Varanasi's stories span 5,000 years of unbroken civilization. From being the city where Buddha first taught to the place where Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas, every stone here whispers ancient secrets.
The Eternal Flame of Manikarnika
The cremation fires at Manikarnika Ghat have burned continuously for over 3,000 years. Legend says Lord Shiva himself lit the first flame, and it has never been extinguished. Even during floods, the flame is carried to higher ground and returned when waters recede.
- 200-300 cremations performed daily
- Fires have burned for over 3,000 years non-stop
- Dom Raja family has maintained the sacred flame for 3,500 years
- Wood comes from specific approved forests only
- Average cremation takes 3-4 hours using 200-300 kg of wood
The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor
The newly built Kashi Vishwanath Corridor transformed 3 lakh square feet of congested area into a grand pilgrimage walkway. Over 300 buildings were carefully relocated, and ancient temple foundations discovered during excavation date back 2,000+ years.
- Connects temple directly to Ganga in 5 lakh sq ft complex
- 23 buildings were renovated, 27 temples restored
- Ancient Shiva temples from 2,000 years ago found during excavation
- Can accommodate 1 lakh pilgrims daily
- Cost: INR 900 crore ($108 million)
City of Learning & Legends
Varanasi has been India's intellectual capital since ancient times. The city gave the world the concept of zero, Sanskrit grammar, and classical music. Banaras Hindu University, founded in 1916, is Asia's largest residential university.
- Panini wrote Sanskrit grammar rules here (4th century BCE)
- Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas here in 16th century
- Birthplace of Kabir, the mystic poet
- BHU spans 1,300 acres with 30,000+ students
- Produced 4 Indian Prime Ministers including Lal Bahadur Shastri
More Varanasi Secrets
The 84 Ghats
Varanasi has exactly 84 ghats along a 6.8 km stretch of the Ganges. The number 84 is considered sacred, representing the 84 lakh (8.4 million) species through which a soul must pass before human birth.
Legal Cannabis
Bhang (cannabis) is legally sold in government shops in Varanasi. The famous 'Bhang Lassi' is a centuries-old tradition, especially during Holi and Shivratri.
Silk City
Varanasi produces the finest silk sarees in India. The Banarasi silk weaving tradition is 500+ years old, and a single handwoven saree can take up to 6 months to complete and cost INR 100,000+.
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