Varanasi

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The great city of Varanasi, also known as Banaras, glows golden in the early morning Sun. Varanasi derived its present name from the two rivers Varuna and Asi. Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, Varanasi has been a center of learning and civilization for over 2000 years.

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The city was originally called Kashi or the city of lights. It is also said to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. There are supposed to be 2000 temples in the city and is believed that very first Jyotirling came through the earth here which is known as Kashivishwanath.

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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

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ghats remain the single major attraction of Varanasi. There are 81 bathing ghats and other holy kunds (sacred tanks) along the river Ganges out of which three are the most important ghats namely Manikanika, Dasaswamedha and panch ganga. It is believed that if you bathe in river Ganges in Varanasi you will not get another material body

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Benares continues to fascinate thousand of people around the world. The most sacred of all, the diya celebrations (ligtning of diyas) is very very enchanting near the ghats where the temples are situated. Thousands diyas after allowed to sail in the river ganges in the night after the holy prayer on some particular days.