Varanasi
- Founded by Lord Shiva, Varanasi is known as city of enlightenment.
Situated on western banks of Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, it is one of the
most important pilgrimage sites and also has been a great center of
learning from thousand of years. Also known as Kashi and Banaras, the
city has one of the Jyotirlinga's installed here. Considered as the
holiest city by Hindus, the city is a pulsating commercial, religious
and education center. Varanasi is world renowned for Paan and Silk
sarees. Thousand of tourists flock together to envisage the calmness and
solace this city offers. This city is known as the oldest living city in
the world.
Founded by Hindu deity, Shiva, Varanasi, the land of temples is
believed to be 3000 years old. Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom
of Kashi during the reign of Gautama Buddha. Many of the Hindu temples
were destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni and Mohammed Ghori. The destruction
of temples slowed down during the time of Akbar but again regained
momentum in Aurangzeb's regime. He renamed the city as Mohammadabad. In
year 1910, Varanasi was announced as a new Indian state. After
Independence this city became a part of Indian state, Uttar Pradesh.
Varanasi is a land of temples. Bharat Mata Mandir is one of the most
famous temples not dedicated to any deity but to Mother India. The
temple does not have any idol, it has a relief map of India made in
marble. The Kashi Vishwanath Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva is the prime
attraction of Kashi. The temple houses one of the twelve Jyotirlinga's.
The city also has a temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, dedicated to the great
writer, Tulsi Das who wrote great Hindu epic Ram Charita Manas in Hindi.
Durga Mandir, built by a Bengali Queen is yet another famous shrine of
Varanasi. The city also has a fort, Ramnagar fort, the private residence
of Raja of Banaras. Ramnagar Fort Museum is a must visit destination for
every tourist. The city is also a home to biggest residential university
of Asia, Banaras Hindu University.
Air - All major national and international airlines connects
Varanasi to the rest of the India and the world.
Railway - Varanasi is a major railhead and links it to various
major cities of India.
Road - Varanasi has a large number of roads. Both private and
government buses ply between Varanasi and other cities.
