About Assi Ghat, Varanasi
The southernmost ghat and one of the biggest in Varanasi, Assi Ghat is visited by locals and tourists alike for the mornings here are peaceful and evenings lively. There are many activities for visitors to engage in at the site from yoga and boat rides to daily talent shows organised in the evening.
During the auspicious months of Magh (Jan-Feb) and Chaitya (Mar-Apr) and other significant events like Makar Sankranti, Shivratri and solar/lunar eclipse, Hindu pilgrims gather here to take a holy dip. Even on a typical day, Assi Ghat makes for one of the most popular places to visit in Varanasi.
Owing to the significance and popularity of Assi Ghat, quite a few hotels have come up in its vicinity. Ranging from premium to budget, these hotels near Assi Ghat, Varanasi offer easy access to major tourist places, many good restaurants and cafes and the renowned Banaras Hindu University.
Shopping and Dining around Assi Ghat
Popular shopping options in Assi Ghat area include emporiums, shopping complexes and standalone stores like Prakash Mega Mart (900 m), Planet Fashion (1 km) and Jalans Kabira Complex (1.2 km). In addition, IP Vijaya Mall, located 1.6 km away, is a preferred place nearby to shop for branded goods. Within 3.5 km are Thatheri Bazar and Vishwanath Gali that can be visited for street shopping.
Dining options are aplenty near Assi Ghat hotels, the most popular of all being Pizzeria Vaatika Café, Ming Garden, Chrystal Bowl, Roma’s Café Diner, Capsicum Food Court and Kerala Café. Itihaas Alley Kitchen, TeaQuila Café & Bistro, Sparrow Café, Aum Café, Angeethee, Mark’s Café-Diner, I:BA, Potli Bati Chokha, Shyamal, Kalika Dhaba, Haldi and Doodh Booth are other good eateries nearby.
Places to Visit around Assi Ghat
At Assi Ghat, travellers can enjoy beautiful views of the River Ganges and take a holy dip in its sacred waters. Besides, there is a Shiva Lingam placed under a peepal tree worshipped by pilgrims after the holy bath. Another Shiva Lingam is situated inside a small marble shrine close to Assi Ghat.
Other tourist attractions that are easily accessible from hotels near Assi Ghat are Tulsi Ghat (300 m), Bhadaini Ghat (900 m), Durga Temple (950 m), Satyanarayan Tulsi Manas Mandir (1 km), Chet Singh Ghat (1.2 km), ISKCON Temple (1.3 km), Tridev Temple (1.3 km) and Shivala Ghat (1.4 km).
Some of the best places to visit in Varanasi, such as Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, Man Singh Observatory and Ramnagar Fort are also located within 5 km and can be reached in just 20 minutes or less.
How to Reach Assi Ghat
Travellers who have booked a stay at hotels in Assi Ghat neighbourhood can reach their destination from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (28 km) via a private taxi. Since Varanasi Junction (6.8 km) is only about a half an hour drive away, auto rickshaws can also be taken from there. Those who are travelling from nearby cities like Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Allahabad and Bodhgaya can opt for state government-run buses and from the bus station, take a tuk-tuk to the Ganges area. Within Varanasi, cycle rickshaws are easily available but you can also choose to explore on foot.