Heritage Walk

Opis Heritage Walk

Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world and is known as the most preferred tourist destination in India. It is the city of temples, Ganga ghats, cultures, values, traditionss and religious activities. Varanasi is the city of Gallis and famous for its temples. The lanes of Benaras from a maze parallel to the river, running between homes, palaces and places of worship. Varanasi is a cradle of three spiritual religions Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The river, ghats and lanes make up the fabric of Banaras. As per Mark Twain, ‘Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together’. One of the oldest settlement sites in the world belonging to as old as the 8th century BC are found in Varanasi which are as old as Jerusalem and Athens. A large number of tourists visit this city in search of peace, to understand the oldest living tradition and seek divinity in the temple town. One can see an array of devotees from abroad and India thronging the shores of river Ganges in varanasi and seeking pure spirituality.
Since the city is the oldest living city of the world, it is the most important place for education. Benaras also remained an unparalleled center for commerce, religion and intellectual life. There are four major universities in this city, and many other enthralling tourist destinations place such as Sarnath, Ganga ghat, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Ramnagar fort etc. Varanasi not only has the tangible assets including the Heritage monuments/buildings etc. but also the intangible heritage, which is an important part of the culture of Varanasi.
Varanasi is also an important center of Classical Music. A musical ambience can be felt as one walks down the narrow gallis of Varanasi and further down the ghats. Benaras has its own history and treasure of music. It is so believed that the tradition of music in Varanasi lasts from the vedic periods. Lord Shiva the presiding deity of Varanasi is also considered as the Lord of dance and music. According to the puranic tales the Apsaras, Gandharvs and Kinnars lived in Varanasi and contributed in the musical tradition of Varanasi.