According to the iafrica.com travel guide Varanasi is one of the ancient seats of learning in India, situated between Delhi and Kolkata at a bend in the sacred Ganges River. Home to some of the most ancient and revered monasteries in the world, Varanasi is the place where scholars still come to learn the ancient knowledge of the Vedas and debate on the nature of God.

For over 2000 years it has been the religious capital of India, more revered and sacred than all the other places of pilgrimage put together. Hindus believe that to die in Varanasi is to be forgiven every sin, receive instant enlightenment and immediately be admitted to heaven, no matter who or what you are. As a result the elderly flock here to end their days, and cremation is big business on the ghats beside the Ganges.

Apart from its religious significance, Varanasi is also the hub of many traditional industries and is world famous for its silks — in particular, its silk brocades. The town does a roaring trade with pilgrims and tourists alike. Being the cultural centre of India, it is home to many musicians, novelists and philosophers.

According to the guide, the city is also home to over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps'), but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated.

Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation.

Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. This is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity.

Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.

Take a look at the mysteries of Varanasi in the gallery below…

GALLERIES > Varanasi gallery
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