Things to Do in Varanasi

The Dhammek Stupa is a giant cylindrical Buddhist stupa situated in Sarnath, near Varanasi. This huge structure was built on the site where the Buddha was said to have given his first sermon to his disciples after attaining enlightenment. As such, it is one of the most important and revered sites for Buddhist pilgrims within India.

The Dhamek Stupa was constructed in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure, and has been enlarged on several occasions over the years. It has been constructed from a mixture of stone and brick, and measures 28 meters in diameter at its base and almost 44 meters in height.

The stupa sits within beautifully manicured gardens, providing the ideal place for pilgrims and visitors to enjoy their surroundings and reflect on the life of the Buddha. The Dhamek Stupa’s immediate vicinity also features a number of half-ruined monasteries and the remains of much smaller stupas.

Home to the Kedarnath Temple, not to mention serene scenes of the sun rising from the holy waters of the Ganges, Kedar Ghat in Varanasi is one of the most important and picturesque ghats in the region. Popular among Bengalis and South Indians, the Kedareshwar Temple here is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Varanasi, and is a fine example of Hindu architecture. There’s also a Parvati Kund nearby, a small pool of water that’s believed to have highly medicinal properties.

The approach to Kedar Ghat is through a maze of narrow alleyways bustling with cattle, devotees, and operators organizing River Ganges boat rides. The steps down to the water are high and steep, with the upper steps brightly painted in stripes.

The Golden Temple, known locally as Kashi Vishwanath, is situated in Varanasi on the west banks of the River Ganges. It’s dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 jyotirlinga sites – the holiest and most sacred of Shiva shrines.

This important temple was built in 1780 by the Maratha monarch and is a fine example of ancient Hindu architecture. It has a huge golden spire and its domes are said to be made from pure gold. Inside the complex there are a series of smaller shrines situated along a small lane called the Vishwanatha Galli. To the north of the main temple, there is a small well called the Jnana Vapi (Wisdom Well), where it’s believed that the jyotirlinga was hidden at times of invasion. 

Kashi Vishwanath is a main pilgrimage site for Hindus visiting Varanasi and can become incredibly busy as it welcomes thousands of people every day. A visit to the temple and a bath in the River Ganges is believed to lead devotees to moksha (liberation), meaning Hindus from all over the world aim to visit the holy site at least once in their lifetimes.

Named after the Hindu goddess, Ganga, the Ganges River is the second largest river on the Indian subcontinent, flowing through some of the most densely populated regions of India and Bangladesh. The Ganges is a much-revered and holy river in Hindu culture and is widely regarded as the epitome of India’s traditions and lifestyle.

The Ganges River starts in the Himalayas and empties into the Bay of Bengal, supporting many rural and urban communities along the way. It is of course known for being highly polluted, yet pilgrims come from far and wide to purify themselves in the waters they consider sacred. Whether for spiritual reasons or to simply enjoy the sights from aboard a boat ride, people are drawn to the banks of the Ganges River from all over the world.

Between Malda and the Bay of Bengal, a distributary of the Ganges River named the ‘Hooghly River’ passes the towns and cities of Murshidabad, Nabadwip, Kolkata and Howrah. Sagar Island is an island in the Ganges that lies on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal and is home to Ganga Sagar – an important Hindu pilgrimage site. Taking a day trip from Kolkata to Ganga Sagar is a popular attraction for many visitors to Kolkata.

The Pillars of Ashoka refer to a number of columns inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king, Ashoka, during his reign in the mid-3rd century BC. The pillar at Sarnath near Varanasi bears the inscriptions: "No one shall cause division in the order of monks."

The original column at Sarnath was 50 meters tall and was carved out of a single block of polished sandstone. It features four images of lions known as the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which stand back to back and were originally mounted atop a cylindrical abacus. The abacus was built over a bell-shaped lotus, with the figures of four running animals – an elephant, a bull, a horse, and a lion – separated by 24-spoked Dharma wheels. These four mammals are believed to symbolize the four different phases of Gautama Buddha's life. 

However, the pillar at this site was broken in the midst of a past invasion, with the remains in three pieces now kept in a glass cage nearby. The lion figurehead can be found in the Sarnath Museum nearby.

Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the busiest, oldest, and most important ghats in Varanasi. It's the site of a number of Hindu temples and shrines and a place where pilgrims come from all over the world to perform religious ceremonies and rituals. Many devotees visit the ghat at sunrise to pay homage to Lord Shiva and bath in the holy waters of the Ganges, while evening aarti, which see thousands of floating lamps immersed in the river, attracts huge crowds from far and wide.

Literally translated, Dasaswamedh means ‘the ghat of 10 sacrificed horses.’ According to Hindu mythology, ten horses were sacrificed by Lord Brahma to allow Shiva to return from a period of banishment. Despite its age, Dasaswamedh Ghat is attractive, colorful, and relatively clean, and even non-devotees are attracted by its atmosphere, daily rituals, and beautiful riverfront views.

Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred ghats in Varanasi. It is the main cremation ghat in the area, with the bodies of devout Hindus being burned here before their ashes are carried away by the holy waters of the Ganges. 

Hindu mythology links this ghat with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It’s said that those cremated here will attain moksha (salvation). Bodies are brought to Manikarnika Ghat via a stretcher made from bamboo and covered in red cloth, before being consigned to flames amid prayers that their souls rest in peace for eternity.

There is a sacred well at the ghat called the Manikarnika Kund, which is said to have been dug by Lord Vishnu at the time of creation. Lord Vishnu was said to have meditated for many years at the ghat, and it’s believed that his charana paduka (footprints) can be seen here in a circular marble slab. Manikarnika Ghat is also famous for the temple of the Lord Shiva and Mata Durga, which was built here in the mid-1800s.

The Chaukhandi Stupa is an important Buddhist stupa originally built as a terraced temple to mark the place where the Buddha and his first disciples met when traveling from Bodhgaya to Sarnath.

Built during the Gupta period (4th-6th centuries), the stupa’s octagonal top tower was said to be added much later by Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, in 1588 during the Mughal era. He built the additional tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun, the great Mughal ruler. 

The stupa stands amid beautifully maintained gardens and serves as the gateway to the Buddhist city of Sarnath. It is just a short walk from the structure to the Sarnath Museum nearby, and also close to the other sites and attractions of Sarnath.