Varanasi, also known as Benaras or Kashi, is one of the oldest living cities in the world and is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Here are some things that make Varanasi special:

• Religious Significance: Varanasi is considered the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus, who believe that dying in Varanasi would lead to salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. The city is also a pilgrimage place for Jains and Buddhists.

• Cultural Capital: Varanasi has been a great center of learning for ages and is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga, and Hindi language. It is also known for its arts and crafts, including silk and brocade production, carpet weaving, wooden toys, bangles made of glass, ivory work, and brassware.

• Historical Significance: Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and has a rich history dating back to the Vedic period. It was a commercial and industrial center famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. The city was also the capital of the kingdom of Kashi during the time of the Buddha.

• Ghats and Riverfront: Varanasi has the finest river frontage in India, with miles of ghats, or steps, for religious bathing. The inner streets of the city are narrow, winding, and impassable for motor traffic, while the newer outer suburbs are more spacious and are laid out more systematically. The sacred city is bounded by a road known as Panchakosi.

• Food: Varanasi is known for its diverse selection of flavors and dishes, including local street foods like crunchy kachoris and spicy aloo puri. The city is also famous for paan, a must-try Varanasi specialty made of betel leaf.

Varanasi is a city that is both chaotic and poetic, and it has absorbed its various conquests, myths, religions, and philosophies into one urban space. It is a city that surprises visitors with its unique blend of history, culture, and spirituality.