Varanasi is a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The district headquarters are situated at Varanasi City. It comes under the Varanasi division. It is situated on the banks of the River Ganga. It is also referred to as Benares or Benaras. It is 320 kilometers southeast of Lucknow. It holds religious importance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is the oldest city in India and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The chief cultural patron of Varanasi is Kashi Naresh. It is an essential part of all the religious celebrations. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for several thousand years. A gharana in the Indian Classical music called the Benares Gharana originated from this city. This land has been a home to many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians over the years. Near Varanasi, there is a place called Sarnath. Gautam Buddha took his first sermon at that place. People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning", and "the oldest living city on planet earth. Hindi and Urdu are the major languages spoken in the city.

Varanasi History

Varanasi became an independent Kingdom of Kashi in the eighteenth century. After that, it came into the hands of the British. But it continued to remain a commercial and religious centre. Muhammad of Ghori invaded Varanasi and caused a lot of chaos. He killed people at large and looted their property. In 1910, Ramnagar was made the district headquarters but with no jurisdiction over the city of Varanasi itself. Kashi Naresh still resides in the fort of Ramanagar. Across the River Ganga, to the east of Varanasi lies the Ramanagar Fort of Kashi Naresh. It was built by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh in the 18th century with cream colored sandstone. The Fort is resembles the Mughal type of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. The Chet Singh Palace, near Shivala Ghat is another Fort of Kashi Naresh. It was built by Maharaja Chet Singh.

The museum inside the Ramnagar Fort as well as the Fort itself has preserved the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of Kashi Naresh. The people of Banaras still respect Kashi Naresh. He is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is the religious head. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations. During the early stages of the rebellion of 1857, the British killed people in large numbers.

Varanasi Climate

It has a humid subtropical type of climate. The summer and winter temperatures show great demarcation. Summer season is the longest and lasts from April to September. Though monsoons hit the place by June, the temperature still remains high. The temperature ranges between 22 C - 46 C in the summers. Winters usually have warm days and cold nights. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February and temperatures below 5 C are not uncommon. Hot winds called Loo blow during the summers while fog is prevalent in winters. The water level of the River Ganga has gone down considerably due to water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature. Small islands can also be seen in the middle of the river.

Varanasi Culture

The city of Varanasi has a large number of temples. Small stores are also found in every nook and corner of the city. It has a rich cultural heritage. It is also a favourite tourist spot. The main residential areas of Varanasi are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more spacious and less polluted.

Varanasi Tourism

Tourist places in Varanasi
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Banaras Hindu University
Kashi Vidya Peeth
River Front (Ghats)
Durga Temple Godess Durga
Tulsi Manas Temple
New Vishwanath Temple
Alamgir Mosque
Bharat Mata Temple
Sarnath
Ramnagar
Vindhyachal
Chunar Fort
Kaushambi
Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary
Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary
Jaunpur
Other Tourist Places
Chandra Prabha
Rajdari-Devdari
Lakhaniya Dari
Jargo Dam 
Chunar Fort 
Sidhaya Nath Dari
Vindham Fall
Vindhyachal, Ashtabhuji, Kalikhoh 
Markandaey Mahadeva Ji, Kaithi
Latifshah Dargah 
Dargah Kasim Suleman 
Dargah Kanti Sharif