Sites where Communitys relationship with landscape over a substantial period of time in terms of the evolving
values, beliefs and hence its attitude towards it being a key factor in establishing its identity are often referred to as cultural
landscapes.
At the edge of the sacred city of Benaras lie the ghats, the stone built steps bordering the holy waters of the river Ganga. A Ghat
is a comman site in India but nowhere else in the subcontinent have continuos ghats steps been constructed over such a long
distance as in Benaras. The steps are remarkably versatile constructions adapting to the highly variable water levels, as well as
to the sacred and profane functions. Built forms such as the Ghats comprising of steps, landings lined by temples and other
public buildings, pavilions, kunds (tanks), Streets and plazas and religious practices mutually constitute the cultural landscape.
This cultural landscape is layered and kinetic, and responsive to the river's flow.
Rarely has any river gathered in itself so much meaning and reverence as the Ganga has over three millennia in the Indian
subcontinent. At Varanasi, where the Ganga reverses its flow northwards, the ghats describe a crescent sweep in a 6.8 km
stretch. They date back to 14th century although they were extensively renovated and extended in the last three centuries to
allow access to the holy Ganga from the temples and shrines of this ancient city. Cultural practices are spatial in that they are
defined by places; built forms and practices mutually constitute the cultural landscape, each impacting the other.