Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world located in northern India. It has been a sacred place for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains for thousands of years. The city is located along the banks of the Ganges River, which plays a significant role in Hinduism. Varanasi has over 23,000 temples and is known as the city of temples. It attracts pilgrims and tourists who visit its famous ghats, temples, and shrines. Some of Varanasi's most important religious sites include the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, and Manikarnika Ghat.

1. Introduction
on
VARANASI
BY
AMIT YADAV
WATATMAJ PANDEY

2. Name and Origin
One of the oldest cities of the world and
the oldest city of India
Have several names: Varanasi, Banares,
Kashi
A place between Varuna and Assi is
called VARANASI.
Holy place for Hindus, Buddhists and
Jains.
Significance of the Ganga River

3. History
 Varanasi was founded by the god Shiva.
The Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata
are also stated to have visit the city in search of Shiva
These archaeological remains suggest that the Varanasi
area was populated by Vedic people.
However, the oldest known text referencing the city, the
Atharvaveda, which dates to approximately the same
Kabir period, suggests that the area was populated by
indigenous tribes.

4. Ancient period
Varanasi grew as an important industrial
centre, famous for its muslin and silk fabrics,
perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.
During the time of Gautama Buddha,
Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom of
Kashi.
 The Buddha is believed to have founded
Buddhism here around 528 BC at nearby
Sarnath..
.

5. Middle period
 Chandradeva, founder of the Gahadvala dynasty made Banaras a second
capital in 1090.
 During the Mauryan Empire period, Varanasi was connected by a road
starting from Taxila and ending at Pataliputra.
 "In 1194, Muslim rule under the Turkic king Qutbuddin Aibak, who
ordered the destruction of approximately 1,000 temples in the city.
 Feroz Shah ordered the further destruction of Hindu temples in the
Varanasi area in 1376.
 The Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi continued the suppression of Hinduism
in the city and destroyed most of the remaining older temples in 1496.
 Despite the Muslim rule, Varanasi remained the centre of activity for
intellectuals and theologians during the Middle Ages,
 Several major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi,
including Kabir das and Sant Ravidas,

6. ModernHistory(1500 –present)
• Guru Nanak Dev visited Varanasi for
Shivratri in 1507, a trip that played a
large role in the founding of Sikhism.
• Varanasi experienced a Hindu cultural
revival in the 16th century under the
Muslim Mughal emperor Akbar, who
invested in the city and built two large
temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.
• The Raja of Pune established the
Annapurna Mandir and Akbari Bridge

10. Varanasi at the bank of the
Ganga

11. Attractions of the City
Temples
Sari
Roads
Gharana
Pan
Sadhu

12. City of Temples
23000
Old Kashi Vishwanath
Sankat Mochan Temple
Durga Mata Temple (Durga Kund)
Manas Temple
Bharat Mata Temple
Kal bhairav Temple
Mritunjay temple…

13. Kashi Vishwanath

15. Vishwanath Temple

16. Durga Mata Temple

17. Sankat Mochan Temple

18. •This temple was built from the
time when Goswami Tulsidas had
a vision of the Hanuman.
• The temple was established by
the great saint Goswami Tulsidas .

19. Dev Deepawali
• The Dev Deepavali is the festival of light
• It falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of
• Kartika (November December) and takes place fifteen
• days after Diwali.

24. Ganga aarti
Every Evening Ganga Aarti are held, at Every Ghat….

28. GHATS
Varanasi have more than 100 ghats….some famous are
DASASWAMEDH GHAT
ASSI GHAT
MANIKRNIKA GHAT
RAJENDRAPRASHAD GHAT
HARISHCHANDRA GHAT
TULSIDAS GHAT

29. DASASWAMEDH

30. Mani Karnika Ghat

31. It is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi.
When Mata Sati sacrificed her life. Lord Shiva took her burning
body to the Himalaya..
Lord Shiva established Shakti Peeth wherever Sati's body had
fallen.
At Manikarnika ghat, Mata Sati's Ear's ornament had fallen.
There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit.

32. Banarasi Sari
Known in India for its special features
Weavers mostly Muslim but customers Hindu that
represent composite culture of Varanasi.
The city also produces carpets and handicrafts.

34. SARNATH
One of the most famous place in Varanasi. That is related
to lord Buddha.

35. Sarnath Stupa