Varanasi

Varanasi—also known as Kashi and Banaras—is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the spiritual heart of India. Situated on the crescent-shaped western bank of the Ganga River, its origins stretch back several thousand years. Ancient scriptures like the Rigveda, Mahabharata, and Puranas praise Kashi as a city founded by Lord Shiva, making it a supreme center of Hindu devotion.

By the 6th century BCE, Varanasi was a thriving hub of trade, textiles, learning, and philosophy. The Buddha delivered his early teachings nearby at Sarnath, further linking the region to Buddhism. Over centuries, the city flourished under various empires—the Mauryas, Guptas, Mughals, and later local Rajput rulers—becoming a celebrated center of Sanskrit scholarship, music, art, and spiritual traditions.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Shiva, has been rebuilt multiple times due to invasions, especially during medieval conflicts. In the 18th century, Ahilyabai Holkar restored the temple, and in 2021 the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor transformed the sacred complex.

Under British rule, Banaras became a princely state ruled by the Kashi Naresh. After Independence, it grew into a major cultural and educational centre, home to institutions like BHU.

Today, Varanasi remains a timeless city of ghats, temples, music, and moksha-seeking pilgrims—where spirituality and ancient heritage live side by side.