Brief Information about Banaras Ghats

Varanasi is commonly called the city of ghats and temples. This city is also known by many different names Varanasi, Kashi, and Banaras. All the ghats here are situated on the banks of the river Ganges. There are a total of 88 ghats in the city of Varanasi. Most of these ghats are used for bathing and worship ceremonies. While two ghats are exclusively used as cremation sites.

History of Ghats of Banaras
Most of the ghats in Varanasi were rebuilt after 1700 AD when the city was part of the Maratha Empire. The patrons of the present Ghats are Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwais. Many of the ghats here are associated with legends or mythology, while many are privately owned. Tourists come here in large numbers to watch the early morning of Banaras and boat ride along the Ghats.

Assi Ghat
Foreign students, researchers, artists and tourists visit this Ghat in large numbers. Around 300 people come here daily in the morning and around 2500 people per hour during festivals. Around 22,500 people gather at this ghat at a time during Shivratri. According to a belief, Goddess Durga threw her sword here after killing the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. The river where the sword fell was known as Asi river. The confluence of river Ganges and Asi is known as Assi Ghat.

Ahilyabai Ghat
The Keolagiri Ghat was expanded in 1778 and built under the patronage of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Madhya Pradesh. That's why this Ghat was named after him. Apart from the palace, there is a huge residential complex and Hanuman temple on this Ghat and there are two other temples.

Dashashwamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat is known as the main Ghat in Varanasi. It is located close to the Vishwanath Temple and is one of the most spectacular ghats. Lord Brahma is believed to have built it to welcome Lord Shiva. There is an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh here. The Ganga Aarti of this ghat is very famous which is performed every evening. Aarti is performed here for Lord Shiva, Ganga, Surya, Agni and the entire universe. 

Narad Ghat
The old name of this Ghat is Kuwai Ghat. It was built in 1788 by Dattatreya Swami, a mutt head. The four important idols at Narada Ghata are Naradeshwara, Atriswara, Vasukishwara and Dattatreyaswara.

Ganga Mahal Ghat
Ganga Mahal Ghat is one of the main Ghats of Varanasi. It was built by the Narayan dynasty in 1830 AD. Since the palace was placed on a ghat, the ghat was named "Ganga Mahal Ghat". This palace is now used by 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 Center" hosted by Karlstad University.

Lalita Ghat
The late king of Nepal built this ghat in the northern region of Varanasi. It is the site of the Ganga Keshava Temple, a wooden temple built in the Kathmandu style, the temple houses an idol of Pashupatieshwara, a form of Lord Shiva. It is a favorite site for painters and photographers.

Harishchandra Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat is one of the oldest Ghats in Varanasi. The ghat is named after a legendary king Harishchandra, who once worked at the cremation ground here for the firmament of truth and charity. It is believed that the gods rewarded him for his resolve, charity and truthfulness and returned his lost throne and his dead son. It is believed that if a person's last rites are performed at Harishchandra Ghat, then that person attains salvation.

Chet Singh Ghat
Chet Singh Ghat is a historical Garh Ghat. A battle took place at this place in 1781 between the army of Warren Hastings and Chet Singh. Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh took over the fort and the ghat from the British in the late 19th century. There are four parts of this Ghat which are known as Cheeta Singh Ghat, Niranjani Ghat, Nirwani Ghat and Shivala Ghat.

Jain Ghat
Jain Ghat was named after Suparshvanatha, the 7th Jain Tirthankara who was believed to have been born in the neighborhood. A temple was built in his memory in 1885 on the upper part of the Ghat. Before 1931 it was a part of Vacharaja Ghat, but when Babu Shekhar Chanda separated this part with the help of Jain monks, since then it is called Jain Ghat.

Scindia Ghat
Scindia Ghat is at the top of Manikarnika Ghat and is also known as the range of Shinde Ghat. The Shiva temple located here is about 150 years old and is partially submerged in the river.

Manikarnika Ghat
It is said that when Lord Shiva was carrying the burning body of Goddess Sati to the Himalayas, parts of Sati's body started falling on the earth. Wherever the pieces of the body of Goddess Sati fell, Lord Shiva established Shakti Peetha. The ear's ornament of Mata Sati had fallen at Manikarnika Ghat. It is one of the most famous, sacred, and oldest ghats in Varanasi. The last rites can be performed at this ghat according to Hindu rituals.

Rajendra Prasad Ghat
Earlier it was a part of Dashashwamedh Ghat. In 1979, the Ghat was named Rajendra Prasad Ghat in memory and honor of the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad. The Bharashiva Naga kings are believed to have performed horse sacrifices here in the 3rd century AD. By the early 980s, the wharf was used for trade in timber, sand, and stone plates.

Vizianagaram Ghat
This Ghat was named after the then Vizianagaram princely state of South India. The Maharaja of Vizianagaram provided funds for the construction of this ghat in 1890. This is the only Ghat in Andhra Pradesh. There are temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Nispapeshwar.

Raja Ghat
This ghat was built by Rajarao Balaji in 1720. There is a palace in the northern part of this Ghat and Annapurna Math in the southern part. In 1965, the Uttar Pradesh government renovated the ghat and built steps made of red stone. Oil Deepotsav is organized at this Ghat in honor of Maa Ganga.

History of Varanasi the "City of Shiva"

The primary name of Varanasi was 'Kashi,' got from the word 'Kasha,' meaning magnificence. Banaras is the old name of Varanasi, immersed with custom and eccentric legacy, Kashi is acknowledged to be the 'principal ground' created by Lord Shiva and deity Parvati. Varanasi is quite famous for Kashi Vishwanath Temple all around the world. As indicated by Hindu mythology, Kashi was established by Lord Shiva, one of three head gods alongside Brahma and Vishnu. During a battle between Brahma and Shiva, one of Brahma's five heads was removed by Shiva.

In Varanasi, each day dramas of sin and liberation are enacted earlier than one's dazzled eyes. India is altogether an extroverted country, however, right here the existence of the soul is so clearly and officially exteriorized that indoors and outside all however lose metaphysical distinction. The putting is correctly theatrical a geometric rebellion of temples and palaces and pavilions and minarets clings, crescent-shaped, to the cliff face alongside the bay created with the aid of using the flip of the Ganges; pilgrims emerge purified from a dip withinside the water of the river, and with pleasure identical to their ardor climb the ghats for the religious significance.

How Varanasi Got Its Name
As indicated by the 'Vamana Purana', the Varuna and also the Assi waterways began from the body of the first stage toward the dawn of history. the continuing name Varanasi has its starting stage in these 2 feeders of the Ganges, Varuna, and Asi, that flank its northern and southern limits. The plot of land lying between them was named 'Varanasi,' the holiest of all journeys. Banaras or Benaras, because it is prominently known, is barely a degradation of the name Varanasi.

Premature History of Varanasi
Students of history have now discovered that the Aryans initially settled in the Ganges valley and persistently thousand years BC, Varanasi transformed into the center of Aryan religion and thinking. The city in like manner flourished as a business and present-day center well known for its muslin and silk surfaces, ivory works, perfumery, and figures. In the sixth century BC, Varanasi was reworked into the capital of the domain of Kashi. throughout this point, Lord Buddha passed on his most significant message at Sarnath, simply ten km aloof from Varanasi. Being some extent of convergence of severe, educational, social, and inventive activities, Kashi drew the attention of several tourists around the world; Chinese tourist Hsüan Tsang is one among them, who visited Bharat around AD 635 Varanasi below Mughal Empire.

Varanasi Under Mughal Empire
From 1194, Varanasi went into a terrible stage for a seriously lengthy timespan under Mughal Empire. The sanctuaries were obliterated and the researchers needed to leave. In the sixteenth 100 years, with the lenient head Akbar's promotion to the Mughal lofty position, some strict reprieve was re-established in the city. All that vanished again in the late seventeenth century when the overbearing Mughal ruler Aurangzeb came to drive.

Ongoing History
The eighteenth century again carried back the lost magnificence to Varanasi. It turned into a free realm, with Ramnagar as its capital when the British proclaimed it another Indian state in 1910. After India's autonomy in 1947, Varanasi turned out to be important for the province of Uttar Pradesh.

Why Visit Varanasi?
Varanasi is one of the top traveler objections in India for pioneers from around the globe. This well-known top otherworldly objective in India has a few travelers and guests from a long way off performing ceremonies here. The top journey site in India is well known because of multiple factors and for the most part the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The spot is famously called Kashi and individuals from all religions and ethnicities. It is accepted that the waters of the river Ganga are heavenly and hallowed and washing up there offers 'moksha' to that individual. Individuals from across borders and of various age bunches do this to scrub their spirit from past sins and get freedom from the pattern of birth and passing. This is one of the early morning activities in Varanasi. One of the main motivations to take an early morning boat ride is to see the various Ghats of Varanasi and other touring places in Varanasi like Palaces and forts.

वाराणसी के बारे में 10 रोचक तथ्य

वाराणसी ( Varanasi )एक पवित्र स्थान है, जहां साल भर बड़ी संख्या में पर्यटक आते हैं। इस जगह में अपने आगंतुकों के लिए बहुत कुछ है, जो उन्हें मंत्रमुग्ध कर देता है। सुंदर मंत्रमुग्ध करने वाले मंदिरों से लेकर स्वर्गीय गंगा शनहन तक, जिसके बारे में माना जाता है कि यह विश्वासियों के पापों को मिटा देता है, इस शहर में अपने मेहमानों के लिए बहुत कुछ है। नीचे वाराणसी के बारे में 10 रोचक तथ्य दिए गए हैं, जो इस जगह को और भी अनोखा बनाते हैं।

1. वाराणसी या बनारस दुनिया का सबसे पुराना जीवित शहर है, यह 3000 से अधिक वर्षों से सभ्यता का प्रमुख केंद्र रहा है।
   
   
2. यह तेईसवें तीर्थंकर पार्श्वनाथ का जन्म स्थान है।
   
   
3. यह दुनिया का एकमात्र स्थान है जिसमें 84 घाट हैं, जिससे यह दुनिया में सबसे अधिक नदी किनारे वाला शहर बन गया है।
   
   
4. बनारस हिंदू विश्वविद्यालय बनारस दुनिया के सबसे बड़े विश्वविद्यालयों में से एक है जो हिंदू शास्त्रों - वेदों में अध्ययन प्रदान करता है।
   
   
5. यह वह जगह है जहां मेंढक की शादी बहुत धूमधाम से की जाती है। हिंदू पुजारी द्वारा विधिवत रूप से किए गए बारिश के मौसम में इस दिलचस्प मेंढक विवाह को देखने के लिए हर साल सैकड़ों अश्वमेघ घाट पर इकट्ठा होते हैं।
   
   
6. पंडित रविशंकर और उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खान जैसे प्रसिद्ध कलाकार और संगीतकार इस शहर से हैं।
   
   
7. वाराणसी के बारे में एक दिलचस्प तथ्य यह है कि मुंशी प्रेम चंद और तुलसी दास जैसे कई प्रसिद्ध साहित्यकार इस शहर से हैं।
   
   
8. हर साल हजारों पर्यटक जैसे पर्यटक आते हैं और उनमें से सैकड़ों इस जगह को अपना घर बनाते हैं - ऐसी है इस पवित्र जगह की समृद्धि!
   
   
9. यह स्थान तुलसी घाट पर आयोजित अपने पांच दिवसीय संगीतमय द्रुपद उत्सव और नवंबर में आयोजित गंगा महोत्सव उत्सव और नाग नथैया उत्सव के लिए प्रसिद्ध है।
   
   
10. बनारसी रेशम का सबसे बड़ा विक्रेता, साड़ी के एक टुकड़े को पूरा करने में 6 महीने तक का समय लग सकता है। सबसे प्रसिद्ध लोगों में कटान, ऑर्गेंज़ा, जॉर्जेट और शट्टीर हैं।

What to know before visiting Assi Ghat?

Some important facts you should know before visiting Assi Ghat.

·        Assi Ghat is the most important pilgrimage destination of the city Varanasi. It is located in the southernmost part of the city and is among the oldest Ghats in Varanasi. This river got its name because of the confluence of the Ganga and Assi River. 

·        It is a mythical saying that Goddess Durga killed the demon Shumba-Nisumbha and after that, her sword fell down and led to the emergence of a river and the Assi Ghat got its name, because of this. It is among the 5 pilgrims located in Varanasi and is known as the most authentic Ghats.

·       It is a saying that if a person has a bath in the Ghat, he will become free of all the sins and curses. A huge Shivling is located under a Peepal tree, where people pay their homage after having a bath. 

·        Tulsidas lived in a cave on Assi Ghat only, and created Shri Ramcharitmanas and rested in peace over there. 

·        This Ghat is a combination of societal, cultural, and religious importance. It is a symbolic point of interest for both Indians and foreigners.

·         People start crowding the place from dawn to dusk on a daily basis just because of the religious significance, so is prepared for the crowd, if you really want to visit the Ghat.

·        You can take a boat ride if you want to see the mesmerizing sunset in the evening.

·        The place is overcrowded at the times of ekadashi, purnima, and amavasya but in case you really want to take a dip in the river, be prepared for dealing with the crowd.

·       Mahashivratri is the best time to visit Assi Ghat; you can take a holy dip into the river and after paying homage to the huge shivling nearby.

The Assi Ghat is mentioned in many Hindu Holy Scriptures namely Karma Purana, Matsya Purana, Padma Purana and Agni Purana. People visit Assi Ghat for various reasons, to soak up the spiritual atmosphere, enjoy the famous night aarti and get a glimpse of the local culture. After twilight, the Ganga Aarti is breathtaking, with the echo of chants and spiritual giants performed by skilled saints (Pandas in Hindi). Birth, Mundan Sanskar, Upanayan, Marriage, Ganga Pujayya, and other rituals are performed. As a testimony, Manglik's works and other festival celebrations are done at this ghat.

Ways to reach Assi Ghat Varanasi
The total distance between Assi Ghat and Varanasi Railway Station is around 8 kilometers. If you drive with your own conveyance, it takes around 9 minutes. In case you are going to take a public conveyance or a cab, it’s totally dependable on you. By public conveyance or cab, it will take around 15-20 minutes.

The nearest Airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Babatpur which is almost 28 km from the Ghat, and it takes about an hour to reach Assi Ghat from the airport.

Conclusion
if you really want to visit the Ghats of Varanasi and look for local culture, then distance does not matter. Everything that matters is your devotion and your willingness to get spiritual peace, as each and every Ghat and temple has a separate significance. Varanasi is a confluence of various ghats and temples and if you are visiting, visiting Assi Ghat is a must. You can enjoy mesmerizing sunsets, sitting on a boat in the middle of the river.