” Benaras or Varanasi is older than history , older than tradition , older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
” Varanasi is considered one among the 7 oldest cities in India and is renowned all over the world for ancient temples mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also famed for the old ghats and the worship be of the river Ganges.”
” Varanasi is the oldest living city , Varanasi enchants and surprises its visitors in the same breath. Also known as Kashi (City of Life) and Benaras, this spiritual capital of India is one of Hinduism’s seven holy cities. The old city of Varanasi sits along the western banks of the Ganges, spread across a labyrinth of alleys called galis which are too narrow for the traffic to pass through – be prepared to walk on foot and encounter some holy cows! There are temples at almost every turn in Varanasi, but the Kashi Vishwanath Templeis the most visited and the oldest of the lot.”
Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. The city has 87 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremony ghats, while a few are used as cremation sites. Most Varanasi ghats were built after 1700 AD, when the city was part of Maratha Empire. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while many ghats are privately owned. This is the list of important and interesting ghats in Varanasi with photo and description.
Ahilyabai ghat
In 1778-1785 Kevalagiri Ghat was extended and was completely re-built by the patronage of Queen Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Madhya Pradesh. In honour and memory the ghat is named after her. There is a palace and residential district inside the compound. The service court is situated in front of the palace, which continues down towards the ghat built on the Ganga River. In addition to the palace, there is a huge residential compound and a Hanuman temple and also the two temples at the ghat. In the open porch and the veranda of the Hanuman temple there are many divine images. The Shiva temple in the upper part, is built on the raised roof. There is also servants’ quarters, some of which are used as akhara – wrestling site.
ASSI GHAT
Assi Ghat is known for being a place where long-term foreign students, researchers or tourists live. It is one of ghats often visited for recreation and during festivals. About 300 people visit Assi Ghat every hour in the mornings on typical days and on festival around 2500 people arrive per hour. The ghat accommodates about 22,500 people at once during festivals like Shivratri. Accorking to a belief, goddess Durga after slaining demon Shumbha- Nishumbha had thrown her sword. The place, where sword had fallen resulted in flowing of big stream known as asi river. The on confluence place of river Ganga and Asi known as Assi ghat.
DASHAVAMEDH GHAT
Sridhara Narayana Munshi, a finance minister in the estate of Nagpur had built this ghat and partly the palatial building. It was called Munshi ghat after his name. In 1915 the Brahmin king of Darbhanga bought this ghat and developed in the form of Darbhanga Ghat. The palatial building is made of sandstone with a beautiful porches and Greek pillars. In 1994 the Darbhanga palace was bought by the Clarks Hotel Group, who named it as Brajrama Palace, and planned to transform it into five star hotel. They have already demolished almost half of the structure from the back. Thanks to some activist organization which with the support of local people and judiciary presently stopped the demolishing and conversion process into hotel.
DIGPATIA GHAT
Ganga Mahal Ghat is one of the main ghats in Varanasi. It was constructed in 1830 CE by the Narayan dynasty and was originally constructed as an extension to Assi Ghat. The palace was called “Ganga Mahal”. Since the Mahal was housed on the ghat, the ghat was named “Ganga Mahal Ghat”. There are stone steps between Assi Ghat and Ganga Mahal Ghat which separates them. This palace is now used by the educational institutions. The first floor is used by the “World Literacy program of Canada” and the upper floors are used by the “Indo-Swedish Study Centre” organized by Karlstad University.
HARISHCHANDRA GHAT
Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the oldest Ghats of Varanasi. Harish Chandra Ghat is name after a mythological King Harish Chandra, who once worked at the cremation ground here for the perseverance of truth and charity. It is believed that the Gods rewarded him for his resolve, charity and truthfulness and restored his lost throne and his dead son to him. Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the two cremation Ghats and is some times referred as Adi Manikarnika, which means the original creation ground. In Hindu mythology it is believed that if a person is cremated at the Harish Chandra Ghat, that person gets salvation or “moksha”. The Harish Chandra Ghat was somewhat modernized in late 1980’s, when an electric crematorium was opened here.
CHET SINGH GHAT
Chet Singh Ghat is a historical fortified Ghat. The place has witnessed a battle between the troops of Warren Hastings and Chet Singh in 1781. The fort and Ghat were taken from British by Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh in the later half of 19th century. Originally this Ghat was known at Khirki Ghat. Now it has four parts known as Cheta Singh Ghat, Niranjani Ghat, Nirvani Ghat and Shivala Ghat. It has three Shiva temples. Till first half of 20th century it was culturally quite important. The famous Budhwa Mangal festival which is celebrated for seven days is organised here. Due to sharp current of Ganga people avoid bathing here.
JAIN GHAT
Jain Ghat was named after the 7th Jain Tirthankara Suparshvanatha who was believed to be born in the neighbourhood. In memory a temple of Surapshvanath was built in the upper part in 1885. Prior to 1931 this was part of Vaccharaja Ghat, but when Babu Shekhar Chanda has built this part separately and given the name with the support of Jain monks, that is how it is called Jain Ghat. The ghat renovated and re-constructed in 1988 by the irrigation department of the government of Uttar Pradesh. The nearby area is inhabited by boatmen who were responsible for polluting the area, but in the recent past mass awakening have prevailed in better way to improve the situation. There is huge red swastika painted on the stairs of the ghat.
MANIKARNIKA GHAT
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the holiest river fronts, alongside the river Ganga, in the city of Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This is not the burning ghat of Varanasi, as is largely believed, as cremation rites are not done on this ghat. Manikarnika Ghat, the main burning ghat, is the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Dead bodies are handled by outcasts known as doms, and are carried through the alleyways of the old town to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher, swathed in cloth.
Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. The city has 88 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremony ghats, while two ghats are used exclusively as cremation sites.
Most Varanasi ghats were rebuilt after 1700 AD, when the city was part of Maratha Empire. The ghats as named and counted by the city of Varanasi with supplementing links, listed in ascending order according to their location (from Assi Ghat to Adi Keshawa Ghat).
VARANASI - The most popular and holy city of the world 