Snaking alleys of Varanasi packaged for back-packers

Varanasi, May 28 (UNI) Concerned over the declining tourist interest in the famed monuments of this holy city, the certified tourist guides have developed a new tourist package, to connect the back- packers with the uniquely snaking 'galis' (alleys) of Varanasi.

President of Government Approved Tourist Guides Association (GATGA) in Varanasi, Ajay Kumar Singh, told UNI here today that though the oldest living city of the world still remains a major global tourist destination, the famed monuments of the city including Sarnath, Ramnagar Fort and Chunar Fort, besides Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are finding it hard to soar the tourist inflow now.

Instead, it is the boat ride on the sacred Ganga river, which provides the glimpse of both the celestial arti and the burning pyres at the two riverside cremation grounds in the evening, that is founding maximum favour among the foreign tourists.

''At least 50 per cent of the foreign back-packers are driven to Varanasi due to the majestic riverfront and the three attractions of boating, evening Arti and crackling pyres,'' Dr Singh added.

One of the other tourist attractions fast gaining currency among tourists is the snaking alleys of the city, considered to be the capillaries of Varanasi.

The new tourist package 'Lanes and Bylanes' to be introduced by tour and travel operators from the coming tourist season (October 2006-March 2007), will make the tourists traverse on their foot through the 'galis' of Varanasi.

In the beginning, the two hour daily package's starting point will be the Vishwanath Gali, from where the tourists will travel through Kachauri Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Dalmandi, Harha Sarai and Benia Bag, Dr Singh said.

The package will not only provide an amalgam of historical splendours like the Kashi Vishwanath temple and various Havelis of the city and modernity in form of buzzing cyber cafes and restaurants selling international cuisane, he added.

The pedestrian trek will also provide a glimpse of the bygone classical era of the city in form of the remains of 'Kothas' of Dalmandi that once used to be decorated with 'Mujras'. Besides, classical art like Zardozi, Banarsi Saree making and badge making will catch the eyes of ethusiastic tourists, Dr Singh said.

The longer vision of the package is to present the Banarasi galis as the ancient centre of cosmopolitan culture. Spanning from Raj Ghat to Assi Ghat, the serpentine alleys connecting with the 80-odd Ganga ghats, have housed people from all four corners of the country.

'We intend giving the feel of the sweet Srikhand from Gujarat and Maharashtra still tantalising the palates of locales at Durga and Bhonsala Ghat, the ensalving delight of Lassi, Malai and Rabri of Man Mandir Ghat, the Misthi Doi (sweet curd) of Bengali Tola and the cheap but spicy South Indian cuisane of Hanuman and Kedar Ghat to the pedestrian back-packers in the longer run,'' said another member of GATGA, S N Prasad.

Depending on the success of the package, other lanes of the city housing classical music legends like Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi and Kishan Maharaj, besides those dotted with temples, music schools and Yoga Ashrams and Akharas (wrestling arenas) will be also be included in the package, Mr Prasad maintained.

UNI ARS MB MP RK1300