The life and activities in Varanasi centre on the holy river Ganges and its numerous Ghats- all having a Shiva lingam. Thousands of pilgrims coming from all corners of the country come down to the river to wait for the rising sun when immersion in the sacred river will cleanse them of their sufferings and wash their sins away. Everyone performs the rituals in his own unique way. Some bathe in the holy water; other take a dip; some drink the water; other make water offerings to the sun; while others fill their pots with holy water to take back to their homes to perform rituals and purification.

Major Attractions in Varanasi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Varanasi has a strong association with Lord Shiva and believed to be his abode. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga-the fiery pillar of light- by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust and flared towards the heavens. The Shivalinga installed in the temple is regarded as the more sacred than Ghats and even sacred Ganga and is the main attraction for pilgrims.

The Ghats (River Front): Varanasi Ghats are the major attractions of the temple city. There are more than one hundred Ghats in the city and each of them is marked by a lingam having their own religious significance. Thousands of devotees throng to these Ghats every in the morning to take a dip in the holy water and enjoy a spectacular view of sunrise. Though most of the Ghats are used for bathing, some of them are also used for cremations. The most sacred Ghats in Varanasi are the Asi Ghat, Adi Keshava Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Panchaganga Ghat and Dashashwamedha Ghat. The Pancha Trirtha Yatra is performed by crossing these five Ghats.

Other important temples in Varanasi are Durga Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and Tulsi Manas Temple among hundreds of others.