Varanasi Ghats

The city of light, Varanasi is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is famed with the western banks of the River Ganga and is renowned as the one of the oldest living city of the world. This Hindu pilgrimage center is popularly known as Kashi by devotees and Benaras by many Indians. Beside valuing a number of ancient temples the place is rich in Indian art, literature and music. The city's charisma is defined in its numerous ghats, Benaras Hindu University and religious shrines. Devotees cherish their life with stirring their life with spiritual mantras and holy water of river Ganges. The aura, all round the year get fused with religious fragrance during the festivity of Mahashivratri, Holi, Ganga Dussehra and Shri Krishna Janmashtami

Climate and best time to visit Varanasi Varanasi experience the extreme hot climatic condition in Summer. The scorching sunny temperature is maximum at 40 degree Celsius, while the winter days are chilly with 5 degree Celsius. An ideal time to visit the Holy Varanasi is anytime between the month of October to March.

Major Attraction at Varanasi

The Ghats

The famous Hindu pilgrimage center Varanasi is remarkable for a number of Ghats and its various rituals. Of the 81 Ghats some important names are the Assi ghat, the Dasaswamedh ghat, the Manikarnika ghat, the Tulsi ghat and Panch Ganga ghat. Different religious legends are connected with each ghats but the common theme lies in taking a dip shower into the holy water and wash away all the commited sins. Visitors can also enjoy a boat-ride starting from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ending the journey at Manikarnika Ghat.

The 'Ghats' are undoubtedly the most valuable assets of Varanasi. None can imagine this holy city sans its numerous Ghats that dot the nearly 7 km arc line of the Ganges riverfront between the confluence of the River Asi in the south and the Varuna in the north.

These are a very special type of embankments that are actually long flights of wide stone steps leading down to the river where people can take a holy dip. But there are more to these Ghats than just bathing and cremating. Each of the eighty-four Ghats of Varanasi holds some special significance.

Viewing the Ghats from a boat on the Ganges, especially at sunrise, is an unforgettable experience! They offer a panoramic view of the various early morning activities - from ablution to workout - of a multitude of people, for whom the river is the be all and end all of life. It's also a pleasure to walk down the entire stretch of the Ghats along the Ganges. Here people consult the astrologers under their palm leaf parasols, buy offerings for rituals, sell silk apparels and brassware, or just gaze at the faraway horizon where the mighty river meets the heavens.

Explore More: Fear & Loathing Along the Ghats

A Walk Along the Popular Ghats of Varanasi

Can you imagine a place out of the world? Yes ... in India, Varanasi is called a place out of the world. It is one of the most sacred and ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre in India

This place is symbolized by ghats. A stretch of near about 3 km long on the bank of holy river Ganges lie near about 81 ghats in Varanasi. These historical ghats are the prime attractions of the holy city. Devotees all over the world come to pay homage to the holy ghats of Varanasi and to scrub their sins away. There are many ghats and each and every ghat has separate story. The history of Varanasi takes us back about 3500 years. 

The ghats of Varanasi has special significance. There is a believe that a dip in to the holy water of Ghat bring salvation and cleanses all past sins. There is another popular belief that immersion of the ashes of the dead in the holy water of Ganges on the ghat of Varanasi grant their soul eternal peace. Thousand and thousands of people come here to perform several rites. The ceremonial stairs of the ghats witness a variety of religious rituals held every day from morning till night. The popular ghats of Varanasi are discussed below-

• The Tulsi Ghat is famous for its association with the poet Tulsidas (C.E 1547-1623). The Asi Ghat, situated in the south at the union of the rivers Ganga and Asi is significant for the Surya Shashthhi festival. The Ganga Mahal Ghat is an extension of the Asi Ghat, and includes a palace built by the Maharaja of Benaras in 1830. The King of Rivan's palace stands at the Rivan Ghat, another extension of the Asi Ghat.
• The Bhadaini Ghat is one of the most ancient sacred sites in Varanasi that got its name from the famous sun shrine. Janki Ghat is named after the Queen of Sursund State, and the Anandmayi Ghat after Mother Anandmayi. Vaccharaja Ghat is a holy place for the Jain community, for it is close to the birthplace of the seventh Jain Tirthankara. Beside it is the Jain Ghat, which has two Jain temples on it. Nishadraj Ghat, named after Nisad, a mythical and heroic fisherman in Ramayana, is a place for boatmen and fishermen.
• The Panchkoat Ghat was built by the king of Madhya Pradesh in 1915, and the Chet Singh Ghat was built by King Chet Singh, who fought a fierce battle against the British troops of Warren Hastings at this place. Niranjani Ghat has a historical connection with king Kumaragupta, and is famous for its Kartikeya temple.
• The Dasaswamedh Ghat is where Lord Brahma is said to have sacrificed ten horses in order to celebrate the return of Shiva on earth. Manikarnika Ghat is a sacred place for cremation.
• The Man Mandir Ghat was built in 1770 by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, and is known for its 'lingam' of Someshwar, the Lord of the Moon.
• Some of the other Ghats in Varanasi are the Maha Nirvani Ghat, Shivala Ghat, Gulariya Ghat, Dandi Ghat, Hanuman Ghat, Karnataka Ghat, Mansarover Ghat, Bachraj Ghat, Kedar Ghat, and the Lalita Ghat.
•   Manikarnika Ghat – It is another oldest and significant ghats of Varanasi. Manikarnika Ghat is the main cremation ghat here. It is believed that to be burned here provides instant nirvana- free from the cycle of rebirth. There is another amazing believe that the fire of the ghat has not stopped since its creation. In the manikarnika ghat there is a well known as Manikarnika Kund and believed to had been dug by Lord Vishnu at the time of creation of earth.
• Harishchandra Ghat – It is another cremation ghat since the age of mythological king Harishchandra. It is the ghat where Harishchandra worked at the cremation ground
• Assi Ghat- It is the most southern most and favourite ghat of the tourists. This beautiful ghat is located on the confluence of the Ganga and Assi. It is a beautiful place and the place encouraged many artists and poets to evoke their imagination. There is a huge lingam in the ghat to offer prayers.
  
  
  Har Ki Pauri Har ki pauri is the famous Ghat for holy Dip. This Ghat was constructed by the king vikramaditya in Memory of his Brother Bhartrihari. Every morning and evening in this Ghat, the devotees doing Aarti of Holy Ganga
  Subhsh Ghat This Ghat statue of the freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. This Ghat is near of Har ki pauri. In this place a dispensary. The Sewa Samiti another organization, run a clinic here and also assists devotees.
  Gau Ghat Gau ghat is located in the south of Subhah ghat. in this place Death ceremonies were completed with the dutiful act of donating a cow. Gau word mean Cow. The sin of killing a cow is “equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin”.