The Stressed Go To Varanasi To Live
November 18th, 2008VARANASI, INDIA, November 13, 2008: Stressed out by financial losses in the markets? Try a trip to the ancient holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges. The city is becoming a center for wellness and recovery, with clinics on ayurveda and natural healing.
As a local guide says: “If you come to Varanasi, you will understand that it all ends here.” And, for many of India’s Hindu faithful, it does. Varanasi has long drawn those nearing the end of their lives. Many say that those who die and are cremated here can be released from the cycle of birth, death, and re-birth.
Varanasi has to it a spiritual balm and an inner perspective that Indian tourism officials believe their country can uniquely offer. Ambika Soni, the national tourism and culture minister, is keen to promote India as a “wellness destination.” She says, “Our new theme will be India as a healing place. These are India’s strengths — yoga, ayurvedic medicine and natural homeopathy, methods for cure that we’ve given to the world.”
