Assi Ghat is at the southern end of the main ghat sequence and has a notably different character from the busier ghats closer to the old city. It is popular with long-term residents of Varanasi — students from Banaras Hindu University nearby, sadhus who live around the ghat, and foreign visitors who rent rooms in the neighbourhood for extended stays. The atmosphere is calmer and more residential than Dashashwamedh.
In the morning, a small puja ceremony takes place at the large Shiva lingam under the peepal tree at the top of the ghat. The surrounding area has a concentration of restaurants, guesthouses, and yoga centres aimed at longer-stay visitors. The rooftop cafes here face west across the river, making them good spots to watch the sunset.