Varanasi City – History, Culture, Temple & Ghat

Varanasi also known as Banaras and Kashi is one of the most beautiful religious and cultural cities in India. Located in Purvanchal in Uttar Pradesh, the city is known for. If you are passionate about traveling and want to know more about India, you must visit Varanasi once in your lifetime. You will see the beauty of Indian culture, especially Hinduism when you visit Varanasi city. A glimpse of the Ganga River and the famous Ganga ghat will give you inner peace and satisfaction. At the end of this article, you will know much more about Varanasi city, its history, culture, and much more. 

Religious City in India

Varanasi is also the hometown of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan who lives their life on the bank of the Ganga River. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of the renowned universities in India nurturing students from spirituality, and culture to science and technology. If we talk about Varanasi & BHU, We cannot forget the contribution of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in the field of education.

Varanasi is located between Varuna and Assi, so this place is named Varanasi. The city’s inner roads are narrow, winding, and inaccessible to motor traffic; More new outer suburbs have been set up wider and more systematically.

Varanasi – A Religious City

Panchakoshi – Varanasi

The holy city is bounded by a street known as Panchkoshi; Devout Hindus hope to walk this road and visit this city once in a lifetime and if possible die there in old age.

History of Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the oldest uninterrupted populated cities in the world.  Its early history is the first Aryan settlement in the Central Ganges Valley. Varanasi was a seat of Aryan religion and philosophy in the 2nd millennium BC and was a commercial and industrial center famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory compositions, and sculptures.

Varanasi was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi in the time of Buddha (6th century BC), who delivered his first sermon to Sarnath.

The three-century Muslim occupation of Varanasi was later scrapped, beginning in 1194. Several Hindu temples in the Muslim city were destroyed during the Muslim rule, and educated scholars fled to other parts of the country.  In the 16th century, the Mughal emperor Akbar brought some relief to the religious and cultural activities of the city.

The reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb took another push in the late seventeenth century, but later the Marathas sponsored a new revival. Varanasi became a separate state in the 18th century and later remained a commercial and religious center under British rule.

Culture & Tradition – Varanasi

The art and culture of Varanasi are unique. The combination of archeology, mythology, geography, art, has made Varanasi a great center of Indian culture.  Although Varanasi is mainly associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, Varanasi has many religious beliefs, types of worship, and glimpses of religious institutions. Primitive worship in Varanasi is astonishing to see the prevalence of religion.

A complete museum of Indian art and culture has been presented at Varanasi. One can feel the patterns and movements that have changed throughout. It has a rich and unique style of art form and folk art. 

Varanasi presents a unique social and cultural fabric. Cultural and linguistic pluralism and different ethnic groups are so eternal to the holy city of Varanasi.  In Varanasi, one can visit the city of rich, intellectual, oral traditions, caste and customs, personality, profession, and communal harmony.

Over the centuries, Varanasi has produced master craftsmen and has earned a name and reputation for its beautiful sari, handicrafts, textiles, toys, ornaments, metallurgy, clay and woodwork, and other crafts.

Famous Temple in Varanasi | Varanasi Temple

Varanasi is known for its religious importance. The site receives more than one million pilgrims each year.  Also, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists flock to this city every year and tourism-related activities serve as a significant component of the local economy. 

There are around 23000 temples estimated in Varanasi. The Kashi Visvanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, and Durga Mata Temple are some famous temples. The famous temple in Varanasi is listed here.

1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
2. Shankat Mochan Temple
3. Manas Mandir
4. Bharat Mata Mandir
5. Kanaka Durga Mandir
6. Sankata Devi Mandir
7. Annapurna Devi Mandir
8. Lalita Devi Temple

 Know more about the Famous Temple of Varanasi. Visit here:- Famous Temple in Varanasi

Famous Places in Varanasi | Varanasi Tourism Place

For a middle-aged man living in India, visiting Varanasi at some point in his life is almost a given thing. The floor of this place has a history and religious significance as well as the architecture and art that have perpetuated its past.  Recognized as one of the holiest cities in India, it has a lot of temples and ghats that host useless lines from all over the country. Of course, it only goes through the Ganges River Varanasi.

• Ramnagar Fort
• Chunar Fort
• Alamgir Mosque

 Know more about Famous Forts in Varanasi. Visit Here:- Forts in Varanasi.

Ghats of Varanasi | Ganga Ghat Varanasi

Varanasi is located at the bank of the river Ganga, The city has a few miles of ghats or steps for religious baths with the best riverfront in India. Thus, also famous for Ganga ghat. There are around 87 ghats in Varanasi. People visit these ghats for puja, aarti, ritual, entertainment, and peace.  An arrangement of temples, shrines, and palaces rises from the edge of the water to the top of the pillar.

Ghat in Varanasi

Here is the List of Ghats in Varanasi –

1. Assi Ghat
2. Chet Singh Ghat
3. Darbhanga Ghat
4. Dashaswamedh Ghat
5. Man Mandir Ghat
6. Manikarnika Ghat
7. Scindia Ghat
8. Bhonsale Ghat
9. Panchaganga Ghat
10. Ahilyabai Ghat
11. Harishchandra Ghat

People from different parts of India and across the world visit Varanasi and perform the last rituals for their ancestors. There is a belief in Sanatan Dharma that people who die in Kashi will go to heaven.

Know more about Famous Ganga Ghat in Varanasi. Visit here:- Famous Ghats in Varanasi.

Fairs & Festivals in Varanasi

The people of Varanasi celebrate fairs and festivals in their own way. Dev Diwali, and Holi Rangabhari Ekadashi, are some of the common festivals celebrated in Varanasi. 

On the 15th day of Diwali, people celebrate the festival by lighting hundreds of Diyas around their homes. The Ganga river ghats are decorated with lamps and people will float on the banks of the river. 

Some communities of Hindus started celebrating Holi from Rangbhari Ekadashi.  Rangavari is the lineage of Lord Brahma, who can wash away human sins from the soul. According to legend, after killing King Ravana, Lord Rama worshiped Rangvari to wash away his sins.

The Holi of Banaras is also obstinate according to the mood of Banaras. The only city in the world where apart from Abir, Gulal, there is a Holi of pyre in the blazing pyres. From the ghat to the streets, the hue and cry of Holi are unique. 

Padmavibhushan Pt. Channulal Mishra says that the Holi of Kashi, the city of Mahadev, is similar to that of Shiva. He hums that 

Khele Masane Mein Holi Digambar, Khele Masane Mein Holi,

Bhoot Vampire Batori Digambar Khele Masane Me Holi

Know more about the famous festivals in Varanasi. Visit Here:- Famous Festivals in Varanasi. 

Famous Food in Varanasi

1. Kachori Sabji
2. Chhena Dahi Vada
3. Bati Chhokha or Litti Chhokha
4. Choora Matar
5. Dahi Chatan Golgappe
6. Tamatar Chat
7. Banarasi Thandai or Lassi
8. Banarasi Paan

Green peas, raisins, and saffron cooked with spices soaked in chapter rice soaked in desi ghee, Choora Matar Varanasi has breakfast and dinner time in the evening. Baati Chokha, a favorite delicacy of Bihar, also makes a delicious street snack in Varanasi. Stuffed whole wheat flour balls are filled with roasted lamb pulses and spices. Makhan Malaiyyo or Nimish is a popular winter street sweet in Varanasi.  Influenced by Persian cuisine, Malaya is also made by gently churning milk to create a creamy texture. Banarasi Thandai is famous all over India for its fresh taste and sense of celebration.

Know more about famous food in Varanasi. Visit here:- Famous Food in Varanasi.

Government Approach to Rebuild Kashi

The current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi shared details of the many projects he would inaugurate there and reiterated that his government’s vision is to build quality infrastructure in the holy city for the next generation. He is working on the concept to drive the ancient Indian Culture and Traditional practices again for the current and next generations.

Various development projects are going on in this religious city. These projects would make the ancient name of Kashi, Varanasi, and the life of people in the east easier. He also added, “I am happy to inaugurate a conference center Rudraksha in Varanasi. This state-of-the-art center, built with the help of Japan, will make Varanasi an attractive conference venue to attract more tourists and businessmen to the city.”

How many ghats are in Varanasi?

There are around 87 ghats located on the bank of the river Ganga.