Ancient neighborhoods in Hindu pilgrimage city flattened by renovations
Varanasi has been defined by its maze of narrow alleyways, palaces, homes, and centuries-old temples.
Even now, with a heap of debris in the courtyard of his 600-year-old home in Varanasi—a Hindu pilgrimage center and one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities—Ram Nath carries a pitcher of holy water from the river Ganges every day to perform his rites to the Hindu god Shiva.
“For generations, we ritually purified our Shiva deities before daybreak,” says Nath, 68, pointing to the ruins of the house’s sanctum, where he performs puja.
Also known as Kashi, Varanasi has been defined by its maze of narrow alleyways, palaces, homes, and centuries-old temples.
