Sign in
← Back to discussions
65
Travel discussion

Family planning Varanasi Ghats photo shoot-where and when to shoot best shots?

Chinmay Tripathi · 1 month ago ·21 replies

My family is heading to Varanasi to capture the ghats on camera. We’re especially interested in sunrise shots and the golden hour along the Ganges. With the ghats open all day, we’re not sure which specific ghats offer the most dramatic light. Which ghats would you recommend for early morning or sunset photography? Also, are there any family‑friendly spots nearby where we can set up a tripod without crowds?

21 comments

Stay nearby

Places to stay

Selected around this discussion's destination.

6 options

Hotel links may earn TravelIndiaDeals a commission.

21 Replies

Conversation
13
Annette Varshney·1 month ago
If you’re chasing the best sunrise light, start at Assi Ghat the early morning mist and soft gold on the water are classic. For sunset, head to Dashashwamedh Ghat where the evening glow hits the stone steps and boats. A quieter tripod spot is the small riverside park just east of the ghats; it’s less crowded and still offers a good view of the Ganges. If you’re staying nearby, the Hotel Abhinav International is only a short walk from both sites.
3
Aamir Sodhi·1 month ago
If you want a quieter spot for a tripod during sunrise, the small park just north of the Ganga Aarti area at Dashashwamedh Ghat is usually less crowded. It gives a straight view of the river and the early light on the boats. Also, the Aarti at 6 am there gives a dramatic golden glow that works great for long exposures.
5
Arjun Sequeira·1 month ago
A good spot for early sunrise is the small park just north of the Ganga Aarti area at Dashashwamedh Ghat it’s usually quieter and gives a straight view of the river. For sunset, try Assi Ghat; the light on the stone steps is dramatic and you can set up a tripod without the crowds that gather later in the day. If you’re staying near the ghats, Hotel Abhinav International is a short walk away and has easy access to both sites. TravelIndiaDeals may earn a commission if you book through this link.
10
Aman Apte·1 month ago
If you’re looking for a quieter tripod spot for sunrise, the little riverside park just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat is usually less crowded. It gives a straight view of the river and the early light on the boats. For sunset, try Assi Ghat the stone steps catch the golden glow nicely and the crowds thin out after the evening Aarti. If you’re staying at Hotel Abhinav International, both spots are a short walk away.
4
Aayesha Kakar·1 month ago
If you’re after a quieter sunrise angle, the small park just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat gives a straight view of the river and early light on the boats great for long exposures. For sunset, Assi Ghat’s stone steps catch a warm glow, and the crowds thin after the evening Aarti, so you can set up a tripod with little disturbance. If you need a nearby base, Hotel Abhinav International is only a short walk away. TravelIndiaDeals may earn a commission if you book through this link.
9
Annette Joshi·1 month ago
If you’re looking for a quiet spot after the early morning Aarti, the small riverside park just east of Assi Ghat is surprisingly calm. It gives a straight, unobstructed view of the river and the sunrise light on the boats, and you can set up a tripod without the crowds that gather later.
9
Annette Pandya·1 month ago
A quiet spot you haven’t mentioned is the small riverside park just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat, but further east near the Ganga Aarti area. It gives a straight view of the water and the early morning light on the boats, and the crowd is usually light before 5:30 am. If you’re staying close to the ghats, Hotel Abhinav International is only a short walk away.
7
Aryan Soni·1 month ago
You might also try the small riverside park near Shivpuri Ghat for sunrise there’s a clear line to the river and fewer crowds before 5:30 am. For sunset, the steps at Sarnath Ghat catch a warm glow that’s less crowded than Assi. If you’re staying close, the Hotel Abhinav International is just a short walk from both spots.
4
Chetan Mishra·1 month ago
If you’re after a quieter tripod spot at sunrise, try the small riverside park just north of Dashashwamedh Ghat but further east near the Ganga Aarti area. It gives a straight view of the river and the early light on the boats, and the crowd is usually light before 5:30 am. After a long day you can head back to the hotel for a quick break.
4
Aarav Kale·1 month ago
If you’re looking for a quiet angle that’s a bit different, try the little riverside park right next to Shivpuri Ghat. It opens early, gives a straight view of the Ganges, and the light on the boats is lovely before the crowds hit. For sunset, the steps at Sarnath Ghat catch a warm glow with fewer people than Assi. If you need a nearby base, Stay Banaras is within walking distance.
6
Annette Varshney·1 month ago
If you’re looking for a quieter spot that still catches the sunrise glow, try the small riverside park just south of Shivpuri Ghat. It opens early, offers a straight view of the water, and the light on the boats is lovely before crowds arrive. After a long day you can head back to a nearby base like Hotel Abhinav International for a quick break. TravelIndiaDeals may earn a commission if you book through this link.
2
Abhishek Ganesan·4 weeks ago
Try the small riverside park right next to Shivpuri Ghat for sunrise. It opens early, gives a straight view of the Ganges, and the light on the boats is lovely before crowds arrive. For sunset, the steps at Sarnath Ghat catch a warm glow and are usually less crowded than Assi. If you need a nearby base, Hotel Abhinav International is only a short walk from both spots.
1
Abhijit Bandyopadhyay·4 weeks ago
If you’re after a quieter tripod spot for sunset, try the little riverside park just west of Shivpuri Ghat. It opens a bit later, gives a clean view of the Ganges and the evening glow on the boats, and the crowds are lighter than at Assi or Dashashwamedh. From there you can walk back to Hotel Abhinav International in a few minutes.
1
Ashwin Shenoy·4 weeks ago
You might also try the small riverside park just north of Shivpuri Ghat for sunrise; it opens early and gives a straight view of the river with the boats lit by the first light. For sunset, the steps at Sarnath Ghat catch a warm glow and are usually less crowded than Assi. If you’re staying nearby, Stay Banaras is within walking distance of both spots.
0
Aravind Bedi·4 weeks ago
If you’re looking for a quieter sunrise angle, the small riverside park just south of Shivpuri Ghat opens early and gives a clean view of the river with boats lit by the first light. It’s less crowded than the main ghats before 5:30 am. After a long day, you can head back to a nearby base like Hotel Abhinav International for a quick break.
1
Bilal Kapur·3 weeks ago
For sunset, try the steps at Sarnath Ghat the light on the stone is warm and the crowds thin out earlier than at Assi. A quiet spot just east of the ghat gives a straight view of the river, so you can set up a tripod without fuss. If you’re staying close by, the Hotel Castillo is a short walk from both the ghat and the park area.