Some places exist in history. Others exist in legend. But Varanasi exists in both, breathing through the ages as one of the world’s oldest living cities that never stops moving. The Ganges flows, temple bells echo, and narrow alleys hold stories older than time. Here, faith and everyday life are inseparable—priests chant mantras while chai vendors serve steaming cups to morning passersby, and funeral pyres burn by the same river that witnesses rituals of children—mundan’s first shorn locks, annaprashan’s sacred first bite, and upanayan’s whispered vows. A perfect contrast of the cycle of death and birth.

But beyond spirituality, Varanasi is a city that must be experienced with open eyes and an open heart. Whether through its riverfront rituals, centuries-old temples, or bustling markets, every turn has something waiting to be discovered.

Where the River and Life Meet

At dawn, the ghats wake before the city does. Boats drift on the Ganges, carrying pilgrims who dip into the water, their prayers merging with the mist. Dashashwamedh Ghat, the city’s most vibrant riverfront, hums with activity as flower sellers arrange marigold offerings and sadhus find a quiet corner to meditate. In the evening, the same ghat transforms into a stage for the Ganga Aarti, where priests perform synchronized rituals with fire, chants, and rhythmic bells—a sight that leaves even the most skeptical visitor spellbound.

A short walk away, Manikarnika Ghat tells a different story. Here, death is not an end but a passage. The eternal flames of the cremation grounds burn day and night, as families bring their loved ones for the final farewell, believing that a funeral here grants liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Yet, just a few steps away, children laugh and play along the riverbank, proving that in Varanasi, life and death are simply two sides of the same existence.

A City of Gods and Legends

Faith is woven into Kashii’s streets, and its temples stand as reminders of devotion through time. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the heart of the city’s spiritual energy and home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Pilgrims from across India come to offer prayers, standing in lines that weave through ancient alleys, whispering hopes in front of the “Lord of the Universe”.

Not far from here, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple welcomes devotees who seek his blessings. According to legend, Hanuman ji appeared before Sri Tulsidas, the revered poet-saint and author of the Ramcharitmanas, at this very site and then manifested as a clay idol, which remains enshrined in the temple today. Then there’s the Bharat Mata Mandir, which holds no deity—only a grand marble map of undivided India, reminding visitors that faith, in its own way, can also be about the land we call home.

On the riverbanks, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple leans at an impossible angle, half-submerged in the Ganges, as if caught between myth and reality. Some say it was built as an offering to a mother, only to sink, proving that no debt to a mother can ever truly be repaid.

Ashrams of Kashi: Gathering of Seekers

Varanasi is not just a city of temples—it is a city of seekers. For centuries, ascetics, scholars, and travelers have come to Kashi, drawn by its promise of wisdom and transformation. Every ashram in Kashi follows its own distinct spiritual path, shaped by centuries of tradition and devotion. 

The Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, founded in 1900 and inspired by Swami Vivekananda, blends Vedantic philosophy with action. Here, spirituality extends beyond prayer into service, as the institution provides medical care and humanitarian aid to those in need. The Sant Ravidas Ashram, dedicated to the 15th-century poet-saint, echoes verses challenging caste divisions and social injustice. It remains a place where faith and reform walk hand in hand, drawing those who seek a deeper understanding of spiritual equality.

Yet, spirituality in Varanasi is not limited to service; it also embraces the path of deep meditation and yogic discipline. Satyalok, the ancestral home of Lahiri Mahasaya, stands as a quiet refuge for Kriya Yoga practitioners, its walls reverberating with the energy of his teachings. Nearby, the Sri Anandamayi Ma Ashram, dedicated to the revered mystic, provides a serene retreat where seekers immerse themselves in silence and contemplation.

Varanasi’s spiritual allure has drawn seekers from all walks of life, including global icons like George Harrison from The Beatles. For centuries, seekers have arrived in Kashi searching for truth—and many leave transformed. Whether through service, meditation, or reflection, the city's sacred spaces continue to offer pathways to enlightenment, as timeless as the Ganges itself.

Echoes of the Past

Varanasi is a city of stories, but some are carved in stone. Across the river, the Ramnagar Fort stands as a silent witness to history, its walls guarding faded relics of royal life—antique weapons, vintage cars, and centuries-old manuscripts. The fort's charm lies not in grand displays but in the quiet nostalgia of a time that once was.

A short journey from the city brings you to Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon. The Dhamek Stupa, rising from the earth marks the spot where his words first shaped a new path of enlightenment. Walk through the Sarnath Museum, and you’ll find Ashoka’s stambh—now India’s national emblem.

And then there’s Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where knowledge is in every corridor. The Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum inside the campus holds sculptures, paintings, and rare artifacts—pieces of art that tell the story of India through the centuries.

The Markets That Never Sleep

In Varanasi, the markets are just as alive as the temples. At Godaulia Market, silk sarees shimmer under dim shop lights as shopkeepers unravel yards of fabric, their voices blending with the distant ring of cycle rickshaws. Vishwanath Gali, a narrow, winding lane near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, overflows with stalls selling everything from rudraksha beads to street snacks.

The metallic clang of hammering fills the air at Thatheri Bazaar, where artisans shape brass and copper into lamps, plates, and temple bells. Meanwhile, in Lahurabir, the scent of sandalwood and jasmine floats through perfume shops selling handcrafted ittars—scents that linger long after you leave.

Buying something in Varanasi is never just a transaction. It’s a conversation, a shared joke, a slow ritual of selecting the perfect piece before sealing the deal with a smile and a cup of chai.

Flavors And Festivals That Light Up the City

If Varanasi’s streets could talk, they would speak in the language of food. Mornings begin with kachori sabzi, a crisp, deep-fried snack paired with a spicy potato curry, best eaten standing at a street corner. Midday calls for malaiyyo, a delicate, saffron-infused milk froth that appears only in the winter months.

By afternoon, locals and visitors alike line up at Blue Lassi, sipping on thick, fruit-filled yogurt drinks served in clay cups. As the sun sets, the city’s famed chaat takes over—crunchy, spicy, and tangy in every bite. And, of course, no meal in Varanasi ends without a Banarasi paan, a simple betel leaf folded with aromatic spices and fillings, meant to be savored slowly.

Some cities celebrate festivals. In Varanasi, the city itself becomes the festival. Dev Deepawali, held two weeks after Diwali, turns the ghats into a river of light as thousands of oil lamps float on the Ganges, reflecting the stars above. Mahashivratri sees Kashi Vishwanath Temple overflowing with devotees, the air thick with the scent of incense and devotion.

During the Ganga Mahotsav, the riverfront comes alive with music, dance, and boat races, while the lesser-known Nag Nathaiya reenacts Krishna’s childhood feat of taming the serpent Kaliya. Each festival, big or small, is a reminder that in Varanasi, celebration is not an event—it’s a way of life.

A City That Stays With You

Kashi is not a city that can be rushed. It demands that you slow down, sit by the river, listen to the temple bells, wander through its crowded streets, and lose yourself in its endless stories. Some places are meant to be visited. Varanasi is meant to be felt.