Varanasi is well connected with air /rail /road to other towns and cities of India. In addition there is also the CIHTS at Sarnath. The Banaras Hindu University, the Mahatma Gandh Kashi Vidyapeeth and the Sanskrit university. Some of the world’s renowned personalities India has produced were schooled in Varanasi. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, art, culture and Education. To every visitor the city offers a breakthrough experience. It has always attracted large number of pilgrims, devotees and visitors from time immemorial. The major shrines at Banaras are the Vishwanath temple, devoted to Shiva the lord of the universe. The most important are those that offer the diverse manifestations and attributes of Shiva. There are many temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. It’s believed that if some one dies here or at least cremated in Varanasi he she is liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. For the devout Hindu the city has always had a special place besides being a pilgrimage centre, it is considered especially auspicious to die here. Varanasi’s prominence in Hindu Mythology is virtually unrivalled. The day Shiva will stop dancing life on earth will come to an end. Like the heart continuously pumps blood and so is Varanasi where Shiva is always dancing with his “Damru” and the vibration produced due to the taping of his feet on the ground is responsible for life on earth. The city is dedicated to Lord Shiva as it is believed that Shiva lives here.įor Hindus Varanasi is like the heart of a human body. Varanasi is microcosm of Hinduism, a city of traditional, classical culture glorified by myths and legend and sacrificed by religion. It is believed that Varanasi is the original ground created by Shiva and Parvathi upon which they stood at the beginning of time. Mark Twain an English writer said “Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition and even older than the legend it looks twice as old as all of them put together. It’s situated on the western bank of the Ganges and in the north flows the Varuna and Assi in the south thus giving the name to the city VARANASI. Varanasi or Kashi or Banaras is one of the oldest living cities of the world.Varanasi is the official or the modern name while the pilgrims call it Kashi and tourist call it as Banaras or Banaras.