Varanasi (Benares)
The ghats of Varanasi along the sacred Ganges River. Photo by Tara.
Bathing in the sacred waters is believed to help prevent reincarnation.
Photo by Tomas Cunzolo.
Varansi cityscape. Photo: Rana Banerjee.
Interactive atellite map of Varanasi on the Ganges. For a larger view,
see our Interactive India Map or Google Earth download.
Varanasi (also known as Benares, Banaras, Kashi and Kasi) is a Hindu holy city on the banks of the Ganges River in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The modern name Varanasi is derived from the twin tributaries of Ganga Varuna and Asi on whose shores the city stands. Just 12 km from Varanasi is Sarnath, an important Buddhist sacred site.
Varanasi has a unique culture, quite different from other places in the region, and it is one of the major cultural centres of northern India.
Varanasi is the site of the holy shrine of Lord Kasi Viswanatha (a form of Lord Shiva) and is one of the revered 12 Jyotirlingas of the Lord.
Along with its positional advantage of being on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, this has given Varanasi a place at the forefront of the Hindu religion. Varanasi is considered the most sacred place for all Hindus, irrespective of denomination.
Hindus have long believed that bathing in the Ganges or dying in the holy city of Varanasi circumvents reincarnation and hence provides a permanent place in the Swarg (Heaven). This belief that has encouraged the establishment of innumerable nearby geriatric homes and also the disposal of half-burnt corpses into the river.
This latter practice continues to cause great damage to the river's ecology, but the ministry of water resources has finally taken up the restoration of the Ganga by banning cremation on the city's ghats (ghats are the banks of a holy river, stepped to facilitate bathing).
- Varanasi: Holy City of India
- Complete Guide to Varanasi - Frommer's Online
- Varanasi Tourism - TripAdvisor
- Varanasi Online
- The Holy City Varanasi
