The name of the city is mentioned in Mahabharta, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagwatam and Purana which dates back 5000 years as the first city of Lord Shiva. The reverse flow of Ganges here is considered very auspicious. Varanasi's waterfront is dominated by long flights of stone steps known as ghats, where thousands of pilgrims and residents come for their daily ritual ablutions