Forget everything you know about cremations in Hinduism. Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi isn’t your typical place of final goodbyes! When I say, witnessing last rituals at Manikarnika ghat is a soul-stirring experience, I mean it.
Join me on a journey through this extraordinary ghat, where we’ll explore not just the sights and sounds, but also the profound cultural significance that makes Manikarnika Ghat unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Table of Contents
Cultural Signifcance of Manikarnika Ghat in Hinduism
History of Manikarnika ghat can be witnessed through many legends in Hinduism. According to one, King Daksha- Father of Sati (escort of Shiv) had unapproved Shiv-Sati marriage. While he had arranged a Yagna, he invited everyone but Shiv.
Sati got furious with her father for disrespecting her beloved husband. She sacrificed herself into the fire of yagna. Maddened by this, Shiv held Sati’s holy body in his arms and roamed places in fury and grief. 51 parts of her body and ornaments fell on the grounds at different places. These places are known as 51 Shakti Peetha.
These Peethas are scared in Hinduism and worshipped as Mother Sati. It is believed that it is an actual presence of Mother goddess. Some other legends sugget that there were 108 parts and hence 108 shakti peetha. But, 51 are worshipped by the majority. Sati and Kaal Bhairav are the main deities at these shakti peethas.
Manikarnika- literally meaning the pearl of the ear that is earring. Sati’s earring fell in this place, hence the name.
Other legend says, that Sati was not able to find her earring in the river Ganga and lost it. She was furious and she cursed the place that this ghat will burn with creamation fire 24×7. Hence the day-night creamation at this ghat.
It is believed in Hinduism, that the one who is creamated at Manikarnika Ghat will attain salvation (Moksh). There is a temple of Tarakeshwar Mahadev nearby. It is said that this deity whispers the strong “Tarak Mantra” in the ears of departing souls that help them transition easier.
Some people say- that according to one legend, women are not allowed in the premises of Manikarnika Ghat to witness any of the last rites. As it would evoke the curse of Mother Sati.
However, some experts give explaination that- women being emotional are suggested to not witness as it creates obstacles in the departing soul.
Places to Visit in Varanasi Near Manikarnika Ghat
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath is a temple dedicated to Shiv and one of the 12 jyotirlingams in Hinduism. The temple is known for its 18th-century gold-plated spire and sacred well.
The temple is a testament of a great history of demolishing the sacred site by Mughal invaders and building it over and over by many Hindu kings and Queens. The current temple was built by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780.
Masan Baba Temple
Masan, literally translates to the creamation ground. The temple is famous due to its iconic location. It is located at the center of the Manikarnika’s cremation ground. The Pandits of the temple are kind and will provide you any information you need about the customs, traditions and the history of the temple. This is the place where “Masan Ki Holi” is celebrated with ashes.
Ganga River
The best part about visiting Varanasi is sitting at the Ganga river. There are numerous ghats to explore. Manikarnika Ghat remains crowded with devotees, tourists and people performing last rites. You can sit by the river just to observe activities or go for boating.
Nearby Ghats
There are total 84 ghats in Varanasi, each providing you with a unique vibe. Dashaswamedh ghat, Chousatti Ghat, Meer ghat, Darbhanga ghat are a few ghats nearby to Manikarnika creamation ground.
Things to Do at Manikarnika Ghat
Witness last rites being performed
What makes this creamation ground different is people not mourning at the ghat. It is considered sacred to have perfomed the last rites here. Person attains Moksha after cremation. Reason why you will not see usual mourning at the Manikarnika Ghat.
Meditate
If you are aware and into spirituality, you must meditate here. You can actually meditate on death here, the vibe is just perfect. The popular spot for meditation is behind the never extinguishing fire!
Witness Masan Baba Temple arti
One of the strongest artis in Varanasi is Masan Baba Arti. The decorum, the chants, the rituals are beyond amazing to witness.
Go for boating in the river Ganga
Varanasi is a city where you do not have to do something touristy to enjoy. You can just sit there and observe people. Just watch sunrise and sunsets. The gist of Varanasi is in its vibe. Soak into it. From Manikarnika Ghat you can hire a boat for 100-200 rs and go boating till Assi Ghat. You can reach Dashaswamedh Ghat from Manikarnika too by boat.
See the centuries old fire that never extinguishes
There’s a belief that a specific fire at the ghat has been burning continuously for thousands of years, some say even 3,500 years. This fire is considered sacred and used to light the individual funeral pyres.
The idea of an eternal flame connects the cremations of the present to those of the past. It’s a symbolic way of suggesting that those being cremated are joining their ancestors through this fire.
While the specific fire might be tended to and replenished with fuel over time, the overall cremation process at Manikarnika ensures a constant presence of fire. With hundreds of cremations happening daily, fires are continuously lit and burning.
| Read More-> 10 Best Things to do in Varanasi |
My Personal Experience of Visiting Manikarnika Ghat
I had heard a lot about Manikarnika Ghat and when I decided to visit the holy city of Varanasi, I kept a day specifically dedicated for this place. On Monday, I had decided to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple. But, the long queues till Godouliya Chouk made me cancel the plan. It started raining and for some reason, my phone stopped working.
The Ghat is located just behind the Vishwanath temple. Belonging to the Hindu family, I had never been to the cremation ground. There were 3 pyres aranged and the last rites were taking place. Pandits were chanting mantra, with the smell of incense sticks, the relatives were standing around- stunned! The scene was heavy!
I had no idea what I should do or how I should explore. I was observing from a distance along with a group of foreigners. A local spotted me and came walking towards me. He asked if I want to explore the ghat. I said yes, but I was skeptical too. I was a female solo traveler and it takes a little time for me to trust new people.
He assured me that he is not a guide that charges money but he would give me the information if I want to. I agreed. I asked him if it was okay to enter the ground, as females are usually not allowed at such places.
He said- I am treating you as a soul and the soul has no gender. People want to die here but you are lucky enough to be at this place while you are alive. The man was speaking fluent English and was wearing almost torn clothes; one of the many wonders of Varanasi, I must say!
He showed me the FIRE, that is been burning on the ghat from supposedly 3500 years! I was amazed. He told me that no wind or rain could extiguish this fire. All the corpses are creamated with this fire only. The ghat is burning for thousands of years withstanding rains and winds. To back up the story, he also showed me a few reels of these scenarios on Instagram.
Behind this fire, was a small place, smeared with ash of the corpses being creamated. He asked me to sit there and meditate. I should mention this that I do mediate on a daily basis and while I was in Varanasi, I could meditate even better with better concentration.
BUT! Meditating here felt different. Cannot really put my finger on exactly what I felt. But the vibe was strong. I opened my eyes after a few minutes and he smeared those ashes on my forehead. It could be creepy for some people as these ashes are of the creamated people. You can willfuly refuse if it is intimidating for you.
He told me that there are many aghoris and other people on the spiritual path come here to meditate. You can channel the energy present there to achieve your spiritual goals. People who have awakened their Kundalini can feel this powerful energy. I can second that!
He was the one who told me about the Masan Baba temple- A temple right in the middle of the cremation ground. He was the one who plays Dumroo- Shiv’s instrument at the time of arti. That day, the temple was under maintenance. Due to heavy rains on the last day, the sanctum of the temple was flooded. Hence, I could not enter the temple. If you are ever in this area, do not miss the Masan Baba Arti- one of the strongest experiences in the holy city of varanasi.
I forgot the name of that man, but if you ever find a pandit in this temple or a local with ample knowledge, please go and interact with them. They are calm and their perspective towards life is so different. We sat there for a while and he talked about shiv, spirituality, materialistic world, souls, death and much more. If this is not wholesome, I don’t know what is!
He asked me if I wanted to explore more and I ofcourse said yes. He took me to the upper level of the ground. The place looked very spooky. Filled with mourning people. I doubted my next moves for a moment and then decided to go further anyways.
One thing you will feel here for sure is the heaviness in the air. It got even heavier on the upper floor. There were almost 30-40 corpses burning at the same time. I don’t know how to put this experience into words. Just blazing flames, constant cremation, and no human being around. Not even the relatives of the departed ones.
People working ar Manikarnika Ghat were taking care of the pyres. The man told me that no matter how rich or poor you are, once you die you are turning into ashes. This was not the first time I had heard this, but the location made me realize it for the first time. I stayed there for a few minutes. The place offers the view of entire ghat and the holy river Ganga. It was stunning!
Visiting Manikarnika Ghat was the most soul-stirring experience of my entire travel life. The place that celebrates death (people don’t cry here, they celebrate). If you are light-hearted person, then this may not be the right place for you to visit. Remember, you must dress modestly and respect local customs.
| Read More-> My Enchanting Solo Trip to Varanasi |
5 Interesting Facts about Manikarnika Ghat
- How many corpses are creamated at Manikarnika Ghat daily?
Around 350 corpses are creamated daily at Manikarnika Ghat. Sometimes this number goes upto 600 too. (Source) - Cost of Creamation at Manikarnika Ghat?
The cost of creamation at Manikarnika Ghat can start from INR 3000. But depending on the wood used for creamation, the cost can go upto several times higher. Even upto INR 30,000 or more. - How many corpses are creamated at Manikarnika Ghat yeraly?
Around whopping 35,000 bodies are burnt at Manikarnika Ghat yearly! - Since how many years the fire is burning at Manikarnika Ghat?
The fire is believed to be burning from around 3500 years. The legend says that the fire was first ignited by Lord Shiv himself. (Source) - Air pollution problems at Manikarnika Ghat
Due to constant cremation, the wind in Varansi is filled with dust and smoke. This makes the temperature rise upto 60 degrees celcius. Creamations at Manikarnika Ghat is the main cause of air pollution in Varanasi.
Things to Keep in Mind while Visiting Manikarnika Ghat
Respect local culture
It is a place of great significance in Hinduism and cremation rituals are a deeply personal and emotional experience for mourners. Be respectful of their privacy and avoid loud noises or fun behavior.
Dress Modestly
As a place of worship and cremation, it’s recommended to dress modestly. Avoid skimpy clothing or revealing outfits. Opt for long pants or a long skirt and a top that covers your shoulders.
Seek Permission for Photos
Even though it is a famous tourist destination in Varanasi. Do not click pictures or videos of the people performing last rites. It could be considered disrespectful. While you might want to explore the culture, it is always better to seek permission before capturing anything.
Beware of scams, touts and guides
Unfortunately, you might encounter touts or guides that may offer to be your guide or donations of any kind. Hire a reputable guide if you really need. Do not make any donations that you are not sure of. Politely decline such offers.
Do not swim in the Ganga
While it is considered holy to take a dip in the river Ganga, Manikarnika Ghat would not be the right place to do so. According to the tradition, ashes of the dead along with flowers and garlands are thrown in the Ganga. The water is polluted here and not suitable for swimming.
Be Prepared for the Environment
The ghat can be a busy and hot place. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and a hat if visiting during the day.
Similar Experiences in Varanasi
Harishchandra Ghat is another cremation ground in Varanasi. Like Manikarnika Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat is considered an ancient site, revered for attaining moksha (salvation) through cremation.
Legend associates the ghat with King Harishchandra, a symbol of truthfulness. The story goes that he faced hardships and even worked as a cremator here to uphold his principles.
Compared to the bustling Manikarnika Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat is known for its calmer ambiance. It might be a suitable choice for those seeking a quieter experience.
| Read More-> 9 Best Places to Visit in Sarnath |
You May Also Like->
- Best 18 Places to Visit in Agra
- 15 Best Things To Buy In Varanasi
- Manikarnika Ghat: A Fascinating Journey Through Life and Death
- My Enchanting Solo Trip to Varanasi
- 10 Best Things to do in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- 9 Top Places to Visit in Sarnath
- Top 15 Temples in Varanasi You Must Not Miss!
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple- A Complete Guide
Appreciating the hard work you put into your site and in depth information you provide.
It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out
of date rehashed material. Wondrrful read! I’ve saved yourr site and I’m including your RSS
feeds to my Google account. https://odessaforum.Biz.ua/
Apprechiating the hard work you put into your site and in depth
information you provide. It’s grat to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t
the same out of date rehashed material. Wonderful read!
I’ve saved your site aand I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account. https://odessaforum.Biz.ua/
hiI like your writing so much share we be in contact more approximately your article on AOL I need a specialist in this area to resolve my problem Maybe that is you Looking ahead to see you