LALITA GHAT

LALITA GHAT

Lalita Ghat was built by an 18th century king of Nepal, who also added a wooden temple modelled on the famous Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu. A narrow gali from the Chowk leads you to Manikarnika, the most important cremation ghat of Varanasi. Hundreds of mourners and professional pall-bearers go along the gali carrying dead bodies. It is said that the fires of this ghat have not gone out in centuries and even during the day the place is wreathed in smoke.

The ghat is lined with cargo boats heaped with wood for the incessantly burning pyres. Next to the ghat is a stepped tank, the Chakrapushkarni or Vishnu’s Lotus Pool. It is said that Goddess Parvati dropped her manikarnika or jewelled earring here. At Shiva’s request, Vishnu dug deep with his chakra or discus to search for it and the hollow filled with his sweat to create a pool.