Om Vilas Benares

Varanasi, or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. The city also has a syncretic tradition of Islamic artisanship that underpins its religious tourism. Located in the middle-Ganges valley in the southeastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi lies on the left bank of the river. It is 692 kilometres (430 mi) to the southeast of India's capital New Delhi and 320 kilometres (200 mi) to the southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It lies 121 kilometres (75 mi) downstream of Prayagraj, where the confluence with the Yamuna river is another major Hindu pilgrimage site.

As you step into Varanasi, you will be greeted with a colorful and chaotic atmosphere. The streets are lined with bustling markets, vendors selling street food, and rickshaws weaving through the crowds. The city is situated on the banks of the Ganges, the most sacred river in Hinduism, and you will see locals and pilgrims alike performing various rituals and ceremonies on the ghats (steps leading to the river).

One of the must-visit places in Varanasi is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India and is visited by millions of devotees every year. The temple is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by narrow lanes and crowded markets.