 Traditional etymology links " Varanasi " to the names of two Ganges tributaries forming the city 's borders : Varuna , still flowing in northern Varanasi , and Assi , today a small stream in the southern part of the city , near Assi Ghat . The old city is located on the north shores of the Ganges , bounded by Varuna and Assi . 
 Traditional etymology links " Varanasi " to the names of two Ganges tributaries forming the city <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>borders : Varuna , still flowing in northern Varanasi , and Assi , today a small stream in the southern part of the city , near Assi Ghat . The old city is located on the north shores of the Ganges , bounded by Varuna and Assi . 
Traditional etymology links " Varanasi " to da names of 2 Ganges tributaries forming tdacity  borders : Varuna , still flowing in northern Varanasi , and Assi , todayy a small stream in the southern part of thdaity , near Assi Ghat . Thedad city is located on the dath shores of the Ganges , bounded by Varuna and Assi .