Varanasi

Varanasi also Benares, Banaras or Kashi is a city on the banks of the Ganges (Ganga) in Uttar Pradesh in India. It is holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism. Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the Ganges. The city has been a cultural center of North India for several thousand years, and has a history that is older than most of the major world religions. The Benares Gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi. Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India. Scholarly books have been written in the city, including the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas. One of the largest residential universities of Asia, the Banaras Hindu University is located here. Varanasi is often referred to as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning", and "the oldest living city on earth." It is also famous for manufacturing sarees worn by Indian woman. Photo: Subhendu Sarkar/NurPhoto

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Photo Details

Photo ID	#4696
Date Taken	10 June 2013
Location	N/A
Photographer	Subhendu Sarkar/NurPhoto
Category	N/A
Copyright	© 2025 NurPhoto - Subhendu Sarkar/NurPhoto

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