The holy city of Varanasi, known as the City of Temples and Learning, is a place of great historical and cultural significance. This religious capital of India is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges and is presided over by Lord Shiva. The river-front of the city is adorned by hundreds of well built ghats which is a unique feature. The holy Buddhist place, Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon on attaining enlightenment, is in its vicinity. Varanasi is the premiere most place of oriental learning, as well as modern advanced knowledge . It has several  universities  and  colleges  teaching  varied

subjects from engineering and medicine to dance and music. Banaras Hindu University, a university of world repute, is situated here. Little wonder then, that this place is also called Kashi, meaning City of Spiritual Light.

The city is reputed for silk fabrics, perfumes, artistic brass and copper wares and a variety of handicrafts. Products of the city include shawls, saris, gold-embroidered cloth, hand-hammered brassware, and heavy gold and silver jewellery. Varanasi is especially known for its fine silk fabrics. The Banarasi silk sarees and brocades are cherished as collector's items across the world. It is also home to the Diesel Locomotive Works of Indian Railways, one of the largest locomotive manufacturing plants in the World.

As an eternal city with a rich and vibrant past, it has no exquisitely carved palaces, no impregnable fort, no architectural splendour but still the city has an inherent charm of its own. The ghats dotted with temples, the maze of alleys along the ghats, what ever Varanasi has is enough to attract you again and again.