Cities & Towns Uttar Pradesh Varanasi City At a glance

Varanasi City Facts

The religious and spiritual city, Varanasi alias Benaras, situated on the west bank of the sacred river, derives its name from the name from two streams, the Varuna on the north side of the city and the Assi, a small trickled on the south. Originally known as Kashi (in Sanskrit ‘kas’ meaning light), this sacred city is said to combine all the virtues of all other places of pilgrimage. It is believed that anyone dying within the area marked by the Panch Kosi road is transported straight to heaven. The city dotted with numerous Ashrams, Ghats, Stupas, Hindu and Jain Temples is visited by thousands of devotees every year. Innumerous rituals and religious activities take place at the river fronts of this pilgrimage centre and people often refer Varanasi as 'the city of temples', 'the holy city of India', 'the religious capital of India', 'the city of lights', and 'the city of learning'. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of arts, music, dance, handicrafts, jari work, precious Banarasi silk sarees and silk brocades. The city is a centre of education and is the home to four universities namely Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.