Benares, also known as Varanasi, is a city in India that has been a center of spiritual and cultural significance for thousands of years. Situated on the banks of the holy River Ganges, it has attracted travelers, writers, and mystics from all over the world. This article will explore the experiences of some notable travelers who have visited Benares, focusing on the French writer Pierre Loti and other notable writers and mystics.
Pierre Loti (1850-1923) was a French novelist, poet, and naval officer who is best known for his travel writings. In 1894, he traveled to India and wrote about his experiences in the book “Aveyres en Inde.” In Benares, Loti was captivated by the city’s spiritual atmosphere and the devotion of its inhabitants. He wrote, “I have never seen such a city of worshippers. Everywhere one sees men and women prostrate before the gods, or engaged in prayer.” Loti’s account of Benares is filled with vivid descriptions of the city’s temples, ghats, and the rituals performed on the banks of the Ganges.
Another French traveler who visited Benares was Mark Twain (1835-1910), who wrote about his experiences in the book “Following the Equator.” Twain was struck by the city’s holiness and the devotion of its inhabitants. He wrote, “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” Twain’s account of Benares is filled with humor and sarcasm, but he also acknowledges the city’s spiritual significance.
The British writer Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) also visited Benares and wrote about his experiences in the book “The City of Dreadful Night.” Kipling was not as enamored with Benares as Loti and Twain, but he did acknowledge the city’s spiritual power. He wrote, “Benares is a city of mystery and magic, of enchantment and terror, of splendor and squalor, of peace and war, of death and life.” Kipling’s account of Benares is more introspective and philosophical, as he wrestles with the city’s contradictions and the nature of spirituality.
In addition to writers, Benares has also attracted mystics and spiritual seekers from all over the world. One of the most famous mystics to visit Benares was the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Nietzsche traveled to Benares in search of spiritual enlightenment and wrote about his experiences in his book “The Gay Science.” Nietzsche was deeply moved by the city’s spiritual atmosphere and the devotion of its inhabitants. He wrote, “Benares is the most spiritual city in the world. Here one can feel the presence of the gods.”