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TULSI GHAT |
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Tulsi ghat
is named after the famous
 16th
century poet Tulsidas, who spent many years here composing
the Ramcharitmanas. His manuscript, it is said, floated
instead of sinking in the Ganga. The first performance of
Ramlila was held here. A temple of Ram stands on the ghat.
The house in which the poet died preserves his samadhi, idol
of Hanuman which he worshipped. There is also a piece of
wood from the boat used by him to cross the Ganga |
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DASASWAMEDH GHAT |
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The name
of Dasaswamedh Ghat indicates that Brahma Sacrificed
(medh) 10 (das) horses (aswa)here. Conveniently central it's
one of the most important and busiest Ghats and therefore is
a good place to linger and soak up the atmosphere. Not its
status and the shrine of Sitala, goddess of smallpox.
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MANIKARNIKA GHAT |
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Manikarnika Ghat, one of the oldest and most sacred in
Varanasi. Manikarnika is main burning ghat and one of most
auspicious
 places
that a Hindu can be cremated. Bodies are handled by outcasts
known as doms, and they are carried through alleyways of old
city to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in
cloth. The corpse is doused in Ganga prior to cremation. You
will see huge piles of firewood stack along the top of the
ghat, each log carefully weighted on giant scales so that
the price of cremation can be calculated. There are no
problems watching cremations, since at Manikarnika death is
simply business as usual, but don't take photos and keep
your camera well hidden |
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DANDI GHAT |
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The Dandi
Ghat is the ghat of ascetics known as Dandi Panths. The
spartan Hanuman ghat is used by wrestlers and body builders
for whom Bajrangbali (Hanuman) is the patron God. Saint
Vallabhacharya lived here. |
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KEDAR GHAT |
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Kedar Ghat
built by the Maharaja of Vijayanagar in the South is named
after Shiva, who dwells in the middle of the spacious
temple.This ghat is shrine popular with Bengalis and South
Indians. A little below is the Gauri (Parvati) kund whose
waters have healing properties. |
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MANSAROVAR GHAT |
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Mansarowar
Ghat was built by Raja Man Singh of Amber and named
after the Tibetan lake at the foot of Mt. Kailash, Shiva's
Himalayan home. |
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DATTATREYA GHAT |
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Dattatreya
Ghat bears the footprint of Brahmin saint of that name
in a small temple nearby. |
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PANCHAGANGA GHAT |
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Panchganga
Ghat as its name indicates, is where five rivers are
supposed to meet. Dominating the ghat is Auangazeb's smaller
mosque, also known as the Alamgir Mosque, which he built on
the site of large Vishnu temple erected by the Maratha
chieftain Beni Madhav Rao Scindia. |
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MANMANDIR GHAT |
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Manmandir
ghat was built in 1600 but was poorly restored in the
19th century. The northern corner of the ghat has a fine
stone balcony and Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur erected one of
his unusual observations on this ghat in 1710. |
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HARISHCHANDRA GHAT |
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The
Harishchandra Smashan Ghat is a secondary burning ghat.
It is one of the oldest ghats in city. |
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ASSI GHAT |
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The Assi
Ghat is one of the five special ghats which pilgrims are
supposed to bathe at in sequence during the ritual route
called Panchatirthi Yatra. |
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TRILOCHAN GHAT |
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The
Trilochan Ghat has two turrets merging from the river,
and was water between them is especially holy. |
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BACHRAJ GHAT |
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The
Bachraj Ghat is a Jain and there are three riverbank
Jain Temples. Many of ghats are owned by Maharajas or other
princely rulers, such as the very fine Shivala Ghat owned by
the maharaja of Varanasi. |