Nomad Saikat
Varanasi, one of the oldest cities, holds a lot to itself. Known for its innumerable temples and beautiful ghats Varanasi is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Just the kind of vibe that you can enjoy in Varanasi is what makes it special. From morning markets, to street foods, visiting temples and the beautiful ghats beside Ganga you can explore a lot here. Furthermore the bustling streets and corners of Varanasi are filled with people who visit here with a lot of hope and belief. And that further makes it an even alluring spot to visit. Also the Ghats are again something that attracts the visitors here. And talking about the ghats, how can we not talk about the Dashashwamedh Ghat. This is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi that is like a hotspot for tourists.
Dashashwamedh Ghat Varanasi is one of a kind when it comes to tranquility. For almost every visitor visiting Varanasi, the Dashashwamedh Ghat is a must visit. In this article I will mention everything about the Dashashwamedh Ghat that you need to know. You will get to know about the Dashashwamedh Ghat aarti as well. So keep on reading this article to gather an insight about the Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Location of Dashashwamedh Ghat: Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Ghats of Varanasi, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Timings of Dashashwamedh Ghat: Open 24 hours
Dashashwamedh Ghat Aarti Timing
Every day there are aartis at the ghat twice a day. The Dashashwamedh Ghat morning aarti time is from 5:30 am to 6:30 am.
Again there is Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga aarti timing in the evening that happens just after the sunset. During summers the timing is from 7 pm and during winter it is 6 pm. The Ganga aarti Dashashwamedh Ghat continues for 45 minutes.
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
The Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is the nearest airport to reach the Dashashwamedh Ghat. Located in Babatpur, this airport is about 25.5 km away from Dashashwamedh Ghat. From the airport you can either hire a car or take taxis from outside the airport to reach the Ghat.
By train
The Varanasi Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach Dashashwamedh Ghat. It is around 4.5 km away from the railway station. You will easily get auto rickshaws from the railway station to reach Godaulia. And from there the Dashashwamedh Ghat is just a 5 minutes’ walk. It would be convenient to take local transport here as the area is heavily crowded. However you can also take a car to reach here. But after a point the only way to reach the Ghat is by walking only.
By road
Varanasi is well connected with various nearby cities. You can easily get buses from nearby cities to reach Godowlia. From there you will have to walk to reach the Ghat. Assi ghat to Dashashwamedh Ghat is about 2.8 km. A lot of people also visit this Ghat from Assi Ghat as well.
History
This beautiful Ghat has been around for a really long time. Some history as well as legends and stories are related to this ghat. According to one popular belief it is believed that Lord Brahma had built this ghat to welcome Lord Shiva. However some also believe that this is the ghat where Lord Brahma has sacrificed 10 horses for Lord Shiva. In the literal sense of the term Das means 10 and Aswa means horses and Medh means sacrifice. So Dashashwamedh Ghat in Hindi translates to ten sacrificial horses.
This is however one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi. It is further believed that this is the site of Brahma Resta. This means that this is the first place where Lord Brahma was first worshipped by Lord Brahma himself. Also according to some historians, Bhara Shiva Naga kings performed the sacrifices of 10 horses here. This Ghat is also believed to be here even before Varanasi was popularized as the temple city.
Furthermore in 1748 Peshwa Baji Rao built the current structure of the ghat. Later in 1774 the ghat was rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar the Queen of Indore. In 2010 there was an attack in this Ghat. A small blast happened during aarti of Sitala Ghat that injured 37 people. Later the ghat was restored again.
Significance of Dashashwamedh Ghat
One of the most sacred places in Varanasi, this is a serene ghat. For religious purposes everyday a huge chunk of people visit here. On the bank of the Ganges the ambience here is tranquil and peaceful. In some ancient texts the Dashashwamedh Ghat is referred as the Rudra Sarovar Ghat. Also the part of the river Ganga that flows here is known as Rudra Sarovar Tirtha. According to popular beliefs a dip into the Rudra Sarovar Tirtha will wash away all the sins. It would further also make a person free from the cycle of birth and death.
Ganga Aarti Dashashwamedh Ghat
If there can be something that you simply cannot miss in Varanasi it is the ganga aarti in Dashashwamedh Ghat. It can be one of the most enchanting and divine experiences ever in your life. Aarti takes place here in the morning as well. But the Ganga arati in the evening is more popular here. Also the Ganga Aarti in Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the major tourist attractions in Varanasi.
Dashashwamedh Ghat aarti time is just after the sunset. Several priests carry large deepams in their hands and take it up and down while singing bhajans. It just fills the whole area in a different mystic aura. Priests wear saffron clothes while performing the aarti. The aarti starts with the blowing of conch shells. Furthermore the big depaams are large brass lamps that look splendid when lit up.
This aarti continues for almost 45 minutes. It would be advisable to reach a little early to get good seats here. During the aarti the ghat remains very crowded. There are provisions for watching the aarti from boats as well. If you are willing to have the whole boat to yourself for 3-4 people then it would charge around Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 for 3 hours. However if you are only interested in watching the Aarti then the boat can be parked near the bank. This generally costs Rs. 200 per head for 45 minutes.
Best time to visit
Mostly during the festivals the ghat is the liveliest. Even though you can visit here anytime and even the Ganga Aarti happens here every day. However if you are interested then you can surely visit here during festival times. Dev Deepawali is one such occasion. During this time the whole ghat is lit up with earthen lamps called diyas. Another important occasion here is the Ganga Mahotsav. It is a classical program of music that is organized by the State Government. Furthermore a platform is built here out of boats just in front of the Ghat. Another important time is the Karthik Purnima. During that time special aartis take place in this Ghat.
Hotels near Dashashwamedh Ghat
You can find some good quality Dashashwamedh Ghat hotels nearby. Or else you can stay a little far too and then visit the Ghat from there. Some of the popular hotels that you can check out are
- Stay Inn’s Heritage
- Alka Hotel
- Hotel Rudra
- Hotel Bachchan Palace
- Hotel Rudraksh Villa
- Ganga Darshan Hotel
- Hotel Picasso
- Hotel Viswanath
- Ganga Darshanam Guest House
Nearby places to visit
Varanasi is like a hub for the tourists. With so many temples and ghats around there are innumerable places to visit here. Furthermore each of the Ghats has its own specialty as well. Some of the popular locations that you can visit nearby are mentioned below.
- Manikarnika Ghat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Panchganga Ghat
- Kaal Bhairav Temple
- Ganges River
- Ramnagar Fort
- Godowlia Market
- Sarnath Museum
- Rajendra Prasad Ghat
- Man Mandir Ghat
- Assi Ghat
Wrapping Up!
If you want to enjoy a divine experience in Varanasi a visit to the Dashashwamedh Ghat is a must. Just to observe the Aarti along with enchanting chants by the priests will cleanse your heart and soul. It can be one of the experiences that you are going to cherish for a lifetime.
So whenever you are visiting Varanai make sure you are visiting the Benaras Dashashwamedh Ghat. And not just the Ghat but the boat ride near the Ghat and the aarti are some things that you cannot afford to miss here. Let me know if you are intrigued enough to visit this beautiful spot already. Also let me know if this particular article is helpful for you in getting all the information about Dashashwamedh Ghat Varanasi.
