The most sacred of the rivers in India, the Ganges, is personified as the Goddess Ganges. An enduring legend has it that the goddess descended upon the earth for King Bhagirath, who prayed for the liberation of the souls of his ancestors.
Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Banaras
A breath-taking crescent along the ghats at Varanasi, the 2525-km-long Ganges traverses many states before offering herself to one of the largest river basins in the world, the Bay of Bengal. All along her travels, she has been the lifeblood of the north Indian plains and the mother of many ancient cities that have been birthed on her banks.
In Varanasi, ‘Ghats’ are man-made embankments of stone, centuries old and built to face east towards the rising Sun. Originally built as access to the river for pilgrims seeking a holy dip to perform sacred rites and religious ceremonies, some sections of the ghats are dedicated to cremation rites.
Places to Visit in Varanasi
Ganga Ghat
Ghats in Varanasi are an integral complimentary to the concept of divinity represented in physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. All the ghats are locations on “the divine cosmic road,” indicative of “its manifest transcendental dimension.” Varanasi has at least 84 ghats. Steps in the ghats (ghats are embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions) lead to the banks of River Ganges, including the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat (where Hindus cremate their dead). Many ghats are associated with legends and several are now privately owned. Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control. Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwas stand out as patrons of present-day Varanasi. Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. Morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular visitors attraction. The miles and miles of ghats makes for the lovely river front with multitude of shrines, temples and palaces built “tier on tier above the water’s edge”.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main and probably the oldest ghat of Varansi located on the Ganges, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
According to mythology, it’s this ghat where Lord Brahma had performed the Ashwamedh yanja. Just before sunset, all roads in Varanasi lead to the Dashashwamedh Ghat every evening. Because this is where the world famous Ganga Aarti happens at the ghats on the Ganges in Varanasi.
As the sun goes down on the other side of the river, the stage gets set for the Aarti. Thousands of devotees converge at the ghat to witness a row of priests in gorgeous silk attire create magic through rituals. Their rhythmic whirl of huge brass flaming oil lamps among chanting of mantras (hymns), sounding of the cymbals and blowing of conch shells make the atmosphere electrifying.
Vendors selling flowers for rituals, priests carrying lamps (expecting donations), devotees engrossed in rituals, and floating lamps in the darkness of the river, all add up to the fascination. Even in the darkness of the night, visitors enjoy boat rides in the river to enjoy the night view of the ghats on the Ganges.
Manikarnika Ghat
Along with Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika is among the most iconic ghats on the Ganges in Varanasi. Being situated beside the Dashashwamedh Ghat, it’s easy to visit as well. However, women are not allowed at this ghat for religious reasons, though they can observe the cremations from a distance from the river. Cremations take place 24 hours of the day at this ghat.
In fact, ‘death’ is so much associated with Varanasi that a lot of people call it the “City of Death”!
Hindus believe in reincarnation. It essentially means that the soul takes rebirth every time at death, and takes a new form till it’s liberated from the cycles of birth and death. However, by dying at the ghats on the Ganges in Varanasi, Hindus believe that one attains that liberation. Thus, death is a celebration in Varanasi.
Adding to the importance of the place, there’s a Shakti Peeth (of the 51 Shakti Peeths) near the Ghat called Vishalakshi temple.
Shree Kashi Vishvanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, is the patron deity of Varanasi. The idol is a jyotirlinga, one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India. The Kashi Vishwanath temple has been built and re-built several times over the past few centuries. The present temple was built in the 18th century by Rani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the previous temple and built a mosque at the site (now adjacent to it). The temple get its name from Kashi, which is another name for Varanasi.
The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most popular Hindu pilgrim centers of India. It also finds a mention in old religious texts like the Skanda Purana. The aarti held at this temple is one of the most majestic experiences you can have on a trip to India.
Sarnath
Sarnath is a sacred city in Uttar Pradesh, India, located north-east of Varanasi, and is revered and adored by all Buddhist devotees of Lord Buddha. Sarnath is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimages in the world, and it is thought to have been sanctioned by Gautama Buddha himself. The other three most important pilgrimages are Lumbini (the birthplace of Gautama Buddha), Bodh Gaya (the location of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment), and Kushinagar (the location of Buddha’s parinirvana).
Around the 5th century B.C., a young prince named Siddhartha Gautama, hailing from Lumbini started a journey of self-discovery. His life had been one of privilege and seclusion, but a chance encounter with illness and death prompted him to seek liberation from human suffering. After years of seeking truth and enlightenment, he sat beneath the sacred Bodhi tree in Buddha Temple Bodhgaya, vowing not to rise until he found answers. It was beneath this tree that he achieved enlightenment, and the world would come to know him as the Buddha.
However, the Buddha’s mission didn’t begin in Bodhgaya. Before he started spreading his teachings, he sought out five individuals who had left him when he abandoned physical asceticism as the path to liberation. Learning of their residence in the deer park at Sarnath, he made his way there. Impressed by his newfound wisdom and his teachings on the Four Noble Truths, these five individuals became his first disciples, and the seeds of Buddhism were sown in Sarnath.
It was during the reign of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, a few centuries later, that Buddhism truly blossomed in Sarnath. Ashoka, filled with remorse for his brutal conquest of Kalinga (modern-day Odisha), converted to Buddhism and embraced nonviolence. He fervently championed the religion, erecting stupas and pillars across India. The most iconic of these is the one in Sarnath, which bears the Ashoka chakra, symbolizing the essence of Buddhist teachings. This emblem also graces the Indian flag.
Panchganga Ghat
This ghat has got its name from the confluence of five major rivers Yamuna, Saraswati, Dhutpapa, Kirana, and the Ganges. Devotees from all across the world gather here to take a dip in the holy river Ganga. The ghat is very deep and broad, and the turrets and stairs of the ghats are made of stone.
This ghat has lot of history. It is believed that Panchganga Ghat is also served as a teaching place for Vaidant Ramanand, the Guru of great saint Kabir. Further, it is also believed that the saint poet Tulsi Das composed the famous Vinay-Patrika here at this ghat.
This ghat is popular for Alamgir Mosque which is believed to have been constructed by Aurangzeb. Also known as Beni Madhav-ka-Darera, the mosque is believed to be constructed on the site of Bindu Madhava Temple erected by the Maratha chieftain Beni Madhav Rao Scindia in the 17th century AD. The temple was destroyed and the Mosque was constructed at that place during Mughal invasion in India. This imposing Hindu and Persian architectural structure, designed with carved pillars, turrets and marvelous domes, showcase the rich artworks of ancient India.
Ramnagar Fort
The Ramnagar Fort is a fortification in Ramnagar, Varanasi, India. It is located near the Ganges on its eastern bank, opposite to the Tulsi Ghat. The sandstone structure was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh.
The fort represents typical Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. Built with creamy-coloured Chunar sandstone, the fort houses a temple, a museum and the king’s residential complex. The temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, the author of the Indian epic the Mahabharata. As per the legends, it is believed that Ved Vyasa resided within the fort for a short period.
The fort still retains its charm and attracts tourists in large numbers. One can still witness the ornamented swords, photographs of tiger shoots and visits by the King and Queen of Belgium can be seen decorated on the wall. The hall of public audience, popularly known as ‘Durbar Hall’, is converted into a museum now. The museum is famous for its rare collection of old American cars, ivory works, medieval costumes, and a huge astronomical clock. Ramnagar Fort also houses the Durga Temple, temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman and Chhinnamastika Temple.
Only a part of the structure is open for public as the rest of it is the residence of Kashi Naresh and his family. The fort appears very vibrant and colourful when beautified during the one-month-long Ram Lila festival where different episodes of Ramayana are enacted. The festival also includes a procession of various antique displays of Royal possessions.
Best Places to Visit Near Varanasi
Prayagraj
The city of Prayagraj is famous as the Triveni Sangam where the 3 most prominent rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, in Hinduism meet. It is among the top places to visit in Varanasi in 2 days.
Chandauli
Another one of the nearby places to visit in Varanasi is the town of Chandauli. It gets visitors all year that visit the Devdari falls, the fort, and the wildlife sanctuary.
Ayodhya
Regarded as the birthplace of lord Ram, Ayodhya is one the most important pilgrimage sites in the world for Hindus. After you are done with places to visit in Varanasi, you can visit Ayodhya.
Varanasi has a distinct combination of old traditions and modern allure. It is a must-see trip for tourists looking for a real cultural experience, from enjoying a boat ride on the Ganga to exploring the small lanes of the old city.
