The Famous Ghats and Temples in
City of Varanasi,India
Varanasi Temples
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi is said to be the oldest
surviving city of the world. Varanasi is also called as Kashi or Benaras. Being
the most venerated pilgrim place in Hindu religion, Varanasi is said to be a
museum of temples. Also called the city of temples, Varanasi is home to about
2,000 temples. People from all parts of India as well as the world come to
Varanasi to visit these temples, making the holy temples of Varanasi amongst
the most visited temples in India.
Many important and famous temples
are located at Ganga Ghats (river front), adding to the religious value of the
holy river, Ganges.
Ghats Of Varanasi
Varanasi is said to be the oldest
surviving city of the world. Varanasi is also called as Kashi or Benaras. Being
the most venerated pilgrim place in Hindu religion, Varanasi is said to be a
museum of temples. Also called the city of temples, Varanasi is home to about
2,000 temples. People from all parts of India as well as the world come to
Varanasi to visit these temples, making the holy temples of Varanasi amongst
the most visited temples in India.
Many important and famous temples
are located at Ganga Ghats (river front), adding to the religious value of the
holy river, Ganges.
Most of the temples that are
located on the Ganga Ghats are old and date back to the medieval period.
According to legends the first Siva Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light,
came through the earth here and flared into the sky. Therefore Varanasi is also
called Kashi, "the City of Light." The Kashi Vishwanath temple,
located near the Ganga Ghats, is the most famous and important temple of
Varanasi. In this temple resides the guardian of the holy city, Lord Shiva.
Other important temples of Varanasi are the new Vishwanath temple, the Sankat
Mochan temple, the Durga temple, the Kal Bhairav temple and the Mritunjaya
temple.
Ghats Of Varanasi
Varanasi is symbolized by its
Ghats. There are as many as 81 Ghats in Varanasi for different purposes. Some
of them are related to particular deity while others are simply to bathe. Some
of the important Ghats of Varanasi include Assi, Dasaswamedh, Manikarnika,
Tulsi and Panch Ganga among others. Tulsi Ghat is named after the famous 16th
century poet Tulsi Das, who spent many years on this Ghat composing the Ram
Charit Manas. A temple dedicated to Lord Ram stands on the Ghat. Another
historically important Ghat is Panch-Ganga Ghat. Panch -Ganga Ghat as its name
indicates, is where five rivers are supposed to meet. Dominating the Ghat is
Aurangzeb' s smaller mosque popularly called Alamgir Mosque. Following are
other important Ghats in Varanasi.
Dasaswamedh Ghat
Dasaswamedh Ghat falls second in
line of the Panch-Tirtha Yatra. When you start moving from Assi towards North
then falls past the plain, flat-roofed building that houses the shrine of
Shitala. The name of Dasaswamedh Ghat indicates that Brahma sacrificed (medh)
10 horses 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.
Dasaswamedh is an extremely
popular pilgrimage. Even in the rainy season when Ganges is on spate, people
can be seen visiting the temple on boats. It is interesting to know that
Shitala represents both benign and malevolent aspects of life; ease and succor
as well as disease.
Dasaswamedh can be safely adjudged
as the most popular and easily accessible Ghat of Varanasi. It is very easy to
locate this Ghat because of its typical environment that consists of rows of
pandas sitting on wooden platforms under bamboo umbrellas. This is the most
featured scene of Varanasi all over the world. This place is featured in every
possible paintings and stills of Banaras. The place looks like a mini India in
itself. Masseurs share space with sometimes irritating boatmen who jostle for
customers all along.
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat has a great
significance not only in Hindu mythology and way of life but also in the
philosophies of life and death. Manikarnika is basically a cremation Ghat. It
is interesting to know that cremation Ghats are usually placed outside the main
town, as they are considered inauspicious. Nevertheless this doesn't stand true
in the case of Varanasi where Manikarnika is situated quite in the middle of
town itself.
This is precisely because
the entire city of Varanasi is considered a "Maha-Shmashan" or the
Great Cremation Ground.Manikarnika Ghat is perpetually crowded with funeral
parties. You will find shops lined up with things used during the cremation
such as Ghee, wood, offerings and clothes. These cremations are felicitated by
Doms who are considered the guardian of dead. Seeing bodies being cremated so
publicly has always exerted a great fascination for foreign visitors to the
city who find it utterly amusing and deviated from the one practiced in Semitic
religions. It is worthy to note that photography is strictly considered a
taboo. So please avoid doing that as this might be seen as a provocation and
act of hostility and might lead to unwanted troubles.
The philosophical aspect of
Manikarnika lies in the fact that this Ghat is an optimal amalgamation of both
life as well as death. Manikarnika that lies at the center of the Panch-Tirtha
symbolizes both creation and destruction, epitomized by the juxtaposition of
the sacred well of Manikarnika Kund and Manikarnika Ghat. While Vishnu has dug
the former at the time of creation of earth Shiva, the destructor, inhabits the
hot and sandy ash-infused soil of the later. Manikarnika Kund is considered to
be even older than Ganges and as legend has it, Vishnu cared the kund with his
discus, and filled it with perspiration from his exertions in creating the
world, at the behest of Shiva. When Shiva quivered with delighted, his earning
fell into this pool, which as Manikarnika - "Jeweled Earring" -
became the very First Tirtha in the world.
Assi Ghat
Assi is a clay-banked Ghat that
stands at the southernmost part of Varanasi where river Assi meets Ganges. This
Ghat is the first when you start walking from South towards the Manikarnika
Ghat. It is mandatory for the pilgrims to bathe at this Ghat before worshipping
at a huge lingam under a Peepal tree. There is another Lingam that is worth
visit.
It is called Asisangameshvara or
the "Lord of the Confluence of the Assi". This has been placed in a
small marble temple just off the Assi Ghat.
There has been a long held
tradition where pilgrims visit the Lolarka Kund next. Lolarka Kund or the tank
of "Trembling Sun" is a rectangular tank that is 15 meters below the
ground level that is approached by a flight of stairs. This tank has rather sadly
been abandoned lately and comes to life only during the Lolarka fair, when
thousands come to propitiate the gods to bless them with a son. Interestingly
Lolarka Kund is considered one of the two sun-sites that are related to the
origin of Hinduism and is considered the oldest site in Varanasi. The Kund is
equated with the twelve divisions of the sun and attracts pilgrim on the day of
Buddha Purnima. The Assi Ghat is also considered one of the five special ghats
that pilgrims are supposed to bathe at in sequence during the ritual route
called Panch-tirthi Yatra.
Harish Chandra Ghat
Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the
oldest Ghats of Varanasi. Harish Chandra Ghat is name after a mythological King
Harish Chandra, who once worked at the cremation ground here for the
perseverance of truth and charity.
It is believed that the Gods
rewarded him for his resolve, charity and truthfulness and restored his lost
throne and his dead son to him. Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the two cremation
Ghats (the other being Manikarnika Ghat) and is some times referred as Adi
Manikarnika (the original creation ground).
Hindus from distant places bring
the dead bodies of their near and dear ones to the Harish Chandra Ghat for
cremation. In Hindu mythology it is believed that if a person is cremated at
the Harish Chandra Ghat, that person gets salvation or "moksha". The
Harish Chandra Ghat was somewhat modernized in late 1980's, when an electric
crematorium was opened here.
Tulsi Ghat
Tulsi Ghat is another important
Ghat of Varanasi. Tulsi Ghat is named after the great Hindu poet of the 16th
century, Tulsidas. Tulsi Ghat is an important window into the Hindu mythology.
Tulsi Das composed the great Indian epic, Ramcharitmanas at Varanasi. According
to mythology, when Tulsi's manuscript fell into the River Ganga it did not sink
and kept floating instead.
It is also believed that the
Ramlila (story of Lord Rama's life) was staged here for the first time.
Perhaps, to commemorate this a temple of Lord Ram was built on the Tulsi Ghat.
Many of the relics of Tulsi Das are preserved at the Tulsi Ghat. The house in
which Tulsidas died has been preserved and his samadhi, wooden clogs, pillow
and the idol of Hanuman, which Tulsi worshipped, are all still intact here.
Earlier, Tulsi Ghat was known as
Lolark Ghat (mentioned in Gaharwa Danpatra and Girvanapadamanjari). It was in
the year 1941 when Tulsi Ghat was made pukka (cemented) by the famous
industrialist, Baldeo Das Birla.
Tulsi Ghat is associated with a
number of important activities such as bath of Lolarkkunda (to be blessed with
sons and their long life) and the sacred bath to get rid of leprosy. Tulsi Ghat
is also a center of cultural activities. During Hindu lunar month of Kartika
(Oct/Nov), Krishna Lila is staged here with great fanfare and devotion.
Pancha-ganga Ghat & Bindu
Madhava Temple
Beneath this ghat the Ganges,
Yamuna, Sarasvati, Kirana, and Dhutapapa Rivers are said to meet. It is one of
the five main ghats in Varanasi. It is considered especially auspicious to
bathe here during the month of Kartika (Oct-Nov), and even more so on the full
moon day of Kartika.
At this ghat is the large Alamgir
Mosque built by Aurangzeb in the 17th century, after he destroyed the major
Bindu Madhava Temple that used to be here. The present Deity of Bindu Madhava
is in a small temple by the mosque. It is located just above the Pancha-ganga
Ghat. If you are taking a boat by yourself, you can have the boat stop here and
walk up to the temple.
Other Ghats
Beside the main ghats there are
over 100 more. The best time to visit the ghats is at dawn, when the river is
lined with bathers and worshipers; it is very peaceful. The southern-most ghat
is Asi Ghat, which is one of the five special ghats in Varanasi. There is a
large Siva-linga here under a peepal tree.
Asisangameswara (“the lord of the
confluence of the Asi River”) is a Siva-linga temple located near here. This
ghat is the first place to bath at when you do Pancha-tirthas. From this ghat
you can get a boat across the Ganges to Ramnagar, the Maharaja of Varanasi’s
palace.
Lolarka Kunda is a bathing tank
dedicated to the Sun. There is the Lolarka Mela Fair in Aug/Sept. Women come
and bathe in this tank to get a son.
At Bachraj Ghat there are three Jain
temples on the riverbank. Dandi Ghat is the ghat of the Dandi Panths holy men.
At Hanuman Ghat there is a temple dedicated to Hanuman. Hanuman Ghat is where
Vallabha Acharya, who was a Vaishnava saint who spread the glories of Sri
Krishna, is said to have been born in the 16th century.
At Kedar Ghat there is a well
half-way up the ghat called Gauri Kund, which is named after Lord Siva’s wife,
which is said to have healing properties. At this ghat is the Kedareswara
Siva-linga Temple.
Manasarovar Ghat is named after
the holy lake which is found at the foot of Mt Kailash in Tibet. Man Singh of
Jaipur built it. At Chausathi Ghat is the temple dedicated to the Chaumsathi
(64) Yoginis, which has deities of Durga and Kali.
At Someswara Ghat there is a temple
of the moon, and every kind of disease is supposed to be healed here. Munshi
Ghat is an interesting ghat to look at. Ahalya Bai Ghat is named after the
Maratha queen of Indore.
Maharajah Man Singh of Jaipur
built Man Mandir Ghat in 1600. Man Mandir Ghat has an Observatory built by Raja
Sawai Jai Singh in 1710, the founder of the city of Jaipur. The observatory is
made up of stone instruments and is very small compared to the ones in Jaipur
or Delhi. It is a little hard to find.
Located near this ghat is a
Siva-linga temple where the linga is immersed in water. The house of the Dom
Raja, who is in charge of the cremation grounds, is nearby and has tigers
painted on it. Dom Raja is a hereditary title.
At Mir Ghat there is the Vishalakshi
(“Wide-eyed Goddess”) Temple. This temple is a shakti pitha and is said to mark
the place where a part of the body of Sati, the wife of Lord Siva, fell.
Next is Lalita Ghat, where there
is located the Nepali Temple dedicated to Pashupateswara Siva, which is a
Nepali-type wooden temple with interesting sculptures. Also here is a Vishnu
temple dedicated to Ganga Keshava.
Further north is Jalasayin Ghat,
where bodies are cremated. Directly next to this ghat is Manikarnika Ghat,
which is one of the most holy ghats.
At the very big Scindia Ghat,
there is a partially submerged Siva temple. Agni, the god of fire, is said to
have been born near this ghat.
At Dattatreya Ghat, there are the
footprints of a sadhu of the same name. At Rama and Laksman Ghat there is a
Rama and Laksman Temple. The king of Jaipur built it. Next is Panchganga Ghat.
Gai Ghat has a cow made of stone on it.
Next is Trilochan Ghat, where
there is located the Siva temple of Tri (“three”) Lochana (“eye”), who has
three eyes. Also in this temple is Varanasi Devi, the city-goddess of Varanasi.
The important Raj Ghat (also
called Adi Keshava Ghat) is the northern most ghat. Located here is the Adi
Keshava Vishnu Temple, which is located where the Varuna River flows into the
Ganges. Lord Vishnu is said to have first put his feet here when he came to
Varanasi.
Dev Deepawali- The Magnificent
Celebration
Dev Diwali - a
celestial happening. Lakhs of illuminated earthen lamps dot the stairs of
various Ghats and adjoining majestic palatial buildings with an equal number
seen floating gingerly on the holy waters of the River Ganges. There is a
strong aroma of incense and sacred chanting of Mantras add a religious fervor
to the occasion. Unique feature of Varanasi celebrated on the auspicious day of
Kartik Poornima- fifteen days after Deepawali. For an outsider it is an amazing
site, but for the devout Indian it is a time to worship the Holy Ganges.
Dev Deepawali is also
the culmination of month long Kartik Mahotsava, which starts from the day of
Sharad Poornima. Many have described Dev Deepawali celebrations literally fit
for the Gods. These celebrations have been recorded even by Ptolemy and Huang
Tsang amongst others, when several million earthen lamps are lit at Sunset on
the steps of the Ghats.
It is a very special
River Festival of Varanasi and it is a must see for all visitors to the Holy
City. The festival is best enjoyed by taking a leisurely boat ride on the
Ganges from around 5.30 P.M. in the evening for 2-3 hours or by just walking on
the banks of River Ganges.
This also coincides with
the end of Ganga Mahotsva, which takes place at Rajendra Prasad Ghat
(Dasaswamedh Ghat)for the previous three days.
The History Of
Varanasi (About Varanasi)
The land of Varanasi
(Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often
referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These
few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older
than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them
put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of
Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and
re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet
unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins
of mortals.
Ganges is said to have
its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the
mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization
for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first
sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of
Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian
arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries. Also a pilgrimage place
for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the
twenty-third Tirthankar.
Vaishnavism and
Shaivism have co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously. With a number of temples,
Mrs. Annie Besant chose Varanasi as the home for her 'Theosophical Society' and
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, to institute 'Benares Hindu University, the biggest
University in Asia. Ayurveda is said to be originated at Varanasi and is
believed to be the basis of modern medical sciences such as Plastic surgery,
Cataract and Calculus operations. Maharshi Patanjali, the preceptor of Ayurveda
and Yoga, was also affiliated with Varanasi, the holy city. Varanasi is also
famous for its trade and commerce, especially for the finest silks and gold and
silver brocades, since the early days.
Varanasi has also been
a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of
spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors
such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous
saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of
India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to
flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi
Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan,
(the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here
for major part of their lives.
Kashi Vishwanatha is
located in Varanasi. According to legend, the Lord himself declared this spot
as his Royal residence. The original temple was destroyed as a result of the
mughal invasion. It was reconstructed in the 18th Century with gold plating
added in the 19th Century on the Shikhara.Standing on the western bank of
India's holiest river Ganges, Varanasi is the oldest surviving city of the
world and the cultural capital of India. It is in the heart of this city that
there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in which is
enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Here gravitate
the teeming millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual peace by the
darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondages of maya
and the inexorable entanglements of the world. A simple glimpse of the
Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on
the path of knowledge and bhakti. Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga has a very special
and unique significance in the spiritual history of India. Tradition has it
that the merits earned by the darshan of other jyotirlinga scattered in various
parts of India accrue to devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Deeply and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
has been a living embodiment of our timeless cultural traditions and highest
spiritual values. The Temple has been visited by all great saints- Adi
Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas,
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak and several other spiritual
personalities. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts visitors not only from
India but abroad as well and thereby symbolises man's desire to live in peace
send harmony with one another. Vishwanath being a supreme repository of this
spiritual truth thus strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood and fellow
feeling at the national as well as global levels. On January 28, 1983 the
temple was taken over by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and it's management ever
since stands entrusted to a Trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi
Naresh, as president and an Executive Committee with Divisional Commissioner as
Chairman. The Temple in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Late
Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year 1785 a Naubatkhana was built
up in front of the Temple by the then Collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan at the
instance of Governor General Warren Hastings. In 1839, Two domes of the Temple
were covered by gold donated by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Third
dome still remains uncovered, Ministry of culture & Religious affairs of
U.P. Govt. is taking keen interest for gold plating of third dome of Temple.
Varanasi is one of the
oldest living cities in the world, with a continuous history dating back 3,000
to 5,000 years. Today, it retains much of the alure of the ancient world. The
center of the Hindu world, Varanasi touts an unrivaled diversity and a unique
sense that can be experienced nowhere else.
HOW TO REACH VARANASI,
INDIA ?
Varanasi can be
reached from any city directly. Rail and Buses are available from all the
cities. Varanasi is 126km from Allahabad and 17 km from Mugalsarai. In the city
Ikka, Tonga, Rickshaw and other vehicle are available to visit all temples and
other places far and near in Varanasi.
Varanasi is easily
accessible from all parts of the country. Very well connected by road, rail and
air, the City of. offers convenient and comfortable travelling options to and
from other cities of India.
Direct Plane For
Varanasi
Indian Airlines flies
to Babatpur airport which is 22 km from Varanasi and 30 km from Sarnath There
is a. direct, daily flight connection between Varanasi and New Delhi. It also
connects Varanasi to Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and
Bhuvaneshwar. For travel reservations contact Indian Airlines.
Important Trains For
Varanasi
Varanasi is an
important and major rail junction. The city is served by trains from all metros
and major cities across the country. New Delhi, mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai,
Gwalior, Meerut, indore, Guwahati, Allahbad, Lucknow, Dehradun… the city has
direct rail connections.
Varanasi Cantt Railway
Station Enquiry number 135.
Some important trains
from Varanasi station are
Kashi Vishwanath
Express (Varanasi-Delhi)
Shramjivi Express
(Patna- Varanasi-Delhi)
Farakka Express
(MaldaTown-Varanasi-Bhiwani)
Saryu-Yamuna Express
(Muzzafarpur-Varanasi-delhi)
Mahanagri Express
(Varanasi-Mumbai)
Pawan Express
(Varanasi-Mumbai)
Sabermati Express
(Varanasi-Ahamedabad)
Ganga-Kaveri Express
(Varanasi-Chennai)
Purva Express
(Howrah-Varanasi-Delhi)
Himgiri Express
(Jammu-Varanasi-Howrah)
Siyaldah Express
(Varanasi-Jammu Tawi)
Marudhar Express
(Varanasi / Agra /Jaipur)
From Mughal Sarai
Station: (16 Km. from Varanasi) Train from Mughal Sarai Station are
Rajdhani Express
(Howrah – Mughal Sarai- Delhi)
Toofan Express
(Howrah- Mughal Sarai- Delhi)
North East Super Fast
Express (Delhi –Mughal Sarai-Guwahati)
Magadh Express (Delhi-
Mughal Sarai – Patna).
Reach To Varanasi By
Road
Varanasi, on (National
Highway) NH2 from Calcutta to Delhi, NH7 to Kanya Kumari and NH29 to GoraKhpur
is connected literally to the rest of the country by good motorable, all –
weather roads. Some important road distances are: Agra 565 km, Allahabad 128
km, Bhopal 791 km, Bodhgaya 240 km., Kanpur 330 km., Khajuraho 405 km., Lucknow
286 km., patna 246 km., Sarnath 10 km., Lumbini (Napal) 386 km., Kushi Nagar
250 km. (via Gorkhpur), UPSRTC Bus Stand, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Golgadda Bus
Stand.
Local Transport in
Varanasi
Taxis: Private taxis
are available from travel agencies, hotels, etc., auto rickshaws, cycle
rickshaws and Tempos are also readily available.
Left Luggage Facility
in Varanasi:
Left luggage facility
is available at both the Varanasi and Mughalsarai railway stations(24 Hours).
