Shades of Varanasi

Varanasi is not only a city, but It’s also a living culture and shades of life. It tells you the story from birth to death. This is a place where people want to live the last time in their lives. This city is like the opiate. Opiate of spirituality. I was there for 6 days in March 2019 and I spent most of my time at Ghats. I noticed people closely and found they came there with stress and tension but once they sit near ghats for a while they forget every tension and feel relaxed.

Life is fast in Varanasi but not like metro cities. It is like a flow of water, fast but calm also. It’s full of emotions and feelings. I am writing this blog not in a way to share the experience of my travel there but the experience of my stay there and my experience say you can’t travel Varanasi but you can stay and live even its for a one day but if you are there live it like life. You need to feel the vibes of the place and mix with its environment to get real enjoyment of there.

The Magical ghats of Varanasi

Here I would like to put your consideration to “The Magical ghats of Varanasi”

Varanasi has near 88 ghats total at someplace 84 and 87 ghats mention.

I found the name of few Ghats through the internet and noticed a few when I was there but all 88 Ghats are not famous like few others.

Here is a list of Ghat names:

1. Assi Ghat
2. Narad Ghat
3. Ganga Mahal Ghat
4. Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Ghat
5. Kedar Ghat
6. Mehta Ghat
7. Ganesh Ghat
8. Rama Ghat
9. Jatar Ghat
10. Reeva Ghat
11. Tulsi Ghat
12. Bhandini Ghat
13. Manikarnika Ghat
14. Lal Ghat
15. Dashashwamedh Ghat
16. Munshi Ghat
17. Ahilyabai Ghat
18. Badrinarayan Ghat
19. Trilochan Ghat
20. Darbhanga Ghat
21. Chausatti Ghat
22. Babua Pandey Ghat
23. Chauki Ghat
24. Kshameshwar Ghat
25. Lali Ghat
26. Hanuman Ghat
27. Shivala Ghat
28. Raja Chet Singh Ghat
29. Prabhu Ghat
30. Panchkot Ghat
31. Veer Bhadra Mishra Ghat
32. Shankracharya Ghat
33. Vijyanagram Ghat
34. Mansarovar Ghat
35. Prayag Ghat
36. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ghat
37. Meer Ghat
38. Nepali Ghat
39. Lalita Ghat
40. Jalasen Ghat
41. Dattatreya Ghat
42. Sindhiya Ghat
43. Sankatha Ghat
44. Bhonsale Ghat
45. Naya Ghat
46. Mangla Gauri Ghat
47. Venimadhav Ghat
48. Panchganga Ghat
49. Brahma Ghat
50. Bundi Parkota Ghat
51. Sheetla Ghat
52. Hanumangarhi Ghat
53. Gaay Ghat
54. Bundikota Ghat
55. Gola Ghat
56. Nandeshwar Ghat
57. Sakka Ghat
58. Nishadraj Ghat
59. Rani Ghat
60. Raj Ghat
61. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Ghat
62. Aadi Keshava Ghat
63. Varuna Sangam Ghat
64. Janaki Ghat
65. Mata Anandmayi Ghat
66. Vacchraja Ghat
67. Niranjani Ghat
68. Gularia Ghat
69. Dandi Ghat
70. Sant Ravidas Ghat
71. Telianala Ghat
72. Prahlada Ghat
73. Bajirao Ghat
74. Khirki Ghat
75. Man Mandir Ghat
76. Tripura Bhairavi Ghat
77. Raja Gwalior Ghat

I am far behind the rest 11 Ghats names maybe you will found on the internet do your research. One of the most famous Ghat is Dashashawmedh Ghat. This is the place where the largest crowd gathered during Ganga Aarti every evening. The other 2 famous Ghats are Manikarnika and Satyawadi Harishchandra Ghat only these two Ghats are being used for cremation place according to Hindu rituals.

Stack of woods near Manikarnika Ghat for Cremation

It is believed that if you have died in Varanasi or after death if your dead body burned here as Hindu rituals you will achieve “The Moksha”. Moksha is an achievement to the soul which released it from the bondage of birth and death.

Sunrise

The day starts at Ghats with a gathering of tourists from different countries with sunrise. The view of sunrise from Ghats is amazing people gather in groups, some of them hire boats to get a view from mid of Ganga and others watch is while standing in the water.

People enjoying the sunrise from a boat

People who run those boats and do work on Ghats wake up early morning and get busy in their schedule. Main Ghats like Dashashawmedh Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Ganga Mahal Ghat become crowded in the morning, and people starting gathered for many rituals there.
One side you will see people come there to flow remains of their loved ones into the Holy Ganga and another side you will see people celebrate weddings same time of the same place. This is the unity and diversity of Varanasi.

People taking a selfie with the groom on Dashawmedh Ghat

Boys who work on boats and ghats bath and wash their clothes at ghats, Ram Ghat

If you will go a bit away from the main ghats, you will see people doing their daily work and you can sit and relaxed.

You will see some long-stay tourists in the morning near ghats. They come for jogging, exercise, yoga, and photography. You can do a lot of activities there also. You are free to sing, play small games, flying kites or dance, or any other interesting talent you have that you can practice there.

Boats

Take a boat ride and put your feet on another side Ganga and can get a fantastic look of all ghats in one view. The boatman takes 30 Indian rupees for one ferry. Another bank of The Ganga seems like a mini desert and you can take a camel ride there also but unfortunately, this side is more look like a dirty yard. Don’t buy any open food from this side. Ganga is not the only a river in India, it is sacred and at some point, it creates some issue with that.
People drop lots of things into the river in the name of worship which is not good for the health of the river.

Another thing which is amazing about ghats is boats and lots of boats. Boating is one of a big source of income for people who work there. These boats are made of wood and most of the nonmotorized boat which is good for the environment. People enjoy Ganga aarti from the boat also in the evening. You can hire boats for personal or in groups.

Boats parked near Assi Ghat

An artist from Poland painting a picture of ghats from a boat.

There are 2 main thing in Varanasi which makes it famous and holy.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple and The Holy Ganga

Kashi is another name of Varanasi and Vishwanath Temple is one of the most respected and famous temples of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is believed to control the tremendous flow of the Ganga by his “Jata” (hair).

People started getting in queue for Kashi Vishwanath temple in the early morning and in the evening. I would say the evening is more interesting than the day of Ghats. In the evening many artists and sellers can be seen near ghats and markets. They sell many types of toys and interesting things. People start gathering for visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple and The Ganga Aarti.

You need to be aware this time in the market from pickpocketers, its really crowded time here, especially near Dashshawmedh Ghat.

Man in a fancy turban and people In the market for shopping

Interactions

Varanasi is the main point of attraction for foreigners and they enjoy the enthusiasm of Indian culture here. People come here from Europe, America, South America, and from other places. Some live here for a long time some of few days. Most of the people from other countries especially from European countries stay here for a long time like 2 years, 5 years.
I met a lady she told her name Paula and from Canada. She told me she had been lived in India since 3 years. Some time she spent to learn Yoga and now learning music in Varanasi. An old french couple I met was in Varanasi for 6 months. I saw some people from European countries join the community of “Sadhu” and living in Varanasi for so long.

(1)- A lady giving some acupressure massage to a Sadhu baba. (2) An old lady discussing something with Naga Baba (3) Paula singling song on Ghats (4) Son- Father from Japan (5) A Couple from France

Stays

Various types of stay available in Varanasi. You can spend a big chunk of money for royal look classical hotels with a view of Ganga or you can stay in a guest house for less money or in Dharamshalas for very minimal charges or almost free. Hotels are expensive like 2000 INR-10000 INR per night while guest house costs 500 INR- 1000 INR per night.