Varanasi antiquity, like its spirituality, is shrouded in immortal time. Puranic and other ancient literature dates its existence to at least 3,000 years ago. Life in the Varanasi of today revolves around the Ghats along the River Ganges where the bulk of the temples are located. From dawn to dusk a steady stream of devotees perform rituals. Every devout Hindu’s ambition is to visit Varanasi once in a lifetime and to bathe in the sacred river Ganges. For several thousand years, pilgrims have cleansed themselves of their sins here and sought release from the cycle of rebirth. The town itself is a maze of small streets and alleyways, hiding in disorderly array not less than a thousand temples and shrines.