Varanasi is one of those cities that you have to visit in your lifetime. It is the most colorful, magical, surprising, wild, spiritual and chaotic cities in all of India. Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism and the River Ganges lined with the most beautiful ghats and Temples is always filled with Pilgrims coming to wash away their sins, splash themselves with holy water or to cremate their loved ones. You will see women floating beautiful flowers in the water, kids swimming and having fun, men dunking themselves in the holy water, cows wandering, bodies being cremated, people selling things, yoga, meditation, chanting, ceremonies and festivities all side by side.

Varanasi is thought to have been inhabited as early as the 20th century, BC, making it the oldest continually inhabited city. There are approximately 23,000 temples in the city, including the Kasha Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India, is magical and mystical and you cannot help but be overwhelmed in the city. One needs at least three days, the first to just walk and take it all in, the second to sightseer and do a boat cruise, and the third to walk again!

There are many hotels, both heritage and boutique and guesthouse style, along the ghats, and in the inner city. Away from the ghats is a maze of narrow streets and markets that are totally fascinating and where you may have to give way for cows. Business here is all about food and drink, trinkets and flowers. But if you move away from the ghats and the maze of these streets, you will find an ‘almost ordinary life’. There is a huge silk trade in Varanasi and exquisite saris and scarfs are made, by hand, in teeny little factories. You will find the most extraordinary looms for hand weaving, works of art actually.

Varanasi’s economy is all about tourist, visitors, silk, sculptures, food and festivities. Some of the places that you must see are the Vishwanath Temple, Manikarnika Ghat. Dashashwamedh Ghat where they have a light ritual every evening, Assi Ghat where you will see people meditating, chanting and making offerings, and then visit the Museum in Varanasi and take a walk to the University of Varanasi. It is quite fascinating walking the streets where the ordinary people live.

If you live in Varanasi you need to prepare for crazy traffic and a lot of noise. The city is alive all the time and pulsates 24 hours a day. In summer it is very hot which means everything happens early in the morning or late at night. There is a new IT industry in the city, not easy because of a very old infrastructure, but things are growing all the time.

If you work in IT, have a look at Varanasi. People with IT skills are always needed. If you don’t have the skills, take a look at AcePro School and get yourself a certificate or two. It may be enough if you can do website design or website management, but it will be helpful if you have special skills too such as Drupal Training in Varanasi or a Zend Framework Course in Varanasi. Check out the AcePro School as you can choose your courses, do them in your time online and know that you are getting the very best training.

Varanasi. It is a definite must-see.