Varanasi has
about 100 ghats. Many are bathing ghats but at the others,
cremations are conducted. Many of these ghats were built when
the Marathas controlled the city and the Scindias, the Peshwas,
Holkars and Bhonsles stand out as patrons of Varanasi.
Even today many of
the ghats are privately owned. The Shivala or Kali Ghat is still
owned by the former Maharaja of Varanasi. The main bathing ghats
are Assi, Dasaswamedh, Barnasangam, Panchaganga and Manikarnika.
To bath at these five ghats in this order in a day is known as
the Panch Tirtha Yatra. |
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