“Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” — Mark Twain
There are places in the world that you visit to see history, and then there is Kashi (Varanasi), where you visit to see Eternity.
Looking through the lens of my drone, hovering over the holy Ganges, the view is startling. To the left, the eternal flames of Manikarnika Ghat rise towards the sky, carrying souls to Moksha (liberation). To the right, the majestic, pristine stones of the new Kashi Vishwanath Corridor shine under the sun.
In one frame, you see the oldest truth of humanity and the newest vision of India.
The Dance of Life and Death
In Kashi, death is not hidden behind sterile hospital curtains; it is celebrated on the riverbanks. It is said that Lord Shiva himself whispers the Tarak Mantra into the ears of the dying here, granting them liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
From the sky, the sight is a philosophical masterpiece. On one ghat, a family mourns a loved one, their pyre turning into ash. Just a few meters away, a group of young priests perform the Ganga Aarti, celebrating the river of life with drums and fire. Children dive into the water, tourists sip chai in earthen cups, and life thrives ferociously right next to the face of death.
It teaches you the most important lesson of all: Life is transient, but the energy is eternal.
A New Dawn: The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor
For centuries, the lanes (galis) leading to the Lord Vishwanath temple were congested, hiding the glory of the deity behind tangled wires and crumbling structures.
But today, looking at the banks from above, one cannot help but marvel at the transformation. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham, a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has breathed new life into this ancient city. It is a masterclass in how to honor heritage while embracing modernity.
What was once a claustrophobic maze is now a dignified, spacious pathway connecting Ganga (the river) directly to Vishwanath (the Lord). The aesthetic restoration has given the pilgrims space to breathe and the photographers a canvas that finally does justice to the city’s grandeur. It is not just construction; it is a “Restoration of Glory.”
The City of Light
They call it Kashi—the City of Light. And standing here, watching the golden reflection of the temple on the green waters of the Ganges, you understand why.
This is a place where time stands still. Where the chanting of “Har Har Mahadev” vibrates through the stones. Where you don’t just click a picture; you capture a feeling.
To the traveler: Come to Kashi not just to see the temples, but to see the truth. Come to witness the end of life and the celebration of it, happening side by side, as they have for time immemorial.