Bhadaini Ghat, located on Varanasi’s southern riverfront near Tulsi Ghat, is a lesser-known yet culturally significant landmark. Its name comes from the adjacent locality of Bhadaini, historically referenced since the early 1900s. Traditions differ on whether it was named after the settlement itself or a prominent merchant who conducted trade along the Ganga.
The ghat once housed a municipal water pumping station, an important facility that supplied the city with water and became part of its identity. Its brick steps and preserved natural embankment distinguish it from the more crowded ceremonial ghats of Varanasi.
Unlike the bustling ceremonial ghats such as Dashashwamedh or Manikarnika, Bhadaini Ghat is quieter. It was historically used as a practical landing point for boats and remains connected with local fisherfolk and traders who depended on the river for livelihood. Though not a major site for grand rituals, the ghat hosts small shrines to Shiva and Ganesha, where neighborhood communities gather for morning prayers and seasonal observances.
Image Credits: Rajesh Vohra, and Akshay Jaiswal
