A city older than time
There are cities in the world, and then there’s Banaras — a city not just present on the map but alive and vital through each dawn break on the ghats, each chant in the air, and each step you take along its centuries-old lanes. Also referred to as Varanasi or Kashi, it is one of the world’s oldest living cities, said to be more than 3,000 years old. Statistics, however, cannot convey the city of Banaras in all its glory — a mix of sacred, historic, and just plain gorgeous.
Getting to this ancient city is surprisingly easy — thanks to the well-connected Banaras railway station, which serves as a gateway for thousands of travelers arriving from every corner of the country. The moment you step off the train, you’re greeted not just by the buzz of the station, but by an energy that feels uniquely spiritual. From there, the lanes of Banaras unfold like chapters of a timeless story.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva himself founded Banaras. Though this could be myth, it is conceded by all historians to be one of the world’s most enduringly inhabited cities. Kings and saints, pilgrims and poets — all of them have trodden its streets. From the first sermon of Gautam Buddha in the nearby town of Sarnath, through Tulsidas’s and Kabir’s poetry ringing in its alleys, Banaras has seen it all.
The Ghats and the temples of the banaras – Where Life Meets Eternity
One of the most memorable experiences in Banaras is a visit to the ghats of the River Ganga — the broad stone steps down to the river. There are more than 80 ghats, each with a history of its own and a special purpose.
The most renowned is Dashashwamedh, where a daily evening Ganga Aarti ceremony is performed. When dusk arrives, priests in saffron attire conduct a choreographed aarti (fire-offering ritual) with conch shells blowing, ringing of bells, and waving of lamps in unison. Seeing thousands of people lining the riverbank, with burning diyas bobbing in the water, is a scene that reaches down to your soul.
There are ghats for prayers, ghats for rituals, and ghats for farewells — like Manikarnika Ghat, where cremations happen 24/7. It’s a place that reminds you of the cycle of life and death, not with fear, but with a quiet acceptance. In Banaras, death is not the end — it’s just another step closer to salvation.
Wander down the narrow alleys of the old city, and discover a world unchanged for centuries. The scent of incense, sound of temple bells, and chant of “Har Har Mahadev” fills the air. Around every bend, a shrine, a small tea shop, a silk store, or a man lost in prayer awaits.
At the center of it all lies the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. It is one of India’s holiest temples and should not be missed not merely for its spiritual significance but also for the aura of energy surrounding it. You can find individuals from every walk of life here — rich or poor, young or old — all standing in queues with folded palms and hopeful eyes. And it’s not a Hindu temple alone — there are Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, and Christian sites also in Banaras. Only a few kilometres from here is Sarnath, where the first sermon of Lord Buddha was delivered after enlightenment.
The Culture: A Celebration of Life
There is more to Banaras than rituals and temples. It’s also a city of art, music, and storytelling. The Banarasi saree, with its intricate silk design, is a heritage in itself. If it’s your lucky day, you can get a glimpse of a local weaver weaving magic thread by thread.
Music flows in this city’s veins. It has produced some of the world’s greatest classical musicians, such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan. If you’re strolling through the city’s roads early in the morning, you can still catch faint notes of a shehnai or a sitar wafting from some ancient dwelling.
Banaras is known for its street food thanks, of course, to its legendary Banarasi paan. Try a kulhad (earthen cup) full of hot, froth milk in the morning, or a spiced kachori in the evening, and taste the city’s love in every mouthful.
Why You Need visit At Least Once in your lifetime
Banaras is not a destination — it’s a feeling. It’s a city that does not seek to impress with modernity or luxury. Rather, it invites you in gently, inviting you to pause, reflect, and feel. Sit on the steps of the ghat and watch the river run. Wake up before sunrise and see the city in golden light. Listen for the tales told by the boatmen and the sadhus.
Time in Banaras is a completely different experience. Hours are but a flash. And moments stretch forever.
Whether it’s spirituality, history, culture, or a sense of connection to something more, Banaras has it all. It’s a city where one comes in search of answers, in search of losing themselves, or to begin again.
You don’t necessarily have to be spiritual in order to love Banaras. You just have to be human.
Some cities are gorgeous. Some are historical. Some are holy. Banaras is all three — but a great deal more. It is India in its most unadulterated state — raw, genuine, and indelible.
Then pack your bags. Leave your hurry. Go for a boat ride in the morning, drink chai along the river, stroll aimlessly, and let Banaras tell you why it has been loved, inhabited, and worshipped for millennia. Once you’ve been to Banaras, it never really departs from your existence. It remains with you — a gentle prayer breathed into the air.