Gezicht op de Ganges en tempels in Varanasi
The city of Varanasi lies on the banks of the Ganges, at the heart of Hinduism. According to ancient legends, the water flowing through the river is guided by the hair of the god Shiva. This deity and the Ganges are therefore inextricably entwined. Varanasi boasts many temples. Bourne here showed a ghat: a sanctuary built on a hill with a flight of steps descending to the holy river.