Backpacking Northern India 39/45: Journey to Varanasi travel from Leh to Varanasi

Backpacking Northern India 39/45: Journey to Varanasi travel from Leh to Varanasi

I, mr.hotsia, just arrived from Leh after spending several days exploring the beauty of the northern Himalayan region of India. Now it's time to travel to the sacred city of Varanasi, a city full of history and a traditional lifestyle along the Ganges River. This is considered one of the oldest cities in the world and a destination I truly intend to experience.

Traveling from Leh to Varanasi is not easy and there are not many direct routes to choose from. For me, preparing the route and travel plans was the most interesting challenge. For this trip, I chose to fly from Leh airport to a major city with convenient connections, then take a domestic flight to Varanasi to save time and clearly see the changing landscapes. While flying, I admired the beauty of the valleys and the snow-covered Himalayas.

Upon arriving at Varanasi airport, the first impression was the old city atmosphere and the lively crowd here. The airport still carries the traditional Indian vibe. I traveled from the airport by local tuk-tuk to my accommodation in the city center of Varanasi, full of narrow alleys and bustling local markets. I was very excited to experience the lifestyle of the people of Varanasi up close.

One experience mr.hotsia did not miss was waking early to watch the sunrise along with the rituals by the Ganges River. The atmosphere here is lively with a diverse crowd from locals, tourists, to Hindus performing prayers and cleansing themselves in the sacred river. The Ganges is not just a water source but a spiritual and cultural center for the people here. Seeing people bathe with faith and calmness in the morning mist left a deep impression on mr.hotsia.

For those interested in religion and culture, I recommend walking through the local markets filled with shops selling incense, flowers used in rituals, and local snacks like biryani and other regional delicacies hard to find elsewhere. In fact, the food in Varanasi has a unique character with stronger and spicier flavors than some big cities like Bangalore or Mumbai that mr.hotsia has explored (read more aboutBackpacking BangaloreandBackpacking Mumbai)

Additionally, mr.hotsia visited many important temples and religious sites in Varanasi, each with interesting stories and unique architecture. The famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most impressive temples for me due to its ancient history and sacredness highly respected by Hindus. This temple is located in the city center and is visited by worshippers throughout the day.

For anyone wanting to follow mr.hotsia's journey, I highly recommend preparing your health and travel documents carefully because Varanasi's climate is very different from Leh, with higher heat and humidity, as well as city travel that sometimes requires patience due to traffic and narrow roads.

If you want a peaceful and lush natural atmosphere, not far from Varanasi there is an interesting tourist spot calledNamsaiwhich I have experienced. Namsai is a city with distinctive Buddhist architecture and culture, featuring sacred places like the Samdruptse Statue and Ngadok Monastery that offer a sense of peace and natural beauty very different from Varanasi.

Throughout the journey from Leh to Varanasi, mr.hotsia learned that traveling in northern India is not just about sightseeing or photography but absorbing diverse lifestyles and cultures blending faith and history thousands of years old.

If you are planning a northern India trip, don't forget to open your heart and prepare to experience the variety of cities I, mr.hotsia, recommend—from Leh with its grand nature to Varanasi, the heart of Indian faith and culture. This is the charm of India I want you to experience yourself.

Finally, if you want to see the full atmosphere of my journey, you can click to watch the videoBackpacking Northern India 39/45: Journey to Varanasi travel from Leh to VaranasiI guarantee you will see real scenes that make you feel like traveling with mr.hotsia in person.