Varanasi Regions Guide - attractions

The Ghats
There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps') at Varanasi but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation. Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. This is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.
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