looking at it. There's an excitement and a lesson you get at the "living" places that isn't there in the place that is an exquisite tourist attraction. it's not one "better" than the other--just a different type of experience.
Agra's sites are incredible monument to the past: The Taj Mahal, the Fort (as much a do-not-miss as the Taj Mahal, IMHO) etc.
Varanasi is a place where people do as they have done for years and years--you can see history as the present.
Hope this makes sense.
Realized this distinction in trying to help someone decide between Amritsar (Golden Temple) and Agra (TM Fort) and chose the former based on this way of looking at it. There's an excitement and a lesson you get at the "living" places that isn't there in the place that is an exquisite tourist attraction. it's not one "better" than the other--just a different type of experience.
Jul 16th, 2011, 03:34 PM
#30
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rhkkmk----sent you email per your request....would be delighted to answer any questions.
Regarding water....since 5 star hotels have their own filtered water supply, we never worry about drinking the water or showers etc at these hotels anywhere in Asia especially India.
Everywhere else, drink bottled water or hot tea or hot coffee. Request that any soft drinks you order have their bottle caps removed at your table in front of you for your peace of mind, and skip additional ice.
If drinking lassi(usually served cold), which we love, we ask that it be made with bottled water and use ice made from filtered (bottled) water. However, to be quite honest when it comes to lassi, you are taking a chance with the ice portion. But it tastes so good!! Oh, if you stick to better restaurants, they can accomodate your request about filtered water etc.
All in all, take precautions, but DONOT forget to relax and enjoy your trip.
Just as a joke, take a sip of the "holy ganges river water". Only if you are a devout pilgrim. Haha. Don't risk it. NO DRINKING any holy water anywhere. Sorry. Not even as a joke.
Regarding water....since 5 star hotels have their own filtered water supply, we never worry about drinking the water or showers etc at these hotels anywhere in Asia especially India.
Everywhere else, drink bottled water or hot tea or hot coffee. Request that any soft drinks you order have their bottle caps removed at your table in front of you for your peace of mind, and skip additional ice.
If drinking lassi(usually served cold), which we love, we ask that it be made with bottled water and use ice made from filtered (bottled) water. However, to be quite honest when it comes to lassi, you are taking a chance with the ice portion. But it tastes so good!! Oh, if you stick to better restaurants, they can accomodate your request about filtered water etc.
All in all, take precautions, but DONOT forget to relax and enjoy your trip.
Just as a joke, take a sip of the "holy ganges river water". Only if you are a devout pilgrim. Haha. Don't risk it. NO DRINKING any holy water anywhere. Sorry. Not even as a joke.
Aug 4th, 2011, 07:45 PM
#31
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We visited both on our trip last fall. For me, a visit to India would have been incomplete without seeing the Taj and the Red Fort -- okay I'm an architecture buff. And, contrary to many, I quite enjoyed Agra. If you decide to skip this one, be prepared for when you return and EVERYONE asks why you didn't go there. <grin>
Varanasi ENHANCED our visit -- I loved the sunrise boat ride on the Ganges...the evening aarti visit, not so much. IF/IF you are a spiritual person, you shouldn't miss it. Otherwise I would concentrate on Rajasthan if I had limited time....just my personal vote.
If you think you want to go for Varanasi, then I agree with Cicerone that you really do need to FLY there...it takes too much time to drive. If you're after a relaxing (stop and smell the incense?) kind of trip, I would try not to spend too much time on travel.
Varanasi ENHANCED our visit -- I loved the sunrise boat ride on the Ganges...the evening aarti visit, not so much. IF/IF you are a spiritual person, you shouldn't miss it. Otherwise I would concentrate on Rajasthan if I had limited time....just my personal vote.
If you think you want to go for Varanasi, then I agree with Cicerone that you really do need to FLY there...it takes too much time to drive. If you're after a relaxing (stop and smell the incense?) kind of trip, I would try not to spend too much time on travel.
