Varanasi (Sanskrit VÄ�rÄ�ṇasÄ«, Hindustani pronunciation also commonly known as Benares or Banaras Hindi,Urdu, BanÄ�ras and Kashi (Hindi,Urdu,KÄ�śī, is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres (199 mi) southeast of state capital Lucknow. It is regarded as a holy city by Buddhists and Jains, and is the holiest place in the world in Hinduism (and center of the Earth in Hindu cosmology). It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest in India.

The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi and an essential part of all religious celebrations.The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for several thousand years. The Benares Gharana form of Indian classical music developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, including Kabir, Ravidas Their Guru Swami Ramanand, Trailanga Swami, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Shukla, Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Bismillah Khan. Tulsidas wrote Ramacharitamanas here, and Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located near Varanasi (Kashi).

Varanasi is home to four universities: Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. Residents mainly speak Hindi and Kashika Bhojpuri, which is closely related to the Hindi language. People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", and "the city of learning."

The best season to visit Varanasi/Banaras/Kashi and its temples is between October and March. Some of the major festivals and cultural events also take place in this period. Those who like to avoid the cold weather, a cool dry season between November and March can be the best time to travel Varanasi/Banaras/Kashi. Varanasi/Banaras/Kashi has lots of places of cultural interest. It has numerous destinations which has rich cultural heritage to offer. The time of June to September is also considered ideal time to visit Varanasi/Banaras/Kashi for the holy River Ganges gets cleansed with the monsoon rain and a dip in the river is surely have soul cleansing effects on the devotees

 In the days of my grandparents, going to Kashi was a dream, a journey which entailed days of travel by a rickety bus, and then, for the poor, a weary walk to the holy city, and for the affluent, a bullock cart ride. It is interesting to hear these stories, especially now that we don’t have to undergo any hardships to reach this holy place. The pilgrimage is no longer an arduous trip, but an easy holiday.

The best way to reach Varanasi is, of course by Air. The airport is about 10Kms outside the city, and there are a number of flights from Delhi, and even Bombay.

Trains are also a good option. There are two major stations these days- Varanasi Junction and Kashi. Mughalsarai, 10 Kms away, is also extremely well connected. If you want to get a first hand experience of train travel in India, then make sure to take a II class ticket and travel from Mumbai to Varanasi by train. The experience will certainly be a unique one, and you will get ample time to study human nature – from single travelers to couples with a vast number of kids (and only one berth), the crowd getting in and out at every station, and of course, the vendors, selling every variety of food items possible. Of course, if you want to avoid all this and have a comfortable journey, book tickets in an AC coach. Things

will certainly seem better.

Buses are also an option today, if you are coming from somewhere in UP or the nearby states. However, do not look for comforts, as they are not yet available.

By far, trains are certainly the most cost-efficient option.