| Varanasi or Benares or Kashi as the city is popularly | | | | advantage along the banks of River Ganga, Varanasi |
| known is located on the most pious of the Indian rivers, | | | | is given a place at the forefront of the Hindu religion. It |
| the Mighty Ganges. It is said that one can attain | | | | is considered to be the Gateway to the Heaven. |
| salvation and purify one's soul after visiting Varanasi | | | | One of the most chief places to visit in the city is the |
| and taking a dip in the Holy River. | | | | holy shrine of Lord Kashi VIshwanath( one of the |
| The famous American writer Mark Twain had once | | | | forms of Lord Shiva) and is also one of the 12 |
| remarked that "Benares is older than history, older than | | | | Jyotirlingas across the country. It is said that if a person |
| tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old | | | | visits this temple and diety once then he gets as much |
| as all of them put together. "It is one of the oldest | | | | benefit as he or she would if they visited the rest of |
| continuously inhabited cities in the world and the most | | | | the 11 jyotirlingas. |
| ancient one in India. | | | | For so many centuries, Varanasi has been a center of |
| According to a legend, the city was founded by Lord | | | | learning and has been a leading light of the Indian |
| Shiva, the Hindu diety, some 8000 years ago which | | | | philosophy, mysticism and spiritualism. It is also called |
| makes it one of the most pious and important | | | | the city of Ghats and Ashrams. There are numerous |
| pilgrimage in the country. Many of the ancient Hindu | | | | Ashrams and Muths which are run by different |
| scriptures like the Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana | | | | religious outfits and which also serve as centers for |
| and Mahabharat have mention of this city. | | | | learning and teaching. |
| Apart from the Hindus, Kashi is equally significant for | | | | One of the major attractions of the city is the various |
| the people belonging to the Buddhist as well as the | | | | Ghats along the River Ganga. Banaras has as many |
| Jain religious philosophy. | | | | as 100 Ghats. Many of them were built by the Maratha |
| One of the most prestigious universities in India, the | | | | Rulers like the Shindes, Holkars, Bhonsales and the |
| Banaras Hindu University is situated in this city. It ranks | | | | Peshwas. Some of these Ghats are used for bathing |
| among the top notch institutions of the country which | | | | while some others are used as cremation sites. |
| are engaged in the field of academics and research | | | | Some of the most famous Ghats along the river are |
| consistently. The University was founded by Pandit | | | | the Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedha Ghat located |
| Madan Mohan Malviya in 1916 and has been an | | | | near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Scindia Ghat, Mata |
| inspiration for many freedom fighters. | | | | Mandir Ghat and Lalita Ghat. |
| Varanasi is often identified by its various religious | | | | Varanasi is an amalgamation of various religious beliefs |
| flavors. Ganga is called the Mokshadayini River which | | | | which have coexisted harmoniously through the |
| literally means that she absolves a person of all his/her | | | | centuries. It is one of the most significant places of |
| sins and purifies the soul. And when that purest river | | | | tourist interest and many of the western tourists come |
| flows past a city, it is but natural that the city also gains | | | | here in search of solace and salvation. |
| significance for the same. Due to its positional | | | | |