Va·ra·na·si 
(və-ränə-sē) also Be·na·res (bə-närəs, -ēz) or Ba·na·ras (-närəs)
(və-ränə-sē) also Be·na·res (bə-närəs, -ēz) or Ba·na·ras (-närəs) A city of northeast-central India on the Ganges River southeast of Lucknow. One of India's oldest cities, it is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site with some 1,500 temples, palaces, and shrines.