Varanasi known as Banaras is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. Ganga Ghats are main attraction of the holy city Varanasi. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. It has numbers of Ghats more than 100 ghats along side Ganga. The city is considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while many ghats are privately owned. The former Kashi Naresh owns Shivala or Kali ghat. Morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular visitor's attraction.
It is believed that the pilgrims take a dip in the Ganges just becomes free from all sin. People worship ganges as goddess. Everyday in the evening it is worshiped by the priests. Priests sang prayers in sanskrit which includes hymns from the vedas and other holy books. Not only the local people but foreigners also enjoy this prayer. It is called the "Ganga Aarti". Ganga Aarti is main attraction of the Ganga Ghats.
Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat are most popular Ghats at Varanasi.
The ghats as named and counted by the city of Varanasi are as follows:
| 1. Mata Anandamai Ghat 2. Assi Ghat 3. Adi Keshava Ghat 4. Ahilyabai Ghat 5. Badri Nayarana Ghat 6. Bajirao Ghat 7. Bauli /Umaraogiri / Amroha Ghat 8. Bhadaini Ghat 9. Bhonsale Ghat 10. Brahma Ghat 11. Bundi Parakota Ghat 12. Chaowki Ghat 13. Chausatthi Ghat 14. Cheta Singh Ghat 15. Dandi Ghat 16. Darabhanga Ghat 17. Dashashwamedh Ghat 18. Digpatia Ghat 19. Durga Ghat 20. Ganga Mahal Ghat (I) 21. Ganga Mahal Ghat (II) 22. Gaay Ghat 23. Genesha Ghat 24. Gola Ghat 25. Gularia Ghat 26. Hanuman Ghat 27. Hanumanagardhi Ghat 28. Harish Chandra Ghat 29. Jain Ghat 30. Jalasayi Ghat 31. Janaki Ghat 32. Jatara Ghat 33. Karnataka State Ghat 34. Kedar Ghat 35. Khirkia Ghat 36. Khori Ghat 37. Lala Ghat 38. Lali Ghat 39. Lalita Ghat 40. Mahanirvani Ghat 41. Mana Mandira Ghat 42. Manasarovara Ghat | 43. Mangala Gauri Ghat 44. Manikarnika Ghat 45. Mehta Ghat 46. Meer Ghat 47. Munshi Ghat 48. Nandesavara Ghat 49. Narada Ghat 50. Naya Ghat 51. Naya Ghat 52. Nepali Ghat 53. Niranjani Ghat 54. Nishad Ghat 55. Old Hanumanana Ghat 56. Pancaganga Ghat 57. Panchkota 58. Pandey Ghat 59. Phuta Ghat 60. Prabhu Ghat 61. Prahalada Ghat 62. Prayaga Ghat 63. Raj Ghat built by Peshwa Amrutrao 64. Raja Ghat / Lord Duffrin bridge / Malaviya Bridge 65. Raja Gwalior Ghat 66. Rajendra Prasad Ghat 67. Ram Ghat 68. Rana Mahala Ghat 69. Rewan Ghat 70. Sakka Ghat 71. Sankatha Ghat 72. Sarvesvara Ghat 73. Scindia Ghat 74. Shivala Ghat 75. Shitala Ghat 76. Sitala Ghat 77. Somesvara Ghat 78. Telianala Ghat 79. Trilochana Ghat 80. Tripura Bhairavi Ghat 81. Tulsi Ghat 82. Vaccharaja Ghat 83. Venimadhava Ghat 84. Vijayanagaram Ghat |