Varanasi was once contemporary to the Babylon in Mesopotamia (3rd millennium BC). While most of the civilizations of that period have been lost into oblivion, Varanasi is still bustling with life, which earns for it the epithet the oldest living city.

Since times immemorial, Varanasi has been the seat of Hinduism. The city is often said to have embodied the soul of Indian civilization. Crumbling old temples, the life giving river Ganges, teeming with austere Hindu monks clad in saffron lend an aura of sanctity to the land.

Important tourist attractions in Varanasi are:

Temples: Temples are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Varanasi. Most of the temples are located in the old city along the lanes and the lanes and by lanes. The most famous one is the temple of Kashi Vishwanatha, where Lord Shiva is the presiding deity. Catch up an evening aarti in the temple.

Ghats along the Ganges: The River Ganges is part and parcel of the sacred city. The riverbank is punctuated with huge pavilions made of series of concrete steps going down right into the water body of the river. These are called the Ghats, which are major tourist attractions in Varanasi. Dashashwamedha Ghat, Asi, Barnasangam, Panchganga and Manikarnika are some notable Ghats in Varanasi. Several legends go into their makings. Take a boat ride in the early morning along the river to watch hordes of people come to take a dip in the river in the morning and worship the rising sun.

Sarnath: Close to Varanasi, lies Sarnath where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Ashoka the great later erected a stupa here. Several other Buddhist monuments were set up in Sarnath later. The remnants today lie in a serene ambience. Festival of Buddha Purnima is celebrated here with much fanfare.


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