Varanasi

Temples on the bank of Ganges, Varanasi.

Varanasi, also commonly known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi, is a city situated on the left (west) bank of the River Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Aarti spectacles

Morning

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  Boat ride at Sunrise, on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Sunrise boat ride, Varanasi.
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  Morning Ganga Aarti, Varanasi.
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  Salutations to the Ganges at sunrise, Varanasi.
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  Morning Aarti of the Ganges, ghats of Varanasi.
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  Morning Aarti of the Ganges at sunrise, Varanasi.
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  Ganges River bank in the morning, Varanasi.
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  Ghats by the Ganges in morning.
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  View of houses by the Ganges, Varanasi.

Evening

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  Ganga aarti at Varanasi.
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  Ganga Aarti with incense at Varanasi ghats.
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  Evening Ganga aarti with incense at Ganga ghat, Varanasi.
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  Incense aarti at Dashaswamedh ghat, Varanasi.
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  Incense smoke Aarti, Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Lamps in preparation for evening aarti, at Ganges Ghat, Varanasi.
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  Evening Ganges aarti lamp held aloft, Varanasi.
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  Multi-tiered aarti stand being lit, during Ganga Aarti, Varanasi.
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  Preparation for incense aarti of Ganges, Varanasi Ghats.
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  Aarti raised up during evening Ganga aarti, Varanasi.
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  Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi.
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  Evening Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat
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  Aarti singers during evening Ganga aarti, Varanasi.

Ganga

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  Sunrise boat rides on the Ganges, Varanasi
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  Dawn on the river Ganges, Varanasi
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  Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  View of Ghats across the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Dashashwamedha ghat on the Ganga, Varanasi.
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  Ganges in the dry season, with crops growing on the banks, Varanasi.
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  Early morning view of Ahilya ghat in Varanasi.
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  Ganga panorama.
• Varanasi Ganges River panorama.
  Varanasi Ganges River panorama.
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  Early morning view of Varanasi city from the opposite bank.
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  Banks of Ganges, before the main ghats begin, Varanasi.

Ghats

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  Manikarnika ghat from above, bodies being cremated.
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  Varanasi ghats from opposite bank of Ganges.
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  Ganga ghat in the morning, Varanasi.
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  Burning ghats of Manikarnika, Varanasi.
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  Ganga ghat with a Shivling, Varanasi.
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  Aikya Linga on the Ganga Ghants, in Varanasi.
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  Chet Singh Ghat in Varanasi.
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  Offering Arghya, a ritual offering, to the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Young flower seller at Varanasi ghats.
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  Ahilya Ghat by the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Kedar Ghat in Varanasi.
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  Niranjani Ghat on the Ganges
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  Darbhanga and Munshi Ghat in Varanasi.
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  Anandamayi Ma Ashram on the Anandamayi Ghat, and Vatsaraj Ghat (right).
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  Man walking down ghat to the Ganges River

Boats

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  Sunrise Boat ride, on the Ganges, an essential in Varanasi.
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  Boats by the ghats, on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Boat by the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Morning boatride on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Morning boat ride, Varanasi.
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  Boats at the Ganges at sunrise
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  Tourists Sightseeing by Boat, Varanasi.

Festivals

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  Annual Saraswati Puja festival on Dasashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi

Historical images

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  Shivala Ghat, Benares, Varanasi, by Thomas Daniell (1749-1840), dated 1790.
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  Benares (Varanasi) - The River & Bridge of Boats, from the Arungzebe Mosque, India. 1866.
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  Benares 1890
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  Varanasi, 1922.
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  Temples and Bathing Ghat at Benares, by Edwin Lord Weeks, ca 1833-1835.
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  Kupuldhara Tulao, Benares, 1834.
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  'Benares' (No. 1), oil on canvas painting by Charles W. Bartlett. 1927

Temples

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  The Durga Temple in Varanasi, built in the 18th century by a Bengali maharani, stained red with ochre overlooking the "Durgakund" pond. It is commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the many frisky monkeys.
• Submerged Shiva temple, 150 years ago at Scindia Ghat, Varanasi.
  Submerged Shiva temple, 150 years ago at Scindia Ghat, Varanasi.
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  Ganga Keshav Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built by Maharaja of Nepal, at Lalita Ghat on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  An old temple in Varanasi
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  A Shiva temple in Varanasi.
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  Vishwanath/ Birla Mandir
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  Sri Anandamayi Ma statues in the Ananda Jyoti Mandir, Varanasi.

Durga Mandir

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  Durga Mandir Corner View
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  Front - Left Corner View
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  Front
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  Wall Stone work
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  Wall Stone work
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  Wall Stone Work
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  Wall Stone work and Sculpture
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  Stone Elephant on Wall
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  Yagya at the temple
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  Yagya at the temple
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  Sculpture
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  Side View

Places of worship

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  Alamgir Mosque by the Ganges ghats, Varanasi
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  Saint Mary's Cathedral in Varanasi

Cuisine

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  Aloo ki sabzi (Potato Curry) and Puri, typical morning snack, Varanasi.
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  Puris (left) and Samosas (right) being deep fried, at a shop in Varanasi.
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  A Lassi shop in Varanasi.
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  Lassi in earthen tumbler, Kullhad, Varanasi.
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  A sweet shop in Varanasi, with Gulab Jamun (bottom).
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  Paan, (betel leaves) being served with silver foil, Sarnath near Varanasi.

City scenes

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  Vishwanath Gali, leading up to Vishwanath Temple, in Varanasi.
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  A bull walking through the bylanes of Varanasi.
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  Medicines at a Homeopathy pharmacy in Varanasi.
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  A narrow lane leading to Meera Ghat, in Varanasi.
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  A Milkman's cycle, Varanasi
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  Kite flying in Varanasi
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  Street cricket.
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  View of houses by the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  A barber shop in Varanasi.
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  Doors with Aum signs, Varanasi.
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  Mother Teresa's Hospital, Varanasi.
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  Graffiti, Goats and Ghats, Varanasi.
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  Ramnagar Fort in Varanasi.
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  Man with pushcart in the old city of Varanasi.
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  Busy inner market street.
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  A Trainyard in Varanasi.

Shops in Varanasi

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  Religious article vedor, on the ghats, Varanasi.
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  A local grocery store
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  A shop selling wedding items and lacquered wooden sindoor boxes, a specialty of Varanasi.
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  Colourful necklaces on sale at a street stall, Varanasi.
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  A flower garland shop used Hindu worship, Varanasi.
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  Varanasi laundry and ironing shop.
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  Traditional Sweets shop.
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  Bangles and jewellery shop.
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  A brassware shop.
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  A churan shop in Varanasi.

Education

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  Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Entrance
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  Bharat Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.jpg

People

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  Sadhu in Varanasi
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  A sadhu by the Ghats on the Ganges, Varanasi.
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  A sadhu playing flute, Benaras.
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  A weaver at silk handloom, in Varanasi, making a Banarasi sari, which usually takes two months.
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  Morning tea in Varanasi.

Sarnath

Sarnath, a Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddha gave his first sermon, 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi.

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  Monastery around Dhamek stupa, Sarnath.
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  Dharmarajika Stupa from the pre-Ashokan Era.
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  Yasa Stupa.
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  Chaukhandi Stupa on a hill, Sarnath, commemorates the spot where the Buddha met his first disciples, dating back to the fifth century or earlier and later enhanced by the addition of an octagonal tower of Islamic origin.
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  Brahmi script on Ashoka Pillar, Sarnath.
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  Mulagandhakuti Vihara, Buddhist temple at Sarnath, next to the Dharmek stupa.
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  Buddha from Mulgandha Kuti Vihar.