INDIA CROSSING THE RIVER GANGES Vanarasi pilgrim. "Benaras is older than history; older than tradition; older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together"- this is how Mark Twain has described Varanasi; which is one of the ancient cities in the country and has had been the holiest spot for the Hindus for hundreds of years. The epitome of Hindu renaissance; the city has been the abode of knowledge; wisdom; culture; philosophy and worship since ages. People go the city to attain salvation by serving the mythological Gods. The pilgrims take bath in the water of the River Ganga flowing through the city believing that it will wash off their sins.The city is believed to have been the adode of the Hindu mythological gods Lord Shiva and Parvati. The civilization of the city dates back to thousands of years and is even believed to have been the dwelling place of Buddha for quite sometime. Being the birthplace of Parsvanath; the city has also been one of the major spots of attraction for the Jains. Precisely Varanasi is a land of spiritualism; language; literature; medical science; mysticism and Yoga. It has never failed to provide solace to the minds of the believers.