About
Varanasi is a North Indian city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. Situated about 380 kilometres south-east of the state capital
Lucknow, and 121 kilometres east of
Allahabad,
Varanasi is touted as the spiritual capital of India. It is not only one of the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism, but also played a crucial role in the development of Buddhism.
City Infrastructure
Varanasi enjoys smooth connectivity by air, rail, and road. It allows easy access to all parts of the country. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is situated 26 kilometres from the city centre. The citys largest train station is
Varanasi Cant Railway Station. Udhna
Varanasi Express, Kashi Vishwanath Express,
Kanpur Varanasi InterCity Express, Sabarmati Express are some of the important express trains that operate from the
Varanasi Junction railway station. A number of strategic National Highways, including NH 2, NH 29, NH 56, and the longest National Highway in India, the NH 7, connects the city to various locations in the country. Auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and taxis are readily available as the most popular forms of transport within the city.
Real Estate
The real estate sector of the city was largely beenfitted by the upgradation of the
Varanasi airport to the status of an international airport in 2012. There has been a joint effort of the Mayor of Kyoto and Indias Ambassador to Japan to carve a smart heritage city of
Varanasi, after the Prime Minister paid a visit to Japan. This initiative will modernize waste management, sewage management, urban transport, and water management which will consequently give a significant boost to the realty scenario of
Varanasi.
Jaitpura,
Khajuri,
Sarnath,
Shivpur, and
Sigra are amongst the sought-after destination for residential property in the city.
Lifestyle
Varanasi boasts of several places of interest including the Aghor Peeth, the Alamgir Mosque, the Ashoka Pillar, Bharat Kala Bhawan, Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Jantar Mantar, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, the Mahatma Gandhi
Kashi Vidyapith, the New Vishwanath Temple on the BHU campus, the
Ramnagar Fort, the Riverfront Ghats, the Tulsi Manas Temple, and few others. The Ghats in
Varanasi are world-renowned embankments where pilgrims perform ritual customs, some of which are the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat, and the Harishchandra Ghat. The 15 mosques in
Varanasi also have immense historical value, such as Gyanvapi Mosque, Alamgiri Mosque, Abdul Razzaq, Alamgir, etc. A major centre of arts and culture, this city celebrates festivals such as Mahashivratri, Ramlila of
Ramnagar, Nag Nathaiya, Ganga Mahotsav, Ramzan, Bakrid, Muharram, and few others. The city is also a prominent centre of education, with numerous students and scholars flocking here from across the country. Banaras Hindu University is one of the largest residential universities in Asia with over 20,000 students. Other leading educational institutions include the Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Institute of Integrated Management and Technology, Sri Agrasen Kanya PG College, etc.