Dashashwamedh Ghat and Ganga Aarti
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Dashashwamedh Ghat is Varanasi's main ghat on the Ganga and the best-known setting for the evening Ganga Aarti. It is close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and from morning to night the steps are full of pilgrims, priests, boatmen and bathers. According to tradition, Brahma performed a sacrifice of ten horses here, which is how the ghat got its name.
What to see and do
- Watch the evening Ganga Aarti, about 45 minutes of lamps, chanting and drums, usually from the steps or from a boat
- Take a morning or evening boat ride along the ghats
- See the daily river life: bathing, prayers and the priests on their platforms
- Walk to Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the old lanes, which are close by
Ideal for
- First-time visitors to Varanasi
- Devotees who want the Ganga aarti
- Photographers and anyone who enjoys river-side life
Good to know
- The aarti time changes with the season and sources differ: generally about 5:45 to 6 pm in winter and 6:45 to 7 pm in summer, so confirm locally
- Arrive 45 minutes to an hour early to get a good place; the steps and boats fill up
- The ghat is open all day and has no entry fee
- Keep belongings safe in the crowd, and agree on a boat fare before you board
- Dev Deepawali (the full moon after Diwali) is the busiest and most spectacular night of the year
Spiritual significance
Dashashwamedh is the central ghat of Kashi, where the river, the old city and daily worship come together. The Ganga Aarti is one of the best-known rituals in India.
Why it matters
- The heart of Kashi's river life: the ghat where Varanasi's devotion to the Ganga is easiest to see
- A tradition of sacrifice: the name recalls Brahma's ten-horse sacrifice
- The evening Ganga Aarti: lamps, bells and chants offered to the river each night