About Varanasi
- Varanasi—also known as Benaras or Kashi—is among the oldest living cities in the world, a city where time seems to stand still amid the swirl of devotion, ritual, and ancient tradition. Revered in Hindu mythology and long celebrated for its spiritual aura, Varanasi has inspired countless poets, philosophers, and seekers.
- Mark Twain, deeply moved by its mystique, famously wrote: “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
- For Hindus, Varanasi is the ultimate pilgrimage destination, a place where dying is believed to grant moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. As the sacred abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the city's origins are steeped in myth and mystery. The Ganges River, which flows through Varanasi, is believed to have sprung from the locks of Lord Shiva himself.
- With over 3,000 years of continuous habitation, Varanasi has been a thriving center of learning, philosophy, and culture. Just 10 kilometers away lies Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, making the region sacred for Buddhists as well.
- Varanasi is also significant to Jains, being the birthplace of Parsvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara. The city has harmoniously hosted multiple spiritual traditions, including Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Jainism.
- It was here that Mrs. Annie Besant founded the Theosophical Society, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya established the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), one of Asia’s largest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
- Varanasi is also known as the cradle of Ayurveda and Yoga, with Maharshi Patanjali, the great sage of these sciences, believed to have lived here.
- As the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has nurtured the arts, music, literature, and spiritual thought for centuries. It was home to saint-poet Tulsidas, who authored the Ramcharitmanas, and celebrated writer Munshi Premchand. The city has also produced legendary artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar, the world-renowned sitarist, and Ustad Bismillah Khan, the maestro of the shehnai.
- Famed for its fine silk weaving, gold and silver brocades, and bustling trade since ancient times, Varanasi remains a place where faith, tradition, and artistry intertwine seamlessly.
- With its ghats, temples, rituals, and timeless spirit, Varanasi is not merely a city—it is a living embodiment of India's spiritual and cultural soul.
