5The Ganges

The Ganges is one of the most famous rivers in the world. Originating high in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the Ganges is fed by numerous Himalayan tributaries to form the third-largest largest river system in the world by flow rate.

The volume of water that flows through the Ganges makes it a lifeline to millions of people who depend on it for their daily needs. The Hindu faithful consider the Ganges sacred and worship the river as the goddess Ganga. Perhaps nowhere is this aspect of the Ganges more evident than in the Indian city of Varanasi. Varanasi is home to some of the most important temples in Hinduism, including Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Varanasi is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus.