The oldest continuously inhabited city on Earth — predating recorded history — sits on the western bank of the Ganges where the river makes a rare northward turn. Hindus believe that cremation at Manikarnika Ghat breaks the cycle of reincarnation entirely, making it the most sought-after death site in human civilization. The 84 ghats create a 6.8-kilometer crescent along the river, forming a natural parabolic receiver. Manikarnika's funeral pyres have burned continuously for over 3,000 years — the fires are said to have never gone out. The city's Sanskrit name, Kashi, means "City of Light." Mark Twain wrote: "Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend."
WikipediaStellar Alignments (89 stars)
| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 86.9° | — | 273.1° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 106.1° | — | 253.9° | — | |
| Sirius | 113.1° | — | 246.9° | — | |
| Thuban | — | — | — | — | |
| Vega | 41.4° | — | 318.6° | — | |
| Regulus | 63.3° | — | 296.7° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 92.1° | — | 267.9° | — | |
| Antares | 97.8° | — | 262.2° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 140.5° | — | 219.5° | — | |
| Arcturus | 38.2° | — | 321.8° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 106.3° | — | 253.8° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 73.8° | — | 286.2° | — | |
| Deneb | 48.9° | — | 311.1° | — | |
| Capella | 57.5° | — | 302.4° | — | |
| Castor | 59.8° | — | 300.2° | — | |
| Pollux | 62.4° | — | 297.6° | — | |
| Procyon | 84.9° | — | 275.1° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 95.4° | — | 264.6° | — | |
| Rigel | 115.5° | — | 244.4° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 99.2° | — | 260.8° | — | |
| Achernar | — | — | — | — | |
| Acrux | 135.7° | — | 224.3° | — | |
| Mimosa | 131.1° | — | 228.9° | — | |
| Altair | 80.6° | — | 279.4° | — | |
| Kochab | — | — | — | — | |
| Dubhe | — | — | — | — | |
| Alkaid | — | — | — | — | |
| Mizar | — | — | — | — | |
| Hamal | 90.2° | — | 269.8° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 82.0° | — | 278.0° | — | |
| Alnitak | 106.5° | — | 253.5° | — | |
| Mintaka | 105.6° | — | 254.4° | — | |
| Saiph | 113.8° | — | 246.2° | — | |
| Peacock | 151.2° | — | 208.8° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | 153.9° | — | 206.1° | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | 133.5° | — | 226.5° | — | |
| Hadar | 131.2° | — | 228.8° | — | |
| Gacrux | 128.2° | — | 231.8° | — | |
| Naos | 129.8° | — | 230.2° | — | |
| Suhail | 126.6° | — | 233.4° | — | |
| Avior | 147.8° | — | 212.2° | — | |
| Atria | 145.8° | — | 214.2° | — | |
| Regor | 136.6° | — | 223.4° | — | |
| Alsephina | 140.5° | — | 219.5° | — | |
| Shaula | 113.7° | — | 246.3° | — | |
| Ankaa | 169.1° | — | 190.9° | — | |
| Menkent | 103.2° | — | 256.8° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 81.5° | — | 278.6° | — | |
| Eltanin | 21.4° | — | 338.6° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 45.9° | — | 314.1° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 61.5° | — | 298.5° | — | |
| Denebola | 51.2° | — | 308.8° | — | |
| Alhena | 81.8° | — | 278.2° | — | |
| Alphard | 89.0° | — | 271.0° | — | |
| Bharani | 93.2° | — | 266.8° | — | |
| Pushya | 65.9° | — | 294.1° | — | |
| Adhara | 126.0° | — | 234.0° | — | |
| Wezen | 122.2° | — | 237.8° | — | |
| Navi | 47.8° | — | 312.2° | — | |
| Schedar | 52.3° | — | 307.7° | — | |
| Nunki | 110.0° | — | 250.0° | — | |
| Canopus | 155.7° | — | 204.3° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 115.2° | — | 244.8° | — | |
| Sabik | 89.5° | — | 270.5° | — | |
| Scheat | 79.2° | — | 280.8° | — | |
| Enif | 91.5° | — | 268.5° | — | |
| Diphda | 135.7° | — | 224.3° | — | |
| Alphecca | 34.9° | — | 325.1° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 57.9° | — | 302.1° | — | |
| Spica | 76.2° | — | 283.8° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 75.6° | — | 284.4° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 59.4° | — | 300.6° | — | |
| Murzim | 118.8° | — | 241.3° | — | |
| Phact | 140.8° | — | 219.2° | — | |
| Mirfak | 59.5° | — | 300.5° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 51.8° | — | 308.2° | — | |
| Markab | 92.8° | — | 267.2° | — | |
| Algol | 70.0° | — | 290.0° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 104.1° | — | 255.9° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 106.1° | — | 253.9° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 63.9° | — | 296.1° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 116.1° | — | 243.9° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 71.7° | — | 288.3° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 108.3° | — | 251.7° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 57.9° | — | 302.1° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 122.1° | — | 237.9° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 69.2° | — | 290.8° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 110.8° | — | 249.2° | — |
Convergence Events (5)
288.2°
Alhena Set
Hindu (Punarvasu), Arabic, Chinese
Δ 0.1°
288.3°
Aldebaran Set
Persian Royal Star (Tascheter), Hindu (Rohini), Babylonian, Aboriginal
Δ 0.2°
286.9°
Markab Set
Babylonian, Arabic (saddle), Chinese, Hindu (near Shatabhisha)
Δ 1.3°
286.2°
Denebola Set
Hindu (Uttara Phalguni), Chinese, Arabic
Δ 2.0°
286.0°
Rasalgethi Set
Arabic, Chinese (Tianshi), Sumerian, Greek (Herakles)
Δ 2.2°
Reference Bearings (20 landmarks)
| Landmark | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| giza | 288.13° | 5,094 km |
| angkor wat | 117.33° | 2,551 km |
| nazca | 292.97° | 17,440 km |
| teotihuacan | 2.47° | 15,007 km |
| stonehenge | 317.45° | 7,496 km |
| gobekli tepe | 298.62° | 4,352 km |
| machu picchu | 293.25° | 17,123 km |
| easter island | 101.93° | 18,766 km |
| cahokia | 354.00° | 12,866 km |
| sedona | 13.74° | 13,145 km |
| mecca | 273.59° | 4,411 km |
| jerusalem | 290.21° | 4,687 km |
| vatican | 305.35° | 6,602 km |
| lhasa | 57.01° | 934 km |
| kailash | 345.79° | 661 km |
| uluru | 133.85° | 7,638 km |
| tiwanaku | 282.79° | 16,925 km |
| chaco canyon | 10.02° | 13,094 km |
| mt shasta | 19.91° | 12,161 km |
| levis stadium | 21.38° | 12,569 km |
Related Sites — Giza / Orion Extraction