Open House, Benaras

Varanasi, Benares or Kashi as it was once called is the `City of Lights’ or the `Eternal
City’. It is the religious epi-centre of India and dates as far back as 500 BC. It has about 100 bathing and burning ghats (stepped banks) with temples and palaces built by Indian royalty located on a 5 km stretch along the holy river Ganges. It also has rich music, art, literature, handicraft and silk brocade weaving traditions.
 
Benaras (Varanasi) now has a large, multicultural population who live by the ghats and make it their home.They mark the city with their distinct expressions of identity.