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"Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".
- Mark Twain, English author and literate
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Varanasi, known to the devout as Kashi, is said to have been founded by Shiva, Lord of the Universe. It is the oldest living city in the world, as also one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. Varanasi is a major tourist attraction. Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, the city has been a major centre of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years.
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River Front (Ghats)
Varanasi's principal attraction is the long string of ghats, which line the west bank of the Ganges. Ghats are the steps which lead down to the river. There are around 100 ghats in Varanasi, each with its own significance. The spectacular 4 km sweep of the Ghats is unique sight, best viewed at dawn, in that "soft first light" when the river and Ghats have a timeless appeal. Life is almost panoramic detail unfolds here from dawn to dusk as a steady stream of devotees-swelling to thousands on auspicious days
-perform rituals by the Ganga.
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Durga Temple
commonly known as the Monkey Temple, was built in the 18th century by a Bengali Maharani, and is stained red with ochre.
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Ramnagar Fort & Museum
The residence of Kashi Naresh (Former Maharaja of Varanasi) across the Ganga at Ramnagar houses a museum comprising exhibits like palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres etc.
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Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir
Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord shiva, the presiding deity of the city. More than the Ghats and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi.
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Sarnath
10 km. from Varanasi is the site where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology,
'turned the wheel of the law' ) after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century A.D Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and near it erected a pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adorsed Lions, which today forms the national emblem of India.
Among other structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple representing the Mula- gandha kuti, ruins of stupas and monasteries. Among the more imposing ones is the Dhamekh Stupa, adorned with delicate floral carvings in the lower part, the Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society's Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple. Sarnath has also yielded an extremely rich collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images which can be seen at Archaeological Museum, Sarnath.
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