In this article, we provide comprehensive information about the geography, history, population, and top tourist destinations of Varanasi . Varanasi, also known as Banaras or Kashi, is one of the oldest and most revered cities in India, with a rich history dating back over 3,000 years. Located on the banks of the River Ganges in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is considered the spiritual capital of India.
| About City: | Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city’s winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Varanasi is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Known in ancient times as Kashi, it was linked to a kingdom of the same name that existed around 2,500 years ago. The Lion capital of Ashoka, located nearby in Sarnath, is believed to commemorate the Buddha’s first sermon delivered there in the fifth century BCE. In the 8th century, Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as the official sect in Varanasi. Tulsidas composed his epic, the Ramcharitmanas, in the Awadhi language, which is a reimagining of the Sanskrit Ramayana, while residing in Varanasi. The city is also the birthplace of several prominent figures from the Bhakti movement, including Kabir and Ravidas. During the 16th century, Rajput nobles serving the Mughal emperor Akbar contributed to the construction and enhancement of the major Shiva temple in the city, along with other temples that showcased a unified architectural style across the empire. In 1740, the Banaras State, a zamindari estate, was established in Varanasi. The East India Company acquired Benares in 1775 under the Treaty of Faizabad. Subsequently, the city was annexed into the Benares Division of the Ceded and Conquered Provinces in 1805, the North-Western Provinces in 1836, the United Provinces in 1902, and finally became part of Uttar Pradesh after India’s independence in 1950. The city has a rich history as an educational and musical hub, having been home to many notable Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians. It is also where the Benares gharana style of Hindustani classical music originated. In the 20th century, the renowned Hindi-Urdu writer Premchand and the celebrated shehnai player Bismillah Khan were closely associated with Varanasi. The Benares Sanskrit College, India’s oldest Sanskrit institution, was established by Jonathan Duncan, a resident of the East India Company, in 1791. The rise of Indian nationalism in the late 19th century significantly influenced education in Benares, leading to the founding of the Central Hindu College by Annie Besant in 1898. In 1916, she, along with Madan Mohan Malviya, established the Banaras Hindu University. |
| Geography: | Varanasi is situated at an elevation of 80.71 meters (264.8 feet) in the heart of the Ganges valley in North India, specifically in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganges River, which ranges from 15 meters (50 feet) to 21 meters (70 feet) above the water level. The city serves as the administrative center of Varanasi district. In terms of road distance, Varanasi is located 797 kilometers (495 miles) southeast of New Delhi, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Lucknow, 121 kilometers (75 miles) east of Prayagraj, and 63 kilometers (39 miles) south of Jaunpur. The “Varanasi Urban Agglomeration,” which consists of seven urban sub-units, spans an area of 112 square kilometers (43 square miles). Some of the neighborhoods in the city include Adampura, Anandbagh, Bachchhaon, Bangali Tola, Bhelpura, Bulanala, Chaitganj, Chaukaghat, Chowk, Dhupchandi, Dumraon, Gandhinagar, Gautam Nagar, Giri Nagar, Gopal Vihar, Guru Nanak Nagar, Jaitpura, Kail Garh, Khanna, Kotwali, Lanka Manduadih, Luxa, Maheshpur, Mahmoorganj, Maulvibagh, Nagwar, Naipokhari, Shivala, Siddhagiribagh, and Sigra. |
| Country : | India |
| State: | Uttar Pradesh |
| District: | Varanasi |
| Population: | 1,212,610 (Metropolis) |
| Language: | • Official: Hindi • Additional official: Urdu • Regional: Bhojpuri |
| Literacy rate: | 80.31% (2011 Census) |
| Major Attractions to Visit: | Dashashwamedh Ghat Manikarnika Ghat Panchganga Ghat Assi Ghat Shivala Ghat Tulsi Manas Temple Nepali Museum Ganga River Vindham Waterfalls Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum Gyan Vapi Well |
