Varanasi is a city on the banks of the river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India and it is the holliest of the seven sacred cities. Varanasi has been an cultural centre of northern India for several thousend years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the ‘holy’ Ganges river allows one to break the cycle of rebirth and attain salvation, making it a major center for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions.

Below is a selection of photos taken during a tour over the Ganges river with a view on the banks of the river on October 21 2019. Click on a small photo for a larger view, then select the next one with the cursor keys or the arrows on either side of the photo.