Varanasi Hotels

The city of Varanasi is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India and on the River Ganges. Varanasi derives its religious importance from the river and is considered as the most sacred place for Hindus. The residents of the city usually speak Kashika Bhojpuri, a language closely associated to the Hindi language. Varanasi is also referred to as the “cultural capital of India” & “the city of lights.”

• History of Varanasi

The name of the city “Varanasi” is derived from the names of the two rivers namely the Asi and Varuna which confluence with the River Ganges. Legends say that the city of Varanasi was founded by Shiva, a Hindu deity, nearly 5000 years ago. It is currently the most important destination for pilgrims in India and is being described in popular Hindu scriptures namely the Skanda, Rigveda, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Purana.

Varanasi was considered to be the capital city of the Kingdom of Kashi during the period of Gautama Buddha. In the past, it was an industrial and commercial center for ivory works, Muslim and silk fabrics, sculpture and perfumes.

It was Mahmud of Ghazni, who made successive invasions in 1033 CE and was followed by another Muslim invader, Mohammed Ghori in 1193 CE. During this time, several Hindu temples were destroyed by the Muslims and the materials were used to build mosques. But, Akbar, another Mughal emperor, stopped this destruction of Hindu temples at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Aurangzeb was the next Mughal emperor to rule the city followed by the Marathas, who restored the pride of the city.

If you carefully study the History of Varanasi, you’ll find it to be filled with rich cultural heritage of ancient India.