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Varanasi was the capital of the kingdom of Kashi during the time of Buddha (7th Century BCE )who gave his first sermon nearby at Sarnath

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The Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 7th Century when he gave his first sermon , "THE SETTLING IN MOTION OF THE WHEEL OF DHARMA" at nearby Sarnath.

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Varanasi's religious importance  continued to grow in the 8th century,when are Adi Shankara established  the worship of Shiva as a official state of Varanasi.

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Guru Nanak visited Varanasi for Mahashivratri In the 15th Century, a trip that played a large role in the founding of Sikhism.

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Varanasi experienced a Hindu cultural revival in the 16th century under the Mughal emperor Akbar, who invested in the city and funded to build two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.

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In the 16th century , emperor Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of many temples causing the city to experience a temporary setback.

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In the 18th Century Varanasi was built once again after the temporary setback .

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The Kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals in 18th Century, the kingdom started in this way and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian independence in 1947.

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In the 19th Century the establishment of the Varanasi Municipal Board led to significant improvements in the city's infrastructure and basic amenities of health services, drinking water supply and sanitation .

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Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre  famous for its Muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works and sculpture.

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The Benares state was merged in India after India's independence in 1947. 

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From 1947 to this date Varanasi has been growing rapidly The city has improved a lot . 

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When Mark Twain visited Varanasi he  wrote, “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” ... 