10 Best Varanasi Ghats - Stairways to Spirituality

Varanasi ghats situated alongside the river Ganga, add to the enigma of Varanasi and are perfect stairways to experience spirituality. Varanasi, also called Banaras, Benaras, or Kashi, is a city that offers a unique and unforgettable experience to its visitors. It is a place where the ancient and the modern, the sacred and the secular, the life and the death coexist harmoniously. Varanasi is a city that celebrates the diversity and the unity of India

Varanasi is a city of great historical, cultural, and religious significance. Banaras is dotted with over 84 ghats, each with a unique historical significance. Here’s a list of the 10 best ghats in Varanasi, that will take you to a spiritual realm

Here are the 10 best Varanasi Ghats

Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the most popular Varanasi Ghats — Dashashwamedh ghat is one of the most popular Varanasi Ghats

Dashashwamedh Ghat: This is the main and most popular ghat in Varanasi, where the famous Ganga aarti ceremony occurs every evening. It is also the oldest and most sacred ghat, as it is believed that Lord Brahma sacrificed 10 horses here in an attempt to bring Lord Shiva back from exile. The ghat lies close to the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple and hence devotees bathe in this ghat before visiting the temple. The steps that lead into the river, end in steel railings that devotees can hold on to for taking a dip. Read more about this ghat here.
Manikarnika Ghat: This is the next most popular ghat in Varanasi, with a very mysterious legend behind it. This is the central cremation site in Varanasi, where Hindus believe that the dead can attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth. It is said that Goddess Parvati, Shiva’s wife dropped an earring here. But the locals in this ghat lied to Lord Shiva and refused to return it. Lord Shiva then became furious and burnt the entire ghat in his rage. He also cursed the locals saying that the fire would never extinguish. This story holds to this date due to the incessant pyres that keep burning here. In fact, you can see a marked black color that spreads on this ghat owing to the soot from the incessant burning.
Assi Ghat: This is the southernmost ghat in Varanasi, which is popular for the confluence of Ganga and Assi River. It is a popular spot for pilgrims, who bathe here before worshiping Lord Shiva under a pipal tree. The subah-e-banaras takes place here which is essentially the morning Ganga aarti. It is also a trendy area with cafes and boutiques where you can unwind. Assi ghat too finds several mentions in Hindu Scriptures.
Darbhanga Ghat: This is one of the most visually appealing and architecturally impressive ghats in Varanasi, featuring the luxury Brij Rama Palace Hotel. The hotel was originally a fort built by a minister of Nagpur, and later acquired by the king of Darbhanga in Bihar.
Scindia Ghat: This ghat has a lot of historical and mythological importance, as it is the site of the birth of Agni, the God of Fire. Scindia Ghat touches the Manikarnika to the north. A Shiva temple stands here partially submerged in Ganga and is believed to be so heavy that it caused the ghat to collapse into the river. It is believed that the temple has been sinking continuously since then and it will soon be submerged in water. Some of Varanasi’s most revered shrines are located above Scindia Ghat in an area known as Siddha Kshetra. This is one of the popular ghats in Varanasi.
Chet Singh Ghat: This ghat was the site of a battle between the ruler of Varanasi, Maharaja Chet Singh, and the British in the 18th century. Chet Singh had built a small fort here, but he was defeated and imprisoned by the British. He later escaped using a rope made of turbans. After the British left the site, then King Prabhu Narayan Singh took over the ghat and gave a part of the ghat to Naga Sadhus. It was he who named the ghat.
Harishchandra Ghat: This is another of the Varanasi ghats that is known for the cremation of Hindus. Named after the legendary king Harishchandra, who worked here as a dom (cremator) to uphold his truth and virtue. Just like the Manikarnika ghat, it is believed that the funeral pyres do not get extinguished here. It is like a perennial pyre of fire. It is also believed that Lord Rama performed the funeral rites of his father, King Dasharatha, here.
Tulsi Ghat: This ghat is named after the famous poet-saint Tulsi Das, who lived here and composed the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the Ramayana. As kids, we have learned his dohas in school and it was an interesting experience to visit this ghat. Legends also mention that it is on this ghat, that Lord Rama is said to have appeared before him in a dream.
Kedar Ghat: This ghat is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Kedarnath, the lord of the Himalayas. It has a striking red-and-white temple and a sacred water tank, where devotees take a dip before visiting the temple. It is believed that taking a dip in this ghat cures one of their ailments.
Bachraj Ghat: This ghat is unique as it has three Jain temples near it, belonging to the Shwetambar, Digambar, and Sthanakwasi sects of Jainism. It is also the birthplace of the 11th Jain Tirthankara, Shreyansanath.

Varanasi is a city like no other. It is the spiritual capital of India, and the Varanasi Ghats are stairways not just to the sacred river Ganga, but to a sublime spiritual space. Do let me know if you have any questions or feedback on this post. If you want to know more about Varanasi Ganga Aarti or Dashashwamedh Ghat check my posts by clicking on the links.

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