Varanasi (Kashi)

The religious capital of India

VARANASI IS KNOWN AS.. "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning" "culture capital of India"

Geography of Varanasi District

Situated in Uttar Pradesh on the left (west) bank of river Ganga Geographical Area( 2011) in Sq. Km. : 1550 Population(2011) : 31.3867 Lakhs Literacy (2011) in Lakhs :
Total:16.9440 Male: 10.5061 Female: 6.4379

Temperature(2010-11) in Celsius
Max: 47 Min: 4.5

Location

Facts about Kashi

Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000 years old. Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas here. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath 12km from Kashi. Ayurveda is said to have originated at Varanasi. Patanjali wrote his seminal works in Kashi in 2nd century AD. Adi Shankaracharya was here in 8th century AD when he revived the Hindu religion.

Why is Kashi a tirtha?

Kashi is regarded as the dwelling place of Lord Shiva and Parvati on earth . There are several shrines of Lord Shiva (shivalinga) along the Ghats. The main temple of Kashi known as Vishwanath temple is the main Shiva shrine. This jyotirlingam is swayambhu (self manifest lingam). Of the 12 jyotirlingam shrines in India the one is Kashi is believed to be the first one to manifest. It is believed that bathing in the holy river Ganga along the Kashi Ghats will wash away all our sins. Dying in Kashi is considered pious. The traditional belief is that the person is liberated from continuous cycle of rebirth and attains nirvana.

Ghats of Kashi - Highlights

The ghats lie more than six kilometers along the western bank of the river stretching in a semicircle. Altogether there are 80 ghats in Kashi. The southernmost ghat is Assi Ghat and the northernmost is Adi Keshava Ghat before Malaviya Bridge. More than 10,00,000 pilgrims visit the ghats each year. One of the most popular yatras the Panchtirthi Yatra takes pilgrims to the 5 most sacred ghats Asi, Kedar, Dasaswamedha, Panchganga and Manikarnika.

Kashi Ghats

Dasaswamedh Ghat
(Preparation for Ganga Arati)

Dasaswamedh Ghat
(Ganga Arati)

Dasaswamedh Ghat
(Ganga Arati)

Kashi Ghats

Nepali Ghat

Kashi Ghats
(Morning on the Ganges)

Kashi Ghats
(Early morning ride)

Kashi Ghats
(Enjoying the boat ride)

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Kashi Ghats

Wood for Cremation

Vishwanath Temple
The Vishwanath temple was first built about 1000 years ago. It was destroyed in the 12th century when much of the city was ravaged and mosques replaced temples. Rebuilt in 16th century, it was again torn down by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. In 1777, Indores Queen Ahilya Bai built the present structure. In 1835, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (of Punjab) gold plated the roof with 750 kilograms of gold. The Gyan Vapi Mosque of Aurangzeb (next to the temple) bears evidence in its foundation and rear columns of the original temple.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Bazaar near Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Bazaar near Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Milk ready to be sold

Lassi ready to be sold

What else is in Varanasi

Varanasi is the main center of Sanskrit learning in North India. Banaras Hindu University, one of the countrys oldest and most renowned institution or learning has a unique collection of old manuscripts from Hindu scriptures. Banaras silk saris are famous all over India for the quality and design. Marigold flowers are famous from Varanasi and widely used for Puja. Banarasi Paan (betel leaves) are famous all over India. Banaras is also known for classical music, some of the great musicians like Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar are from Banaras.

Marigold flowers with the seller

Banaras Silk Sarees

Banarasi Paan (Betel Leaves)

Kashi offers a glimpse of all the four endeavors of human life:

Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha