हरिश्चंद्र घाट — Harishchandra Ghat

About Harishchandra Ghat

English
Kashi’s oldest cremation ghat, also called the "Adi Manikarnika" (First Manikarnika). Tied to the legend of the truthful king Harishchandra, its cremation fire is said never to have gone out.

हिन्दी
काशी का सबसे पुराना अंत्येष्टि घाट, जिसे ‘आदि मणिकर्णिका’ भी कहते हैं। सच्चे राजा हरिश्चंद्र की कथा से जुड़ा यह घाट कहता है कि यहां की चिता की आग कभी नहीं बुझी।

History & Significance of Harishchandra Ghat

English
The legend of Raja Harishchandra tells how the king, keeping his word, sold everything and served at this very burning ground — and the ghat took his name. It is called the Adi Manikarnika, the cremation ground older than Manikarnika itself. The fire of this ghat is believed never to have been extinguished. The Kharva (boatman) and Mir (gardener) households conduct the rites here. The flood of 1948 broke the stairs, and they were rebuilt. Today the ghat is a meeting of faith, fire and reverence.

हिन्दी
राजा हरिश्चंद्र की कथा के अनुसार सत्य के लिए सब कुछ बेचकर वे इसी चिता-घाट पर कर्म करने लगे थे; उसी स्मृति में घाट का नाम हरिश्चंद्र पड़ा। इसे ‘आदि मणिकर्णिका’ कहा जाता है, यानी मणिकर्णिका से भी पहले का श्मशान। यहां की अग्नि-धुनी सदियों से बुझी नहीं मानी जाती। खड़वा (केवट) और मीर (माली) परिवार यहां के अंत्येष्टि कर्म देखते हैं। 1948 की बाढ़ ने घाट की सीढ़ियों को तोड़ा था, जिन्हें बाद में दोबारा बनाया गया। आज यह घाट मोक्ष की आस्था, अग्नि और श्रद्धा का मिलन-स्थल है।

Best Time to Visit Harishchandra Ghat

Best time: Cremation rites run 24/7; respectful viewing is best in the morning hours 6-9 AM.

हिन्दी अंत्येष्टि कर्म 24 घंटे चलते हैं; सम्मानपूर्ण दर्शन के लिए सुबह 6-9 बजे उपयुक्त।

When to go: Open all year; the shraddha season in autumn draws the families of the departed.

हिन्दी साल भर खुला; श्राद्ध पक्ष में परिवारों की भीड़ बढ़ जाती है।

Aarti Timings at Harishchandra Ghat

The rites run 24 hours. The fire of the ghat is never extinguished. In the shraddha season the rites run heaviest from dawn ~5-11 AM.

हिन्दी कर्म 24 घंटे चलते हैं। यहां की अग्नि-धुनी कभी नहीं बुझती। श्राद्ध पक्ष में भोर ~5-11 बजे तक सबसे अधिक कर्म होते हैं।

How to Reach Harishchandra Ghat

~15 min walk north from Dashashwamedh. ~5 min walk from Kedar Ghat. Auto from Godowlia ~₹50-80. ~1.5 km from Manikarnika.

हिन्दी दशाश्वमेध घाट से उत्तर की ओर पैदल ~15 मिनट। केदार घाट से पैदल ~5 मिनट। गोदौलिया से ऑटो ~₹50-80। मणिकर्णिका से ~1.5 किमी।

Travel Tips for Harishchandra Ghat

• Keep silence and respect at the ground
• Photography and video are forbidden on the whole ghat
• Fewer rites happen here than at Manikarnika, so the ghat stays calmer

• कर्म-स्थल पर मौन और सम्मान बनाए रखें
• यहां फोटो/वीडियो वर्जित है — पूरे घाट पर नियम लागू है
• घाट पर कम संख्या में कर्म होते हैं, इसलिए मणिकर्णिका से अधिक शांत रहता है

Things to Do at Harishchandra Ghat

English

• Observe the rites with respect from the stairs
• See the eternal fire of Adi Manikarnika
• View the ghat from the lanes above

हिन्दी

• सीढ़ियों से श्रद्धापूर्वक दर्शन करें
• आदि मणिकर्णिका की अग्नि-धुनी के दर्शन करें
• पास की गंगा-गली से घाट की ओर देखें

Highlights of Harishchandra Ghat

• The undying fire
• The tale of Raja Harishchandra
• The name Adi Manikarnika
• The Kharva-Mir tradition

• अमर अग्नि-धुनी
• राजा हरिश्चंद्र की कथा
• आदि मणिकर्णिका की पहचान
• खड़वा-मीर परिवारों की परंपरा

Festivals & Rituals at Harishchandra Ghat

The sixteen days of Pitru Paksha bring special shraddha rites and offerings to the ghat.

हिन्दी श्राद्ध पक्ष के सोलह दिनों में दान और पिंडदान का विशेष आयोजन होता है।

Did You Know?

The great flood of 1948 submerged the ghat; the rebuilt stairs still carry its memory.

हिन्दी 1948 की भीषण बाढ़ में घाट डूब गया था; उसके बाद बनीं नई सीढ़ियां आज भी बाढ़ की निशानी बताती हैं।

Nearby Ghats & Attractions

• Karnataka Ghat (200 m)
• Kedar Ghat (500 m)
• Vijayanagaram Ghat (600 m)
• Manikarnika Ghat (1.5 km)

• कर्नाटक घाट (200 मी)
• केदार घाट (500 मी)
• विजयनगरम घाट (600 मी)
• मणिकर्णिका घाट (1.5 किमी)

Frequently Asked Questions about Harishchandra Ghat

Where is Harishchandra Ghat located?

Harishchandra Ghat (हरिश्चंद्र घाट) is one of the ghats of Varanasi, on the western bank of the river Ganga at approximately 25.3020, 83.0093.

Why is Harishchandra Ghat famous?

Kashi’s oldest cremation ghat, also called the "Adi Manikarnika" (First Manikarnika). Tied to the legend of the truthful king Harishchandra, its cremation fire is said never to have gone out.

What is the best time to visit Harishchandra Ghat?

Cremation rites run 24/7; respectful viewing is best in the morning hours 6-9 AM. The best season is Open all year; the shraddha season in autumn draws the families of the departed..

What can I do at Harishchandra Ghat?

Observe the rites with respect from the stairs; See the eternal fire of Adi Manikarnika; View the ghat from the lanes above.

What is the history of Harishchandra Ghat?

The legend of Raja Harishchandra tells how the king, keeping his word, sold everything and served at this very burning ground — and the ghat took his name. It is called the Adi Manikarnika, the cremation ground older than Manikarnika itself. The fire of this ghat is believed never to have been extinguished. The Kharva (boatman) and Mir (gardener) households conduct the rites here. The flood of…

Which festivals are celebrated at Harishchandra Ghat?

The sixteen days of Pitru Paksha bring special shraddha rites and offerings to the ghat.

Explore Varanasi with NaviX

Harishchandra Ghat is one of the 84 ghats of Varanasi. Use the NaviX app for boat rides, live Ganga Aarti darshan, temple timings and complete Kashi travel guides.