VÄrÄṇasÄ« (HindÄ«: वाराणसी, ), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras (HindÄ«: बनारस,; ), or Kashi or Kasi (Hindi:काशी, ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back thousands of years and being contemporaneous with Sumer. The name Kasi is mentioned in the Rig-veda.