One of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities, Varanasi
has seen human settlement as far back as the 11th century BC. The
city is one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. Countless pilgrims
come here to bathe in the Ganges and wash away sin, or simply to
die, hoping for nirvana in the afterlife.
The 'city of light' is an intense mix of colour, sights, sounds
and smells. Among many astonighing sights are the more than 100
ghats (literally 'steps') leading down into the Ganges. These are
the sites of bathing and burning, where intimate rituals of life
and death can be witnessed in public. Manikarnika Ghat is the most
auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Visitors can watch
quietly, from a respectful distance, with strictly no
photography.
Dasaswamedh Ghat (the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses') is the
liveliest and most colourful ghat, where every evening visitors can
witness the ganga aarti (river worship) ceremony. It is also a good
place to arrange a dawn boat trip, to watch the beauty of Varanasi
manifest at the sun rises over the city. Assi Ghat, where the river
Assi meets the Ganges, is an important site of worship for pilgrims
who come to pay homage to a phallic image of Shiva beneath a peepul
tree. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight
being the Golden Temple, with its resplendent towers.
Varanasi is world-famous for its silks, and silk brocades, and
does a roaring trade with pilgrims and tourists alike. The city is
home to many poets, musicians, novelists and philosophers. Visitors
are strongly encouraged to spend some time in the city's tea-houses
and local restaurants, where they are guaranteed to be embroiled in
some fascinating conversations.
