Rajendra Prasad Ghat
Also Known As · Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ghat; formerly Ashva Ghat / Ghoda Ghat (Horse Ghat)
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · monument
Serene, spiritual riverfront with a front-row view of the aarti minus the crush
- Days OpenOpen 24 hrs
- Entry FeeFree Entry
- Best SeasonOctober to March, when Varanasi's weather is cool and pleasant for the ghats
- Best Time of DaySunrise and the evening aarti hour
- Time Needed1 to 2 hours
- Nearest MetroVaranasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Varanasi Junction
- Crowd LevelsBusy but less crowded than Dashashwamedh during the aarti; calm and uncrowded at dawn and through the day
- Kid Friendly4 of 5
- Wheelchair AccessPartial
Rajendra Prasad Ghat is one of Varanasi's most quietly rewarding riverfronts — a wide sweep of stone steps that runs immediately north of the celebrated Dashashwamedh Ghat, sharing the same crescent of the Ganga yet offering a noticeably calmer footing. For most of its history this stretch was known as Ashva Ghat or Ghoda Ghat, the "Horse Ghat," a name that recalled a stone statue of a horse said to commemorate the ashvamedha (horse) sacrifices associated with the Bhara Shiva Naga rulers of the early centuries CE. In 1979 the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi rebuilt the ghat in solid pucca stone and renamed it to honour Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963), independent India's first President, and it has carried his name ever since.
Where to Eat Nearby
Nearby Vegetarian Eats
Kashi Chat Bhandar
0.4 km awayTomato chaat and palak-patta chaat
Keshari Restaurant
0.6 km awayNorth Indian vegetarian thali
Rajbandhu (Kachori Gali)
0.7 km awayBanarasi kachori-sabzi and traditional sweets
About
Rajendra Prasad Ghat is one of Varanasi's most quietly rewarding riverfronts — a wide sweep of stone steps that runs immediately north of the celebrated Dashashwamedh Ghat, sharing the same crescent of the Ganga yet offering a noticeably calmer footing.
- For most of its history this stretch was known as Ashva Ghat or Ghoda Ghat, the "Horse Ghat," a name that recalled a stone statue of a horse said to commemorate the ashvamedha (horse) sacrifices associated with the Bhara Shiva Naga rulers of the early centuries CE.
- In 1979 the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi rebuilt the ghat in solid pucca stone and renamed it to honour Dr.
- Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963), independent India's first President, and it has carried his name ever since.
- Because it forms the northern extension of Dashashwamedh, the ghat enjoys the full grandeur of the nightly Ganga aarti without the crush at the ceremony's epicentre.
- As dusk gathers, priests on tiered platforms swing tiered brass lamps, conch shells sound, and the river fills with drifting diya flames set afloat by pilgrims; from Rajendra Prasad Ghat you watch the spectacle in near profile, often with room to sit on the steps rather than jostle in the throng.
- Mornings are gentler still — a soft grey light, boatmen calling for sunrise rows, bathers offering water to the rising sun, and the temple bells of the riverfront drifting across the water.
- It is an unhurried place to read the rhythm of Kashi.
- Vegetarian travellers are wonderfully at home here, because the lanes climbing from the ghat into Godowlia form one of India's great meat-free eating quarters.
- Within a short walk you can order the legendary tamatar and palak-patta chaat at Kashi Chat Bhandar, syrup-soaked jalebi and thali fare at pure-veg Keshari, or the famous banarasi kachori-sabzi and malaiyo (in winter) at old-city institutions — all strictly vegetarian.
- One firm caution: Varanasi's riverfront thandai and lassi stalls sometimes serve bhang (a cannabis preparation) mixed into the drink.
- Always ask specifically for a plain lassi or plain thandai without bhang, and choose the established pure-veg sweet houses named below if you want to be certain of what is in your glass.
- Simple, free to enter and open around the clock, Rajendra Prasad Ghat rewards the traveller who wants the soul of the Ganga waterfront — the aarti, the boats, the dawn light — with a little more breathing room than its famous neighbour allows.
Timings & Entry Fee
Visiting Hours
- • Open 24 hours
- • Evening Ganga aarti: ~6:30–7:15 PM (winter), ~7:00–7:45 PM (summer)
- • Morning riverfront: from ~5:00–5:30 AM at sunrise
Entry Fee: Free. There is no ticket to walk on or sit at the ghat. Boat rides, aarti seating on hired boats, and priest offerings are paid separately and negotiated directly with the boatmen or vendors.
Verified: July 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, near Man Mandir and Observatory, Bangali Tola, Ghats of Varanasi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221001
Immediately north of Dashashwamedh Ghat, along the western bank of the Ganga
🚇 Nearest Metro: Varanasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Varanasi Junction (BSB), about 5 km away; Godowlia crossing is the nearest motorable point.
🚶 Walking from Metro: No metro. From Godowlia crossing it is a level 5–7 minute (about 500 m) walk down Dashashwamedh Ghat Road to the river.
Distance from
- • Varanasi Junction (BSB) railway station: 5 km (~25 min)
- • Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur): 25 km (~60 min)
- • Kashi Vishwanath Temple: 0.8 km (~12 min)
Parking
street · About Rs 20–50 for two-wheelers and Rs 50–100 for cars at Godowlia-area lots
Vehicles cannot reach the ghat itself. Park near Godowlia crossing or the Town Hall/Maidagin lots and walk the final stretch; the riverfront lanes are pedestrian-only.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: App cabs (Ola/Uber) and autos will only drop you at Godowlia crossing, not the ghat. Agree on the drop point in advance and walk the last 5–7 minutes; for the return after the evening aarti, walk back up to Godowlia to find a rickshaw as the lanes stay closed to vehicles.
How to Reach: Rajendra Prasad Ghat lies on the western bank of the Ganga, just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat in the old city. From Varanasi Junction (BSB) railway station it is about 5 km; take an auto-rickshaw or cycle-rickshaw to Godowlia crossing (the nearest vehicles can go, as the lanes beyond are pedestrian-only), then walk about 5–7 minutes down Dashashwamedh Ghat Road to the river. From Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur) it is roughly 25 km by taxi. You can also arrive by boat from Assi Ghat or Namo Ghat. Varanasi has no metro.
Things to Do
- Watch the evening Ganga aarti from the calmer steps beside Dashashwamedh
- Take a sunrise boat ride along the ghats
- Float a diya (oil lamp) on the river at dusk
- Walk the connected ghat line to Man Mandir and Dashashwamedh
- Eat pure-veg chaat and sweets in the Godowlia lanes
Best Time to Visit
History & Significance
History
The ghat's roots reach back to antiquity, when it was known as Ashva Ghat or Ghoda Ghat — the 'Horse Ghat.' The name is traced to a stone statue of a horse that once stood here, said to commemorate the ashvamedha (horse) sacrifices associated with the Bhara Shiva Naga rulers of the early centuries CE; the statue survived into the late nineteenth century.
- As the northern continuation of the great Dashashwamedh Ghat, the stretch was long part of Varanasi's most sacred bathing frontage.
- In 1979 the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi rebuilt the ghat in permanent pucca stone and renamed it in memory of Dr.
- Rajendra Prasad, independent India's first President, the name it has held ever since.
🏛️ Architect: Rebuilt in solid pucca stone under the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi in 1979; no single named architect is recorded.
Significance
Rajendra Prasad Ghat carries both civic and spiritual weight: it honours India's first President while serving as a principal, and comparatively less-crowded, vantage for Varanasi's nightly Ganga aarti.
- As the northern extension of Dashashwamedh, it is woven into the city's most sacred riverfront and is a favoured spot for pilgrims, boat rides and sunrise worship.
Places to Visit Nearby
Dashashwamedh Ghat
0.2 km awayThe grand, bustling stage of the main evening Ganga aarti
Man Mandir Ghat & Observatory
0.3 km awayHistoric palace ghat with an 18th-century stone observatory
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
0.8 km awayVaranasi's most revered Shiva temple, reached through the corridor
Family & Accessibility
Family Highlights
- • Watching lamps and floating diyas at the evening aarti
- • Gentle sunrise boat rides from the adjacent ghats
- • Spotting boats, birds and pilgrims along the riverfront steps
Photography & Drone
💰 Equipment Fees: No camera fee for personal photography at the ghat
📍 The Golden Spot: The upper steps looking south toward the aarti platforms of Dashashwamedh, or a boat on the water at dusk
🌅 Best Light Time: Sunrise for soft golden light, and blue hour during the evening aarti
Tips & Safety
⚠️ Common Scams
Bhang in the drink
Some riverfront thandai and lassi stalls quietly add bhang, a cannabis preparation, which can leave unsuspecting visitors intoxicated.
Official AdviceAlways ask explicitly for a plain lassi or thandai without bhang, and prefer the established pure-veg sweet houses in Godowlia.
Forced priest offerings
Self-styled priests may perform a quick 'blessing' or ritual and then demand a steep donation.
Official AdvicePolitely decline at the outset, or agree on a modest amount before anything begins.
Boat-ride overcharging
Boatmen often quote inflated rates to tourists, especially around the aarti.
Official AdviceNegotiate the full price per person and duration before boarding, and prefer government-approved boats where available.
💡 Insider Tips
🌅 Secret View: Climb to the higher terraces of the ghat rather than crowding the water's edge — you get an elevated, uninterrupted line of sight over the aarti lamps of Dashashwamedh.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Skip the peak aarti crush by arriving early at Rajendra Prasad Ghat itself, or hire a boat and watch from the river where the view is best and the space is your own.
💎 Secret Fact: Before 1979 this was Ashva or Ghoda Ghat — the 'Horse Ghat' — named for a stone horse statue linked to ancient ashvamedha sacrifices of the Bhara Shiva Naga era.
⚡ Express Tour
Arrive at dusk, watch the aarti from the steps for 45 minutes, float a diya, and walk up to Godowlia for chaat — under 90 minutes.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
Start at dawn with a sunrise boat ride, walk the ghat line to Man Mandir and Dashashwamedh, wander into Godowlia for a pure-veg breakfast, and return in the evening for the aarti.
🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code
Do's
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before the evening aarti to claim a comfortable spot on the steps
- Watch the aarti from a shared boat for an unobstructed river-side view
- Come at dawn for the calmest, most photogenic light on the Ganga
- Carry small cash for boat rides, diyas and rickshaws
- Remove footwear where required and behave respectfully during rituals
Don'ts
- Don't accept unsolicited 'blessings' or garlands from touts expecting large payments
- Don't buy bhang-laced thandai or lassi by mistake — always ask for a plain drink
- Don't swim in or enter the river; the currents and water quality are unsafe
- Don't litter or float non-biodegradable items on the sacred river
👕 Dress Code: Modest, comfortable clothing that covers shoulders and knees is appropriate at this religious riverfront; slip-on footwear is practical for the steps.
📷 Photography Rules: Photography of the riverfront, boats and the aarti is freely allowed and encouraged; be respectful and avoid intrusive close-ups of bathers and worshippers. Drones require prior official permission near the ghats.
Good to Know
💳 Money & Connectivity
🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs are available around Godowlia crossing, about 500 m from the ghat
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entry fee for Rajendra Prasad Ghat?
No. The ghat is a free public riverfront, open 24 hours. You only pay for optional extras like boat rides, aarti boat seating, or diyas.
Can I see the Ganga aarti from Rajendra Prasad Ghat?
Yes. Because it sits right next to Dashashwamedh, it offers a clear view of the same evening aarti — roughly 6:30–7:15 PM in winter and 7:00–7:45 PM in summer — usually with a little more space.
Why is it called Rajendra Prasad Ghat?
It was renamed in 1979 by the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi to honour Dr. Rajendra Prasad, independent India's first President. Earlier it was called Ashva Ghat or Ghoda Ghat, the 'Horse Ghat.'
How do I reach the ghat from Varanasi Junction?
It is about 5 km. Take an auto- or cycle-rickshaw to Godowlia crossing, then walk about 5–7 minutes down Dashashwamedh Ghat Road, as vehicles cannot enter the riverfront lanes. Varanasi has no metro.
Are there good vegetarian places to eat nearby?
Yes. The Godowlia lanes just above the ghat are a pure-vegetarian food hub — Kashi Chat Bhandar, Keshari Restaurant and Rajbandhu are all within a short walk.
Is it safe to drink the lassi or thandai sold near the ghats?
Choose established pure-veg sweet houses, and always ask specifically for a plain lassi or thandai without bhang, since some riverfront stalls add bhang, a cannabis preparation, to the drink.