Varanasi city, southeastern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India is located on the left bank of the Ganges (Ganga) River and is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism. The iconic riverfront ghats, gullies and the River Ganga in Varanasi have been a repository of culture and wisdom from ancient times. Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. The city has 88 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremony ghats, while two ghats are used exclusively as cremation sites. Most Varanasi ghats were rebuilt after 1700 AD, when the city was part of Maratha Empire.