Benares (also known as Banaras, Kashi, Kasi and Varanasi
(वाराणसी)) is a Hindu holy city on the banks of the river Ganga
or Ganges in the modern north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Benaras has a unique culture, quite different from other places
in the region. This culture has developed through thousands of
years during which it has been one of the major cultural centres
of northern India. The whole 'Benarasi' culture revolves around
the river Ganga, which is the heart and soul of the city.
Benaras has its own 'Gharanas' (style of music) in classical
Indian music. Benaras has produced some of the most well known
musicians, philosophers, poets, writers in Indian history. To
name a few, Kabir, Munshi Prem Chandra, Pd. Ravi Shanker, Pd.
Bismillah Khan were/are from Benaras. It even has its own
dialect which is quite different from other dialects of the
region. It has been a seat of knowledge from about 700 BCE
onwards. Its universities attracted students from all over the
then-known world. The banks of Ganges in