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.
