Varanasi Ghats

Varanasi Information

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Ghats in Varanasi  (Banks of the River Ganges)

Man Mandir Ghat

Maharajah Man Singh of Jaipur built Man Mandir Ghat in 1600. Man Mandir Ghat has an Observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh in 1710, the founder of the city of Jaipur. The observatory is made up of stone instruments and is very small compared to the ones in Jaipur or Delhi. It is a little hard to find.

Manikarnika Ghat

This is an ancient ghat next only in significance to Dasaswamedh ghat. This is the main cremation ghat of Varanasi. It is said that this ghat symbolises both creation and destruction. There is a sacred well : Manikarnika Kund is said also to be so ancient that it was present before King Bhagiratha brought the Ganges to Varanasi.

Manasarovar Ghat

Manasarovar Ghat is named after the holy lake which is found at the foot of Mount Kailash in Tibet. King Man Singh of Jaipur built it.
Actually Manmandir ghat was built in 1600 but was poorly restored in the 19th century. The northern corner of the ghat has a fine stone balcony and Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur erected one of his unusual observations on this ghat in 1710.

Harishchandra Ghats

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Name of this Ghat is given "Harishchandra Ghats" after a mythological King Harish Chandra, who once worked the cremation here for the preservance of truth and charity. This is one of the second cremation ghat. At the top in the temples, statues of Harischandrsvara, Rohitesvara, Adi Manikarnikesvara & Vrddha Kedara are situated.

Dashashwamedha Ghat

This is the most crowdfull,  one of the oldest ghat and one of the best Bathing ghat. According to the myth related to Divodasa, "Lord Brahma" performed the ten-horses sacrifice at this place. There are many temples (e.g. Sulatankesvara, Brahmesvara, Varahesvara, Abhaya Vinayaka, the Ganga etc.) at the top of the ghat. These shrines are linked to several important pilgrimage journeys.

Panch Ganga Ghat

This is one of the five water-front sacred, devotional bath sites, and the meeting point of five drains(said to be : Ganga, the Yamuna, the Sarsvati the Kirana and the Dhupapapa). The  among which only the Ganga is visible and rest are vanished.
There are eight water-fronts at the ghat : Pippalada, Vindu Makha, Mayukharka, Jnanahrda and Pancanada. There are two monasteries at the ghat : Sri and Ramannada.

Adi Keshava Ghat

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This is assumed to be the oldest and the original (Adi) site of Lord Visnu ( Kesava). The temple complex of Adi Kesava is also on the bank of the Varana and the Ganga rivers.
Bathing at confluence of the Varana and the Ganga and paying visit to Sangamesvara ("Lord of Confluence") give a special religious merit, as referred in the Linga Purana.

Hanuman Ghat

At Hanuman Ghat there is a temple dedicated to Hanuman. Hanuman Ghat is where Vallabha Acarya, who was a Vaishnava saint who spread the glories of Sri Krishna, is said to have been born in the 16th century.

Prahalad Ghat

This is the named after Prahalada, a great mythological devottee of Lord Visnu. Now the ghat is divided into two parts : the southern and northern. In the southern part,  the shrines of Prahaladesvara, Prahalada Kesava, Vidara Narsimha, Varada and Picindala Vinayakas, exist. Around the northern site Mahisasura Tirtha, Svaralingesvara,Yajna Varaha and Sivaduti Devi exists.

Scindia Ghat

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Scindia Ghat was originally built in 1830 but was so huge and magnificent that it collapsed into the river and had to be rebuilt. At the very big Scindia Ghat, there is a partially submerged Siva temple. Agni, the god of fire, is said to have been born near this ghat.

Prayag Ghat

This ghat is also known as old Prayaga Tirtha, It is commonly believed that doing rituals and taking sacred bath here provide exactly the same religious merit as those at Prayaga (80 km away in the west). For the whole month of Magha (Jan-Feb.) devotees, mostly, use to take bath at this site.

Tulasi Ghat

Tulasi Ghat, which is named after Tulasi Das : the great poet Tulasi Das, who translated the Ramayana into Hindi(Ramcharitmanas). This Ghat is associated With a number of important activities such as bath of Lolarkkunda (to get sons and their long life), bath to get rid of leprosy, During Hindu lunar month of Kartika(Oct/Nov).

Lalita Ghat

Lalita Ghat, where there is located the Nepali Temple dedicated to Pashupateswara Siva, which is a Nepali-type wooden temple with interesting sculptures. Also here is a Vishnu temple dedicated to Ganga Keshava.

Kedar Ghat

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Kadar Ghat is mainly famous for Haramapapa Tirtha and Kedaresvara Tample, situated at the top of this Ghat. The attached shrines and sacred sites are: Tarakesvara, Gauri Kunda and Vitanka Nrsimha. In late Sixteenth century Kumarasvami, a devotee of Dattatreya made a monastery attached to the Kedaresvara temple.

Assi Ghat

Assi Ghat an traditionally important ghat of at southern end of Varanasi city. According to a belief goddess Durga, after slaining demon Shumbha-Nishumbha had thrown her sword which was resulted in flowing of big stream known as asi river.
Followers of Hindu relegions, take sacred dip here, particularly in Chaitya(March/April) and Magh(Jan/Feb.) to gets punaya of all the Tirthas(religious places)(it is supposed to be.).

Other Ghats in Varanasi :

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