Varanasi is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities Several other major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including Kabir and Ravidas.

 In the 16th century, Rajput nobles in the service of the courts and armies of the Mughal emperor Akbar, sponsored the building or further enhancement of the major Shiva temple in the city; they also built other temples, all displaying an empire-wide architectural style.