Home > Travel > Cities of India > Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat
The Assi Ghat is located at the confluence of the Ganga and Assi Rivers and has religious significance.

Share this Article:

Assi Ghat, VaranasiThe southernmost ghat in Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the Assi Ghat attracts tourists and devotees from all walks of life. The pilgrims gather in this Ghat to pay homage to Lord Shiva in the form of lingam, which is situated under a peepal tree. Due to its location at the confluence of the Ganga and Assi Rivers, devotees are attracted to the small marble temple near the Ghat that has the Asisangameshwar lingam which represents the lord of confluence of the Asi.

History of Assi Ghat
In early sacred Hindu texts like the Matsya Purana, Agni Purana, Karma Purana, Padma Purana and Kashi Khanda, there have been mentions of the Assi Ghat. In the Kashi Khanda, the Assi Ghat is mentioned as the Saimbeda Tirtha, which means that taking a holy dip here, makes a devotee attain "punya" of all the Hindu pilgrimage sites or Tirtha. There are other ancient legends, which suggest that, the place where Goddess Durga had thrown her sword after slaying the demon, Shumbha- Nishumbha gave rise to a big stream called the Assi River. In Hinduism, it is believed that it was at Assi Ghat that Tulsidas, the Indian poet and saint, left for his heavenly abode.

Tourism at Assi Ghat
The Assi Ghat can accommodate about 22,500 people at once during festivals. On an average day, there are almost 300 people visiting the Ghat, starting from tourists to regular devotees. Some of the great festival such as Maha Shivaratri, Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Mahotsav etc attracts a huge crowd at this Ghat and becomes a popular tourist spot. After the 2010 Varanasi bombing, security has been made tighter with extra police patrol in and round the Assi Ghat.

Assi Ghat in Popular Culture
The Assi Ghat has been mentioned in novels and showed on screen in Bollywood movies. In the Hindi novel, Kashi ki Assi by Indian author, Kashninath Singh, the plot is set in a mohalla or locality near the Ghat. A Bollywood adaptation of the novel has been made in 2018 called Mohalla Assi starring Sunny Deol and directed by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi. The plot of the 2013 Hindi romantic drama, Raanjhanaa, is also set in the city of Varanasi and few of the scenes have been shot in Assi Ghat.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in Cities of India

Cities of North East India
Cities of North East India defines the unity in their culture and tradition. The tourism sector in North East cities in India are mainly based on nature and adventure tourism.
Cities of Central India
Cities of Central India are located on the Central Highlands in the midst of the dense jungles and the rich history of Chandella Dynasty.
Cities of South India
Cities of South India express the cleanliness, technically upgraded traffic system and easy communication in inter cities and abroad with railways, roadways and airways.
Capital Cities of North India
Capital Cities of North India have a rich history from the time of Mahabharata. These cities have good communication system, proper business centers and cultural home towns.
Capital Cities in East India
Capital cities in East India define the Bengali and Odiya culture with the close similarities. The tribal culture is also dominant in the 21st century capitals along with the heavy industrialization.
Capital Cities of South India
Capital cities of South India are the smarter cities, with well equipped communication system and rapid transit system. In these capital cities of India, ayurveda, historical tourism and the medical tourism are dominant.
Capital cities of West India
Capital cities of West India define the business centers and this region has the highest GDP rate.
Capital Cities of Central India
Capital Cities of Central India are located in the midst of forests and the tribal belts of Central India.
Capital Cities in North East India
North East India forms a unity in the tribal language, settlements and the culture. The capital cities of North East India run their administration in a unified form.
Ancient North Indian Cities
Ancient North Indian Cities were developed in the early era that is from the time of Mahabharata, and after the decline of Hindu kings in Northern parts. Some have become desolated and some became the archaeological ruins.
Ancient South Indian Cities
Ancient South Indian Cities witness the rise and fall of many empires from the early era.
Ancient Cities of North West India
Ancient Cities of North West India show the Rajput culture from the early phase, but in medieval era it showed the prominence after having a good relation with Mughals.
Ancient West Indian Cities
Ancient West Indian Cities are now completely in ruins, because of the heavy earthquake in some of the regions.
Holy Cities of North West India
Holy Cities of North West India are grown up in the midst of dry and thorny desert lands with Rajputana art and architecture.
Tourism in Metropolitan Cities in India
Tourism in Metropolitan Cities in India represent the culture, history, monuments and eco tourism with easy connectivity in roadways, railways and airways.
Holy Cities of North India
Holy Cities of North India are having the rich history of Hinduism and the entire civilization was grown up with the hands of beliefs, rituals and the evolution of religion.
Holy Cities of South India
Holy Cities of South India gives the detailed cultural formation of Dravidians from the early era, which later developed to the world by the Pallavas and the Cholas.
Holy Cities of Central India
Holy Cities of Central India have the excellence of art and architecture in temples in the early era.
Holy Cities of East India
Holy Cities of East India refer the places of religious importance. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism are widely spread.
Holy Cities of West India
Holy Cities in West India were established by the rulers of Rajputs and the Satvahana Dynasty and the medieval rulers of Junagadh.