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History
Almost midway in its
long journey from the slopes of the mighty Himalayas to the
inflamed shore of Bay of Bengal, the muddy waters of the Ganges
flow by a city that is five centuries older than Christ. The
city finds mention in the
 great
epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was already an old city
when Rome was founded, and was a flourishing center of trade
when Buddha came to Sarnath, some 10 km away, to preach his
first sermon in 500 bc. It is a city of temples and for more
than 2,500 years, it has attracted pilgrims from near and far.
According to Hindu belief, Benaras or Varanasi as it is known,
is the cosmic center of the Universe. The renowned American
novelist Mark Twain once wrote, "Benaras is older than history,
older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as
old as all of them put together."
Down the ages, Varanasi has stood as a symbol of Hindu
renaissance. Swathed in an aura of history, religion, and
tradition, Varanasi preserved the rituals and traditions of
Hindu philosophy. From a time stretching beyond human memory,
pilgrims from distant lands have come to Varanasi in search of
divine blessings.
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