Assi Ghat

Religious

Uttar Pradesh

16°C / Clear

History
Places to visit
How to reach

Established at the conflux of Assi and Ganga river, the famous Assi Ghat has garnered international laurels. It is the southernmost ghat in Varanasi. To most visitors to Varanasi, it is known for being a place where long-term foreign students, researchers, and tourists live. One of the most visited places in the locale, it is mostly known for the gigantic Shivling beneath a peepal tree. As it is one of the most religiously influential places of India, you will come across a great cultural extravaganza.

Assi Ghat is one of the ghats often visited for recreation and during festivals. On typical days about 300 people visit every hour in the mornings, and on festival days 2,500 people arrive per hour. Most of the people visiting the ghat on usual days are students from the nearby Banaras Hindu University. The ghat accommodates about 22,500 people at once during festivals like Shivratri. Hindus also believe that it was at Assi Ghat that Tulsidas left for his heavenly abode.

Moving to the best time to visit Assi Ghat. It looks more pleasant during the winter season. This is the time when early mornings are filled with fog that looks enchanting to the eyes. Also, roaming around the Assi Ghat in the morning leaves you with a peaceful soul-filtration.

Major Attractions in and Around Assi Ghat

1. Ramnagar Fort

One of the masterpieces of the Mughal era, the Ramnagar Fort has a lot of tales to tell you. Apart from the stories, the architecture is another magnificent attraction of the place.

2. Sarnath

Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh is a multifaceted village that is famous for Buddhist temples and Hindu temples. A great way for cultural expansion.

3. Delightful Evenings

Evenings are particularly lively, as the ghat’s vast concreted area fills up with hawkers and entertainers during a small fire ceremony. It also features music and yoga at sunrise. It’s a popular starting point for boat trips.

4. Boat Riding

Boat riding at Assi Ghat leaves you with a soothing experience. It is definitely soul rejuvenation to watch ghats of Varanasi.

5. Holy Dip

At Assi Ghat, the Hindu devotees also take a holy dip in the river Ganga. It is believed that having dips in the river will cleanse the soul.

6. Talent Show

It takes place just about every other evening. If you've got it, so flaunt it. This is just the place!

How to Reach Assi Ghat

To reach Assi Ghat in Uttar Pradesh, you will need to cover a total distance of 756, 1,429, 667, 1,752 km from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Here are the details on how you can travel to Assi Ghat by the following means of public transport.

By Air

Deboard at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) situated 20-30 km away. The airport is well-connected with other Indian cities and towns offering good flight connectivity. From the airport, you will need to continue your journey further by some means of public transport like a cab or bus.

From Mumbai - Board GoAir, Vistara, IndiGo, Spicejet flights from Mumbai Airport. The airfares start from INR 3,000-4,000
From Guwahati - Board AirIndia, AirAsia, Spicejet flights from Guwahati Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-5,000
From Tezpur - Board Air India, Spicejet flights from Tezpur Airport. The airfares start from INR 8,000-9,000

By Train

Deboard at the Varanasi Junction (BSB) or Manduadih Railway Station (MUV). Both the stations are located within 5-6 km distance of Assi Ghat offering overall good train connectivity with nearby regions. However, the latter has somewhat limited connectivity with other regions. From the train stations, you will need to continue the journey via some means of public transport like a cab, auto or a bus.

By Road

Depending on your geographical location, you can consider traveling to Assi Ghat by a well-maintained network of roadways and national highways. From the nearby cities and towns, you can consider booking interstate buses, hire private cabs or travel via your own vehicle.