| Varanasi, India is to Hindus what Jerusalem is to Jews | | | | the expected pilgrims, tourists can see great views of |
| and Christians and Mecca is to Muslims. It is the holiest | | | | the river from this ghat. |
| city in Hinduism and has been a place of pilgrimage for | | | | Another site of importance in Varanasi is the shrine of |
| thousands of years. The city is presided over by the | | | | Lord Kashi Vishwanath. It is the holiest shrine in the city, |
| god Shiva, and rests on the banks of the Ganges | | | | and is one of twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. These are |
| River. | | | | shrines where people worship Shiva in the form of |
| At the edge of the Ganges River in town, there are | | | | "lingam of light". The original shrine was destroyed, but |
| steps leading down into the water called ghats. Pilgrims | | | | this is a reconstruction built in 1780. |
| can sit on the ghats and bathe in the holy water of the | | | | A site holy to Buddhism is also nearby Varanashi. |
| Ganges. Bathing in the river's waters is believed to | | | | Twelve kilometers out of town lies Sarnath, where |
| result in the remission of sins and helps you escape | | | | Buddha gave his very first sermon. In that sermon he |
| the cycle of rebirth. One of the most notable ghats is | | | | laid out the eight-fold path that leads to enlightenment |
| the Desashvamedh Ghat, which legends says is the | | | | and nirvana. Sarnath contains a large number of |
| place where Shiva sacrificed ten horses. Aside from | | | | Buddhist relics at its great archaeological museum. |