Varanasi attracts record 147 million visitors despite reputation as city of dead

A visitor to Varanasi, India's ancient spiritual hub, discovered unexpected vitality amid the city's famous cremation ghats along the Ganges River. The 3,000-year-old city attracted a record 147 million visitors in 2025, many performing funeral rites. Despite its reputation as a "city of the dead," Varanasi's living culture—from silk weaving to ritual bathing—left the traveler profoundly energized.

Summary by Glance · Brisbane Times