BPI 2025
Varanasi
Varanasi
Discover Varanasi
A visit to this legendary city will be among the most moving trips you'll ever make
Varanasi, ancient Kashi, holds a special place in Indian heritage, believed in legend to have been created by Lord Shiva as a city of light and knowledge. It is among the world’s oldest living cities, celebrated for its spiritual energy, rich traditions, and vibrant cultural life along the sacred Ganges. Visitors can explore its centuries old temples, bustling ghats, and colorful markets while experiencing an atmosphere that blends history, devotion, and learning. Plan your journey to discover the Eternal City during the conference.
(Video Courtesy: Uttar Pradesh Tourism)
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Varanasi Attractions
Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. The Shivalinga at the Vishwanath temple is among one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The current temple was built in 1776 by Ahalya Bai of Indore with about 800 kg of gold plating on the towers. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth’s crust and flared towards the heavens.
Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the Banaras Hindu University campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. It was established in the year 1920. Many images here confirm the existence of Krishna cult in Kashi in 15th and 16th century. Bharat Kala Bhavan also has a great collection of miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and other kingdoms.
Jantar Mantar
Ramnagar Fort
The Ramnagar fort lies about 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of Ganga. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. Maharaja Balwant Singh built this fort-palace in the 18th century. The fort is built in red sandstone and has a temple and a museum within the grounds and the temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. The Ramnagar fort museum displays a Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, palanquins, swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. The Durga Temple, Chhinnamastika Temple and a temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman are also located in it.
Durga Temple
Queen Rani Bhawani of Natore, Bengal constructed the present temple and the Kunda in the 18th century. The beautiful water pool (kunda) with stone stairs leading to it marks the northern edge of the Durga Temple. During Shardiya and Basantik Navratri festival huge gathering of devotees celebrated in this temple.
Bharat Mata Temple
A unique temple at Sigra locality-close to M.G Kashi Vidyapeeth, is dedicated to Mother India, which instead of the customary gods and goddesses, houses one of the most perfect relief maps of India carved on marble. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Ghandi in 1936.
In the crowd of mass produced machine products, the genuine art is often left unheard. In order to amplify the esteem of these charismatic art works, a massive Trade Facilitation Centre was established in the, Bada Lalpur area of Varanasi on September 2017. The center is an art museum, where the artists can display their art works in distinct art galleries, like textile, handlooms and weaves, carpe and many such galleries. The facilitation center is a massive step taken by the Government of India and is one of its kind museum found in all over the country.
Trade Facilitation Centre & Craft Museum
The archaeological remains of sarnath started attracting the scholars since the 19th century. In the recent past, the Sarnath Circle of Archeaological Survey of India has been taking care of the excavation work in Sarnath. The Archaeological site showcases the grandeur of the ancient times. An open exhibition of structures like Mulagandha Kuti Vihar remains, Dharmrajika Stupa remains, Dhamek Stupa, Ashokan Column, monuments, relics, monasteries from the Mauryan period are showcased here.
Banaras Hindu University
The Banaras Hindu University was founded by nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, in 1916. Dr. Annie Besant played an important role in the formation of the BHU. Over a period of time, it has developed into one of the greatest centers of learning in India. The BHU has produced many great freedom fighters and Nation builders. It has immensely contributed to the progress of the nation through a large number of renowned scholars, artists and scientists. Its campus is spread over 1300 acres. It has well maintained roads, extensive greenery, a temple, an airstrip and buildings, which are an architectural delight.
Bharat Kala Bhavan
Jantar Mantar is an observatory built by Jai Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur in the year 1737. Jai Singh was a great admirer of science and technology and he was particularly passionate about astronomy. The Jantar Mantar at Varanasi was built in line with Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain and Jaipur observatories. It was used to measure the local time, the sun's declination, altitude, the declination of stars, planets and to determine eclipses. The Jantar Mantar at Varanasi has several masonry instruments to record the motion, speed and properties starts and planets and study astronomy that are accurate and can still be used efficiently today.
Sarnath Excavation sites & Dhamek Stupa
Ganga River Fronts
The Ghats
The great river banks at Varanasi have high pavilions, palaces, temples and terraces and are lined with an endless chain of stone steps progressing along the whole of the waterfront. The hundred ghats, big and small, is marked by a lingam, and occupies its own special place in the religious geography of the city.
The ghats have a regular stream of pilgrims and visitors, priests offering puja, bathers. people practicing meditation and yoga. Hindus regard the Ganga as amrita (nectar) the elixir of life, which brings purity to the living and salvation to the dead.