Panchganga Ghat, Varanasi – Timings, Location, History, Entry Fee

Panchganga Ghat Varanasi

Vital Information for Visitors

Address:

Panchganga (Bindu Madhav) Ghat, 7/111, Sonarpura Rd, Bangali Tola, Varanasi, U. P.

Open & Close:

Open all days (24X7)

Entry Fees:

Nil

Duration:

Approx 30 minutes

Famous For:

Known as Bindu Madhav Ghat too; Bindu Madhav Temple (one of the Panch /Five Madhav temples)is located upstairs; Spiritual bathing

The Hindus believe that five pious rivers – Ganga, Dhutapapa, Kiran Nadi, Saraswati & Yamuna- converge here, though only Ganga is visible. Due to being the confluence of five rivers, the place is called Panchganga (Panch means five & Ganga meaning river). The Panchganga Ghat is one of the five chief places of pilgrimage on the banks of the Ganges. People gather here to have holy dip to ensure salvation. Bathing at this place during Kartik (October-November) month is particularly considered to be most auspicious. The ghat is broad and deep, and exceedingly strong. Its stairs and turrets are all of stone, and, from their great number, afford accommodation to a multitude of worshippers and bathers. The turrets are low and hollow, and are employed as temples or shrines. Each one contains several deities, which are, mostly, emblems of Lord Shiva. The turrets are open towards the river and, therefore, very convenient for devotional purposes. The platform above the ghat, along which runs a narrow, though excellent, road, is below the steep bank of the river. From the platform a number of stairs thread their way up the bank, uniting the ghat with this quarter of the city. The same remark is, for the most part, applicable to the other ghats. They are all connected together by a road, which is, in some places, paved, and in the hot weather, is, in parts, covered over with an awning, under which, the people walk. From this road innumerable stairs, chiefly of stone, pass up the banks, and communicate with the alleys and streets leading into the city.

A large building, known as Lakshmanbala, is located at the top of Panchganga Ghat. One of the flights of stairs rises up from the Panchganga Ghat to enter Lakshmanbala. The building, although presenting an extensive frontage towards the river is, in reality, hardly more than a mere casemate to the bank. It is used as a temple, and is dedicated to Lakshmanbala. The principal room is in an upper story, the roof of which is supported on carved wooden pillars of a deep black colour. The walls are embellished with paintings, many of which are representations of green trees, while others are pictures set in frames. Devotees are seated in the room, counting their beads, and muttering to themselves the hymns, shlokas, mantras etc. Music is also performed, the plaintive strains of which fall upon the ear pleasingly. There are three idols in a row at one end of the room. That in the centre is dressed in blue, and has a blue turban on his head, and a garland thrown over his shoulders, hanging down in front. On his left is a gilded disk, let into the wall, displaying nose, eyes, cheeks, and mouth, and a nimbus, and is intended as a representation of the Sun. On his right is a disk, representing the Moon, made of a pale metal, probably silver, and exhibiting the various parts of the face, as in the case of the Sun, but without gilding or glory. A few feet in front of these idols, a small lamp is kept burning. The worshippers pass in and out of this room and perform their devotions as though it were an ordinary temple. It is the only temple in Varanasi in which persons, seating themselves on the floor, engage formally in religious exercises. The temples in Benares, and in Northern India generally, with their courts, porches, and subordinate shrines, though they, in some instances, cover a considerable area, are, for the greater part, of very narrow dimensions, and contain only one small room, in which, besides the presiding deity, several other divinities are frequently placed, leaving no room enough for a dozen persons to present their offerings at one and the same time, and to observe the prescribed ceremonies in an orderly manner.