The Holy City of Varanasi

Both Hindus and non-Hindus from around the world visit Varanasi for different reasons. Popularly called the city of Shiva and Ganga, Varanasi is simultaneously the city of temples, the city of ghats, the city of music, and the center for moksha, or nirvana.

For every visitor, Varanasi has a different experience to offer. The gentle waters of the Ganges, the boat ride at sunrise, the high banks of the ancient ghats, the array of shrines, the meandering narrow serpentine alleys of the city, the myriad temple spires, the palaces at water’s edge, the ashrams (hermitages), the pavilions, the chanting of mantras, the fragrance of incense, the palm and cane parasols, the devotional hymn—all offer a kind of mystifying experience that is unique to the city of Shiva.