Namo Ghat Varanasi: Timings, Aarti, Boat Price & Parking (2026)
Namo Ghat is open 24 hours a day. Boat rides and the food court run roughly 5:00 AM–10:00 PM, the Ganga Aarti happens around sunset (6:00–6:45 PM in winter, 7:00–7:45 PM in summer), and a short boat ride starts at ₹150 per person. It's roughly 2.5–3 km by road from Manikarnika Ghat and has Varanasi's only dedicated large parking lot right at the riverfront — no narrow lanes to navigate.
Namo Ghat (locals still call it Khidkiya Ghat) is Varanasi's newest riverfront stretch — the 85th ghat, opened in 2023 near Rajghat under the Malviya Bridge. It doesn't have the ancient temples or the tangled lanes of the old ghats. What it has instead is space: a long, clean promenade where you can actually sit by the Ganga without being jostled, park your car steps away, and watch a quieter version of the evening aarti. If you're travelling with kids, parents, or anyone who dreads stairs and crowds, this is the easiest ghat in the city to enjoy.
Namo Ghat at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Rajghat, under Malviya Bridge, northern end of the riverfront |
| Opening hours | 24 hours (promenade); 5 AM–10 PM (boats, food court, cafeteria) |
| Ganga Aarti timing | 6:00–6:45 PM (winter) · 7:00–7:45 PM (summer) |
| Best time to visit | Sunrise (5:30–7 AM) or evening (5–7:30 PM) |
| Distance from Manikarnika Ghat | ~2.5–3 km by road · ~1.5–2 km by boat |
| Parking | Yes — large dedicated lot for cars, bikes, buses |
| Boat ride price | ₹150–300/person shared · ₹1,500–3,000/hour private |
| Wheelchair access | Yes — Varanasi's first wheelchair-friendly ghat |
| Distance from Varanasi Airport (VNS) | ~24 km, 35–50 minutes by taxi |
What Namo Ghat Is Actually Like
The big draw is the pair of giant folded-hands "Namaste" sculptures — a nod to Surya, the Sun God, and a welcome to visitors. They're the photo everyone comes for, and they look best lit up after dark. Beyond that, the appeal is simple: room to breathe.
The promenade runs about 21,000 square metres, so even on a busy evening it never feels packed the way Dashashwamedh does. You'll see people doing morning yoga, families walking, photographers waiting for golden hour, and boats coming and going from the CNG station (the boats here run on gas, so they're noticeably quieter and cleaner than the diesel boats elsewhere).
Practical stuff you'll actually use: there's a food court with Banarasi street snacks, RO drinking-water points, clean restrooms, and an open-air amphitheatre that hosts occasional cultural performances in the evening. It's also Varanasi's first wheelchair-friendly ghat, with ramps instead of the usual steep steps.
Is Namo Ghat Worth Visiting?
Honest take: if you have only one evening in Varanasi and want the full, goosebumps aarti with the crowds and drama, go to Dashashwamedh — that's the iconic one. Come to Namo Ghat if you want the opposite: a calm, uncrowded riverfront where you can drive right up, sit comfortably, take great photos of the Namaste statues, and catch a smaller aarti without elbowing for space.
A lot of visitors do both — start the evening at Namo Ghat, then take a boat downriver to watch the Dashashwamedh aarti from the water. For families, older travellers, or anyone who found the old-city lanes overwhelming, Namo Ghat is genuinely the most relaxing spot on the river.
Namo Ghat Timings: How Late Does It Stay Open?
The ghat itself never closes. It's an open public riverfront, so you can walk it at midnight or turn up before sunrise — it's well-lit and generally safe. What runs on a schedule are the paid bits:
- Boat rides: roughly 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Food court and stalls: roughly 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Amphitheatre performances: evening slots, ask at the ghat on the day
- Sculpture lighting: on from dusk till late
So if you're arriving very early or very late, you can still enjoy the walk and the views — just don't expect a boat or a snack outside that 5 AM–10 PM window.
Namo Ghat Ganga Aarti Time
Namo Ghat holds its own, smaller-scale Ganga Aarti daily, timed to sunset:
| Season | Aarti timing |
|---|---|
| Summer (Mar–Oct) | 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM |
| Winter (Nov–Feb) | 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM |
The Namo Ghat aarti is a smaller, calmer affair than the famous Dashashwamedh ceremony — fewer priests, far fewer people, and enough room to sit and watch properly. If the idea of a crowd of hundreds puts you off, you'll like it here. And if you want both, book a boat at Namo Ghat around 5:30 PM, watch the local aarti, then drift downriver to see the big Dashashwamedh aarti from the water — ask your boatman to set it up.
Distance from Manikarnika Ghat and Other Landmarks
| From Namo Ghat to… | By road | By boat |
|---|---|---|
| Manikarnika Ghat | ~2.5–3 km (10–15 min) | ~1.5–2 km (20–30 min) |
| Dashashwamedh Ghat | ~3–3.5 km (12–18 min) | ~2–2.5 km (25–35 min) |
| Assi Ghat | ~7–8 km (25–35 min) | ~7–8 km (2–2.5 hrs, full riverfront sweep) |
| Varanasi Junction (BSB) railway station | ~7 km (20–25 min) | — |
| Varanasi Airport (VNS) | ~24 km (35–50 min) | — |
For the complete Assi Ghat to Namo Ghat boat ride price, timing, and one-way booking details covering all 84 ghats in between, see our dedicated 84 Ghats Boat Tour guide — it has the full breakdown for that specific point-to-point route.
Namo Ghat Boat Price and Booking
These are the short local rides that start from Namo Ghat itself (not the long Assi-to-Namo sweep):
| Boat type | Duration/route | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared rowboat/motorboat | Local short ride | ₹150–300 per person | Solo travellers, budget trips |
| Private rowboat | 1–2 hours, custom route | ₹1,500–3,000 total (4–6 seats) | Couples, photography |
| Private CNG motorboat | 1–2 hours, custom route | ₹2,500–4,000 total (up to 8 seats) | Small families, groups |
A few things worth knowing before you step on a boat:
- Prices aren't fixed — walk up to the boat station and haggle. Agreeing on the fare and how long the ride lasts before you board saves arguments later.
- Sunrise (5:30–6:30 AM) gives you glassy water and soft light; 5:00–5:30 PM gets you sunset plus the aarti.
- Expect to pay 20–30% more on weekends and in peak season (Oct–Mar), and a lot more on festival nights like Dev Deepawali.
- Prefer a fixed price and a driver waiting when you're done? WhatsApp us your date and headcount and we'll sort a boat plus a return taxi together — no bargaining on the spot.
Namo Ghat Parking
This is Namo Ghat's quiet superpower. At almost every other ghat, you park somewhere in the city and walk in through narrow, crowded lanes — a real pain with luggage, small kids, or elderly parents. Namo Ghat has a proper parking area right at the promenade for cars, two-wheelers, and tourist buses, so you step out of the vehicle and you're basically there. Combined with the ramps (it's the city's first wheelchair-friendly ghat), it's the one place on the river you can visit without worrying about stairs or a long walk.
Best Time to Visit Namo Ghat
- Sunrise (5:30–7:00 AM): Quiet, cool, soft light — best for photography and a peaceful walk before the day's heat and crowds arrive.
- Evening (5:00–7:30 PM): The Ganga Aarti, sunset colours over the Ganga, and the Namaste sculptures lit up after dark — the most atmospheric window, especially October–March when the weather is pleasant.
- Avoid: Peak monsoon afternoons (Jul–Aug), when water levels can affect boat access, and the harsh midday sun (11 AM–3 PM) in summer.
Getting to Namo Ghat
Coming straight from Varanasi Airport (VNS)? It's about 24 km and 35–50 minutes via Ring Road and Ravidas Gate — our Airport to Namo Ghat taxi guide has the exact fares and route. From Varanasi Junction it's around 7 km, 20–25 minutes. Since the ghat has road access and its own parking, a pre-booked taxi is the no-fuss choice — you skip the old-city lanes entirely and get dropped almost at the river.
Namo Ghat FAQs
What time does Namo Ghat open and close?
The promenade is open 24 hours. Boat rides and the food court operate roughly 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
What time is the Ganga Aarti at Namo Ghat?
Around 6:00–6:45 PM in winter and 7:00–7:45 PM in summer, timed to sunset.
How far is Namo Ghat from Manikarnika Ghat?
About 2.5–3 km by road (10–15 minutes) or 1.5–2 km by boat (20–30 minutes).
How much does a boat ride cost at Namo Ghat?
Shared rides start at ₹150–300 per person; private rowboats run ₹1,500–3,000 per hour.
Is there parking at Namo Ghat?
Yes — a large dedicated lot for cars, bikes, and buses, directly at the promenade.
What is the best time to visit Namo Ghat?
Sunrise (5:30–7 AM) for calm photography, or evening (5–7:30 PM) for the aarti and lit-up Namaste sculptures.
Planning to combine Namo Ghat with the rest of Kashi's riverfront? Read our guide to the 10 most important ghats of Varanasi or check morning boat ride prices across the city before you book.