Varanasi has nearly 100 ghats. Many are bathing ghats but at the others, cremations are conducted. According to Hindu belief, dying at Kasi ensures release from the eternal cycle of birth and rebirth.

Many of these ghats, temples and serais were built when the Marathas controlled the city and the Scindias, the Peshwas, Holkars and Bhonsles stand out as patrons of present day Varanasi. Even today many of the ghats are privately owned. The Shivala or Kali Ghat is still owned by the former Maharaja of Varanasi.

The main bathing ghats are Assi, Dasaswamedh, Barnasangam, Panchaganga and Manikarnika. To bathe at these five ghats in this order in a day is known as the panch thirtha yatra.

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