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For thousands of years, very little has changed in Varanasi: temples and palaces still tower over the narrow riverbank streets and the Hindu devotees line the ghats (a series of steps) that lead to the Ganga (Ganges) River where they cremate their dead or take the penitential bath with the ardent hope that the sacred waters will cleanse them of their sins. Walking around, tourists will be struck by an unmistakable aura of mysticism and spirituality that is likely to linger even after leaving the place. If it is a special day, tens of thousands chanting Male devotees walk around with only paint to cover their bodies and women wear vibrant sari and brass jewelry. No doubt, Varanasi is the heart of Hindu culture and religion.
Located in the country's northern region, this spiritual capital is known by many names such as Kashi and Benares. The name Varanasi, however, comes from the two neighboring rivers that meet in the Ganges: Varuna in the north and Assi, found south. This holy city is a pilgrimage site, especially to the followers of the destroyer-god Shiva and to the Hindu people in general, similar to the Mecca of the Moslems.
The Hindus not only consider the Ganga as a hallowed place to bathe in, but also as a favorable place to die, as it is said to bestow moksha (freedom from rebirth and suffering). In Manikarnika's ghats, funeral pyres of devotees are open for the public to see. As the "city of temples," it has a large collection of Hindu temples such as the Vishwanath (the town's most popular), Durga (where non-Hindus can reach only up to the courtyard), and the Bharat Mata (which takes pride on its marble map of India). Varanasi is also famous as the home of a great educational institution, the Benares Hindu University, a center of information on Indian religion, culture, art, and philosophy. The only downside to this otherwise beautiful location is the perennial problem of filth, smoke and dust.