Varanasi
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Overview
Varanasi grew into a city during the second urbanisation, along with Rajagriha, Shravasti and Kaushambi. Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthankara, is linked to it, and the saint Kabir was a weaver here. The Gahadavalas ruled from Kannauj and Varanasi.
The city stands on the left bank of the Ganga between the Varuna and Assi streams, which gave it its name.
Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, is about 10 km away.
Banaras Hindu University was founded here by Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916, and the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor opened in 2021.
It is one of the oldest living cities in the world.
The city has many ghats.
It is a centre of silk weaving.
It is the constituency of the Prime Minister since 2014.
Geography and key facts
- Uttar Pradesh
- Second urbanisation
- Kabir
- Parshvanatha
- Between the Varuna and Assi
- Sarnath nearby
- BHU (1916)
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked across ancient and medieval history.
Note for UPSC
International airport.
Useful for orientation and current-affairs questions on connectivity.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Varanasi yet.
Key facts
- Type
- International airport
- State / UT
- Uttar Pradesh
- Coordinates
- 25.452°N, 82.859°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
More international airports nearby
Other places in Uttar Pradesh
All international airports · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs