UTTAR PRADESH: THE LAND OF TEMPLES AND VIHARAS

One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi, the land of Lord Shiva, is situated on the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh.

- -ANANDESI NAGARAJU

It was the capital of the Kashi kingdom during the time of Buddha in the sixth century BCE. It is famous for the temple of Kashi Vishwanath, which is one of the twelve divine Jyotirlingas. The Goddess Annapurna temple near it was built by Peshwa Baji Rao 1 in 1725. There are many ancient and famous temples like Kaal Bhairav Temple, Batuk Bhairav Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, and Sakshi Vinayak Temple in Varanasi.

There are many Jain temples in Varanasi, as four Jain Tirthankars - Suparshavanath, Chandra Prabhu, Shreyansnath, and Parshvanathwere born in Varanasi. A unique temple dedicated to Mother India, Bharata Mata Temple, with perfect relief maps of India carved on marble, was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 in Varanasi. Sant Kabir's Temple, built on the site of his home, depicts his works in rock frames.

Varanasi is also the land of Ghats such as Assi Ghat, which is one of the oldest and largest ghats, Dashashwamedh Ghat, where Ganga Aarti is held, Manikarnika Ghat, known for the holiest cremation place, that ascertains attainment of Moksha after death, as per beliefs, Tulsi Ghat, Hanuman Ghat, Prahlad Ghat, and Jain Ghat etc.