Benares

Varanasi Essentials

Varanasi's riverfront is defined by its historic ghats, each serving distinct religious and social purposes. Dasaswamedh Ghat hosts the nightly Ganga Aarti, while Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are the primary sites for traditional Hindu cremations. The city's architectural landscape includes the 18th-century Man Singh Observatory and the distinctive red Durga Temple. Religious diversity is represented by the 17th-century Alamgir Mosque and the wooden Nepali Temple, reflecting influences from across the Indian subcontinent.