Travel Guide Varanasi

An essential stopover on any trip to India, Varanasi, "the city between two rivers", the Varuna and the Assi, is also known as Kashi (City of Light) or Benares. Of the country's seven holy cities, it is the most sacred. According to legend, the city was founded by Shiva. Every year, it welcomes millions of pilgrims and Hindus in the twilight of their lives who come here to die: their ashes are immersed in the Ganges. In this way, they gain direct access to nirvana and escape the cycle of reincarnation. Varanasi is said to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Archaeological research has found traces of an urban settlement dating back to the 7th century B.C. This city is undoubtedly one of the most enchanting in the country. The traffic in the old town's maze of alleyways is sometimes chaotic, with pedestrians, two-wheelers and cows. Suddenly, as you make your way along the ghats, your field of vision widens to make way for another spectacle of life. Pilgrims perform their ablutions in the river. Women wash their clothes and leave sheets and saris to dry on the steps. Children unwind their kite strings. Sadhus meditate. And the corpses of the dead burn under heavy wooden pyres for hours on end. Varanasi is also an important center for Sanskrit studies and silk manufacturing. Plan to spend several days in Varanasi. While there are few points of interest to visit in the strict sense of the word, you can't help but succumb to the enchanting charm of the old town or the spectacular Hindu rituals.