Rickshaws and autos dominate the roads of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh

From the archive record

Three wheeler auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and a motley assortment of old world and new world vehicles dominate the roads of one of India's oldest cities. Varanasi, also known as Benares, Banaras or Kashi, is an Indian city on the banks of the Ganges (Ganga) in Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It is the holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism, and played an important role in the development of Buddhism. Some Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Varanasi is also known as the favourite city of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva as it has been mentioned in the Rigveda that this city at older times was known as Kashi or "Shiv ki Nagri"