Varanasi Ghats are steps or stairs that will take you to the Ganges River bank. There are almost 100 in this city and they all have significant meaning. Most were constructed centuries ago and they have associations with religion, cremation and myths and legends.

It is one of the more interesting things to do in Varanasi while you are visiting, so it is probably a good idea for you to have a detailed list of which one you should go see and which ones you might want to avoid.

At any rate, the Varanasi Ghats may surprise you, so be sure to prepare yourself for the unexpected. There are some, like the cremation Ghats that many people may not be ready for. However, you must remember to remain respectful of the country and the people.

Here is a list of the top 10 Varanasi Ghats:

1. Dasaswamedh Ghat – This is always part of the Varanasi tours because of the prominence and location on the Ganges River. There is much religious significance and you will see hundreds of devotees due to their belief of the sacrifice of 10 horses to Lord Shiva.

2. Manikarnika Ghat Varanasi – This is set up for cremation and is considered the main one because it is one of the originals and oldest. The myths surrounding Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are highest here and they believe he dug this Ghat himself when the world was first created.

3. Assi Ghat – This is one of the Varanasi Ghats that is located between both the Assi and Ganges Rivers. It is a sacrificial Ghat for prayers of the pilgrims, after they complete a bathing ceremony in the rivers waters.

4. Tulsi Ghat –

Many people consider this one of the best places to visit in India because this Ghat honors Tulsi Das, one of India’s major poet saints. They believe the poet saint wrote many literary works of art, including Ramcharitmanas.

5. Kedar Ghat – Constructed by the famous Maharaja of Vijayanagar, this is one of the Varanasi Ghats that is also considered a pilgrimage ghat. Bathing in the waters is highly encouraged to all visitors who want good luck and blessings.

6. Shivala Ghat – Visitors staying at the Siva Ganges, one of the more popular Varanasi hotels, will be able to look outside the window at this wonderful ghat that is spiritual in nature and dedicated to King Balwant Singh.

7. Harishchandra Ghat – This is a cremation ghat that also has burning facilities right there. They named the ghat after King Harishchandra who kept the crematorium and served the grounds with strict devotion.

8. Panchganga Ghat – This traditional, ceremonial ghat is very famous because of its location. It is nestled between Ganges, Sarawati, Dhupapapa, Yamuna, and Kirna, which are five of the holy rives in India.

9. Hanuman Ghat – Another bathing ghat that attracts younger crowds, who oddly enough, like to show off their bodies, like wrestlers. In ancient days, a saint talked about Lord Krishna here, to his followers.

10. Man Mandir Ghat – Built during the 1500s, this ghat is also for bathing and has a very pretty balcony on the northern side. It has temples all around, including the famous Sthuladanta vinayaka and Rameshwara.