Varanasi ( Sanskrit : à à 3\/4 à à 3\/4 à # à à VÄ rÄ á asÄ `` , Telugu : à à 3\/4 à à # à 3\/4 à à , ( Ê aË É 3\/4 aË É É siË ) , also commonly known as Benares and Kashi , is a city situated on the banks of the river Ganga ( Ganges ) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh regarded holy by Hindus , Buddhists and Jains , and is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world along with Damascus . Varanasi ( Sanskrit : à à 3\/4 à à 3\/4 à # à à VÄ rÄ á asÄ `` , ) , also commonly known as Benares or Banaras ( , , BanÄ ras ) and Kashi ( , , KÄ Å Ä `` ) , is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh , 320 k southeast of state capital Lucknow .