The Spiritual City "Varanasi"

Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi is a North Indian city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The spiritual capital of India, it is the holiest of the sacred cities The city's religious importance went to grow when Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi.

Many notable people were born in Varanasi like Kabir and Ravidas. During the 18th century it was further developed by the Maratha and Bhumihar kings. Even Akbar built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. 

Varanasi City

Varanasi has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Panchganga Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat are places where Hindus cremate their dead. Yu can see some of the famous ghats here.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh is one of the most sacred ghats on the banks of the Ganges. Aarti is performed in this ghat. The air is thick and the glowing aartis are mesmerising to watch. You can witness this spectacular event on a boat in the river.

Assi Ghat

Assi ghat is place of huge crowd during festivals as devotees come to take holy bath in the Ganga river to get rid of all their past sins.

It is said that there are around 23,000 temples in Varanasi, the temples most popular for worship are: Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and the Durga Mandir Temple.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the Ganges is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva temples in Varanasi. The Gyanvapi Mosque adjacent to the temple is the original site of the temple. It was built in 1780 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The two pinnacles of the temple are covered in gold and were donated in 1839 by Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab. The dome receives gold plating through a proposed initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs of Uttar Pradesh. Numerous rituals, prayers, and aartis are held daily at the temple.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple which is situated near Asi River is one of the sacred temples of the Hindu god Hanuman. The temple was built in the early 1900s by the educationist and Indian independence figure, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University. According to Hindu legend the temple was built on the very spot where the medieval Hindu saint Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Durga Mandir got constructed in 18th century by Bengali Maharani for the worship of Goddess Durga. The temple was built in North Indian Nagara style of architecture. The temple is painted red with ochre to match the colours of the central icon of Durga, the goddess of strength and power. Lots of elaborately carved and engraved stones can be found inside the temple.

Durga Mandir Temple