Varanasi
Virtual Walk · India
Take a free virtual walk through Varanasi, India — no passport, no flights, no account required. Nearaway streams immersive 4K walking tour footage from Varanasi's streets, letting you explore Asia's cities from anywhere in the world. Choose from 3 different walking tour videos across the city.
Varanasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, with settlement traceable to at least 1200 BCE — older than Rome, older than Athens. Hindus call it Kashi, City of Light, and believe that dying here guarantees moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Mark Twain wrote of it: 'Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.'
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — over 3,000 years old. Mark Twain wrote: 'Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend.' The best time for a virtual walk through Varanasi is winter (november–february) — avoid monsoon for ghat walks. Must-try local foods include Banarasi paan (betel leaf), Kachori sabzi (breakfast classic), Lassi from Blue Lassi shop (since 1925).
Local Greeting
Namaste / Jai Shri Ram
How locals say hello in Varanasi
Best Time to Visit
Winter (November–February) — avoid monsoon for ghat walks
Must Eat
Local Tip
Hire a boat at dawn to witness the Ganga Aarti from the water — watching from the ghats is crowded. Negotiate the price before boarding.
Origin Story
AncientVaranasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, with settlement traceable to at least 1200 BCE — older than Rome, older than Athens. Hindus call it Kashi, City of Light, and believe that dying here guarantees moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Mark Twain wrote of it: 'Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.'
Fun Fact
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — over 3,000 years old. Mark Twain wrote: 'Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend.'
Cultural Dos
- ✓Attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- ✓Walk the Ghats at sunrise — the light is extraordinary
- ✓Dress modestly — this is one of Hinduism's holiest cities
- ✓Buy genuine Banarasi silk directly from weaver families in Madanpura
Cultural Don'ts
- ✕Photograph cremation ceremonies at Manikarnika Ghat without permission — it's sacred, not a spectacle
- ✕Accept unsolicited 'free' temple guides — they lead to high-pressure silk shops
- ✕Eat meat near the ghats — many areas are strictly vegetarian
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