Kedar Ghat

The basics

The approach to Kedar Ghat is through a maze of narrow alleyways bustling with cattle, devotees, and operators organizing Ganges boat rides. While you can easily visit the ghat on your own (watch the high and steep steps to the river), organized tours tend to visit during dawn and dusk, when locals practice Hindu rituals and ceremonies—these tours are typically on foot or by boat. The ghat is also a common stop on Varanasi sightseeing and religious tours.

Things to know before you go

• Look for the Parvati Kund nearby, a pond that has healing properties.

• Ghats are a must-visit for anyone interested in Hinduism.

• Bring your camera—Kedar Ghat is among the most photogenic ghats in Varanasi.

• Please do not take photos of cremations or people who are bathing nude.

• Per local customs, take your shoes off while walking down the steps.

How to get there

Kedar Ghat lies on the banks of the Ganges River in the Bengali Tola area of south Varanasi. You can walk to Kedar and other important ghats along Banaras Ghat Road. However, the best way to reach the ghat is to take a sunset boat trip—boat operators take passengers up and down the river.

When to get there

It's best to visit early in the morning or at sunset when the Ghat fills with people praying and bathers or devotees performing Aarti fire offering ceremonies. Holy festivals are also a great time to visit: Dev Deepavali, also called “the Festival of Lights of the Gods,” is usually in November or December, while Ganga Mahotsav is typically in October.

The ghats of Varanasi

Kedar is just one of over 80 ghats in Varanasi, a city beside the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh. These ghats are more than architectural features; they serve as sacred bathing, ceremonial, and cremation sites throughout the year. The Assi, Dashashwamedh, Harish Chandra, and Manikarnika ghats are among the most important, but there are many others lining the riverbank.