Every corner of Varanasi vibrates with ritual and devotion, from the ghats where evocative ceremonies are held to the temples that attract thousands of worshippers every year
Did you think you had seen the true face of spirituality when your parents sent you to Sunday school, or when you started learning the basics of yoga with that free app that keeps bombarding you with ads for the most ridiculous mobile games imaginable?
Well, you thought wrong.
In India there is a city that, in a sense, represents the cradle of world spirituality: Varanasi. Of course, it would be more accurate to speak specifically about Hinduism rather than spirituality in general, but the level of religious devotion and ritual observance found here is probably unmatched anywhere else.
Life in Varanasi is shaped by the rhythm of prayers and ceremonies, ritual baths along the ghats, and cremations that constantly take place along the banks of the Ganges. The city offers an intense sensory experience, with its vivid colors, the sounds of devotional chants, and the fragrance of incense drifting through the air.
In short, if you come to visit, you can expect plenty of places deeply connected to local ritual life.
Here are the ones you absolutely can’t miss.
Varanasi’s ghats: where spirituality meets the river
Varanasi is incredibly famous for its many ghats.
Let’s leave the bad jokes aside.
The ghats are stairways leading down to the river, each with its own history and spiritual meaning, and each steeped in traditions that reveal the many faces of Hindu devotion.
Here’s an overview of the main ones.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the best known and most frequented by pilgrims. Located near the Vishwanath Temple, it is famous for the daily Ganga Aarti ceremonies, during which priests offer prayers and lights to the Ganges River. Performed at sunset, this ceremony is a spectacular experience that draws devotees and visitors from all over the world.
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the holiest cremation sites in Hinduism because it is believed that souls cremated here can attain liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
It is one of the most striking ghats of all, and visitors are allowed to observe the constant presence of burning funeral pyres.
You may look, but nothing more: photography and filming of funeral rites here are strictly forbidden.
Assi Ghat
Located at the confluence of the Assi River and the Ganges, it is known for its broad steps and its more peaceful atmosphere compared to the other two we’ve described. It is a place of meditation and spirituality, often frequented by ascetics and yogis.
Harishchandra Ghat
Harishchandra Ghat, also used for cremations, is one of the oldest in Varanasi and is named after the mythological king Harishchandra, renowned for his devotion and spirit of sacrifice. There is also an electric crematorium here, although traditional wood-pyre cremations are still very common.
Temples everywhere
Of course, in India’s holiest city there is no shortage of temples and shrines at every turn, attracting thousands of pilgrims year after year.
Would you like to know the most important ones—the places you really shouldn’t miss if you travel all the way here?
Let’s begin.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest and most important Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva. Located near the Ganges, it attracts devotees who believe that visiting this temple and bathing in the river can free them from the cycle of rebirth. Also known as the Golden Temple because of its gilded dome, it has been rebuilt several times due to repeated invasions.
The current structure in particular dates back to 1780. It was commissioned by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore and is renowned for its impressive architecture and profound spiritual significance, being one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most sacred shrines of Shiva.
Durga Temple
Also known as the Monkey Temple because of the many macaques that inhabit the area, the Durga Temple is dedicated, as you might expect, to the goddess Durga.
Built in the 18th century, it is a spectacular example of North Indian architecture and features a bright red facade. One of its most interesting features is its shape: apparently, the base is in the form of an icosagon.
Bharat Mata Temple
The Bharat Mata Temple is unique because it is not dedicated to a deity, but to Mother India. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, the temple houses a large relief map of India carved in marble, which is truly impressive to see in person.
Tulsi Manas Temple
Built in 1964, the Tulsi Manas Temple is dedicated to Rama, a hero of Hindu mythology, and is located near the Durga Temple. It holds enormous historical and cultural importance because it is the place where the poet Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas, inspired by the ancient epic Ramayana.
What makes this temple unmissable is that its walls are covered with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitmanas, engraved in shining white marble.
Amazing!
Read also: Trip to Machu Picchu: the site’s history, how to get there, and what to see
In conclusion
Now you know the most fascinating sacred places in Varanasi. A powerful dose of spirituality that only India can offer and that, if you choose to experience it fully, will surely change you from within.
How about living this experience with us and taking the opportunity to discover the other wonders of the most colorful and chaotic country you’ve ever seen?
Take a look at the itinerary for our 11-day group trip to India and read it carefully. Then, once you’ve stopped daydreaming about it, pack your backpack and book your spot with us.
It will be an experience like no other.
