Varanasi
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Varanasi
Kashi Banaras Benares Avimukta Ānandavana Rudravāsa [1] |
|---|
|
|
Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Manikarnika Ghat, Munshi Ghat,
Temple on Ganges river bank, Man performing morning rituals in the
Ganges, Ganges river bank, Aurangzeb Mosque, Incense aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Chet Singh Ghat, Busy Varanasi street at night, Buey in market |
| Nickname(s):
The spiritual capital of India
|
|
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Coordinates:  25°19′08″N 83°00′46″ECoordinates: 25°19′08″N 83°00′46″E |
| Country |  India |
|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
|---|
| Division | Varanasi |
|---|
| District | Varanasi |
|---|
| Government |
|---|
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
|---|
| • Body | Varanasi Municipal Corporation |
|---|
| • Mayor | Mridula Jaiswal (BJP) |
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| • Divisional Commissioner | Nitin Ramesh Gokarn, IAS |
|---|
| • District Magistrate | Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, IAS |
|---|
| • Inspector General, Varanasi Range | Deepak Ratan, IPS |
|---|
| • Senior Superintendent of Police | Nitin Tiwari, IPS |
|---|
| Area |
|---|
| • Metropolis | 112.10 km2 (43.28 sq mi) |
|---|
| Elevation | 80.71 m (264.80 ft) |
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| Population
(2011)
|
|---|
| • Metropolis | 1,201,815 |
|---|
| • Rank | 32nd |
|---|
| • Density | 11,000/km2 (28,000/sq mi) |
|---|
| • Metro
| 1,432,280 (32nd) |
|---|
| Language |
|---|
| • Official | Hindi[3] |
|---|
| • Additional official | Urdu[3] |
|---|
| • Regional | Bhojpuri |
|---|
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
|---|
| PIN |
221 001 to** (** area code)
|
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| Telephone code | 0542 |
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| Vehicle registration | UP 65 |
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| GDP | $2.34 billion (2013–14)[4] |
|---|
| Per Capita Income | INR 1,93 616 [5] |
|---|
| Sex ratio | 0.926 (2011) ♂/♀ |
|---|
| Literacy (2011) | 80.12%[6] |
|---|
| HDI | 0.645 [7] |
|---|
| Website | varanasi.nic.in |
|---|
Varanasi (
Hindustani pronunciation: [ʋaːˈraːɳəsi] (
listen)), also known as
Benares,
[8] Banaras (
Banāras [bəˈnaːrəs] (listen)), or
Kashi (
Kāśī [ˈkaːʃi] (listen)), is a city on the banks of the river
Ganga in
Uttar Pradesh,
India, 320 kilometres (200 mi) south-east of the state capital,
Lucknow, and 121 kilometres (75 mi) east of
Allahabad. A major religious hub in
India, it is the
holiest of the seven sacred cities (
Sapta Puri) in
Hinduism and
Jainism, and played an important role in the development of
Buddhism and
Ravidassia. Varanasi lies along
National Highway 2 and is served by
Varanasi Junction railway station and
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre famous for its
muslin
and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Buddha is
believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his
first sermon, "
The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma", at nearby
Sarnath. The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when
Adi Shankara established the
worship of Shiva
as an official sect of Varanasi. During the Muslim rule through the
Middle Ages, the city continued as an important centre of Hindu
devotion, pilgrimage,
mysticism and poetry which further contributed to its reputation as a centre of cultural importance and religious education.
Tulsidas wrote his epic poem on Rama's life called
Ram Charit Manas in Varanasi. Several other major figures of the
Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including
Kabir and
Ravidas.
Guru Nanak visited Varanasi for
Maha Shivaratri in 1507, a trip that played a large role in the founding of
Sikhism.
In the 16th century, Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the
Mughal emperor Akbar who patronised the city, and built two large temples dedicated to
Shiva and
Vishnu, though much of modern Varanasi was built during the 18th century, by the
Maratha and
Brahmin kings. The
Kingdom of Benares was given official status by the
Mughals
in 1737, and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian
independence in 1947. The city is governed by the Varanasi Nagar Nigam
(Municipal Corporation) and is represented in the
Parliament of India by the current Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi, who won the
Lok Sabha elections in 2014 by a huge margin.
Silk weaving, carpets and crafts and tourism employ a significant number of the local population, as do the
Diesel Locomotive Works and
Bharat Heavy Electricals. Varanasi Hospital was established in 1964.
Varanasi has been a cultural centre of northern India for several
thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus
believe that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the
"holy" Ganges river allows one to break the cycle of rebirth and attain
salvation,
[9] making it a major center for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many
ghats,
embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where
pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Of particular note are the
Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat, the
Manikarnika Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat, the last two being where Hindus cremate their dead and the
Hindu genealogy registers at Varanasi are kept here.
The
Ramnagar Fort, near the eastern bank of the Ganges, was built in the 18th century in the
Mughal style of
architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and scenic pavilions. Among the estimated 23,000 temples in Varanasi are
Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, the
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, and the
Durga Temple. The
Kashi Naresh (
Maharaja
of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi, and an essential
part of all religious celebrations. An educational and musical centre,
many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live
or have lived in the city, and it was the place where the
Benares gharana form of
Hindustani classical music was developed. One of Asia's largest residential universities is
Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The Hindi-language nationalist newspaper,
Aj, was first published in 1920.
Etymology
Traditional etymology links "Varanasi" to the names of two Ganges tributaries forming the city's borders:
Varuna,
still flowing in northern Varanasi, and Assi, today a small stream in
the southern part of the city, near Assi Ghat. The old city is located
on the north shores of the
Ganges, bounded by Varuna and Assi.
In the
Rigveda, an ancient Indian sacred collection of
Vedic Sanskrit hymns, the city is referred to as Kāśī (कशी: Kashi) from the Sanskrit verbal root
kaś- "to shine", making Varanasi known as "City of Light",
[11] the "luminous city as an eminent seat of learning".
[12] The name was also used by pilgrims dating from
Buddha's days.
Hindu religious texts use many epithets to refer to Varanasi, such as Kāśikā (काशिका:
Sanskrit:
"the shining one"), Avimukta (अविमुक्त:
Sanskrit:
"never forsaken" by Shiva), Ānandavana (आनंदवना:
Sanskrit:
"the forest of bliss"), and Rudravāsa (रुद्रवासा:
Sanskrit:
"the place where Rudra/Śiva resides").
[1]
History
Hindu Mythology
According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi was founded by
Shiva, one of
three principal deities along with
Brahma and
Vishnu.
During a fight between Brahma and Shiva, one of Brahma's five heads was
torn off by Shiva. As was the custom, the victor carried the slain
adversary's head in his hand and let it hang down from his hand as an
act of ignominy, and a sign of his own bravery. A bridle was also put
into the mouth. Shiva thus dishonored Brahma's head, and kept it with
him at all times. When he came to the city of Varanasi in this state,
the hanging head of Brahma dropped from Shiva's hand and disappeared in
the ground. Varanasi is therefore considered an extremely holy site.
[14]
The
Pandavas, the protagonists of the
Hindu epic Mahabharata, are said to have visited the city in search of Shiva to atone for their sin of
fratricide and
Brāhmanahatya that they had committed during the climactic
Kurukshetra War. It is regarded as one of seven holy cities (
Sapta Puri) which can provide
Moksha;
Ayodhya,
Mathura,
Haridwar, Kashi,
Kanchi,
Avanti, and
Dvārakā are the seven cities known as the givers of liberation.
[16]
Archaeological evidence
Excavations in 2014 led to the discovery of artefacts dating back to 800 BCE. Further excavations at Aktha and
Ramnagar,
two sites in the vicinity of the city, unearthed artefacts dating back
to 1800 BCE, supporting the view that the area was inhabited by this
time.
[17]
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 part of the
Kingdom of Kashi. The Buddha is believed to have founded
Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon, "
The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma", at nearby
Sarnath. The celebrated Chinese traveller
Xuanzang,
also known as Hiuen Tsiang, who visited the city around 635 CE,
attested that the city was a centre of religious and artistic
activities, and that it extended for about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) along
the western bank of the Ganges.
When Xuanzang, visited Varanasi in the 7th century, he named it
"Polonisse" and wrote that the city had some 30 temples with about 30
monks. The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when
Adi Shankara established the
worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi.
Medieval period
Kabir, a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint
Chandradeva, founder of the
Gahadavala dynasty made Banaras a second capital in 1090.
[24] After fall of
Pala Empire, the
Chero dynasty ruled Varanasi till Mughal rule.
[25][26]
Varanasi remained a centre of activity for intellectuals and
theologians during the Middle Ages, which further contributed to its
reputation as a cultural centre of religion and education. Several major
figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including
Kabir who was born here in 1389, and
Ravidas,
a 15th-century socio-religious reformer, mystic, poet, traveller, and
spiritual figure, who was born and lived in the city and employed in the
tannery industry.
Early Modern to Modern periods (1500–1949)
A lithograph by James Prinsep (1832) of a Brahmin placing a garland on the holiest location in the city.
-
An illustration (1890) of Bathing Ghat in Varanasi.
Numerous eminent scholars and preachers visited the city from across India and South Asia.
Guru Nanak visited Varanasi for
Maha Shivaratri in 1507, a trip that played a large role in the founding of
Sikhism.
[29]
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 the 200-metre (660 ft) Akbari Bridge was also completed during this period. The earliest tourists began arriving in the city during the 16th century. In 1665, the French traveller
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
described the architectural beauty of the Vindu Madhava temple on the
side of the Ganges. The road infrastructure was also improved during
this period. It was extended from
Kolkata to
Peshawar by Emperor
Sher Shah Suri; later during the
British Raj it came to be known as the famous
Grand Trunk Road. In 1656, Emperor
Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of many temples and the building of mosques, causing the city to experience a temporary setback.
However, after Aurangazeb's death, most of India was ruled by a
confederacy of pro-Hindu kings. Much of modern Varanasi was built during
this time, especially during the 18th century by the
Maratha and
Bhumihar.
The kings governing Varanasi continued to wield power and importance
through much of the British Raj period, including the Maharaja of
Benares, or
Kashi Naresh.
The Kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals
in 1737, and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian
independence in 1947, during the reign of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. In
the 18th century,
Muhammad Shah
ordered the construction of an observatory on the Ganges, attached to
Man Mandir Ghat, designed to discover imperfections in the calendar in
order to revise existing astronomical tables. Tourism in the city began
to flourish in the 18th century. In 1791, under the rule of the
British Governor-General Warren Hastings,
Jonathan Duncan founded a
Sanskrit College in Varanasi.
In 1867, the establishment of the Varanasi Municipal Board led to
significant improvements in the city's infrastructure and basic
amenities of health services, drinking water supply and sanitation
The
British Army committed a massacre of Indian troops and destroyed city residences during the early stages of the
Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Author
Mark Twain
wrote in 1897 of Varanasi, "Benares is older than history, older than
tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them
put together." In 1910, the British made Varanasi a new Indian state, with
Ramnagar
as its capital, but with no jurisdiction over the city proper. The
religious head, Kashi Naresh, has had his headquarters at the
Ramnagar Fort
since the 18th century, also a repository of the history of the kings
of Varanasi, which is situated to the east of Varanasi, across the
Ganges.
[37]
The Kashi Naresh is deeply revered by the local people and the chief
cultural patron; some devout inhabitants consider him to be the
incarnation of Shiva.
Annie Besant founded the
Central Hindu College, which later became a foundation for the creation of
Banaras Hindu University
in 1916. Besant founded the college because she wanted "to bring men of
all religions together under the ideal of brotherhood in order to
promote Indian cultural values and to remove ill-will among different
sections of the Indian population."
Varanasi was ceded to the Union of India in 1947, becoming part of
Uttar Pradesh after Indian independence.
[40]
Vibhuti Narayan Singh incorporated his territories into the United Provinces in 1949.
[41]
Majaraja of Benares, 1870s.
Map of the city, c. 1914.
An 1895 photograph of the Varanasi riverfront.
The lanes of Varanasi are bathed in a plethora of colours.
Geography and climate
Geography
Varanasi is located at an elevation of 80.71 metres (264.8 ft)
[42] in the centre of the Ganges valley of
North India,
in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left
crescent-shaped bank of the Ganges, averaging between 15 metres (50 ft)
and 21 metres (70 ft) above the river. The city is the headquarters of
Varanasi district. By road, Varanasi is located 797 kilometres (495 mi) south-east of
New Delhi, 320 kilometres (200 mi) south-east of
Lucknow, 121 kilometres (75 mi) east of
Allahabad, and 63 kilometres (39 mi) south of
Jaunpur.
[44] The "Varanasi Urban Agglomeration" – an agglomeration of seven urban sub-units – covers an area of 112.26 km
2 (approximately 43 mi²).
[45]
Neighbourhoods of the city include Adampura, Anandbagh, Bachchhaon,
Bangali Tola, Bhelpura, Bulanala, Chaitganj, Chaukaghat, Chowk,
Dhupchandi, Dumraon, Gandhinagar, Gautam Nagar, Giri Nagar, Gopal Vihar,
Guru Nanak Nagar, Jaitpura, Kail Garh, Khanna, Kotwali, Lanka
Manduadih, Luxa, Maheshpur, Mahmoorganj, Maulvibagh, Nagwar, Naipokhari,
Shivala, Siddhagiribagh, and Sigra.
[44]
Located in the
Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India, the land is very fertile because low-level floods in the Ganges continually replenish the soil.
[46]
Varanasi is situated between the Ganges confluences with two rivers:
the Varuna and the Assi stream. The distance between the two confluences
is around 2 miles (4 km), and serves as a sacred journeying route for
Hindus, which culminates with a visit to a Sakshi Vinayak Temple.
Climate
Varanasi experiences a
humid subtropical climate (
Köppen climate classification Cwa) with large variations between summer and winter temperatures.
[49]
The dry summer starts in April and lasts until June, followed by the
monsoon season from July to October. The temperature ranges between 22
and 46 °C (72 and 115 °F) in the summers. Winters in Varanasi see very
large
diurnal variations, with warm days and downright cold nights. Cold waves from the
Himalayan
region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from
December to February and temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F) are not
uncommon. The average annual rainfall is 1,110 mm (44 in). Fog is common
in the winters, while hot dry winds, called
loo, blow in the summers.
In recent years, the water level of the Ganges has decreased
significantly; upstream dams, unregulated water extraction, and
dwindling glacial sources due to global warming may be to blame.
[51][52]
| Climate data for Varanasi Airport (1971–2000)
|
|---|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °C (°F)
|
32.3
(90.1)
|
35.8
(96.4)
|
42.4
(108.3)
|
45.3
(113.5)
|
46.8
(116.2)
|
48.0
(118.4)
|
43.9
(111.0)
|
39.8
(103.6)
|
42.3
(108.1)
|
39.0
(102.2)
|
35.3
(95.5)
|
32.7
(90.9)
|
48.0
(118.4)
|
| Average high °C (°F)
|
23.0
(73.4)
|
26.2
(79.2)
|
32.6
(90.7)
|
38.5
(101.3)
|
40.3
(104.5)
|
38.4
(101.1)
|
33.7
(92.7)
|
32.9
(91.2)
|
32.8
(91.0)
|
32.7
(90.9)
|
29.4
(84.9)
|
24.7
(76.5)
|
32.1
(89.8)
|
| Average low °C (°F)
|
9.2
(48.6)
|
11.6
(52.9)
|
16.2
(61.2)
|
21.9
(71.4)
|
25.5
(77.9)
|
27.2
(81.0)
|
25.7
(78.3)
|
25.4
(77.7)
|
24.4
(75.9)
|
20.6
(69.1)
|
14.4
(57.9)
|
10.1
(50.2)
|
19.2
(66.6)
|
| Record low °C (°F)
|
0.3
(32.5)
|
2.4
(36.3)
|
7.9
(46.2)
|
11.4
(52.5)
|
17.8
(64.0)
|
14.3
(57.7)
|
21.4
(70.5)
|
21.7
(71.1)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
8.9
(48.0)
|
4.3
(39.7)
|
2.3
(36.1)
|
0.3
(32.5)
|
| Average precipitation mm (inches)
|
19.0
(0.75)
|
18.2
(0.72)
|
8.3
(0.33)
|
6.1
(0.24)
|
10.3
(0.41)
|
107.3
(4.22)
|
309.3
(12.18)
|
288.4
(11.35)
|
244.9
(9.64)
|
32.3
(1.27)
|
9.3
(0.37)
|
4.8
(0.19)
|
1,058.2
(41.66)
|
| Average rainy days
|
1.6
|
1.7
|
1.0
|
0.6
|
1.2
|
5.4
|
13.9
|
13.1
|
10.0
|
1.8
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
51.5
|
| Source: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)[53][54]
|
Administration and politics
Administration
General Administration
Varanasi division which consists of four districts, and is headed by the
Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, who is an
IAS officer of high seniority, the
Commissioner
is the head of local government institutions (including Municipal
Corporations) in the division, is in charge of infrastructure
development in his division, and is also responsible for maintaining law
and order in the division.
[55][56][57][58][59] The
District Magistrate of Varanasi reports to the
Divisional Commissioner. The current
Commissioner is Nitin Ramesh Gokarn.
[60][61][62]
Varanasi district administration is headed by the
District Magistrate of Varanasi, who is an
IAS officer.
The DM is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the central government and oversees the
elections held in the city.
The DM is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the city, hence the SSP of Varanasi also reports to the
DM of Varanasi.
[55][63][64][65][66]
The DM is assisted by a Chief Development Officer (CDO), four
Additional District Magistrates (ADM) (Finance/Revenue, City, Protocol,
Executive), one Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), one City Magistrate (CM),
and four Additional City Magistrates (ACM). The district has three
tehsils, each headed by a
Sub-Divisional magistrate. The current DM is Yogeshwar Ram Mishra.
[60][61][62]
Police Administration
Varanasi district comes under the Varanasi Police Zone and Varanasi Police Range, Varanasi Zone is headed by an
Additional Director General ranked IPS officer, and the Varanasi Range is headed
Inspector General ranked IPS officer. The current ADG, Varanasi Zone is Biswajit Mahapatra,
[67] and IG, Varanasi Range is Deepak Ratan.
[68]
The district police is headed by a
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), who is an
IPS officer, and is assisted by six
Superintendents of Police (SP)/
Additional Superintendents of Police (Addl. SP) (City, Rural Area, Crime, Traffic, Protocol and Protocol), who are either IPS officers or PPS officers.
[69] Each of the several police circles is headed by a Circle Officer (CO) in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
[69] The current SSP is Ram Krishna Bharadwaj.
[69]
Infrastructure and Civic Administration
The development of infrastructure in the city is overseen by Varanasi
Development Authority (VDA), which comes under the Housing Department
of
Uttar Pradesh government. The
Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi acts as the
ex-officio Chairman of VDA, whereas a Vice Chairman, a government-appointed
IAS officer, looks after the daily matters of the authority.
[70] The current Vice-Chairman of Varanasi Development Authority is Pulkit Khare.
[71]
The
Varanasi Municipal Corporation
oversees civic activities in the city, the head of the corporation is
the Mayor, but the executive and administration of the corporation is
the responsibility of the Municipal Commissioner, who is a
Uttar Pradesh government-appointed either an
IAS officer
or Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer of high seniority. The
current Mayor of Varanasi is Mridula Jaiswal, whereas the Municipal
Commissioner is Nitin Bansal.
[72]
Water supply and sewage system is operated by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam.
Politics
Varanasi is represented in the
Parliament of India by the current Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi who won the
Lok Sabha elections in 2014 by a huge margin.
[74]
Healthcare
Hospitals in the city include the
Sir Sunderlal Hospital, a teaching hospital in the
Banaras Hindu University,
Heritage Hospital, Marwari Hospital, Pitambari Hopspital, Mata Anand
Mai Hospital, Rajkiya Hospital, Ram Krishna Mission Hospital, Shiv
Prasad Gupta Hospital, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (managed by
the state government), and Varanasi Hospital and Medical Research
Centre. The urban parts of the
Varanasi district had an
infant mortality rate of 70 per 1,000 live births in 2010–2011.
[75]
The Railway Cancer Hospital is now being run by the
Tata Memorial Centre after intervention by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi.
[76]
Sushruta, an ancient Indian physician known as the primary author of the treatise
Sushruta Samhita, the
Sanskrit
text of surgery, lived in Varanasi and practised medicine and surgery
sometime during the 5th century BCE. Since 1922, ayurveda has been a
subject of training in the Banaras Hindu University, and in 1927 a
separate Ayurvedic College was established.
[77][78] There are many ayurvedic centres in Varanasi providing treatments such as
Panchakarma as well as other treatments.
[79]
Public maintenance
Because of the high population density of Varanasi and the increasing
number of tourists, the Uttar Pradesh government and international
non-governmental organisations and institutions have expressed grave
concern for the pollution and pressures on infrastructure in the city,
mainly the sewage, sanitation, and drainage components.
Pollution of the Ganges
is a particular source of worry because of the religious significance
of the river, the dependence of people on it as a source of drinking
water, and its prominence as a symbol of Varanasi and the city itself.
[81]
The sewage problem is exacerbated by the role of the Ganges in bathing
and in river traffic, which is very difficult to control.
Because of the sewage, people using local untreated water have higher
risk of contracting a range of water-borne stomach diseases.
[82]
Parts of Varanasi are contaminated with industrial chemicals including
toxic heavy metal. Studies of
wastewater
from Varanasi's sewage treatment plants identify that water's
contamination with metals and the reuse of this water for irrigation as a
way that the toxic metals come to be in the plants that people grow for
food.
[83][84] One studied example is
palak, a popular leafy vegetable which takes up heavy metal when it is in the soil, and which people then eat.
[85] Some of the polluting sludge contains minerals which are fertiliser, which could make polluted water attractive to use.
[86]
Pesticides used in local farming are persistent enough to be spread
through the water, to sewer treatment, then back to the farms as
wastewater.
[86]
Varanasi's water supply and sewage system is maintained by Jal
Nigam, a subsidiary of Varanasi Nagar Nigam. Power supply is by the
Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. The city produces about
350,000,000 litres (77,000,000 imp gal; 92,000,000 US gal) per day
[87] of sewage and 425 tonnes (418 long tons; 468 short tons) per day of solid waste.
[88] The solid wastes are disposed in one landfill site.
[89]
Demographics
According to provisional data from the
2011 census, the Varanasi urban agglomeration had a population of 1,435,113, with 761,060 men and 674,053 women.
[90]
The population of the Varanasi urban agglomeration in 2001 was 1,371,749 with a ratio of 879 females every 1,000 males.
[91] However, the area under Varanasi Nagar Nigam has a population of 1,100,748
[92] with a ratio of 883 females for every 1,000 males.
[92] The literacy rate in the urban agglomeration is 77% while that in the municipal corporation area is 78%.
[92] Approximately 138,000 people in the municipal area live in slums.
[93]
Religion in Varanasi
[94]
Other or Not stated (0.35%)
Religion in Varanasi
Hinduism is predominantly followed in Varanasi while Islam being the
largest miniority. Nearly, 70% of the population follows Hinduism. The
city also agglomerate different religions such as Christianity, Sikhism,
Jainism and Buddhism. The city is also a centre for Buddhist
pilgrimage. At
Sarnath, Lord Buddha gave his first teaching after attaining enlightenment. Hence, agglomerating Buddhist population in the region.
In the sacred geography of India Varanasi is known as the "microcosm of India" .
In addition to its 3,300 Hindu religious places, Varanasi has 12
churches, three Jain mandirs, nine Buddhist shrines, three Gurdwaras
(Sikh shrines), and 1,388 Muslim holy places.
Economy
According to the 2006 City Development Plan for Varanasi, approximately 29% of Varanasi's population is employed.
Approximately 40% are employed in manufacturing, 26% work in trade and
commerce, 19% work in other services, 8% work in transport and
communication, 4% work in agriculture, 2% work in construction, and 2%
are marginal workers (working for less than half of the year).
Among manufacturing workers, 51% work in spinning and weaving,
15% work in metal, 6% work in printing and publishing, 5% work in
electrical machinery, and the rest work in a wide variety of industry
sectors. Varanasi's manufacturing industry is not well developed and is dominated by small-scale industries and household production.
Tourists shopping for jewellery in Varanasi
Silk weaving is the dominant industry in Varanasi.
Muslims are the influential community in this industry with nearly half
a million of them working as weavers, dyers, sari finishers, and
salespersons. Weaving is typically done within the household, and most weavers are
Momin Ansari Muslims. Varanasi is known throughout India for its production of very fine silk and
Banarasi saris,
brocades with gold and silver thread work, which are often used for
weddings and special occasions. The production of silk often uses bonded
child labour, though perhaps not at a higher rate than elsewhere in
India.
The silk weaving industry has recently been threatened by the rise of
power looms and computer-generated designs and by competition from
Chinese silk imports.
Trade Facilitation Centre is a modern and integrated facility to
support the handloom and handicraft sector in Varanasi; providing trade
enhancement and facilitation to both domestic & international
buyers. Hence, carrying forward the rich traditions of handlooms and
handicrafts.
In the metal manufacturing sector,
Diesel Locomotive Works is a major employer.
Bharat Heavy Electricals, a large power equipment manufacturer, also operates a heavy equipment maintenance plant.
[104] Other major commodities manufactured and traded in Varanasi include hand-knotted Mirzapur carpets, rugs,
dhurries, brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys, handicrafts, gold jewellery, and musical instruments. Important agricultural products include
betel leaves (for
paan),
langra mangoes and
khoa (solidified milk).
Tourism in Varanasi
Tourism is Varanasi's second most important industry.
Domestic tourist most commonly visit for religious purposes while
foreign tourist visit for ghats along River Ganges and Sarnath. Most
domestic tourists are from Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and other
parts of Uttar Pradesh, while the majority of foreign tourists are from
Sri Lanka and Japan. The peak tourist season falls between October and March.
In total, there are around 12,000 beds available in the city, of which
about one half are in inexpensive budget hotels and one third in
dharamsalas. Overall, Varanasi's tourist infrastructure is not well developed.
In 2017,
InterContinental Hotels Group made an agreement with the JHV group to set up Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotel chains in Varanasi.
[109]
Tourist arrival in Varanasi[110]
| Year |
International |
Domestic |
Total
|
| 2013
|
285,252 |
4,966,161 |
5,251,413
|
| 2014
|
287,761 |
5,202,236 |
5,489,997
|
| 2015
|
302,370 |
5,413,927 |
5,716,297
|
| 2016
|
312,519 |
5,600,146 |
5,912,665
|
| 2017
|
334,708 |
5,947,355 |
6,282,063
|
The prominent malls and multiplexes in Varanasi are JHV Mall in the
Cantonment area, IP Mall in Sigra, IP Vijaya Mall in Bhelupur, Vinayak
Plaza in Maldhaiya and PDR Mall in Luxa. The city has several banks,
including the
Allahabad Bank,
Andhra Bank,
Bank of Baroda,
Canara Bank,
Central Bank of India,
Corporation Bank,
Indian Overseas Bank, and
State Bank of India.
[111]
DLW manufactured locomotives hauling load across the nation
Notable landmarks
Apart from the 19 archaeological sites identified by the
Archaeological Survey of India,
[112] some of the prominent places of interest are the Aghor Peeth, the Alamgir Mosque, the
Ashoka Pillar, the
Bharat Kala Bhavan (Art Museum), the
Bharat Mata Mandir, the
Central University for Tibetan Studies, the
Dhanvantari Temple, the
Durga Temple, the
Jantar Mantar, the
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, the
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, the
Shri Vishwanath Temple on the BHU campus, the
Ramnagar Fort, the
Riverfront Ghats, the
Tulsi Manas Temple.
[113]
Jantar Mantar
The
Jantar Mantar observatory, constructed in 1737, is located above the ghats along the Ganges, and is adjacent to the Manmandir and
Dasaswamedh Ghats and near the palace of
Jai Singh II of
Jaipur. While less equipped than the observatories at Jaipur and Delhi, the Jantar Mantar has a unique
equatorial sundial which is functional and allows measurements to be monitored and recorded by one person.
[114]
Ramnagar Fort
The Ramnagar Fort, located near the Ganges on its eastern bank and
opposite the Tulsi Ghat, was built in the 18th century by Kashi Naresh
Raja Balwant Singh with cream-coloured
chunar sandstone. The fort is a typical example of the
Mughal architecture
with carved balconies, open courtyards, and scenic pavilions. At
present, the fort is in disrepair. The fort and its museum are the
repository of the history of the kings of Benares. Cited as an
"eccentric" museum, it contains a rare collection of American
vintage cars, bejeweled
sedan chairs, an impressive weaponry hall, and a rare astrological clock.
[115]
In addition, manuscripts, especially religious writings, are housed in
the Saraswati Bhawan which is a part of a museum within the fort. Many
books illustrated in the
Mughal miniature
style are also part of the collections. Because of its scenic location
on the banks of the Ganges, it is frequently used as an outdoor shooting
location for films.
[115]
Ghats
The Ghats in Varanasi are world-renowned embankments made in steps of
stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual
ablutions. The ghats are an integral complement to the Hindu concept of
divinity represented in physical,
metaphysical, and supernatural elements.
[117] Varanasi has at least 84 ghats, most of which are used for bathing by pilgrims and spiritually significant Hindu
puja ceremony, while a few are used exclusively as Hindu cremation sites.
[118][119][120] Steps in the ghats lead to the banks of Ganges, including the
Dashashwamedh Ghat, the
Manikarnika Ghat,
the Panchganga Ghat, and the Harishchandra Ghat, where Hindus cremate
their dead. Many ghats are associated with Hindu legends and several are
now privately owned.
Many of the ghats were constructed under the patronage of the Marathas, Shindes (
Scindias),
Holkars,
Bhonsles, and
Peshwas.
Most are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. A
morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular tourist
attraction. The extensive stretches of ghats in Varanasi enhance the
riverfront with a multitude of shrines, temples, and palaces built "tier
on the tier above the water's edge".
The Dashashwamedh Ghat
is the main and probably the oldest ghat of Varanasi located on the
Ganges, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is believed that
Brahma created this ghat to welcome Shiva and sacrificed ten horses during the
Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna
performed there. Above and adjacent to this ghat, there are also
temples dedicated to Sulatankesvara, Brahmesvara, Varahesvara, Abhaya
Vinayaka, Ganga (the Ganges), and Bandi Devi, which are all important
pilgrimage sites. A group of priests performs "Agni Pooja" (Sanskrit:
"Worship of Fire") daily in the evening at this ghat as a dedication to
Shiva, Ganga,
Surya (Sun),
Agni (Fire), and the entire universe. Special
aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.
[119]
The Manikarnika Ghat
is the Mahasmasana, the primary site for Hindu cremation in the city.
Adjoining the ghat, there are raised platforms that are used for death
anniversary rituals. According to a myth, it is said that an earring of
Shiva or his wife
Sati fell here. Fourth-century
Gupta period
inscriptions mention this ghat. However, the current ghat as a
permanent riverside embankment was built in 1302 and has been renovated
at least three times throughout its existence.
[119]
The Jain Ghat is believed to birthplace of
Suparshvanatha (7th Tirthankara) and
Parshvanatha
(23rd tirthankara). The Jain Ghat or Bachraj Ghat is a Jain Ghat and
has three Jain Temples located on the banks of the River. It is believed
that the Jain Maharajas used to own these ghats. Bachraj Ghat has three
Jain temples near the river's banks, and one them is a very ancient
temple of Tirthankara Suparswanath.
Temples
Among the estimated 23,000 temples in Varanasi, the temples most popular for worship are: the Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva; the
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple; and the Durga Temple, known for monkeys that reside in the large trees nearby.
[40][123]
- The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, on the Ganges, is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva temples in Varanasi.[123] The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout its existence. The Gyanvapi Mosque, which is adjacent to the temple, is the original site of the temple.[124] The temple, which is also known as the Golden Temple,[125] was built in 1780 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The two pinnacles of the temple are covered in gold and were donated in 1839 by Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab.
The dome is scheduled to receive gold plating through a proposed
initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs of Uttar
Pradesh. Numerous rituals, prayers, and aartis are held daily at the temple between 02:30 and 23:00.[126]
- The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, which is situated by the Asi River, is one of the sacred temples of the Hindu god Hanuman.[127] The present temple was built in the early 1900s by the educationist and Indian independence figure, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University.[128] According to Hindu legend the temple was built on the spot where the medieval Hindu saint Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman.
During a 7 March 2006 terrorist attack, one of three explosions hit the
temple while a wedding was in progress, and resulted in injuries to 30
people apart from 23 deaths.[128] Following the attack, a permanent police post was installed inside the temple.[130]
- There are two temples dedicated to the goddess Durga in Varanasi: Durga Mandir
built in the 16th century (exact date not known), and Durga Kund
(Sanskrit 'kund' meaning "pond or pool") built in the 18th century. A
large number of Hindu devotees visit Durga Kund during Navratri to worship the goddess Durga. The temple, built in the Nagara architectural style, has multi-tiered spires[125] and is stained red with ochre, representing the red colour of Durga. The building has a rectangular tank of water called the Durga Kund ("Kund" meaning a pond or pool). During annual celebrations of Nag Panchami, the act of depicting the god Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha is recreated in the Kund.[131] While the Annapurna Temple, located nearby to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, is dedicated to Annapoorna devi, the goddess of food,[123]
the Sankatha Temple adjacent to the Sindhia Ghat is dedicated to
Sankatha, the goddess of remedy. The Sankatha Temple has a large
sculpture of a lion and a cluster of nine smaller temples dedicated to
the nine planets.[123]
- Parshvanath Jain temple
is the temple of Jain religion dedicated to Parshvanath, the 23rd
Thirthankara who was born at Bhelpur in Varanasi. The idol deified in
the temple is of black colour and 75 centimetres (30 inches) in height.
It is located in Bhelapur about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from the centre
of Varanasi city and 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from the Benares Hindu
University. It belongs to the Digambar sect of Jainism and is a holy
tirtha or pilgrimage centre for Jains.
- Other temples of note are: the Bharat Mata Mandir, dedicated to the national personification of India, which was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, the Kalabhairav Temple, the Mrithyunjay Mahadev Temple, and the New Vishwanath Temple located in the campus of BHU, the Tulsi Manas Mandir.[123]
Mosques
There are 15 mosques of significant historical value in Varanasi. Of
particular note are the Abdul Razzaq, Alamgir, Bibi Razia, Chaukhambha,
Dhai Nim Kangore, Fatman, Ganje Shahada, Gyanavapi, and Hazrat Sayyed
Salar Masud Dargah. Many of these mosques were constructed from the
components of the Hindu shrines which were destroyed under the auspices
of subsequent Muslim invaders or rulers. The two well known mosques are
the
Gyanvapi Mosque and the
Alamgir Mosque.
The Gyanvapi Mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1664 CE, after destroying a Hindu temple.
Gyan Vapi
(Sanskrit: "the well of knowledge"), the name of the mosque, is derived
from a well of the same name located within the precincts of the
mosque. The remains of an erstwhile temple can be seen in the foundation, the columns and at the rear part of the mosque The façade of the mosque is modelled partially on the
Taj Mahal's entrance. The mosque is administered by the Anjuman Inthazamiya Masajid (AIM).
[137]
The Alamgiri Mosque was built in the 17th century by Aurangzeb over the ruins of a Hindu temple. The Hindu temple that was destroyed was dedicated to
Vishnu,
and had been built by Beni Madhur Rao Scindia, a Maratha chieftain.
When emperor Aurangzeb had captured Banaras, he had ordered total
destruction of all Hindu temples there. Aurangzeb then built a mosque
over the ruins of this temple in 1669
and named it as Alamagir Mosque in the name of his own honorific title
"Alamgir" which he had adopted after becoming the emperor of Mughal
empire. The mosque is located at a prominent site above the
Panchganga Ghat, which is a funerary ghat facing the Ganges.
The mosque is architecturally a blend of Islamic and Hindu
architecture, particularly because of the lower part of the walls of the
mosque having been built fully with the remains of the Hindu temple. The mosque has high domes and minarets.
Two of its minarets had been damaged; one minaret crashed killing a few
people and the other minaret was officially brought down because of
stability concerns. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque.
[144] The mosque has a security cordon of a police force.
Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan
Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan, at
Sir Gobardhan is the ultimate place of pilgrimage or religious headquarters for followers of the
Ravidassia religion.
[146] The foundation stone was laid on 14 June 1965 on
Ashad Sankranti day at the birthplace of Ravidas. The temple was completed in 1994.
[147]
Sarnath
Sarnath is located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the
Ganges and the
Varuna rivers in
Uttar Pradesh,
India. The deer park in Sarnath is where
Gautama Buddha first taught the
Dharma, and where the Buddhist
Sangha came into existence through the
enlightenment of
Kondanna.
[148]
The city is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of
pilgrimage to which his devout followers should visit. It was also the site of the Buddha's
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which was his first teaching after attaining enlightenment, in which he taught the
four noble truths and the teachings associated with it.
[148]
Culture
Literature
Renowned Indian writers who have resided in the city were Kabir, Ravidas, and Tulsidas, who wrote much of his
Ram Charit Manas here. Kulluka Bhatt wrote the best known account of
Manusmriti in Varanasi in the 15th century,
[149][dubious – discuss] Later writers of the city have included
Acharya Shukla,
Baldev Upadhyaya,
Bharatendu Harishchandra,
Devaki Nandan Khatri,
Hazari Prasad Dwivedi,
Jaishankar Prasad,
Kshetresa Chandra Chattopadhyaya, Sudama Pandey (Dhoomil),
Vagish Shastri, and
Vidya Niwas Mishra.
[150][dubious – discuss]
Several newspapers and journals are or were published in Varanasi such as
Varanasi Chandroday and its successor
Kashivartaprakashika, which became a weekly journal, first published on 1 June 1851.
[151] The main newspaper is
Aj, a Hindi-language nationalist newspaper first published in 1920. The newspaper was the bulwark of the
Indian National Congress and is a major newspaper of Hindi northern India.
Art
Varanasi is a major centre of arts and designs. It is a producer of
silks and brocades with gold and silver thread work, carpet weaving,
wooden toys, bangles made of glass, ivory work, perfumes, artistic brass
and copper ware and a variety of handicrafts.
[153][154] The cantonment graveyard of the British Raj is now the location of Varanasi's Arts and Crafts.
[clarification needed]
Notable artists (musicians and dancers) and historians who are connected with the city include
Bismillah Khan,
Ravi Shankar,
Girija Devi,
Gopal Shankar Misra,
Gopi Krishna,
Kishan Maharaj,
Lalmani Misra,
N. Rajam,
Siddheshwari Devi,
Samta Prasad, and
Sitara Devi.
[156]
Music
Sant Goswami Tulsidas Awadhi Hindi poet and propagator of Bhakthi music in Varanasi
Varanasi's music tradition is traced to the
Pauranic days. According to ancient legend, Shiva is credited with evolving music and dance forms. During the medieval era,
Vaishnavism, a
Bhakti movement, grew in popularity, and Varanasi became a thriving center for musicians such as
Surdas,
Kabir,
Ravidas,
Meera and Tulsidas. During the monarchic rule of Govind Chandra in the 16th century, the
Dhrupad
style of singing received royal patronage and led to other related
forms of music such as Dhamar, Hori, and Chaturang. Presently the
Dhrupad maestro Pandit
Ritwik Sanyal from Varanasi is working for the revival of this art-music.
[157]
In recent times, Girija Devi, the native famous classical singer of
thumris, was widely appreciated and respected for her musical renderings. Varanasi is also associated with many great instrumentalists such as
Bismillah Khan[157] and
Ravi Shankar, the famous
sitar player and musicologist who was given the highest civilian award of the country, the
Bharat Ratna. Varanasi has joined the global bandwagon of UNESCO "Cities of Music" under the Creative Cities Network.
[160]
Festivals
On
Maha Shivaratri (February), a procession of Shiva proceeds from the Mahamrityunjaya Temple to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
[40] Dhrupad Mela is a five-day musical festival devoted to
dhrupad style held at Tulsi Ghat in February–March.
[161] The
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple celebrates
Hanuman Jayanti (March–April), the birthday of Hanuman. A special
puja,
aarti, and a public procession is organised.
[162][163] Since 1923, the temple has organised a five-day classical music and dance concert festival named
Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, wherein iconic artists from all parts of India are invited to perform.
[40]
The
Ramlila of
Ramnagar is a dramatic enactment of Rama's legend, as told in
Ramacharitamanasa. The plays, sponsored by Kashi Naresh, are performed in Ramnagar every evening for 31 days. On the last day, the festivities reach a crescendo as Rama vanquishes the demon king
Ravana. Kashi Naresh
Udit Narayan Singh started this tradition around 1830.
Nag Nathaiya is celebrated on the fourth lunar day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of
Kartik (October–November). It commemorates the victory of
Krishna over the serpent
Kaliya. On this occasion, a large
Kadamba tree (
Neolamarckia cadamba)
branch is planted on the banks of the Ganges so that a boy, playing the
role of Krishna, can jump into the river on to the effigy representing
Kaliya. He stands over the effigy in a dancing pose playing the
flute, while an audience watches from the banks of the river or from boats.
Bharat Milap celebrates the meeting of Rama and his younger brother
Bharata after the return of the former after 14 years of exile.
[40] It is celebrated during October–November, a day after the festival of
Vijayadashami. Kashi Naresh attends this festival in his regal attire. The festival attracts a large number of devotees.
[165]
Ganga Mahotsav is a five-day music festival organised by
the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, held in November–December. It
culminates a day before
Kartik Purnima, also called
the Ganges festival. On this occasion the Ganges is attended by thousands of pilgrims, release lighted lamps to float in the river from the ghats.
[40][161]
The primary Muslim festivals celebrated annually in the city are the ld-ul-fitr' (
Ramzan),
Bakrid,
Mid-Sha'ban, Bara Wafat and
Muharram. Additional festivals include Alvida and
Chehlum. A non-religious festival observed by Muslims is Ghazi-miyan-ka-byaha ("the marriage of Ghazi Miyan").
Education
Women's College, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Historically, Varanasi has been a centre for education in India, attracting students and scholars from across the country. Varanasi has an overall literacy rate of 80% (male literacy: 85%, female literacy: 75%).
[90] It is home to a number of colleges and universities. Most notably, it is the site of
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which is one of the largest residential universities in Asia with over 20,000 students.
[170] The
Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi is designated an
Institute of National Importance and is one of 16
Indian Institutes of Technology. Other colleges and universities in Varanasi include
Jamia-e-Imania, the
Institute of Integrated Management and Technology,
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith,
Nav Sadhana Kala Kendra,
Sampurnanand Sanskrit University,
Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College, and
Udai Pratap Autonomous College.
Various engineering colleges have been established in the outskirts of
the city. Other notable universities and colleges include
Institute of Medical Sciences,
Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya,
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and
Harish Chandra Postgraduate College,
School of Management Sciences.
Some research oriented institutes were also established by the
government such as International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),
[171] Indian Institute of Vegetable Research[172] and
National Seed Research and Training Centre[173]
Varanasi also has three
Kendriya Vidyalaya. Among them
Kendriya Vidyalaya BHU
holds the regional office of Varanasi Region of KVS and is seat of
Deputy Commissioner. Kendriya Vidyalaya BHU is also accredited by the
British Council. Other KVs are Kendriya Vidyalaya 39 GTC and Kendriya
Vidyalaya DLW.
Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
St. Joseph's Convent School,
in Shivpur, Varanasi, was established by the Sisters of Our Lady of
Providence of France as a Catholic (Christian) minority institution with
the approval of the
Government of Uttar Pradesh.
It is an autonomous organisation under the diocese of the Bishop of
Varanasi. It provides education not only to the Catholic Christian
children, but also to others who abide by its rules.
[174]
Another important institution is the
Central Hindu School in Kamachha. This was established by
Annie Besant in July 1898 with the objective of imparting secular education. It is affiliated to the
Central Board of Secondary Education and is open to students of all cultures.
[175][176]
Schools in Varanasi are affiliated with the
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the CBSE, or the
Uttar Pradesh Board of Technical Education (U.P Board). The overall "state of education in Varanasi is ... not good."
[177] Schools in Varanasi vary widely in quality, with private schools outperforming government schools.
[177] In government schools, many teachers fail to come to class or to teach children.
[177] Some government schools lack basic equipment, such as blackboards and sufficient desks and chairs for all students.
[177]
Private schools vary in quality, with the most expensive conducting
lessons in English (seen as a key to children's success) and having
computers in classrooms.
[177] Pupils attending the more expensive private schools, tended to come from upper-class families.
[177]
Lower-cost private schools attracted children from lower-income
families or those lower-income families with higher education
aspirations.
[177] Government schools tend to serve lower-class children with lower education aspirations.
[177]
Sport
Basketball,
cricket, and
field hockey are popular sports in Varanasi.
[178] The main stadium in the city is the
Dr Sampurnanda Stadium (Sigra Stadium), where first-class cricket matches are held.
[179]
The Department of Physical Education,
Faculty of Arts of
BHU offers diploma courses in Sports Management, Sports Physiotherapy, Sports Psychology and Sports Journalism.
[180]
Gymnastics is also popular in Varanasi, and many Indian girls practice outdoors at the ghats in the mornings which hosts
akhadas, where "morning exercise, a dip in the Ganges and a visit to Lord
Hanuman" forms a daily ritual. Despite concerns regarding water quality, two swimming clubs offer swimming lessons in the Ganges.
[182]
The Varanasi District Chess Sports Association (VDCSA) is based
in Varanasi, affiliated to the regional Uttar Pradesh Chess Sports
Association (UPCSA).
[183]
Transport
Varanasi is well-connected by air, rail, and road. One of the major
factors in Varanasi's is its access to all parts of the country. Within
the city mobility is provided by taxis, rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and
three-wheelers, but with certain restrictions in the old town area of
the city.
[184]
Air transport
Varanasi is served by
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, which is approximately 26 km (16 mi) from the city centre in Babatpur. The airport's new terminal was inaugurated in 2010, and it was granted international airport status on 4 October 2012.
[186][187] Air India,
Air India Express,
Buddha Air,
IndiGo,
Malindo Air,
SpiceJet,
SriLankan Airlines,
Thai AirAsia,
Thai Smile and
Vistara operate flights from Varanasi to
Ahmedabad,
Bangkok,
Colombo,
Delhi,
Gaya,
Kathmandu,
Khajuraho,
Sharjah,
Kuala Lumpur,
Mumbai,
Hyderabad,
Bengaluru,
Goa,
Guwahati,
Jaipur,
Kolkata and several other cities.
[188] Over 2,785,015 passengers passed through the airport in 2018–19, making it the
23rd busiest airport in India.
The total aircraft movement for the session 2018-19 was 21,818 while
cargo tonnage equalled 2,657. Total footfall of the international
passangers for the session 2018-19 was 198,704.
[189][190][191]
Due to increasing passenger traffic and aircraft movements,
Airport Authority of India decided to extend the runway up to 4,075m
from 2,750m. The runway will be first of its kind having National
Highway (NH 31) under the airport runway.
[192]
Railways
Varanasi Junction,
commonly known as Varanasi Cantt Railway Station, is the city's largest
train station. More than 360,000 passengers and 240 trains pass through
each day.
[193] Manduadih railway station is also a Terminal station of Varanasi. Because of huge rush at
Varanasi Junction the railway developed the station as a high facilitated terminal.
Varanasi City railway station
is also one of the railway stations in Varanasi district. It is 4 km
North-East of Varanasi Junction railway station. It serves as Terminal
station because of heavy rush at Varanasi Junction.
Mughalsarai Junction railway station
is also the important station in Varanasi suburban. Some of the
important express trains operating from the Varanasi Junction railway
station and Manduadih railway station are:
Shiv Ganga Express runs between New Delhi Junction and Manduadih station while
Mahamana Express runs between Varanasi junction and New Delhi Junction; the
Udhna Varanasi Express that runs between Udhna (Surat) junction and Varanasi, a distance of 1,398 kilometres (869 mi);
[194] the
Kashi Vishwanath Express that runs between Varanasi and
New Delhi railway station;
[195]
the Kanpur Varanasi InterCity express, also called Varuna express,
which runs over a distance of 355 kilometres (221 mi) and connects with
Lucknow (the capital city of Uttar Pradesh) and
Varanasi;
[196] and the
Sabarmati Express which runs between Varanasi and Ahmedabad.
Vande Bharat Express, a
semi-high speed train was launched in the month of February in 2019 in the Delhi-Varanasi route.
[197] The train reduced the time travel between the two cities by 15 percent as compared to the
Shatabdi Express.
[198]
Roads
Road in Varanasi Cantonment
Varanasi lies along
National Highway 19 (old number: NH 2), which connects it to Kolkata, Kanpur,
Agra, and Delhi.
[44] National Highway 28 connects Varanasi to the Nepal-India border.
National Highway 31 connects Varanasi to Unnao.
[44]
The Government is executing seven road projects connecting
Varanasi, the total project cost being Rs 7,100 crore and the total
length of the project being 524 km.
Some of the important projects are:
- Six laning of Varanasi-Aurangabad NH-2
- Varanasi Bypass (Ring Road) Phase – I
- Ghagra Bridge-Varanasi NH-233
- Four laning of Varanasi-Sultanpur NH-56[199]
- Ring Road Phase – II
Auto rickshaws are the most widely available forms of public transport in old city. In the outer regions of the city, buses are common, and taxis are available.
Varanasi Metro
The
Varanasi Metro is a
rapid transit proposed for Varanasi. The proposed system consists of two lines, spanning from
BHEL to
Banaras Hindu University (19.35 km) and Benia Bagh to
Sarnath (9.885 km). The feasibility study of the project was done by
RITES
and was completed in June 2015. Metro Rail is likely to be completed
around 2020. There will be 26 stations, including 20 underground and six
elevated on the two lines, which includes total length of 29.235 km
consisting of 23.467 km underground, while 5.768 km will be elevated.
[201][202][203][204]
The total estimated completion cost for construction of Varanasi
Metro is estimated to be Rs. 17,227 Crores, including taxes and duties.
The project is envisaged to be undertaken as a joint venture (JV)
project between the
Government of India (GoI) and the
Government of Uttar Pradesh
(GoUP) with 50:50 equity partnerships. To maintain the financial
viability of the project, additional grants have been proposed from the
two governments in addition to their equity contribution.
Twin towns – sister cities
Varanasi is
twinned with:
See also
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Krishna spent most of his childhood in Braj, a place devotees associate with many of Krishna’s divine and heroic exploits with his childhood friends.[5] One of the most significant incidents, described in the Bhagavata Purana,[5] involves Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan (Govardhan Hill), a low hill situated in the middle of Braj.[5] According to the Bhagavata Purana, forest-dwelling cowherds living close to Govardhan used to celebrate the autumn season by paying respect to Indra,
the God of rain and storm. Krishna did not approve of this since he
desired that the villagers worship Mount Govardhan with the reason that
Mount Govardhan is the one that provides natural resources to the
villagers for their livelihood. Trees provided oxygen, the grass
provided food for the cattle and provided natural beauty. The mountain
was responsible for the natural phenomena that occur in the city of
Gokul. Indra got angry with this advice. Shri Krishna, though being
younger than almost everyone in the city, was respected by everyone due
to his knowledge and immense power. So, the people of Gokul agreed with
Shri Krishna's advice. Indra was angered upon seeing the villagers'
devotion diverted away from him and toward Krishna. Indra decided to
initiate thunderstorms and heavy rains in the city in reflex of his
egoistic anger. To protect the people from the storms, Shri Krishna
lifted the Govardhan mount on his little finger and provided shelter to
all the people and cattle of the city. After 7–8 days of continuous
storms, seeing the people of Gokul being unaffected, Indra accepted
defeat and stopped the storms. This day is therefore celebrated as a
festival that paid respect to Mount Govardhan by preparing a 'giriyajna'
- a "great offering of foods and delicacies to the mountain" Krishna
then assumed the form of a mountain himself and accepted the villagers'
offerings. .[5][12] Indra, after causing torrential rains for seven days, ultimately gave up and bowed to Krishna’s superiority.[5][12] This story is one of the most recognizable in the Bhagavata Purana.[5]
As described in the Bhagavata Purana , Govardhan Puja is chiefly
identified with Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill on his finger to
protect those who sought his refuge from Indra’s torrential rage.[15][16]
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