Varanasi in Pictures: 46 Free Photos of the Ghats on the Ganges
Varanasi in 46 free photos, taken from a boat on the Ganges at dawn. Hindus count Varanasi, also called Kashi or Benares, among the holiest cities in India, and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
How to download: click a photo to see it large, then use Download. The originals are about 1200 × 800 pixels: right for blog posts, slides, social media, school projects and video call backgrounds.
The ghats
Along the western bank of the Ganges, more than 80 ghats, flights of stone steps, lead down to the river, crowned by temples and old palaces. At first light pilgrims bathe and pray, washermen beat laundry on the stones, and boats carry visitors past the steps; small lamps and flowers float on the water. At Manikarnika Ghat the fires of the cremations burn day and night, and in the evening crowds gather at Dashashwamedh Ghat for the river ceremony, the Ganga aarti.
More free photos
- Varanasi landmarks
- Mumbai pictures
- Ajanta and Ellora pictures
- The Taj Mahal
- Free temple pictures
- Free river pictures
Questions about these photos
Can I use these Varanasi pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
What is the best time to see the ghats of Varanasi?
Sunrise, from a rowing boat on the river, when the light is soft and the ghats fill with bathers; and the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
