Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most famous of Varanasi's 80-plus ghats and the most crowded — both with pilgrims who come to bathe in the Ganges and with visitors who come to watch the nightly Ganga Aarti. The ghat is ancient: it was rebuilt in 1748 by the Maratha ruler Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, and before him by other rulers over many centuries. Its name means "the place of the ten horse sacrifice" — referring to a fire ritual said to have been performed here by the god Brahma.
The Ganga Aarti ceremony takes place every evening at dusk, performed by a team of priests who swing fire lamps, blow conch shells, and chant mantras in a precisely choreographed sequence lasting 45 minutes. The best view is from a rowing boat hired from the ghat itself — arrive early to get a spot before the ceremony begins. The banks and boats fill quickly in the cooler months.
During the day, the ghat functions as a working bathing and pilgrimage site. Barbers, flower sellers, and priests crowd the steps offering their services. The surrounding lanes lead directly to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, making this the natural hub of the old city.