>Reino Baptista at 17:06, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T17:06:21Z

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{{short description|Riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{cleanup|date=December 2010}}
[[File:Ahilya Ghat by the Ganges, Varanasi.jpg|thumb|Ahilya Ghat by the Ganges, Varanasi.|184x184px]]
[[File:Chet Singh Ghat in Varanasi.jpg|thumb|Chet Singh Ghat in Varanasi.|185x185px]]
[[File:Kedar Ghat in Varanasi.jpg|thumb|Kedar Ghat in Varanasi.|183x183px]]

'''Ghats in [[Varanasi]]''' are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River [[Ganges]]. The city has 88 [[ghat]]s. Most of the ghats are bathing and [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] ceremony ghats, while two ghats, [[Manikarnika Ghat|Manikarnika]] and Harishchandra, are used exclusively as [[cremation]] sites.<ref>Rob Bowden (2003), The Ganges, {{ISBN|978-0739860700}}, Heinemann</ref>

Most Varanasi ghats were rebuilt in the 18th century under the maratha patronage. The patrons of current ghats are Marathas, Shindes ([[Scindia]]s), [[Holkar]]s, [[Bhonsle]]s, and Peshwes ([[Peshwa]]s).[[Narayan dynasty|Maharajas of Benares]]. 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 languages|Dravidian]] etymons such as [[Kannada language|Kannada]] ''gatta'' (mountain range) [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''kattu'' (side of a mountain, dam, ridge, causeway) and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ''katta'' and ''gattu'' (dam, embankment).<ref>{{cite book|last=Jaini|first=Padmanabh S.|title=Jainism and Early Buddhism|year=2003|publisher=Jain Publishing Company|pages=523–538|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5_EdL2FtIqQC&dq=etymology+dravidian&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref>

''Ghat'', a term used in the [[Indian subcontinent]], depending on the context could either refer to a [[Geography of India#Coastal plains and ghats|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]].<ref name=dict1>Sunithi L. Narayan, Revathy Nagaswami, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=miZuAAAAMAAJ&q=ghat+means&dq=ghat+means&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_nZnwjpPgAhUHWysKHQcdAjk4ChDoAQgpMAA Discover sublime India: handbook for tourists], Page 5.</ref><ref name=dict2>[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ghat Ghat definition], Cambridge dictionary.</ref> 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 (from Assi Ghat to Adi Keshava Ghat):

Part 1: from Assi Ghat to Prayag Ghat (1–41)
{{colbegin}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=50%
! No.
! Name
!class="unsortable"|Picture
|-
| 1
| [[Assi Ghat]]
| [[File:Assi Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 2
| [[Ganga Mahal Ghat (I)]]
| [[File:Ganga Mahal Ghat Assi, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 3
| [[Lassi Ghat]]
| [[File:Rewa Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 4
| [[Tulsi Ghat]]
| [[File:Tulasi Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 5
| Bhadaini Ghat
| [[File:Bhadaini Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 6
| Janaki Ghat
| [[File:Janaki Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 7
| [[Anandamayi Ma|Mata Anandamai]]
| [[File:Anandamayi,Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 8
| Vaccharaja Ghat
| [[File:Vaccharaja Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 9
| Jain Ghat
| [[File:Jain Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 10
| Nishad Ghat
| [[File:Nishadraj Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 11
| Prabhu Ghat
| [[File:Prabhu Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 12
| Panchkota Ghat
| [[File:Panchakot Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 13
| Chet Singh Ghat
| [[File:Chet Singh Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 14
| Niranjani Ghat
| [[File:Niranjani Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 15
| Mahanirvani Ghat
| not available
|-
| 16
| Shivala Ghat
| [[File:Shivala Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 17
| Gularia Ghat
| [[File:Gulariya Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 18
| Dandi Ghat
|
|-
| 19
| Hanuman Ghat
| not available
|-
| 20
| Prachina (Old) Hanumanana Ghat
| [[File:Prachin Hanuman Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 21
| Karnataka Ghat
| [[File:Karnataka Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 22
| Harish Chandra Ghat
| [[File:Harishchandra Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 23
| Lali Ghat
| [[File:Lali Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 24
| Vijayanagaram Ghat
| [[File:Vijayanagaram Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 25
| Kedar Ghat
| [[File:Kedar Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 26
| Caowki (Chauki) Ghat
| [[File:Chauki Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 27
| Ksemesvara / Somesvara Ghat
| [[File:Kshemeshvara Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 28
| Mansarovar Ghat
| [[File:Mansarovar Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 29
| Narad Ghat
| [[File:Narada_Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 30
| Raja Ghat rebuilt by Amrut Rao [[Peshwa]]
| [[File:Raja Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 31
| Khori Ghat
| not available
|-
| 32
| Pandey Ghat
| [[File:Pandey Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 33
| Sarvesvara Ghat
| not available
|-
| 34
| Digpatia Ghat
| [[File:Diigpatiya Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 35
| Causatthi Ghat
| [[File:Chausatthi Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 36
| Rana Mahal Ghat
| [[File:Ranamahal Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 37
| [[Darbhanga Ghat]]
| [[File:Darbhanga Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 38
| [[Munshi Ghat]]
| [[File:Munshi Ghat.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 39
| Ahilyabai Ghat
| [[File:Ahilyabai Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 40
| Sitala Ghat
| [[File:Shitala Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 41
| [[Dashashwamedh Ghat]]
| [[File:Dashashvamedh Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
|}

{{colend}}

Part 2: from Prayag to Adi Keshava Ghat (42–84)
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=50%
! No.
! Name
!class="unsortable"|Picture
|-
| 42
| Prayag Ghat
| not available
|-
| 43
| Rajendra Prasad Ghat
|.
|-
| 44
| Man Mandir Ghat
| [[File:Man Mandir Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 45
| Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
| [[File:Tripurabhairavi Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 46
| Mir (Meer) Ghat
| [[File:Meer Ghat 2.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 47
| Phuta/ Naya Ghat
|old site of Yajnesvara Ghat
|-
| 48
| Nepali Ghat
| not available
|-
| 49
| [[Lalita Ghat]]
| [[File:Lalita Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 50
| Bauli/ Umaraogiri/ Amroha Ghat
| not available
|-
| 51
| Jalasen (Jalasayi) Ghat
| [[File:Jalasen Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 52
| Khirki Gate
| not available
|-
| 53
| [[Manikarnika Ghat]]
| [[File:Manikarnika Ghat, Varanas.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 54
| Bajirao Ghat
| not available
|-
| 55
| Scindhia Ghat
| [[File:Scindia Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 56
| Sankatha Ghat
| [[File:Sanktha Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 57
| Ganga Mahal Ghat (II)
| [[File:Benares- Temple on Ganges in state of collapse, India, ca. 1906 (IMP-CSCNWW33-OS14-59).jpg|150px|]]
|-
| 58
| Bhonsale Ghat
| [[File: Bhosale ghat.jpg|150px|]]
|-
| 59
| Naya Ghat
| In Prinsep's map of 1822, this was named as Gularia Ghat
|-
| 60
| Genesa Ghat
|
|-
| 61
| Mehta Ghat
| Formally this was part of the preceding ghat, but after the construction of V.S.Mehta hospital (1962), this is known to the name of latter one.
|-
| 62
| Rama Ghat
| [[File:Ram Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 63
| Jatara Ghat
| [[File:Jatar Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 64
| Raja Gwalior Ghat
| [[File:Raja Gwalior Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 65
| Mangala Gauri Ghat (also known as Bala Ghat)
| [[File:Balaji Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 66
| Venimadhava Ghat
|part of the Pancaganga Ghat and also known as Vindu Madhava Ghat
|-
| 67
| Pancaganga Ghat
| [[File: PanchaGanga Ghat, Varanasi (2).JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 68
| Durga Ghat
| [[File:Durga Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 69
| Brahma Ghat
| [[File:Brahma Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 70
| Bundi Parakota Ghat
| [[File:Bundi Parkota Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 71
| (Adi)Sitala Ghat
| This is an extended part of the preceding ghat
|-
| 72
| Lal Ghat
| [[File:Lal Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 73
| Hanumanagardhi Ghat
| [[File:Hanumangarhi Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 74
| Gaya/Gai Ghat
| [[File:Gai Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 75
| Badri Nayarana Ghat
| [[File:Badrinarayan Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 76
| Trilochan Ghat
| [[File:Trilochan Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 77
| Gola Ghat
| Since the late 12th cent. this site was used as ferry point and was also known for several granaries (gold)
|-
| 78
| Nandesvara /Nandu Ghat
| [[File:Nandesvara Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 79
| Sakka Ghat
| [[File:Sakka Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 80
| Telianala Ghat
| [[File:Telianala Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 81
| Naya/Phuta Ghat
| During the 18th century the ghat – area became deserted (Phuta), but later on it was renovated. This way the ghat was formerly known as phuta, and later as Naya.
|-
| 82
| Prahalada Ghat
| [[File:Prahlad Ghat, Varanasi.JPG|150px|]]
|-
| 83
| Raja Ghat (Bhaisasur Rajghat) / Lord Dufferin bridge / Malaviya Bridge
|
|-
| 84
| Adi Keshava Ghat
|
|-
|
| [[Sant Ravidas Ghat]]
|
|-
|
| Nishad Ghat (divided from Prahalada)
|
|-
|
| Rani Ghat
|
|-
|
| Shri Panch Agni Akhara Ghat
|
|-
|
| Tathagat Ghat / Buddha 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shankar|first1=Hari|title=Kashi ke Ghat|date=1996|publisher=Vishwvidyalaya Prakashan|location=Varanasi|edition=1}}</ref>
.

===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 derived from the river Assi. PM MODI launched water ATM on 17th Sep 2015 on the occasion of PM birthday.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mishra|first1=Rajnish|title=Ghats of Varanasi|date=2017|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-1521414323|pages=51|edition=1}}</ref>

===Dashashwamedh Ghat===
{{main|Dashashwamedh Ghat}}
[[File:Ganga Aarti at Varanasi ghats.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Ganges]] [[Aarti]] at [[Dashashwamedh Ghat]], Varanasi]]
'''[[Dashashwamedh Ghat]]''' is located close to [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|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, [[Brahma|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" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganges, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.

===Manikarnika Ghat===
Two legends are associated with [[Manikarnika Ghat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varanasiguru.com/manikarnika-ghat/|title= Manikarnika Kund|last=Varanasi Guru|date=5 September 2020|via=Varanasi Guru}}</ref> 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 ("Manikarnika") 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.

===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===
[[File: Meditation on a Ghat on the Ganges, Varanasi.jpg|thumb|180px|Early morning meditation on a Ghat on the Ganges, Varanasi]]
[[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 (Field of Fulfillment). 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: [[Jai Singh II of Amber|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===
[[File: Varanasi ghats at the sunrise.JPG|thumb|Varanasi Ghat at sunrise.]]
[[Lalita Ghat]]: The late [[Kingdom of Nepal|King of Nepal]] built this Ghat in the northern region of Varanasi. It is the site of the Ganges Keshav Temple, a wooden temple built in typical Kathmandu style, The temple has an image of Pashupateshwar, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Local festivals including musical parties and games regularly take place at the beautiful [[Assi Ghat]] which is at the end of the continuous line of ghats. It is a favourite site of painters and photographers. It is here at the Assi Ghat that Swami Pranabananda, the founder of Bharat Sevasharam Sangh, attained 'Siddhi' (fulfilment/success) in his 'Tapasya' (endeavour) for Lord Shiva, under the auspices of Guru Gambhirananda of Gorakhpur.

===Jain Ghat or the Bachraj Ghat===
[[File:Jain Ghat, Varanasi, UP, India.jpg|thumb|upright|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.

===Tathagat Ghat or Buddha Ghat===
Tathagat Ghat is famous Ghat of Varanasi which is situated in Sarai Mohana. Sarai Mohana is situated near Sarnath. Sarnath is that place where Tathagata Buddha gave his First Sermon to their five disciples. This ghat was named after Gautam Buddha. The word "Tathagata" is synonyms of Gautam Buddha. So it is also called Buddha Ghat. It is believed that the Buddhist People used this ghats. There is one Tathagata Buddha (Bhagavan) statue situated in the Ghat campus.

===Other===
* The Maan-Sarowar Ghat was built by [[Man Singh]] of [[Kingdom of Amber|Amber]].
* the Darbhanga Ghat was built by the [[Maharaja of Darbhanga]]
* Raj Ghat
* [[Tulsidas]] wrote [[Rāmacaritamānasa]] at Tulsi Ghat.
* The Chet Singh Ghat, with a magnificent fort-like palace, is named after [[Chait Singh]]. The original name of the ghat is [[Shivala Ghat]] however it is called as chet singh ghat to honour his memory of the revolt .
* The headquarters of the [[Kashi Math|Sri Kashi Math Samsthan]], a spiritual school followed by the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] speaking [[Goud Saraswat Brahmin]]s, is located in Brahma Ghat.

==Cremation on ghats==
[[File:Burning ghats of Manikarnika, Varanasi.jpg|right|thumb|Cremations in progress at Manikarnika Ghat, [[Varanasi]].]]
In [[Hindu]] traditions, cremation is one of the [[Sanskara (rite of passage)|rites of passage]] and the Ghats of Varanasi are considered one of the auspicious locations for this ritual.<ref>Diana Eck, Banaras - City of Light, {{ISBN|978-0231114479}}, Columbia University Press</ref> At the time of the cremation or "last rites", a "[[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]]" (prayer) 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.<ref>S. Agarwal, Water pollution, {{ISBN|978-8176488327}}, APH Publishing</ref> 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.<ref>Flood, Gavin: ''Rites of Passage'', in Bowen, Paul (1998). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=_bjmiUSDRkAC Themes and issues in Hinduism]''. Cassell, London. {{ISBN|0-304-33851-6}}. pp. 270.</ref>

==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.<ref>O. Singh, Frontiers in Environmental Geography, {{ISBN|978-8170224624}}, pp 246-256</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaholidaymall.com/highlights/detail/ghats-in-varanasi|title=Ghats of Varanasi}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ghats in Varanasi}}
{{Wikiversity|The Varanasi Heritage Dossier}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101227094712/http://varanasi.nic.in/ghat/ghat.htm Ghats of Varanasi, webpage] at ''[[Varanasi]]'' official website.

{{Varanasi}}

[[Category:Ghats in Varanasi| ]]
[[Category: Culture of Varanasi]]
[[Category: Lists of Hindu buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Varanasi-related lists]]
[[Category: Lists of tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category: Lists of buildings and structures in Uttar Pradesh]]

Ghats in Varanasi - Revision history

>Reino Baptista at 17:06, 31 August 2021