Ghats in Varanasi

Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges river. The city has 84 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremonial ghats, while two ghats, Manikarnika and Harishchandra, are used exclusively as cremation sites.^[1]

Most of the ghats in Varanasi were rebuilt in the 18th century under the maratha patronage. The patrons of current ghats are Maharajas of Benares, Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles and Peshwes (Peshwas). Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while other ghats have private histories and users. A morning boat ride on the Ganges along the ghats is a popular visitor attraction.

It is derived from Sanskrit, "ghaṭṭa" (Sanskrit: गट्टः). It means an embankment or a landing place.^[2]

Ghat, a term used in the Indian subcontinent, depending on the context could either refer to a range of stepped-hill such as Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats; or the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, Ghats in Varanasi, Dhoby Ghaut or Aapravasi Ghat.^[3][4] Roads passing through ghats are called Ghat Roads.

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 Keshava Ghat):

Part 1: from Assi Ghat to Prayag Ghat (1–41)

No.	Name	Picture
1	Assi Ghat
2	Ganga Mahal Ghat (I)
3	Lassi Ghat
4	Tulsi Ghat
5	Bhadaini Ghat
6	Janaki Ghat
7	Mata Anandamai
8	Vaccharaja Ghat
9	Jain Ghat
10	Nishad Ghat
11	Prabhu Ghat
12	Panchkota Ghat
13	Chet Singh Ghat
14	Niranjani Ghat
15	Mahanirvani Ghat	not available
16	Shivala Ghat
17	Gularia Ghat
18	Dandi Ghat
19	Hanuman Ghat	not available
20	Prachina (Old) Hanuman Ghat
21	Karnataka Ghat
22	Harishchandra Ghat
23	Lali Ghat
24	Vijayanagaram Ghat
25	Kedar Ghat
26	Caowki (Chauki) Ghat
27	Ksemesvara / Somesvara Ghat
28	Mansarovar Ghat
29	Narad Ghat
30	Raja Ghat rebuilt by Amrut Rao Peshwa
31	Khori Ghat	not available
32	Pandey Ghat
33	Sarvesvara Ghat	not available
34	Digpatia Ghat
35	Causatthi Ghat
36	Rana Mahal Ghat
37	Darbhanga Ghat
38	Munshi Ghat
39	Ahilyabai Ghat
40	Sitala Ghat
41	Dashashwamedh Ghat

Part 2: from Prayag to Adi Keshava Ghat (42–84)

No.	Name	Picture
42	Prayag Ghat	not available
43	Rajendra Prasad Ghat	.
44	Man Mandir Ghat
45	Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
46	Mir (Meer) Ghat
47	Phuta/ Naya Ghat	old site of Yajnesvara Ghat
48	Nepali Ghat	not available
49	Lalita Ghat
50	Bauli/ Umaraogiri/ Amroha Ghat	not available
51	Jalasen (Jalasayi) Ghat
52	Khirki Gate	not available
53	Manikarnika Ghat
54	Bajirao Ghat	not available
55	Scindhia Ghat
56	Sankatha Ghat
57	Ganga Mahal Ghat (II)
58	Bhonsale Ghat
59	Naya Ghat	In Prinsep's map of 1822, this was named as Gularia Ghat
60	Genesa Ghat
61	Mehta Ghat	Formally this was part of the preceding ghat, but after the construction of V.S.Mehta hospital (1962), this is known to the name of latter one.
62	Rama Ghat
63	Jatara Ghat
64	Raja Gwalior Ghat
65	Mangala Gauri Ghat (also known as Bala Ghat)
66	Venimadhava Ghat	part of the Pancaganga Ghat and also known as Vindu Madhava Ghat
67	Panchaganga Ghat
68	Durga Ghat
69	Brahma Ghat
70	Bundi Parakota Ghat
71	(Adi)Sitala Ghat	This is an extended part of the preceding ghat
72	Lal Ghat
73	Hanumanagardhi Ghat
74	Gaya/Gai Ghat
75	Badri Nayarana Ghat
76	Trilochan Ghat
77	Gola Ghat	Since the late 12th cent. this site was used as ferry point and was also known for several granaries (gold)
78	Nandesvara /Nandu Ghat
79	Sakka Ghat
80	Telianala Ghat
81	Naya/Phuta Ghat	During the 18th century the ghat – area became deserted (Phuta), but later on it was renovated. This way the ghat was formerly known as phuta, and later as Naya.
82	Prahalada Ghat
83	Raja Ghat (Bhaisasur Rajghat) / Lord Dufferin bridge / Malaviya Bridge
84	Adi Keshava Ghat
	Sant Ravidas Ghat
	Nishad Ghat (divided from Prahalada)
	Rani Ghat
	Shri Panch Agni Akhara Ghat
	Tathagat Ghat / Buddha Ghat

According to the puranic sources, there are five key ghats on the riverfront which are important because of their association with a defining feature of the holy city of Kashi: Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Panchganga Ghat, Rajendra Prasad Ghat, and Adi Keshav Ghat.^[2]

This ghat that used to lie at the confluence of the Ganges with the dry river Asi marks the traditional southern boundary of the city. Asisangameshwar Temple at the ghat finds mention in the Kashi Khand of Skandmahapuran. This ghat is very popular because it is one of the very few ghats that is linked with the city through a wide street. It is also the major ghat that is closest to Banaras Hindu University. Assi ghat's name is derived from the river Assi. Two lingas are worshipped at this site. Assi Ghat is described, in some of the Puranas, as the place where the goddess Durga defeated two asuras, Shumba and Nishumba. Assi ghat is also the place where Tulsidas completed the Ramcharitmanas.^[5] Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a water ATM here on 17 September 2015 on the occasion of the PM's birthday.^[6]

Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to the Vishwanath Temple and is the most popular ghat.^[7] According to legend, Brahma performed ten Ashwamedha sacrifices here.^[5] Every evening an aarti is performed at this ghat in dedication to Shiva, the goddess Ganga, Surya, Agni, as well as the whole universe.^[5]

The Manikarnika Ghat is one of the cremation sites.^[5] There are two legends which are associated with the Manikarnika Ghat.^[8] According to one, Vishnu used his Chakra to dig a pit and filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances. While watching Vishnu, one of Shiva's earrings or manikarnika fell into the pit. According to the second legend, Parvati hid her earrings at this site to keep Shiva from traveling around the world. She told him that she had lost the earrings on the banks of the Ganges. In this legend, whenever a body gets cremated at the Manikarnika Ghat, Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earrings.^[5]

Located near the Kashi railway station, it is one of the renowned ghats of Varanasi. It is situated adjacent to the Raj Ghat bridge. Famous Ravidas temple is located on this ghat. It is also famous for Pind Daan and asthi-visarjan ceremonies. Famous priests of Kashi are based here. The ghat can be easily accessed by various modes of transportation, with parking facilities available. This ghat is also friendly for disabled people who can not walk through narrow lanes of Kashi. They can easily reach here by car or bike.

Scindia Ghat also known as Shinde Ghat borders Manikarnika to the north, with its Shiva temple lying partially submerged in the river as a result of excessive weight of the ghat's construction about 150 years ago. Above the ghat, several of Kashi's most influential shrines are located within the tight maze of alleys of Siddha Kshetra (Field of Fulfillment). According to tradition, Agni, the Hindu God of Fire was born here. Hindu devotees propitiate at this place Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a son.

Mana-Mandir Ghat: Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built this Ghat in 1770, as well as the Jantar Mantar equipped with ornate window casings along with those at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, and Mathura. There is a fine stone balcony in the northern part of the ghat. Devotees pay homage here to the lingam of Someswar, the Lord of the Moon.

Lalita Ghat: The late King of Nepal built this Ghat in the northern region of Varanasi. It is the site of the Ganges Keshav Temple, a wooden temple built in typical Kathmandu style, The temple has an image of Pashupateshwar, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Local festivals including musical parties and games regularly take place at the beautiful Assi Ghat which is at the end of the continuous line of ghats. It is a favourite site of painters and photographers. It is here at the Assi Ghat that Swami Pranabananda, the founder of Bharat Sevasharam Sangh, attained 'Siddhi' (fulfilment/success) in his 'Tapasya' (endeavour) for Lord Shiva, under the auspices of Guru Gambhirananda of Gorakhpur.

The Jain Ghat or Bachraj Ghat is a Jain Ghat and has three Jain Temples located on the banks of the River. It is believed that the Jain Maharajas used to own these ghats. Bachraj Ghat has three Jain temples near the river's banks and one they are a very ancient temple of Tirthankara Suparswanath.

Tathagat Ghat is famous Ghat of Varanasi which is situated in Sarai Mohana. Sarai Mohana is situated near Sarnath. Sarnath is that place where Tathagata Buddha gave his First Sermon to their five disciples. This ghat was named after Gautam Buddha. The word "Tathagata" is synonyms of Gautam Buddha. So it is also called Buddha Ghat. It is believed that the Buddhist People used this ghats. There is one Tathagata Buddha (Bhagavan) statue situated in the Ghat campus.

• The Maan-Sarowar Ghat was built by Man Singh of Amber.
• the Darbhanga Ghat was built by the Maharaja of Darbhanga
• Tulsidas wrote Rāmacaritamānasa at Tulsi Ghat.
• The Chet Singh Ghat, with a magnificent fort-like palace, is named after Chait Singh. The original name of the ghat is Shivala Ghat however it is called as chet singh ghat to honour his memory of the revolt .
• The headquarters of the Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, a spiritual school followed by the Konkani speaking Goud Saraswat Brahmins, is located in Brahma Ghat.

In the Hindu tradition, cremation is one of the rites of passage,^[9] and the Ghats of Varanasi are considered one of the auspicious locations for this ritual.^[7][9] At the time of the cremation or "last rites", a puja (prayer) is performed by one or more Hindu priests. Sacred hymns and mantras are recited during cremation to mark the ritual. The Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are dedicated to the cremation ritual. Annually, less than 2 in 1000 people who die in India, or 25,000 to 30,000 bodies are cremated on various Varanasi Ghats; about an average of 80 per day.

The practice of cremation in Varanasi has become controversial for the environmental pollution it causes to the River Ganges.^[10] In the 1980s, the Government of India funded a Clean Ganges initiative in order to address cremation and other sources of water pollution along the Ghats of Varanasi. In many cases, the cremation is done elsewhere and only the ashes are dispersed into the river near these Ghats.^[11] Furthermore, untreated sewage is a pervasive source of river pollution in India. City municipal waste and untreated sewage is the largest source of pollution of the River Ganges nearby the Ghats of Varanasi.^[12][13]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ghats in Varanasi.

Wikiversity has learning resources about The Varanasi Heritage Dossier

• Ghats of Varanasi, webpage at Varanasi official website.