Many people claim that there are not many adventure spots in Varanasi and sometimes spiritual overdose in Varanasi gets to the nerves. There is no denying that there are some among us who love the outdoors. People who love jungle trekking, hill climbing, bird watching – nature is the perfect aphrodisiac for such people. And it just so happens that near Varanasi, in the neighboring district of Mirzapur, there are some beautiful and picturesque places where small tribal settlements dot the hills. The area has not so high hills formed from the famous Chunar rocks, extremely hard rocks used in ancient days to build huge fortresses.
About 55 km from the city of Varanasi, situated in the hills, is a beautiful waterfall that falls into a beautiful lake surrounded on all sides by rocky cliffs. The water from the waterfall flows downstream in the form of a small stream whose bed is covered in boulders downstream for nearly a mile. And to get to the waterfall, you have to climb, slide, walk, twist and turn through these rocks. There is no other way, you see. Interested? keep reading
The place we are talking about is Lakhania Dari and it is the perfect place to spend a day away from the busy streets of Varanasi. And once you’re outside the city limits, the drive to the venue itself is refreshing. The tree-lined path stretched out into green fields and small rocky hills. A little further on, you can see the meandering stream of the river with small tribal settlements and little tribal boys herding their cattle. This place is on the national highway connecting Varanasi to Robertsganj and it is easy to miss the entrance to Lakhania Dari if you don’t know the place. The entrance is around a bend that has a sign with the name Lakhani Dari on it, and there is a small shop owned by Chhote Lal that sells bottled water, Chai (tea) and some snacks. Leave the path and go up and you will see a path through the bushes that leads further on and not far, you will see the waterfall stream with rocks perched at just the right grade, offering a cool spot to sit and sip your bottle. of beer or juice – the choice is yours, of course.
But this is only for hikers. If you really want to get to the waterfall you will have to walk almost a mile through these rocks, yes you heard right. You have to climb and jump on these rocks to reach the waterfall. And let me tell you, it’s not easy. You have to be very careful or else you will have to turn around with a sprained ankle. So when you decide to go, get some sturdy shoes with a solid grip. If you slip, well, it’s your head against the rock. And don’t go there during the rainy season, not until you are an expert in rock climbing. Those rocks can get very slippery.
On the way to the waterfall, you will see some caves that lie high in the walls of the hills. It is said that they were inhabited by men who roamed and hunted in this area long before television and telephones were invented. But only a trained climber could reach those caves if he has the right equipment. So after the arduous hike through the bedrock, when you finally reach the waterfall, you will love it, it really is worth the trip. The water where it falls has created a small lake and around the lake there is a rocky cliff on the other two sides where you can lie down and listen to the fascinating sound of falling water. The area is relatively cool, as is the water, and if you are a good swimmer, jump in the water. How deep is the lake? Nobody knows. It can’t be too deep though. There’s only one way to find out, get involved!
The water is clean and fresh. The place is frequented by very few people since not many know of its existence. On Sundays, however, you’ll find crowds of families gathering for a picnic. It’s a great idea to pack some ice and beer bottles and lie on the rocks by the lake and relax. For the journey, do not forget to bring bottles of water and fresh juice. The little hike makes you thirsty if it’s a sunny day. And yes, we would ask you to take your empty bottles and food packets etc with you and not throw them away like many others. We don’t want to set a bad example, right?