Varanasi is located in the Uttar Pradesh state, on the most sacred river of
India, Ganges, and it's considered the most sacred place for Hindus. It has a
population of over 1 million. Varanasi is also known and Banaras or Benares.
Pilgrims refer to it as Kash, as it was called thousands of years ago to
describe the kingdom and the city outside which the Buddha preached his first
sermon. Varanasi is also called Kashika, "where the supreme light shines",
referring to the light of Shiva.
The city's unique culture revolves around the holy river Ganges. Legends say
that the waters of Ganges have come from heaven to wash away the sins and
sufferings. Thousands of pilgrims come every day to immerse in the river. The
land in Banaras is also considered holy as Shiva is believed to have lived
there. There are thousands of temples dedicated to different deities. Banaras
has always been of the most visited holy places in the world.
