The ghats — stone steps leading down into the Ganga — are the soul of Varanasi. There are 84 ghats along a crescent of about 6.5 km, each with its own story, temples and daily rhythm. You can walk most of them in one long, slow morning.
12 ghats you should not miss
- Assi Ghat — the southernmost major ghat; home of Subah-e-Banaras, yoga and a relaxed café scene.
- Tulsi Ghat — named after Goswami Tulsidas, who wrote the Ramcharitmanas here.
- Chet Singh Ghat — with a fort-like palace; site of the Budhwa Mangal festival.
- Harishchandra Ghat — one of the two cremation ghats, linked to the legend of the truthful King Harishchandra.
- Kedar Ghat — bright red-and-white steps and the Kedareshwar temple; a South Indian favourite.
- Chausatti Ghat — dedicated to the 64 yoginis.
- Darbhanga Ghat — a striking palace, now a heritage hotel.
- Dashashwamedh Ghat — the busiest and most famous ghat, home of the grand Ganga Aarti.
- Man Mandir Ghat — with an 18th-century observatory (Jantar Mantar) built by Sawai Jai Singh II.
- Lalita Ghat — the gateway to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor and the Nepali Temple.
- Manikarnika Ghat — the main cremation ghat, where fires burn day and night. Be respectful; do not photograph cremations.
- Panchganga Ghat — believed to be the meeting point of five rivers, with the Alamgir Mosque above.
How to explore the ghats
- Walk from Assi to Dashashwamedh in the early morning (2–3 hours with stops).
- Take a boat to see the full sweep of the ghats — the only way to truly appreciate their scale.
- Go with a guide to understand the stories, rituals and history.
Our Sunrise Boat Ride & Morning Ghats covers the best of both: the river at dawn and a walk through the lanes.
#ghats#manikarnika#assi#dashashwamedh#walking
