Varanasi, India: The City of Lights

Paris is called the 'city of light', but Varanasi, India's more ancient name is also the 'city of light'. Varanasi (also known as Benares) is believed to be the place where the god Shiva'slingam, or phallus, of light first pierced the Earth, creating the cosmos as we know it. For self-styled creation myths and nick-naming, I have to say Varanasi beats out Paris here. --Richard Buttle