I’ll give this to you straight: don’t come to Sarnath looking for creature comforts. This is a sacred power spot, the place where the historical Buddha first turned the wheel of the Dharma, giving his first talk here at Deer Park. You come here for Dharma teachings, or pilgrimage.
My teacher Thrangu Rinpoche has a monastery here, and comes to give teachings every year. So, comfort or not, I come. Out of necessity, I’ve discovered a few secret spots– guesthouses and eateries–to nourish the body while absorbing the highest Vajrayana teachings to nourish the mind.
Here is the first installment in a series I’ll continue next week.
Shiva Guest House serves a nice thali if you let lovely Kalpana Sharma know a day beforehand. She also has several spacious guest rooms in her massive home that she rents for very reasonable fees. Don’t forget to check out her shop on the roof, where she sells handicrafts made by the disadvantaged girls she helps through her NGO. It’s also located a mere 4 minute walk from Vajra Vidya, so it’s very close to Rinpoche’s teachings, in case his guesthouse is full.
Contact details below.
Shiva Guest House
Sa.13/46 M-# Khajuhi, Sarnath, Varanasi 221007
Phone: +91 542 259 5760,
Mobile: 09 454 732 691
email: mohilay@rediffmail.com
Diary of a Pilgrim 