Blog / Best ghats for photography
Best ghats in Varanasi for photography
Varanasi is one of the most photographed cities in India, and for good reason — but the most-photographed spot isn't always the best one for the shot you're actually after.
Assi Ghat at sunrise
The southernmost major ghat, and the calmest starting point for a sunrise boat ride. Morning yoga sessions, priests setting up for prayers, and soft golden light make this a favourite for portrait and lifestyle shots.
Dashashwamedh Ghat during the Aarti
The obvious choice for the Aarti itself — flames, brass lamps, and a packed crowd. From a boat, you get the full symmetry of all the priests performing together with their reflections on the water, which is the classic Varanasi shot most photographers are chasing.
Manikarnika Ghat, shot respectfully
The cremation ghat has striking, dramatic light and smoke, but it's an active site of mourning, not a photo backdrop — photography here should be discreet, distant, and only after asking a local guide what's appropriate on a given day.
Chet Singh Ghat and the quieter southern ghats
Fewer tourists, more texture — peeling paint, old stone steps, laundry drying in the sun. These ghats give a rawer, less-staged version of the city than the two or three most-photographed spots.
Practical tips
- Golden hour (roughly 30 minutes after sunrise, 30 before sunset) gives the warmest light on the sandstone ghats.
- A boat gives you angles impossible from the steps — reflections, the full sweep of the ghat line, and distance from crowds.
- Always ask before photographing people closely, especially at cremation ghats or during private rituals.
- A polarising filter cuts glare off the water significantly if you're shooting with a dedicated camera.
Our sunrise boat ride is timed specifically for photographers, leaving early enough to catch the first light without the later crowd.