Varanasi

American  

[vuh-rah-nuh-see] / vəˈrɑ nə si /

noun

1. a city in southeastern Uttar Pradesh, in northeastern India, on the Ganges River: Hindu holy city.

---

Varanasi British  

/ vəˈrɑːnəsɪ /

noun

1. Former names: Benares.   Banaras.  a city in NE India, in SE Uttar Pradesh on the River Ganges: probably dates from the 13th century _bc ; an early centre of Aryan philosophy and religion; a major place of pilgrimage for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, with many ghats along the Ganges; seat of the Banaras Hindu University (1916), India's leading university, and the Sanskrit University (1957). Pop: 1 100 748 (2001)

---

Example Sentences

Mohabir’s exploration of his family’s past takes him to Varanasi, India, for a year to study Bhojpuri.

From Washington Post

"I have opened my shop after 40 days," a tea vendor, Monu Yadav, told Reuters partner ANI in the northern city of Varanasi, adding that only a fraction of his customers had returned.

From Reuters

Several such sites are operating in Varanasi, a historic riverfront city 15 miles from Sujabad that features majestic stone steps to the Ganges called ghats.

From Washington Post

In downtown Varanasi, a city of about 1 million, officials have set up a coronavirus command center, with banks of workers taking calls from the public, checking on isolated patients, ordering ambulances for those needing hospitalization and arranging cremations.

From Washington Post

The closest center is 12 miles from the village; for advanced care, villagers must travel 60 miles to the city of Varanasi.

From Washington Post