The ancient holy city of Banaras (Benaras) or Varanasi is a pilgrimage of a lifetime for the devout and an experience like no other for the visitor. The experience of the city from the Holi Ganga is often described as surreal, from where one can view the full panorama of the ghats of Banaras in all their majesty. Their architecture, beauty & religious activity have inspired artists through the ages and have been subjects for their Banaras ghat painting and views of Banaras as seen from the river. Other popular subjects of paintings of Banaras include paintings of pilgrims taking a holy dip or paintings of Arti along the ghats.
Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.
– Mark Twain
Banaras has 88 ghats, of which several ghats have been popular subjects in paintings of Banaras ghats. Ahilya ghat, Manikarnika ghats, Munshi ghat, Chet Singh ghat are some of the most popular. Many times contemporary artists simply try to evoke a feeling of Banaras in their paintings by using the unmistakable elements of Banaras like temple spires, stepped ghats, pilgrims, religious activity etc. without reference to a specific ghat.
Our Collection of Banaras Ghat Painting
Check out our collection of contemporary Banaras ghat paintings including by artists such as Deepali Jain, Kashinath Das & Atif Pachapuri (Click on images for high resolution images).
If you are interested in any of the Banaras paintings, then please contact us on whatsapp – Click here.