Dashashwamedh Road Market
Also Known As · Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Godowlia to Dashashwamedh market lane, Dashashwamedh Marg
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · monument
Loud, fragrant and joyfully chaotic — a devotional shopping street that peaks in a river of pilgrims flowing toward the evening Aarti.
- Days OpenOpen 24 hrs
- Entry FeeFree Entry
- Best SeasonOctober to March, when Varanasi's weather is cool and pleasant for walking the crowded lanes; avoid the peak May–June heat and the monsoon-swollen river of July–September.
- Best Time of DayLate afternoon to dusk
- Time Needed1 to 2 hours
- Nearest MetroVaranasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Varanasi Junction
- Crowd LevelsModerate by day, very heavy in the evening — the hour before the Ganga Aarti brings a dense, shoulder-to-shoulder crush from Godowlia down to the ghat.
- Kid Friendly4 of 5
- Wheelchair AccessPartial
Dashashwamedh Road is the electric artery of old Varanasi, a narrow ribbon of commerce and devotion that runs from the Godowlia crossing straight down to the river at Dashashwamedh Ghat, the city's most celebrated bathing step. It is not a single shop or a formal bazaar with gates and hours, but a living street that thickens with humanity as the day wears on. Marigold and rose garlands hang in fragrant curtains, brass diyas and copper lotas gleam on cloth spreads, and pilgrims stop to gather the small essentials of worship — coconut, incense, vermilion, camphor and the little leaf-boats of flowers and lamps that will be floated onto the Ganga at dusk. The road is loud, close and thrilling, and it distils the sensory overload that first-time visitors expect of Banaras.
Where to Eat Nearby
Nearby Vegetarian Eats
Kashi Chat Bhandar
0.3 km awayTamatar chaat and palak (spinach) tikki
Ram Bhandar
0.2 km awayKachori-sabzi with jalebi
Ksheer Sagar
0.4 km awayThick malai lassi in an earthen kulhad
About
Dashashwamedh Road is the electric artery of old Varanasi, a narrow ribbon of commerce and devotion that runs from the Godowlia crossing straight down to the river at Dashashwamedh Ghat, the city's most celebrated bathing step.
- It is not a single shop or a formal bazaar with gates and hours, but a living street that thickens with humanity as the day wears on.
- Marigold and rose garlands hang in fragrant curtains, brass diyas and copper lotas gleam on cloth spreads, and pilgrims stop to gather the small essentials of worship — coconut, incense, vermilion, camphor and the little leaf-boats of flowers and lamps that will be floated onto the Ganga at dusk.
- The road is loud, close and thrilling, and it distils the sensory overload that first-time visitors expect of Banaras.
- Beyond the puja stalls, this is one of the finest places in the city to shop for keepsakes.
- Vendors stack rainbow towers of Firozabad glass bangles, hawk lacquered wooden toys and painted figurines, and lay out brass Nandi bulls, tiny temple bells, and Shiva trishuls that make honest, inexpensive souvenirs.
- Around the Godowlia end the lanes fan out toward famous Banarasi silk showrooms, sandalwood and rudraksha sellers, and stalls of the wooden-block textiles the region is known for.
- Bargaining is expected and good-natured; a smile and a counter-offer are part of the ritual.
- The market's rhythm builds through the afternoon and reaches fever pitch in the hour before the evening Ganga Aarti, when thousands funnel down the road toward the ghat and the air fills with temple bells, conch calls and the scent of burning incense.
- Crucially, the road and its ghat are entirely free to walk, with no ticket and no closing gate — though the crush of people, cycle-rickshaws and hand-carts near Aarti time is intense, so mind your footing and your belongings.
- For a vegetarian traveller this is joyful territory: Varanasi's old city is overwhelmingly satvik and pure-vegetarian, and Dashashwamedh Road is ringed by legendary meat-free institutions.
- You can graze on tamatar chaat and palak-tikki at Kashi Chat Bhandar, break kachori-sabzi at Ram Bhandar, and cool down with a malai-laden kulhad of Ksheer Sagar — none of which serve any meat, fish, egg or alcohol.
- Non-alcoholic Banarasi thandai, spiced milk crowned with nuts, is sold along the same stretch.
- Come hungry, walk slowly, and let the street carry you toward the river.
Timings & Entry Fee
Visiting Hours
- • Street open 24 hours
- • Shops broadly 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- • Peak buzz: 4:00 PM until the evening Ganga Aarti
Entry Fee: Free. Dashashwamedh Road is a public street and market lane leading to Dashashwamedh Ghat — there is no entry ticket for the road, the market or the ghat, and no charge to watch the evening Ganga Aarti from the public steps (boats and reserved seating are separately arranged by operators).
Verified: July 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, Godowlia, near Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221001
Runs from Godowlia crossing down to Dashashwamedh Ghat
🚇 Nearest Metro: Varanasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Varanasi Junction (BSB), about 4–5 km away; Godowlia crossing is the road head for the market.
🚶 Walking from Metro: No metro. From Godowlia crossing it is a flat, straight 5–8 minute walk (about 400–600 m) down Dashashwamedh Road to the ghat.
Distance from
- • Varanasi Junction (BSB) railway station: 4.5 km (~25 min)
- • Kashi Vishwanath Temple: 0.6 km (~10 min)
- • Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur): 25 km (~60 min)
Parking
street · Approx Rs 20–50 for two-wheelers and Rs 50–100 for cars at Godowlia/Beniabagh area lots; rates vary
No parking inside the pedestrian lane. Leave vehicles at Godowlia, Beniabagh or Town Hall (Maidagin) area lots and walk in; the final stretch to the ghat is vehicle-free.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: App-cabs (Ola/Uber) and autos drop only up to Godowlia crossing — set your pin to 'Godowlia' rather than the ghat, and walk the last 400–600 m. For the return after the Aarti, walk back out to Godowlia or Maidagin to find a ride, as drivers avoid the congested lanes at peak time.
How to Reach: Varanasi has no metro. The market runs from Godowlia crossing down to Dashashwamedh Ghat in the old city. From Varanasi Junction (BSB) railway station (about 4–5 km) or Banaras (Manduadih) station, take an auto-rickshaw or taxi to Godowlia; from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur (about 25 km) hire a prepaid taxi or app-cab to Godowlia. Vehicles cannot enter the final pedestrianised stretch, so the last 400–600 m from Godowlia chowk to the ghat is on foot (or a short cycle-rickshaw hop). Many visitors also arrive by shared boat along the Ganga and walk up the ghat steps to the road.
Things to Do
- Shop for glass bangles, painted wooden toys and brass souvenirs along the lane
- Buy a leaf-boat of flowers and a lamp to float on the Ganga at dusk
- Browse Banarasi silk and handicraft showrooms around the Godowlia end
- Graze the pure-veg chaat, kachori and lassi legends ringing the road
- Walk down to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the grand evening Ganga Aarti
Best Time to Visit
History & Significance
History
Dashashwamedh Road owes its name and purpose to the ghat it leads to. 'Dashashwamedh' means 'the ghat of ten sacrificed horses', and tradition holds that Lord Brahma performed the Dashashwamedh Yajna here to sanctify Kashi.
- The stone ghat in its present form was developed in the 18th century under Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, and was rebuilt in 1774 by the pious Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, whose patronage shaped many of Varanasi's ghats and temples.
- As the ghat became the city's principal bathing and ritual centre, the road feeding it grew into a permanent market for flowers, puja materials and pilgrim provisions — a role it still fills.
- The nightly Ganga Aarti in its current choreographed form began in 1991, and its growing fame has turned the road into one of the busiest devotional-shopping corridors in India.
🏛️ Architect: No single architect — the market street evolved organically over centuries as the approach to Dashashwamedh Ghat, which itself was developed in the 18th century by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao and rebuilt in 1774 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.
Significance
Dashashwamedh Road is the ceremonial gateway to Varanasi's most important ghat and the daily Ganga Aarti, and the primary bazaar where pilgrims gather flowers, lamps and puja essentials.
- It is also a leading craft-shopping street for glass bangles, brassware, wooden toys and Banarasi silk, making it both a spiritual approach and a cultural marketplace at the heart of the old city.
Places to Visit Nearby
Dashashwamedh Ghat
0.3 km awayThe most famous bathing ghat and the stage for the grand evening Ganga Aarti
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
0.6 km awayVaranasi's revered Jyotirlinga shrine, reached through the market lanes
Godowlia Market
0.4 km awayThe bustling crossroads bazaar for silk, sweets and everyday shopping
Family & Accessibility
Family Highlights
- • Rainbow towers of glass bangles and painted wooden toys delight children
- • Cheerful flower garlands, brass bells and the build-up to the Aarti are a feast for the senses
- • Inexpensive souvenirs kids can pick themselves — bangles, toys, tiny brass idols
Photography & Drone
💰 Equipment Fees: None for casual/handheld photography; commercial or professional shoots require prior permission
📍 The Golden Spot: The top of Dashashwamedh Road looking down toward the ghat as lamps are lit, with garland stalls framing the flow of pilgrims
🌅 Best Light Time: The golden hour before sunset and the blue-hour glow just as the Aarti lamps are kindled
Tips & Safety
⚠️ Common Scams
Inflated 'tourist' prices
Bangles, brass, silk and souvenirs are routinely quoted at two to three times the fair price to visitors.
Official AdviceCompare a few stalls, start your offer at roughly half, and be ready to walk away — the price usually drops.
Fake 'pure silk' Banarasi sarees
Some shops around Godowlia pass off power-loom polyester or silk blends as pure handloom Banarasi silk.
Official AdviceAsk for the GI/Silk Mark, do the burn-thread test only where allowed, and prefer established, government-recognised handloom outlets for costly buys.
Aggressive touts and 'free' guides
Self-appointed guides or 'best-seat for Aarti' agents may attach themselves and demand payment later.
Official AdvicePolitely decline, agree any price in advance in writing or clearly spoken numbers, and note the public ghat steps are free.
💡 Insider Tips
🌅 Secret View: Climb to a rooftop chai or lassi terrace just off the road near the ghat for a bird's-eye view over the marigold stalls and the river of Aarti-goers below.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Come 90 minutes early, shop the market first, then settle onto the ghat steps before the surge — or watch the Aarti from a shared boat to skip the land crush entirely.
💎 Secret Fact: The road takes its name and terminus from Dashashwamedh Ghat, 'the ghat of ten horse sacrifices', linked to a legendary yajna said to have been performed here by Lord Brahma.
⚡ Express Tour
30 minutes: walk from Godowlia to the ghat, buy a flower-and-lamp leaf-boat and a set of glass bangles, and catch the opening of the Aarti.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
Half a day: browse bangles, brass and Banarasi silk along the road, eat chaat at Kashi Chat Bhandar and kachori at Ram Bhandar, visit Kashi Vishwanath, then close with the full evening Ganga Aarti at the ghat.
🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code
Do's
- Arrive early to enjoy the market before the Aarti crowd, and pick a spot near the ghat steps ahead of time
- Bargain politely — quoting half the asking price and settling in the middle is normal and expected
- Carry small cash in notes and coins; many stalls have limited change and patchy card acceptance
- Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag in the evening crush
- Buy a leaf-boat of flowers and a lamp (diya) to float on the Ganga — a small, meaningful ritual
Don'ts
- Don't carry a large bag or push a stroller through the peak-time crowd — the lane gets shoulder-to-shoulder
- Don't accept an unsolicited 'guide' or 'special seat' offer without agreeing a clear price first
- Don't flash expensive jewellery, cameras or big cash rolls in the dense evening throng
- Don't buy the first bangles or brass you see — walk a little, compare, then bargain
👕 Dress Code: No formal code, but this is a temple-town street leading to a sacred ghat — modest, comfortable clothing and easy sandals you can slip off are ideal. Cover shoulders and knees if you plan to enter nearby temples.
📷 Photography Rules: Casual photography of the market and street life is free and welcome. Ask before photographing individual shopkeepers or sadhus, as some expect a small tip. Tripods and drones are impractical and not permitted in the packed lanes; commercial shoots need prior permission.
Good to Know
💳 Money & Connectivity
🏧 Nearest ATM: Several ATMs around Godowlia crossing and Dashashwamedh Road (SBI, PNB, HDFC), within 200–500 m
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any entry fee for Dashashwamedh Road market or the Ganga Aarti?
No. The road, the market and Dashashwamedh Ghat are all free public spaces, and watching the evening Ganga Aarti from the ghat steps costs nothing. Only optional extras like a boat ride or a reserved seat arranged through an operator carry a charge.
What is the best time to visit the market?
Late afternoon into early evening. Arrive 60–90 minutes before the Ganga Aarti (around 5:30 PM in summer, 4:30 PM in winter) to enjoy the stalls before the crowd peaks.
What can I buy here?
Flowers and puja items, colourful glass bangles, lacquered wooden toys, brass idols and bells, and — around the Godowlia end — Banarasi silk sarees, shawls and regional handicrafts.
Are there good pure-vegetarian places to eat nearby?
Yes. The area is overwhelmingly pure-vegetarian. Try Kashi Chat Bhandar for chaat, Ram Bhandar for kachori-sabzi and sweets, and Ksheer Sagar for thick kulhad lassi — none serve meat, fish, egg or alcohol.
How do I get there without a metro?
Varanasi has no metro. Take an auto or taxi to Godowlia crossing from Varanasi Junction (about 4–5 km) or the airport (about 25 km), then walk the final 400–600 m down Dashashwamedh Road, which is vehicle-free near the ghat.
Is it safe and family-friendly?
Yes, it is generally safe and lively, and children love the bangles and toys. Just guard your belongings in the dense evening crowd, keep small children close, and avoid bringing strollers into the peak-time crush.