Tour Highlights
| Varanasi | Bhadaini Ghat, Jain Ghat, Panch Ganga Ghat, Kashi Karbat Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Darabhanga Ghat, Ahilyabai Ghat, Mankarnika Ghat, Dashaswamedh Ghat, Rajendra Prased Ghat, Mir Ghat, Ganga Aarti |
Itinerary
1
Bhadaini Ghat
The earliest reference of this Ghat is given by Greves (1909). It has a huge pumping set of waterworks which supply water to whole city. This ghat has standing wall constructed by brick and stone. Bathing or religious activities are not performed here.
2
Jain Ghat
Before 1931 Jain ghat was the part of Vaccharaja ghat. Later Jain community made a pucca ghat and named it as Jain ghat. On the southern end Jain communities take bath and perform their regular activities, but on the northern end Mallaha (boatman) families are living giving it a different look.
3
Panch Ganga Ghat
Beyond Lakshmanbala Ghat, with its commanding views of the river. Lies one of the most dramatic and controversial ghats, Panchganga Ghat, dominated by 's largest riverside building, the great mosque of Alamgir, known locally as Beni Madhav-ka-Darera.
4
Kashi Karbat Ghat
Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. is said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which Shiva manifested his supremacy over other gods, broke through the earth's crust and flared towards the heavens.
5
Kedar Ghat
This ghat is meticulously eulogized in the KKh ( 77.8-10, 47-54:also KKm). This is the site of Haramapapa Tirtha. At the top exists the temple of Kedaresvara, the patron deity of the southern sacred segment.The attached shrines and sacred sites are: Tarakesvara, Gauri Kunda and Vitanka Nrsimha.ln late Sixteenth century Kumara -svami, a devotee of Dattatreya made a monastery attached to the Kedaresvara, temple.
6
Darabhanga Ghat
Together with magnifivent building along the ghat and a grand Siva temple in Nilakantha area, the king of Dara -bhanga (Bihar) made them in 1915. The building along the ghat shows a massive Greek pillars style. The shrine of Kukutesvara lies at the top.
7
Ahilyabai Ghat
At the place of an old site of Kevelyagiri Ghat, in c. 1778 queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore made this a pucca ghat. For the first time name of a person was added after the ghat. She was also responsible for re-building the Visve svara temle, as exists at present, in 1777.
8
Mankarnika Ghat ( Burning Ghat, Main )
Two ancient sacred waterfront sites make this ghat, viz Sidha Vinayaka and Swargadvaresvara. Among the is popularly called as " the great cremation ground" (Mahasmasana). A myth mentions that Lord Siva gives Taraka mantra ( "Prayer of the crossing") in the ear of the dead, therefore the form of Siva as Tarakesvara, (the temple is at the ghat), is propitiated whenever a Hindu dies.
9
Dashaswamedh Ghat
This is the most busiest and the ancient most referred ghat. According to the myth related to Divodasa, Lord Brahma (" the creator" in the Hind trinity gods) perfor -med the ten-horses sacrifice (dasa-asvamedha) at this site. The historical sources infer that at this site the revi -valist Hindu dynasty of the second century, the Bhara Siva Nagas had performed ten-horses sacrifice.
10
Rajendra Prased Ghat
In 1979 in memory and honour of the first president of India (1950-1962). Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) this ghat was renamed, and made pucca by the Municipal Corporation of . In fact, this ghat was northern extension of Dasasvamedha Ghat.
11
Mir Ghat
This ghat represents two old sites of Jarasandhes -vara and Vrdhaditya, which were converted by Mira Rustam Ali in 1735. Presently, in the name of these two shrines pilgrims throw flowers and raw-rice in the Ganga and remember them.The shrines and images in the vicinity are Vrdhaditya, Asa Vinayaka, Yajna Varah -aand Visalaksi("The Wide-Eyed ", one of the 52 Sakti-pithas of god desses.)
12
Ganga Aarti
is a sacred and oldest city of the world located at the banks of the holy River Gange. Where, Gange aarti is performed daily in the evening by a group of priests at the Dashashwamedh ghat. Through the aarti, Agni Pooja is performed in which a commitment is made to the Lord Shiva, Mata Gange, Surya, Agni (Fire) as well as the whole universe made by the Lord Shiva. On some special occasions, religious festivals and second day of the week means Tuesdays, a particular type of aarti is held at this ghat.
