Assi Ghat and Subah-e-Banaras, Varanasi
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Assi Ghat is the southernmost of Varanasi's main ghats, where the old Assi stream is said to meet the Ganga. It is a relaxed, youthful stretch of the river, with students, musicians and travellers, and it is the place for the morning ritual known as Subah-e-Banaras, an aarti held around sunrise with chanting and classical music. It is a gentler alternative to the crowds of Dashashwamedh.
What to see and do
- Join the sunrise aarti (Subah-e-Banaras) on the steps, with priests, lamps and music
- Take a morning boat ride from the ghat, or a walk along the river
- Watch the river wake up: bathers, yoga, chai stalls and boatmen
- Sit on the steps in the evening and see the evening aarti, if you stay on
Ideal for
- Travellers who prefer a quieter ghat
- Young and solo travellers
- Anyone who enjoys sunrise, music and photography
Good to know
- The morning aarti is held at about sunrise, and the time changes with the season, so check locally
- Arrive early and dress warmly in winter, as the river is cold at dawn
- It is a short ride from the main temples, so your driver or boatman will take you
- Keep belongings secure in the crowd
- The ghat is busy on festival days and on Ganga Dussehra
Spiritual significance
Assi Ghat is where Varanasi's morning ritual is performed, and it is also a meeting place for the city's artists and students. A visit shows a calmer side of the Ganga from the crowded evening aartis.
Why it matters
- The sunrise aarti: the daily morning ritual of the Ganga
- A relaxed ghat: a quieter place on the river
- A meeting of the Assi and the Ganga: an old sacred confluence in the city's story