Where the Journey Continues

Banaras is a city that never really ends. Beyond its famous ghats, ancient lanes and the timeless flow of the Ganga, there are places where the journey takes a quieter and more contemplative turn.

In Beyond Banaras, I travelled a little farther from the heart of the city to discover three very different experiences — Sarnath, Swarved Mahamandir and Markandey Mahadev at Kaithi.

At Sarnath, the atmosphere changes completely. Away from the bustle of Banaras, the ancient Buddhist landscape invites you to pause and reflect. Standing among its monuments and peaceful gardens, I found myself thinking about how deeply this place is connected with the search for inner peace.

The journey then took me to Swarved Mahamandir, an extraordinary space of architecture, meditation and spirituality. Its scale and intricate details create an experience that is as much visual as it is contemplative.

And finally, at Markandey Mahadev, Kaithi, the journey returned to the living traditions of Shiva and the sacred landscape around the Ganga. Here, faith feels intimate and deeply rooted in everyday life.

These places reminded me that the soul of Banaras extends far beyond the city itself. Sometimes, you only need to travel a little farther to discover another layer of its stories.

Beyond Banaras is not just a journey to new places. It is a journey into different expressions of faith, history, architecture and spirituality — each leaving behind a different impression.

And as always, I carry these moments back with me, not only as memories, but as colours, emotions and stories that continue to inspire my art.

Link for the Vlog Video

https://youtu.be/1FHKmRz9fUU?si=CCdyqM8dFIbULJjy

Travel. Art. Stories.
One journey at a time.

— Sonali Sihi
Paint My Journeys