Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates the soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. The ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi is full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins.
There are a number of temples on the bank of the Ganga River in Varanasi. It is believed that people are cleansed physically, mentally and spiritually at Ganga Ghats. It is at the Ganga Ghats where we see life and death together. For thousands of years people have been thronging these Ghats to offer their morning prayers to the rising sun. There are more than 100 ghats along side Ganga in Varanasi. Some of the prominent and popular Ghats at Varanasi are the Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat.
The term ghat refers to a series of steps leading down to a body of water in many parts of South Asia. In Bengali-speaking regions, this set of stairs can lead down to something as small as a pond or as large as a major river. In Hindi-speaking areas, it is typically used to refer specifically to the steps leading to the River Ganges (Ganga) in the holy city of Varanasi. Many religiously significant ghats are situated on the Ganges and Narmada Rivers.
When capitalized, the term Ghats is often used in reference to the steep mountainous ranges of India; the Western and Eastern Ghats. They are the coastal mountains of India. Ghats are mountains covered by thick forests and form a spectacular view.
