Varanasi, Religious city in Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi is a million city in Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh in India, situated along the western bank of the Ganges River. Stone stepped platforms descend from the elevated urban area to the waterfront, where narrow lanes alternate with temples, residences and small shops.
The settlement arose about four thousand years ago in the middle Ganges valley and developed into a center of Vedic religion and philosophy. Over the centuries it experienced the rule of different dynasties, including the Maurya, the Gupta and later the Muslim rulers.
At all hours Hindu priests perform ritual actions along the stepped platforms while pilgrims bathe in the river and recite their prayers. Musicians and singers accompany the morning and evening ceremonies with traditional chants that echo across the water.
The narrow inner lanes are accessible only on foot, while the outer areas offer wider streets for modern traffic. The best time to visit the stepped platforms is early morning or evening when temperatures are more comfortable.
The city maintains a traditional silk weaving craft that produces Banarasi saris with detailed patterns using gold and silver threads. This textile art is passed down through generations in small workshops, where weavers often spend several weeks on a single piece.
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