Ghats of Varanasi
heritage
The Sacred Ghats
of Varanasi
The Ghats of Varanasi along the Ganga hold a spiritual and cultural significance unmatched anywhere in the world. Stretching over 7 kilometres along the western bank of the sacred river, these ancient stone steps are where life, death, devotion, and daily ritual converge in one eternal, unbroken flow.
From the vibrant Dashashwamedh Ghat — where the nightly Ganga Aarti illuminates the sky — to the solemn pyres of Manikarnika, where Hindus seek moksha, the ghats capture every shade of human experience. Pilgrims chant, priests perform rituals, fishermen cast nets, and children laugh — all on the same sacred steps, at the same sacred hour.
Built and patronised over centuries by emperors, queens, Maratha warriors, and royal families from across India, each ghat carries its own story — of faith, power, devotion, and the timeless rhythm of Kashi. To walk the ghats of Varanasi is to walk through the living memory of a civilization.
All Ghats
Explore each of Varanasi's 74 sacred ghats — their history, legends, and living spirit
01
Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat is one of the most famous and vibrant ghats in Varanasi, located at the confluence of the Assi …
02
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is a significant and iconic ghat located on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi. I…
03
Namo Ghat
Namo Ghat is a newly constructed ghat in Varanasi, India. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who represent…
04
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most prominent and bustling ghat of Varanasi, located close to the sacred Kashi…
05
Tulsi Ghat
Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi holds great reverence as it commemorates poet-saint Tulsidas, who resided there wh…
06
Harishchand Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat, nestled by the majestic Ganges, exudes timeless allure, embodying tales of grandeur a…
07
Vacharaj Ghat
Step into Jainism's vibrant tapestry at Vacharaj Ghat, holding profound significance. This sacred ghat wi…
08
Nepali Ghat
Nepali Ghat is famous for the Nepalese Temple on the ghat. The Nepalese King of the Gorkha Dynasty built …
09
Anandmayi Ghat
Immerse yourself in the enchanting realm of Anandmayi Ghat, one of Varanasi's renowned ghats. Named after…
10
Panchganga Ghat
Panchganga Ghat is one of the most sacred ghats of Varanasi, revered for its unique spiritual significanc…
11
Kedar Ghat
Kedar Ghat is among the oldest and most vibrant ghats of Varanasi, highly revered for its spiritual signi…
12
Ganga Mahal Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat, located just north of Assi Ghat in Varanasi, is a place of quiet presence and layered h…
13
Bhadaini Ghat
Bhadaini Ghat finds a mention in the ancient Gahadavala inscriptions and other medieval texts. However, t…
14
Janki Ghat
Janki Ghat, a tranquil gem along the Ganges in Varanasi, is a place where history and devotion quietly me…
15
Jain Ghat
Jain Ghat is a place of austere beauty — quiet, contemplative, and deeply tied to the ancient Jain tradit…
16
Nishadraj Ghat
Nishadraj Ghat is named in honor of Nishadraj Guha, the humble boatman and forest chief from the Ramayana…
17
Panchakot Ghat
Tucked between more crowded ghats, Panchakot Ghat sits like a quiet chapter in a larger epic — unhurried,…
18
Prabhu Ghat
The Prabhu Ghat was constructed by a rich merchant from Bengal, Nirmal Kumar, in the mid-19th century, bu…
19
Chet Singh Ghat
Chet Singh Ghat, nestled along the sacred banks of the Ganga, is more than a bathing place or a scenic cu…
20
Niranjani Ghat
Niranjani Ghat rests in quiet proximity to its ascetic neighbor, Mahanirvani, and carries the same aura o…
21
Mahanirvani Ghat
Mahanirvani Ghat is not a place of spectacle — it is a place of withdrawal, of inner fire, of those who h…
22
Shivala Ghat
Shivala Ghat stands like a quiet sentinel — broad, solemn, and edged by the presence of Shivala Palace, a…
23
Gulariya Ghat
Gulariya Ghat rests in the quieter northern stretches of Varanasi — a name that evokes the gular tree, wh…
24
Dandi Ghat
Dandi Ghat carries a quiet strength — named after the "danda" or staff held by ascetics, it is a place wh…
25
Hanuman & Old Hanuman Ghat
Both the Hanuman Ghat and Old Hanuman Ghat were made pucca by Mahant Hariharanath in 1825. The Hanuman Gh…
26
Lali Ghat
Tucked gently between the larger, more storied ghats, Lali Ghat doesn't call attention to itself — it inv…
27
Vijaynagaram Ghat
Vijaynagaram Ghat bears the name of royalty from the South — the rulers of Vijayanagara, whose reach, wea…
28
Chauki Ghat
Chauki Ghat takes its name from the word "chauki" — a checkpoint or guard post. Long ago, this ghat serve…
29
Kshemeshwar Ghat
Kshemeshwar Ghat, once known as Someshwar Ghat and Nala Ghat, rests in the Ghasi Tola area of Varanasi. I…
30
Mansarovar Ghat
Mansarovar Ghat, built in the late 16th century by Raja Man Singh of Amer, sits quietly along the Ganga i…
31
Narad Ghat
Narad Ghat in Varanasi is named after the celestial sage Narada, known for his wisdom, music, and divine …
32
Raja Ghat
Formerly known as Amrita Rao Ghat, this ghat was built by Maratha chief Bajirao Balaji in 1720. It was sl…
33
Khori Ghat
Also known as Ganga Mahal Ghat, the Khori Ghat was made pucca in the late 19th century by Kavindra Naraya…
34
Pandey Ghat
Pandey Ghat in Varanasi is significant as a location steeped in wrestling tradition and historical ties t…
35
Digpatiya Ghat
Digpatia Ghat in Varanasi is notable for its association with a palace built in the Bengali architectural…
36
Chousatthi Ghat
Chousatthi Ghat, named after the 64 Yoginis (Chousatthi meaning sixty-four), was constructed by King Prat…
37
Rana Mahal Ghat
Rana Mahal Ghat, nestled between busier stretches of Varanasi's riverfront, was built in the late 17th ce…
38
Darbangha Ghat
This ghat, along with its greatly embellished palace, was the initiative of Shridhara Naryana Munshi, the…
39
Munshi Ghat
Munshi Ghat, nestled just beyond Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, was built in 1812 by Sridhara Narayana M…
40
Shitala Ghat
Shitala Ghat in Varanasi is named after the Hindu goddess Shitala Mata, who is believed to protect from d…
41
Ahilyabai Ghat
Ahilyabai Ghat in Varanasi holds special importance as it was the first ghat in the city named after a pe…
42
Prayag Ghat
Prayag Ghat, nestled just south of Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, is a quiet sanctuary often overlooked …
43
Rajendra Prasad Ghat
Originally part of Dashashwamedh's expanse, this ghat now stands as a modern tribute woven into the city'…
44
Man Mandir Ghat
Most people walk past this ghat not knowing what's above it. But if you pause and look up, you'll see a s…
45
Varahi Ghat
Varahi Ghat in Varanasi is significant as the location of the Varahi Devi temple, an ancient shrine dedic…
46
Mir Ghat
Mir Ghat in Varanasi is a significant ghat with both historical and religious importance. It was formerly…
47
Lalita Ghat
Lalita Ghat, located just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, is a serene and spiritually rich river…
48
Jalasen Ghat
Jalashayi Ghat, also known as Jalasen Ghat, is a significant ghat in Varanasi, known for its association …
49
Scindia Ghat
Scindia Ghat in Varanasi is significant for its historical and religious importance, particularly for its…
50
Sankatha Ghat
Sankatha Ghat, nestled along the Ganges in Varanasi, is a serene refuge named after Goddess Sankata, the …
51
Bhonsle Ghat
Bhonsale Ghat, built in the 18th century by the Maratha rulers of Nagpur, symbolizes silent devotion and …
52
Ganesh Ghat
Ganesh Ghat, a modest and lesser-known riverfront in Varanasi, is named after Lord Ganesh, the deity of b…
53
Mehta Ghat
Mehta Ghat in Varanasi is significant as a ghat purchased and developed by a wealthy merchant, Ballabh Ra…
54
Ram Ghat
Ram Ghat in Varanasi stretches gracefully along the holy banks of the Ganges, where history, devotion, an…
55
Jatar Ghat
Tucked gently between more prominent stretches of the riverfront, Jatar Ghat is one of Varanasi's lesser-…
56
Gwalior Ghat
Gwalior Ghat in Varanasi is historically significant as a site renovated by the Gwalior royal family in t…
57
Durga Ghat
If the Ganga is the mother of all, then Durga Ghat is where the mother reveals her power. Named after God…
58
Brahma Ghat
Among the many ghats that line the Ganga's sacred edge, Brahma Ghat carries the name of the Creator himse…
59
Bundiparkota Ghat
Bundiparkota Ghat sits quietly along the Ganga, its name evoking echoes of a time when kings built, and t…
60
Hanuman Garhi Ghat
Tucked along the sacred curve of the Ganges, lies the Hanuman Garhi Ghat. It was part of the Gaiya Ghat t…
61
Lal Ghat
Lal Ghat was partially constructed by the Maharaja of Tijara of Rajasthan in the beginning of the 20th ce…
62
Badri Narayan Ghat
Badri Narayan Ghat in Varanasi is significant as it replicates the Badrinath temple in the Himalayas, off…
63
Trilochan Ghat
If there is a ghat that breathes of ancient sanctity, it is Trilochan Ghat. Its very name — Trilochan, th…
64
Gola Ghat
Gola Ghat does not rise with spires or echo with rituals. It is a working ghat — one where the sacred flo…
65
Nandishwar Ghat
To the unhurried traveler, Nandishwar Ghat carries the name of Nandi — the sacred bull and devoted gateke…
66
Telianala Ghat
Tucked away from the ceremonial grandeur of the southern ghats, Telianala Ghat lives in the folds of the …
67
Naya Ghat
In a city where time folds upon itself, where every stone speaks of centuries, the name "Naya Ghat" — the…
68
Prahlad Ghat
Before the river, before the rituals — there was faith. Raw, fearless, and unwavering. Prahlad Ghat is na…
69
Nishad Ghat
Not all heroes carry swords. Some carry oars. Nishad Ghat honours one such figure — the humble boatman fr…
70
Rani Ghat
Not all royalty declares itself with walls and arches. Some leave behind only a name — and a feeling. Ran…
71
Sant Ravidas Ghat
There are ghats built by kings. Others, by saints. But Sant Ravidas Ghat is built by remembrance — by a c…
72
Raj Ghat
Raj Ghat is one of the oldest parts of Varanasi. It is said that this was the site of Kashi's original se…
73
Adi Keshav Ghat
As the Ganga enters Kashi from the north, she bows — and this is the spot where that bow begins. The Adi …
