This Ghat and Palace were built by Rana Jagat Singh, the king of Udaipur, in the late 17th century. That is why this Ghat was named Rana Mahal Ghat. In 1675 AD, Rana Jagat Singh visited Kashi and resided in the palace situated on this Ghat. The palace situated at Ghat is a beautiful example of Rajasthani architecture.

According to the Puranas, Lord Brahma had performed the Dus (ten) Ashwamedha Yagya here. By taking a bath here, one gets the fruits of the Ashwamedha Yagya. Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main place in the Ghats of Kashi. A group of travelers is visible here in the morning and evening. This place is also called Brahma Dwar. Its ancient name is Rudra Sarovar. With the Arrival of Ganga, Rudra Sarovar itself merged with the pilgrimage Ganga, and that place remained the main pilgrimage site of Kashi, and it started to be called Prayag Rajghat. Among the ghats of Kashi, three ghats are prominent; among them, this ghat is also the main one. Whatever work is done here is renewable. The present ghat was built in 1748 by Balaji Bajirao Peshwa. Aarti of Ganga ji is performed here in the morning and evening.

According to ancient mythology, Lord Brahma performed Das (ten) Ashwamedh sacrifices here, and a bath here confers the benefits of ten Ashwamedh. Of all the Ghats along the Bank of the Ganges, this is the most popular Ghat and is the hub of pilgrims morning and evening. It is also know as “Brahma Dwar” (Door Step of Brahma) and its old name is Rudrasarovar or Ghoraghat and is one of the five ‘Panchteerthas’ of Kashi. After coming of the Ganges, the Rudrasarovar disappeared, and this site continued to be regarded as the prominent place of pilgrimage in Kashi and come to be known as Prayag Rajghat. Among the Ghats of Varanasi, there are three which are very prominent, and of these three, Dashashwamedh Ghat is of the prime importance. The Karmas done here not destroyed and remain forever (akshya). The present ghat was built in 1748 by Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. Ganga Aarti is performed daily at Morning and in the evening.

(Source: Uttar Pradesh tourism)

Click to learn more about Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Ecological Importance of Tortoise – This photo was taken near Varuna Ganga Sangam in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Ganges adorns Mother Earth, Tortoise clean Ganga immensely.

Lord Bholenath had sent all the deities, including Ganesh ji, to Kashi with the desire to get Kashi from King Divodas, but his wish to get Kashi could not be fulfilled because all the deities became residents of Kashi and did not return to Bholenath. In the end, Shiv Ji sent Lord Vishnu to Kashi. After getting his permission, Lord Vishnu, along with Lakshmi, riding on Garuda, circumambulating Shivji, and bowing him again and again, left for Kashi from Mandarachal mountain. At the confluence of Ganga-Varuna in Kashi, Lord Vishnu washed his hands and feet with a pure heart and took a holy bath; since then, this pilgrimage is known as Vishnu Padodak.

For those who take a bath in this Padodak pilgrimage, their old sins accumulated in seven births will be destroyed. Whoever performs Shraddha and Tarpan with sesame water here, will save 21 men of his clan, and as the ancestors are satisfied by performing Shraddha in Gaya, the same satisfaction is found in the Vishnu Padodak pilgrimage of Kashi. If Vishnu’s Charanamrit is taken at the Padodak Tirtha of Vishnu ji, then it should be considered as nectar.

Lord Vishnu ji, after taking a bath at the Ganga-Varuna confluence, established this Trilokya Vyapini idol of black stone here with his own hands, since then, this place is known as Adi Keshaw, and Lord Vishnu himself said:

Those who worship my Adi Keshaw form in the immortal form of immortality (Kashi), in the end, attain the immortal position after being free from all sorrows.

Aadi Keshaw Vishnu Temple (Rajghat) is an 11th-century temple as per priest Shree Vinay Kumar Tripathi.

We started our walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat and reached Malviya Bridge. Kashi Railway Station is nearby on the left-hand side. After crossing the Malviya Bridge, we reached Besant College Road on the right side. And finally, the very first ghat of Varanasi – Rajghat. Nearby is Varuna–Ganga Sangam.

Varanasi has 80 ghats. Varuna and Assi (The last ghat), if combined, are known as Varanasi.

Aghan Purnima is the day devotees start the town parikrama from Manikarnika Ghat to reach Varuna Ganga Sangam. The next day, i.e., the first day of the Pausha (पौष) month as per the Hindu calendar, i.e., almost in the last week of December as per the English calendar, Atargiri Mela (festival) is held at Varuna Ganga Sangam. Devotees gather in large numbers to worship the Varuna and Ganga rivers, and then, by boat, they sail towards Manikarnika Ghat to complete the journey.

Knowledge enhanced. Thanks to Lachchu, Bablu of Sarai Mohana village, and many, many thanks to Shree Vinay Kumar Tripathi – priest of Aadi Keshaw Vishnu temple for sharing knowledge.