Varanasi district is an administrative district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the city of Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a major pilgrimage centre on the banks of the river Ganga. The district forms part of the Varanasi division and lies in the eastern (Purvanchal) region of the state.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Varanasi division |
| Headquarters | Varanasi |
| Region | Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) |
| Major river | Ganga |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Varanasi |
Varanasi district lies on the middle Gangetic plain, with the river Ganga forming a defining feature of its landscape. The Varuna and Assi, two smaller streams, give the city of Varanasi its traditional name. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain suited to intensive agriculture. The district is bounded by neighbouring districts including Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi), Mirzapur and Chandauli; the latter was carved out of Varanasi district in 1997.
The district is administered by a District Magistrate and is divided into tehsils and development blocks for revenue and rural administration. Urban administration in the city of Varanasi is handled by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (Nagar Nigam). The district falls under the Varanasi police commissionerate, which was established to oversee policing in the city and surrounding urban areas.
The region around Varanasi has a long recorded history stretching back to the ancient Kashi Mahajanapada. Under British rule, Banaras (Varanasi) was an important administrative centre and the seat of the Banaras State, a princely state that acceded to the Indian Union after independence. The district has undergone several reorganisations; in 1997 the eastern portion was separated to form Chandauli district, and parts of the older Varanasi district were earlier reorganised into Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) district in 1994.
The district is predominantly Hindi-speaking, with Bhojpuri widely used as a regional language. Varanasi is a major centre of Hindu religious learning, classical music (notably the Banaras gharana), and traditional crafts, most famously the Banarasi silk sari, which has Geographical Indication recognition. Buddhist heritage is represented at Sarnath, where the Buddha is traditionally said to have delivered his first sermon; Sarnath lies within the district.
The district economy combines agriculture, handloom weaving, tourism, religious services and education. Banarasi silk and brocade weaving is a major traditional industry. Tourism, both domestic and international, is significant due to the religious importance of the Ghats of Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, and Sarnath. Agriculture in the rural blocks centres on rice, wheat, pulses and vegetables.
Varanasi is a major transport hub in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur connects the district by air. Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt) and Banaras (Manduadih) are principal railway stations on the Northern and North Eastern Railway networks. National Highways including NH 19 (the old Grand Trunk Road alignment), NH 31 and NH 35 pass through the district. The district is also served by inland waterway facilities on the Ganga as part of National Waterway 1.
The district forms the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, which has drawn national attention as the parliamentary seat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. The district contains several Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) constituencies including Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantonment, Rohaniya, Sevapuri, Pindra, Shivpur and Ajagara.
Varanasi district holds exceptional cultural and religious importance in India, encompassing one of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) of Hinduism and a key Buddhist heritage site at Sarnath. Its combination of ancient pilgrimage traditions, classical learning institutions and modern higher education makes it an important node in the cultural geography of northern India.