Varanasi, Oldest Living City on Earth
Image Source: CIA - The World Factbook
Varanasi, also known as Benares, Kashi, Banaras, etc is the Oldest Continuously Inhabited City on Earth.
Situated on the banks of the sacred river Ganga (Ganges), the City of Varanasi was founded by none other than Lord Shiva himself. This is one of the most sacred places of Hinduism. Even during the times of Satya Harishchandra, Varanasi was already a prominent city and hence in all likelihood is much older than the times of Raja Harishchandra (Probably earlier than 6300 BCE).
Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath which is very close to Varanasi. Varanasi is also called “the city of temples”, “the holy city of India”, “the religious capital of India”, “the city of lights”, and “the city of learning.”
In Rigveda, Varanasi is referred to as Kashi meaning “the luminous one”. Skanda Purana describes the glory of Varanasi in 15000 verses!
Tags: , Benares, Buddha, City, Ganga, Ganges, Harishchandra, Kashi, Shiva, Varanasi
Gurudev 
