KASHI

Much of what forms Kashi today is majorly from the 18th century which is when the destruction of culture and earth by foreign rulers stopped. Invaded and raided at least 5 times by Turks then Mughals combined with the religious epicenters as their prime targets. All these mercenary attacks and the beating of time has rendered the blueprint of this transcendental locus fractured. Which has made its ability to burst you into an extreme state of realization thus ecstasy through its flash of energy or vibes ,tainted. Though there's enough left for the devout.

Kashi was meant to be the mesocosm which linked the micro and the macro-cosm, i.e. it was a medium for the human to experience, know and cultivate the divine within.

The city had 72,000 Shakti sthalas (energy centers) representing the nadis in the human body, there are 108 shrines here representing the workable chakras. This is because it is a huge pranic (energy) body which radiates positive conscious altering vibrations.

The land here has been witness to a lot now its time for you to rock on a boat to lock your eyes on these dockyards or Ghats and see the architecture from 16th century onwards absorbing the serenity on a ground which survived all the partial annihilations for the past 4.2 bn years!

Ghats of Kashi

There are 84 Ghats from Assi till Adi-kesava which is the ghat next to Raj Ghat.

Much like the city these Ghats go as far as 16th century in its erupted structures.

Most of the shrines here are a recreation/replication of an already revered temple.

Innumerable shiv lingas are established by people of power and even poor devotees.

Assi Ghat

North to the confluence of Ganga and Assi river. This is the southern most ghat on this string of banks on succession. This is the most celebrated ghat always filled with crowd and events.

This ghat was purchased by Rani Dulhin Radha Dulari Kunwar of Sursand in 1902. She built the Lakshmi Narayan Temple here and a little palace now know as Hotel Ganga View.

The white marble temple here is Assi-sangam-eshvar.

4 more Ghats came out of this ghat after the 19th century.

Mythic Tale : Assi’s birth

Goddess Kali after decapitating Shumbha and Nishumbh, two demon brothers threw her khadag (sword) into the ground near by . Which made the earth give in and out poured from its womb Assi.

Ganga Mahal Ghat

Built in the 1830 by Narayan Dynasty for the Maharaja of Banaras with 16th century Rajput and local architecture .

The palace here is now utilized for Learning purposes .

First floor by the World Literacy Program of Canada , while the floors above by Indo-Swedish Study Center.

Rewan Ghat

Constructed by Royal Purohit Lala Mishr of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Punjab.

Purchased later by Maharaja Rewan in 1879.

Maharaja Rewan donated the building to B.H.U.

Tulsi Ghat

Named after the Great saintly poet Tulsidas who sitting over here had compiled Ramcharitramanas vernacular form of Valmiki’s Ramayan in Sanskrit, and many more works. This helped regular people know the epic .

It has a lolark kund above it which is known to grant a son if you take a dip here in the month of Kartika, even leprosy is warded off.

In 1941, Baldeodas Birla paved this ghat.

Bhadaini Ghat

Named ages ago after an immense dense forest called BhadraVan.

It serves as a water pumping station since 1907.

Janaki Ghat

Earlier called Nagamber Ghat known for Hayagriva Keshva Temple above it.

Maharani Kunwar of Sursand purchased this ghat in 1870 from Rai Girdhar Lal who in 1860 had erupted a structure here.

Maharani built a shrine here for Janaki (Sita, wife of Lord Ram).

Anandmayi Ghat

Paved by Rai Baldeo Sahai in 1942 then bought by a well accomplished ascetic Mata Anandmayi in 1944.

Has an Ashram with Shiva And Annapurna as it’s deity, And a residential school for girls to learn occult, spiritual and general teachings called Anandmayi Kanyapith.

Vacchraj Ghat

Paved in the late 18th century by a merchant with the same name.

It has 3 niches of Shiva , Ganesha and Ganga.

7th Jain Tirthankara Suparshavnath was born to King Pratishtha and Queen Prithvi nearby this ghat.

Hence , this ghat is close to the Jain community.

Jain Ghat

Paved by the Jain community , came into existence in 1931.

Earlier a part of Vacchraj Ghat.

Nishad Ghat

Part of Prabhu Ghat till first half of the 20th century.

Has a Nishad Raj temple built by the fishermen community living here.

Prabhu Ghat

Built in the turn of the 20th century by Nirmal Kumar Of Bengal.

Occupied by boatmen and washer men.

Panchkota Ghat

Built by the King of Panchkota (Bengal) in the later half of 19th century.

Chet Singh Ghat

Built by and for Raja Chet Singh of Banaras around 1770.

This Shivala Palace was home to Raja Chet Singh In 1781 when he rebelled against the British and lost to the troops of Warren Hastings. It was later gifted back to Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh of Narayan dynasty against his non participation in the revolt of 1857.

Ghat has three Shiva temples from the 18th century.

A seven day Bhudwa Mangal festival was organized here in the past but due to reunification it got dangerous to be around and that practice stopped.

Rejuvenated in 1958 by the State Government.

The next 3 Ghats were in the palace compound but donated later by the Narayan Dynasty.

Niranjani Ghat

There is an Niranjani Akhara (monastery) here built in 1897 by the Naga Saints.

There is a temple dedicated to Kartikeya here the only one in Kashi.

Maha-Nirvani Ghat

Paved by king of Panchkota in 1915 to build an Akhara by the name Maha-Nirvani for the Naga sect.

King of Nepal built 4 Shiva temples here.

Lore has it that sage Kapil was here

Legend has it that Lord Buddha took a dip in the Ganga here.

Shivala Ghat

King of Nepal built the beautiful Nepali Kothi or Suryauday Haveli here in ’s during his exile.

Gularia Ghat

Named after a huge Indian fig tree which used to be there.

Paved by Lalooji Aggarwal

Dandi Ghat

Pre dominated by stick carrying Dandi Ascetics.

Has a hanuman and Dandi temple.

Paved by Lalooji Aggarwal.

Hanuman Ghat + Prachin Hanuman Ghat

A shrine of Hanuman was built atop this ghat by Tulsidas.

Bhakti saint Vallabha who laid the philosophy for Krishna Bhakti is affiliated to this place.

Paved by Mahanth Hariharanth in 1825.

Comes under the Juna Akhara compound atop it. Which has 8 shrines from 18th century.

Some auxiliary shrines were built in 19th century.

Myth: Lord Ram built this Ghat

Lord Ram built the Rameshvara temple here as a representation to the Rameshvar Jyotirling of Tamil Nadu which he established before going to war with Ravan.

Karnataka Ghat

Built by the State of Mysore in 1910.

Has an old Ruru Bhairav shrine.

Harishchandra Ghat

One of the 2 crematory Ghats.

In 1740 Narayan Dixit religious guru of Bajirao Pesava renovated this ghat.

Mythic Tale: Satyawadi Harishchandra

Raja Harishchandra is a mythic King known for only speaking the truth. He once had to sell his wife and kid to a Brahmin (priest) and himself to a chandal (cremator) to appease sage Vishwamitr whom he had angered by disturbing his meditation for which he gave up his kingdom too.

He worked as a tax collector at Manikarnika Ghat. Years passed and upon a time his kid had died from a bite of a snake. When his wife brought the son to be cremated at Manikarnika he bound by his duty asked for tax for the funeral for which she was about to tear half her sari and pay. That’s when Vishnu Brahma and the sage appeared and breathed life into their son and restored the kingdom as a reward for being righteous.

Lali Ghat

Paved by Raja Chet Singh In 1778.

Vijaynagram Ghat

Paved in 1840 by Vijaynagram state of South India.

Kedar Ghat

At its top exist the temple of Kedareahvar, patron deity of southern segment.

Has a gauri kund (sacred well) as a representation of Gauri Kund in Kedarnath.

Chaoki Ghat

Built in 1790

Has a huge pipal tree which shelters stone carved snakes.

Here at some distance lies the naga kupa (snake pit)

Especial devotional ceremony takes place here on Naga Panchmi.

Ksemesvar/Somesvar/Shameshvar Ghat

Built in 18th century.

Kumaraswami’s followers built a monastery here in 1962.

Mansarovar Ghat

There is a sacred pond atop this ghat representing the Mansarovar Lake of Kailash.

Built in 1585 by Raja Man Singh Of Jaipur.

Narad Ghat

Built in 1788 by Dattatreya Swami A monastery chief

Raja Ghat

Formerly known as Amrita Rao Ghat named after who rebuilt the ghat with stone slabs in 1780 after its construction by Bajirao Pesva in 1720.

Khori Ghat A.K.A. Ganga Mahal Ghat II

Paved in late 19th century by Narayan Singh Of Narayan Dynasty.

Pandey Ghat

Built in honor of famous wrestler Babua Pandey along with an wrestling pit Akhara in 1805.

Saresvar Ghat

Built under the patronage of Mathura Pandey in late 18th century.

Digpatia Ghat

Built in 1830 by Raja of Digpatia (Bengal).

Chausathi Ghat

Dedicated to kali’s forms the yoginis, the ghat has yoginis rest are at different locations.

In 1670 king of Udaipur renovated this ghat.

Holi rituals are performed here.

Mythic Tale: Devodas

Devodas was the King of Kashi who wanted Shiva out of Kashi as he was depreciated as a king by his presence.

Shiva went away but came up with a plan to de-thrown the king by proving his lack of dharma by forcing an adharma or a misdeed by sending the 64 yoginis to woo him . Instead Devodas remained a devout identified the Goddess and established this shrine for them at this ghat.

Rana Mahal Ghat

Extension to Chausathi Ghat .

Has a shrine of Vakratunda Vinayak One of the 56 vinayak shrines in the city.

Darbhanga and Munsi Ghat

These were built by Sridhar Narayan Munsi a finance minister in the state of Darbhanga in 1912, munsi Ghat got its name in his honor.

King of Darbhanga (Bihar) bought it in 1915 and built a palatial building and a grand Shiva temple here in 1915.The palace is made of sand stone from Chunar with beautiful porches and Greek pillars.

Ahilyabai Ghat

Made by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore In ’s.

Sitala Ghat

Named after the temple of Sitala(Durga) present here which has two puranic idols of Shiva.

An extension to the Dasashvamedh Ghat.

Paved by Narayan Dikshit In 1740.

Dasashvamedh Ghat

Paved in 1740 by Bajirao Pesava a Maratha Chief.

Daily evening around 7 p.m. an Agni Pooja Fire Worship dedicated to Shiva, Ganga, Surya (Sun God) and the whole existence takes place here. Also called Ganga Aarti.

Mythic Tale: Dasashvamedh Yagya

Das-ashva-medh translates to ten-horse-sacrifice which is a sacrifice in which horses are left to run wild and where ever they go the land is acquired by the one who organizes the sacrifice, kings can fight for their land or surrender. On return the horses are sacrificed to the Gods.

Lord Brahma organized the Dasashvamedh yagya here to get the city back from Devodas for Shiva.

Prayag Ghat

Representation of Prayag confluence of Ganga , Yamuna and cosmic Saraswati rivers in Allahbad. Viz. Also called tirth-raj i.e. king of sacred pilgrimages.

The Prayageshwar shrine here and ghat were built by Bajirao Pesava in 1778.

Rajendra Prasad Ghat (Vishvanath Temple above this)

Named after the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad by the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi in 1979.

This ghat is the Northern end to Dasashvamedh Ghat there used to be a tall horse statue over here due to which it was called Ghoda Ghat. The statue is now in SankatMochan Temple.

Man Mandir Ghat

The palace here and Ghat was built by Raja Savai Man Singh of Amber (Rajasthan) in 1600, in 1737 Savai Jai Singh of his lineage built an astronomical observatory called Man Singh Observatory here at the Palace’s top floor.

Next door to the palace here is the home of Dom Raja (chief cremator) ,the one who puts the first log to every pyre that burns here .Recognizable by the Tiger mannequin in its balcony.

Tripura Bhairavi Ghat

Named after the shrine present here.

Paved in late 18th century by King of Banaras and pandit Mayanand Giri.

Mir Ghat

Only Ghat named after someone who razed it down is this.

In 1735 Mir Rustam Ali destroyed the 2 shrines of Jarasandesvar and Vrdhaditya.

Varahad Visalakshi Temple (Shakti Peeth) is above this ghat.

Phuta/Naya Ghat

Paved in mid 19th century by Swami Maheshvaranand.

Nepali Ghat

There is a Nepali Mandir atop this and between the next ghat, also known as Kathwal Mandir replicates Pashupatinath Mandir, Kathmandu.

Completed in 1843 , it was commenced by Nepali King Rana Bahadur Shah during his exile b/w 1800 to 04. But on his return he was stabbed to death by his step brother thus the construction stopped only to be restarted 20 years later by his son Grivan Yuddha Bikram.

Paved by Nanhi Babu in 1902.

Lalita Ghat

Has a shrine of Goddess Lalita.

Amroha Ghat

Formerly known as Raja Rajeshwari Ghat.

Made in early 19th century by a rich merchant named Babu Kesava Deva.

Jalasayi Ghat

Part of Manikarnika Ghat.

Name of this Ghat refers to the act of dipping the body in holy Ganga before laying it on the pyre.

Khirki Ghat

The name means window. Grievers for the deceased used to watch the burning corpses from over here.

In 1940 Baldeodas Birla built a pilgrim rest house here.

Manikarnika Ghat

One of the two crematory Ghats. The name refers to Sati’s earrings.

Well tied in myths this is the most revered cremation ground for Hindus.

First paved by two brother Kings in 1305. Then repaired and rebuilt twice by Bajirao Pesava in 1730 and Ahilyabai Holkar in 1791.

A Chakra Pushkarni Kund believed to be dug by Lord Vishnu using his disc. It is said that this well was filled up by the sweat of Vishnu which came out in the process of creation in the company of ash smeared meditative Shiva.

A symbol of Vishnu’s footprint on a white circular marble is present here. These impressions are of the time when Vishnu did a penance here to ask for the exclusion of Kashi from the cycle of destruction as it is dear to him too.

Mythic Tale : Sati’s earing

Sati wife of Shiva burnt herself with her yog agni at the Yagya(sacrifice) organized by her father the despicable Prajapati Daksh who invited all the Gods and didn’t invite Shiva. When Sati arrived uninvited she wasn’t well received by Daksh who derogated both Shiva and her post which sati burns herself as she didn’t want to let go of the tremendous rage she had reached.

Shiva walked for ages with the burning corpse of Sati Morbidly. To which Vishnu had to use his disc to cut Sati’s body into pieces and free Shiva of this bond, though Shiva took his time but when he got stable and came out of negligence due to grief he established Shakti peeths where ever Sati’s body parts fell. The earing that fell here is represented by a stone idol established atop Mir Ghat.

When Shiva came to Kashi looking for the Earrings that fell here nobody from the tribe nearby could help Shiva locate it. In anger Shiva cursed them that they’ll have to carry corpses till eternity and I personally will speak the Hymn for Liberation the Tarak Mantra into the dead body’s ear and liberate the soul from the cycles of rebirth.

Bajirao Ghat

Built by Bajirao Pesava in 1735, what he constructed got sunk few meters in earth.

In 1830 Queen Baijbai of Gwalior repaired this ghat.

Dattatreya temple is here.

Scindhia Ghat

Formerly known as Viresvar Ghat after the shrine here.

Paved first by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780, then repaired by Queen Baijbai in 1829 and Daulatrao Scindhia in 1937.

It has a tilted Shiva temple which came under its weight of construction.

Ghats ahead are crowded by Washer men communities who carry out there business here.

Listed ahead are few more significant Ghats.

Venimadhava Ghat

This is the part of the Panchganga Ghat and also known as Vindu Madhava Ghat after the name of the famous 10th century temple Vindu Madhava temple which was in ruin since 1496 was rebuilt by Maharaja of Amber in 1585. But in 1669 the temple was demolished by the order of Aurangzeb and concerted into a mosque (still serves as landmark at this site). The image of Vindu has been re- established in the upper story of Laksmanabala building and still it attracts a thousand of devotees and pilgrims for glimpse and worship.

PanchGanga Ghat

Named so cause it’s believed to be a cosmic confluence of three dead rivers Saraswati, Kirana and dhupapapa with Ganga and Yamuna.

This was the chief resort of a great teacher of Vedanta, Ramananda to whom Kabira (1398-1623) a great reformist bhakti poet, accepted as guru. Ramananda's monastery is still there. Tulsi (1547- 1623) was initially living at this ghat where he composed the famous writing, the Vindu-patrika ("The petition to Rama"), describing the glory of Vindu Madhava temple.

Ghat was made of stone steps in 1580 by Raghunatha Tandan , finance secretary of the Mughal King Akbar. In 1735 Bajirao Pesava-I together with Sadasive Naik repaired it. Again in 1775 renovations and repairing were done by Sripatirao Pesava , and pant Pririnidhi of Andhra.

The ghat is broad and deep, and exceedingly strong. Its stairs and turrets are all of stone, and from their great number, afford accommodation to a multitude of worshippers and bathers. The turrets are low and hollow, and are employed as temples and shrines. Each one contains several deities, which are, mostly, emblems of Shiva. Some installed by people for family peace around the old ones.

Festivities at occasions close to Ganga are performed here.

Adi-kesav Ghat

The last Ghat after Raj Ghat, This place is in ruins last worked upon by Daulat Rao Scindhia in 1790.

This Ghat is above the Ganga and Varuna confluence.

This Ghat is named after the Temple here which is supposed to have foot prints of Lord Vishnu.

There are two Shiv Lings here installed by Lord Brahma.