Other famous temples include the Bindu Madhav Temple near the Panchaganga Ghat and the Tailang Swami Math.

Other places of interest in Varanasi include the Alamgir Mosque built by the Emperor Aurangzeb above the Panchaganga Ghat in the 17^th century. An interesting edifice since it incorporates Muslim and Hindu styles of architecture. The original temple here was built by Beni Madhav Rao Scindia so this mosque is also known as Beni Madhav Ka Darera.

The great mosque of Aurangzeb – the Gyanvapi Mosque is a magnifice4nt structure with tall minarets. The back of the mosque has exquisite example of ancient Hindu temple art.

Varanasi has always been a great centre of learning and culture. It was here that Patanjali wrote his treatise pm Sanskrit grammer – the great poets Tulasidas and Kabir wrote their works.

Today the Benaras Hindu University is perhaps the largest residential university in Asia with 32 areas of study. Laid out on an extensive campus of over 2000 acres donated by the Maharaja of Benaras in the early part of the century, it was founded by the scholar Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. The University is noted for its studies in Sanskrit and in Indian culture, including art and music and attracts students from India and abroad.

[ Back ] [ Tourism of India ] [ Up ]