
World famous Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by
the name of Kashi and Benaras. Varanasi is the most popular
pilgrimage point for the Hindus.In Hinduism it is believed that
those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to
liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.
Considered as the abode of Lord Shiva, Varanasi is situated on the
banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of
washing away all of one's sins. As pundits here will tell you,
whatever is sacrificed and chanted here or given in charity reaps
its fruits thousand times more than those good deeds performed at
other places because of the power of that place. It is believed
that three nights of fasting in Varanasi city can reap you rewards
of many thousands of lifetimes of asceticism!
Varanasi is the oldest city of the world. Varanasi is more than
3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. In Varanasi,
there are temples at every few paces. . Jyotirlinga Visvanatha
Temple or Golden Temple, rebuilt in 1776, is dedicated to Lord
Shiva. The Jnana Vapi well (meaning 'Well of Wisdom) is believed
to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that the
majestic Alamgir mosque has replaced one of the most ancient
shrines known as the temple of Bindu Madhava. The thirty-three
hundred million shrines fill one with awe and wonder with sheer
numbers.
The Ganga Ghats (river front) are the most popular pilgrimage spot
of Varanasi and are centers of music and learning. There is a
great tradition of Yatras in the holy city of Kashi and the most
sacred path is that of Panchkoshi Parikrama, the fifty-mile path
with a radius of five miles that cover 108 shrines along the way,
with Panchakoshi Temple as its main shrine.




