Uttar Pradesh · North
VaranasiVārāṇasī
Ancient city on the Ganga, home to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga
- Principal temple
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath TempleVishwanath / Vishveshwara (Shiva)
- Best time to visit
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), Babatpur, ~25 km from the city centre
- Nearest railway station
- Varanasi Junction (BSB); also Banaras (BSBS) and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU), ~16 km
- Tradition
- Śaiva
Overview
Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is an ancient city on the Ganga and one of the seven holy cities that Hindu tradition holds can grant moksha. Scripture associates its founding with Shiva, and pilgrims bathe at its riverside ghats, while Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats serve as cremation grounds. Its best-known shrine is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, linked to the ghats since 2021 by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
See sources [1–8]- Vishwanath / Vishveshwara (Shiva)
