Banaras: The City of Ghats | Varanasi Tourism

Banaras Ghats are the one of the most visited site in Varanasi. It is a almost clear for every visitor to have at least one visit to these ghats. In fact not only the visitor outside Varanasi but people residing in the city visit these Ghats weekly or some even daily. Banaras Ghats are the favorite attraction site for the students of BHU. They often gather here to celebrate or spend some alone time or with friends.

Banaras Ganga Ghat

Ghat literally means river bank/stepped hills/series of steps/side of a mountain leading down to a water body. There are total 88 ghats in Varanasi. The ghats in Varanasi hold a sacred position among the Hindus as it is believed that bathing in the Ganges here clears a person of his/her sins.

Most of the banaras ghats are used for the purpose of bathing, performance of religious rituals and cultural performances but only the two ghats; Manikarnika Ghat
and Raja Harishchandra Ghat are used for cremation rites.

Best time to visit Ganga Ghats in Varanasi

Although one may visit Ganga ghats anytime Subah-E-Banaras is famous because of these ghats only so one should not miss the mornings of these ghats no matter what season it is. Undoubtedly mornings of these ghats are very special but evenings are no lesser in any way. The life of Ganga ghats in evening is so live that just blows one’s mind and that’s why tourist love to visit these ghats and spend some time just doing nothing.

Some of the main Banaras Ghats are:-

Assi Ghat:

This ghat marks the Southern boundary of the city. The Asisangmeshwar Temple at the ghat is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Varanasi Assi Ghat is close to Banaras Hindu University and enjoys the large gathering of students of the university. It is also connected to a wide street, unlike other ghats.

Dasashwamedh Ghat:

It is considered the most sacred among all the ghats. It is closest to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and there are two mythological stories associated with it. One that Lord Brahma created himself to welcome Lord Shiva and the other that Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses in the sacred Das-Ashwamedh Yajna. The world-famous “Ganga Aarti” is performed here and dedicated to Mahadev(Lord Shiva), Ganga Maiya
, Surya Dev(Sun god) and Agni Dev(Fire god).

Manikarnika Ghat:

It is used for cremation rituals. There are two legends associated with it; first that Lord Vishnu dug a pit and buried his “Chakra” meanwhile his Manikarnika (earrings) fell into the pit.
Second, to stay in Kashi with her husband Goddess Parvati insisted that she lost her earrings there and asked Lord Shiva to find them. It is believed that whenever a body is cremated here Lord Shiva asks the soul if it has seen the Manikarnika., Surya Dev(Sun god) and Agni Dev(Fire god).

Including Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat and Rajghat, there are total 88 Ghats in Varanasi known for its own uniqueness. The names of the Ghats are as follows:

84 Ghats of Banaras

Stories attached to Banaras Ghats

There are many stories and legends attached to these ghats and are very interesting but what is more interesting is these ghats in themselves. The names of these ghats are not just random. Instead every ghats as a particular name which is based on some place or some personalities, or sometimes both.