Ghats in Varanasi

Varanasi is a major Hindu holy city. On the banks of the Mother Ganges River, which flows through the city, there is a ghat, a place of ablution where prayers are offered. For pilgrims from all over the world, the Ganges is the goddess Ganga, a great river that purifies all sins. At the ghats on the riverbank, people are bathing, bodies are being burned and washed away, and boats of tourists are watching them, creating a unique scene of chaos and holiness.

Varanasi

Varanasi, located on the banks of the Ganges River in northeastern India, is a city steeped in ancient history. It is the largest Hindu holy city in India and is visited by more than one million devotees on pilgrimage each year. The Hindu view of life and death can be glimpsed at the cremation ceremonies held in the riverside ghats. On the outskirts of the city is Sarnath, the sacred Buddhist site where the Buddha is said to have first preached his teachings, which is a must-see attraction along with the maze-like old town.