Varanasi

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is the spiritual heart of India, situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. Pilgrims flock to its ancient ghats for ritual bathing and cremation ceremonies, while the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is a mesmerizing spectacle of fire and devotion. The city's narrow lanes are a sensory overload of temples, silk weavers, and chai stalls.