Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, the city has been a centre of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years. According to historians, the city was founded around ten centuries before the birth of Christ. The city finds mention in holy scriptures like 'Vamana Purana', Buddhist texts and the 'Mahabharata'. The unique relationship between the mighty Ganga and the city forms the essence of Varanasi - 'the land of sacred light'. Ghats Varanasi's principal attraction is the long string of ghats, which line the west bank of the Ganges.
Ghats are the steps which lead down to the river.
There are around 100 ghats in Varanasi, each with its own significance. Most Indians believe that anyone dying on the banks of the river, in Varanasi, attains instant 'moksha' or enlightenment. The Dasaswamedh Ghat is the most significant ghat here, and conveniently placed at the centre. The Manikarnika ghat is associated with Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva's wife. The five ghats where pilgrims are supposed to bathe in order, and on the same day are Asi ghat, followed by Dasaswamedh, Barna Sangam, Panchganga, and finally, Manikarnika, in that order.