Ghats in Varanasi


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 in the 18th century, when the city came under Maratha rule. The patrons of current ghats are Marathas, Shindes, Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwes. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while many ghats are privately owned. Morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular visitor attraction.

Etymology

The word ghat is explained by numerous Dravidian etymons such as Kannada gatta Tamil kattu and Telugu katta and gattu.
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. Roads passing through ghats are called Ghat Roads.

List of ghats

The ghats as named and counted by the city of Varanasi with supplementing links, listed in ascending order according to their location :
Part 1: from Assi Ghat to Prayag Ghat
No.NamePicture---
1Assi Ghat---
2Ganga Mahal Ghat ---
3Rewa Ghat---
4Tulsi Ghat---
5Bhadaini Ghat---
6Janaki Ghat---
7Mata Anandamai---
8Vaccharaja Ghat---
9Jain Ghat---
10Nishad Ghat---
11Prabhu Ghat---
12Panchkota Ghat---
13Chet Singh Ghat---
14Niranjani Ghat---
15Mahanirvani Ghatnot available---
16Shivala Ghat---
17Gularia Ghat---
18Dandi Ghat19Hanuman Ghatnot available
20Prachina Hanumanana Ghat---
21Karnataka Ghat---
22Harish Chandra Ghat---
23Lali Ghat---
24Vijayanagaram Ghat---
25Kedar Ghat---
26Caowki Ghat---
27Ksemesvara / Somesvara Ghat---
28Mansarovar Ghat---
29Narad Ghat---
30Raja Ghat rebuilt by Amrut Rao Peshwa---
31Khori Ghatnot available---
32Pandey Ghat---
33Sarvesvara Ghatnot available---
34Digpatia Ghat---
35Causatthi Ghat---
36Rana Mahal Ghat---
37Darbhanga Ghat---
38Munshi Ghat---
39Ahilyabai Ghat---
40Sitala Ghat---
41Dashashwamedh Ghat---

Part 2: from Prayag to Adi Keshava Ghat
No.NamePicture
42Prayag Ghatnot available
43Rajendra Prasad Ghat.
44Man Mandir Ghat
45Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
46Mir Ghat
47Phuta/ Naya Ghatold site of Yajnesvara Ghat
48Nepali Ghatnot available
49Lalita Ghat
50Bauli/ Umaraogiri/ Amroha Ghatnot available
51Jalasen Ghat
52Khirki Gatenot available
53Manikarnika Ghat
54Bajirao Ghatnot available
55Scindhia Ghat
56Sankatha Ghat
57Ganga Mahal Ghat
58Bhonsale Ghat
59Naya GhatIn Prinsep's map of 1822, this was named as Gularia Ghat
60Genesa Ghat-
61Mehta GhatFormally this was part of the preceding ghat, but after the construction of V.S.Mehta hospital, this is known to the name of latter one.
62Rama Ghat
63Jatara Ghat
64Raja Gwalior Ghat
65Mangala Gauri Ghat
66Venimadhava Ghatpart of the Pancaganga Ghat and also known as Vindu Madhava Ghat
67Pancaganga Ghat
68Durga Ghat
69Brahma Ghat
70Bundi Parakota Ghat
71Sitala GhatThis is an extended part of the preceding ghat
72Lal Ghat
73Hanumanagardhi Ghat
74Gaya/Gai Ghat
75Badri Nayarana Ghat
76Trilochan Ghat
77Gola GhatSince the late 12th cent. this site was used as ferry point and was also known for several granaries
78Nandesvara /Nandu Ghat
79Sakka Ghat
80Telianala Ghat
81Naya/Phuta GhatDuring the 18th century the ghat – area became deserted, but later on it was renovated. This way the ghat was formerly known as phuta, and later as Naya.
82Prahalada Ghat
83Raja Ghat / Lord Dufferin bridge / Malaviya Bridge-
84Adi Keshava Ghat-
Sant Ravidas Ghat
Nishad Ghat
Rani Ghat
Shri Panch Agni Akhara Ghat

Popular ghats

According to the puranic sources, there are five key ghats on the riverfront, 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, Adi Keshav Ghat.

Assi Ghat

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 name is given as it is the 80th ghat. PM MODI launched water ATM on 17th Sep 2015 on the occasion of PM birthday.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to Vishwanath Temple, and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses, during Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna performed here. A group of priests daily perform in the evening at this ghat "Agni Pooja" wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganges, Surya, Agni, and the whole universe.

Manikarnika Ghat

Two legends are associated with Manikarnika Ghat. According to one, it is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu dug a pit with his Chakra and filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances. While Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu at that time, the latter's earring fell into the pit. According to the second legend, to keep Lord Shiva from moving around with his devotees, his consort Goddess Parvati hid her earrings and asked him to find them, saying that they had been lost on the banks of the Ganges. Goddess Parvati's idea behind the fib was that Lord Shiva would then stay around, searching forever for the lost earrings. In this legend, whenever a body gets cremated at the Manikarnika Ghat, Lord Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earrings.
According to ancient texts, the owner of Manikarnika Ghat bought King Harishchandra as a slave and made him work on the Manikarnika at Harishchandra Ghat. Hindu cremations customarily take place here, though a majority of dead bodies are taken for cremation to the Manikarnika Ghat.
According to other sources that Manikarnika Ghat is named after Jhansi ki Rani Laxmibhai.

Raj Ghat

Situated near to Kashi railway station, this is one of the famous ghats of Varanasi. This is next to the Raj Ghat bridge. Famous Ravidas temple is located on this ghat. It is also famous for Pind Daan and asthi-visarjan. Famous priests of Kashi are based here. The ghats can easily be accessed through any kind of vehicles and parking facilities are also available here. 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. 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.

Maan-Mandir Ghat

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

Jain Ghat or the Bachraj Ghat

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.

Other

In Hindu traditions, cremation is one of the rites of passage and the Ghats of Varanasi are considered one of the auspicious locations for this ritual. At the time of the cremation or "last rites", a "Puja" is performed. 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. This practise has become controversial for the pollution it causes to the river. In the 1980s, the Government of India funded a Clean Ganges initiative, to address cremation and other sources of 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.

Pollution of ghats

Untreated sewage is a pervasive source of the river pollution in India. City municipal waste and untreated sewage is the largest source of pollution of the Ganges river near the Ghats of Varanasi.