Namo Ghat

The newest stretch of the Varanasi riverfront: old Khidkiya Ghat rebuilt under the Smart City programme and opened in stages between 2022 and 2024. Giant sculpted hands folded in namaste salute the Ganga (two of 25 feet, one of 15, later joined by one of 75), and behind them run a broad promenade, food kiosks and boat jetties. It reads more like a modern plaza than an old ghat, which is exactly why families come here in the evening instead of the crowded centre. Free, easy with children, and a major vantage point for Dev Deepawali.

The 21st-century face of the riverfront: evening strolls under giant namaste sculptures