VARANASI: A Chhath traffic advisory reported on Thursday, November 12, sets out restrictions and parking arrangements for worshippers visiting the city's ghats on November 15 and 16. The plan closes vehicle approaches to Godowlia, Dashashwamedh, Assi and Namo Ghat, with the November 15 restrictions beginning at noon IST.
Families travelling to Dashashwamedh Ghat should choose their parking approach before reaching the old city. Ramapura, Beniya and Maidagin have different arrangements, so a parking destination that works from one approach may be inaccessible from another. Residents making ordinary journeys through these junctions will also have to follow the diversions.
For the early morning visit on November 16, confirm the active restrictions with traffic personnel before starting. The reports consulted describe the overnight operating window differently. The route and parking details below are those corroborated across the reports, rather than an assumption that roads reopen at a particular hour.
What residents should do
From Ramapura Chauraha, vehicles cannot continue towards Godowlia. Vehicles bringing people for Chhath are directed towards Mazda Talkies and Sanatan Dharm Inter College for parking. The practical destination for a driver is therefore the designated parking approach, rather than a request to reach the ghat steps.
At Beniya Tiraha, vehicles heading towards Ramapura are diverted onto Beniya Piyari Road. Vehicles associated with the worship arrangements use Beniya parking. This is a separate diversion from the Ramapura arrangement, even though both affect access to the central riverfront.
Maidagin also closes the onward vehicle route to Godowlia. Worshippers arriving on this side are assigned parking in front of Harishchandra PG College and at Town Hall. Anyone meeting relatives should agree which of these locations they mean before entering the restricted area, rather than use Godowlia as a vehicle meeting point.
From Godowlia itself, vehicles cannot proceed towards Dashashwamedh Ghat, Rajendra Prasad Ghat, Sheetla Ghat and the nearby ghats. Traffic arriving at Sonarpura towards Godowlia is diverted towards Bhelupur. These restrictions affect the approach roads as well as the final stretch beside the river.
Assi, Namo Ghat and the northern approaches
Traffic heading towards Assi Chauraha from the Bank of Baroda junction is diverted towards Ravindrapuri. For a household planning to visit Assi, the diversion means that reaching the neighbourhood does not guarantee vehicle access to the usual junction. Follow the diversion in place rather than attempting the closed approach.
At Bhadaun Chungi, vehicles cannot head towards Bhainsasur Ghat, and stopping or parking around the junction is restricted. Vehicles carrying worshippers are directed to designated nearby parking. The reports do not give a single named parking site for this junction, so travellers should obtain the location from personnel managing the approach.
Vehicles approaching Namo Ghat from Rajghat Bridge Tiraha are directed towards the Kashi Station Water Tank Ground parking area. Traffic from the Sujabad police outpost towards Rajghat is diverted through Padao towards Ramnagar. These are different arrangements for two different approaches and should not be treated as interchangeable routes.
Samne Ghat and buses from Bihar
Tractors, trolleys, goods vehicles and buses bringing people for Chhath can approach the river beside Vishwasundari Bridge and park in the ground below it. They cannot continue from the bridge towards Murari Chowk and Samne Ghat. From the Ramnagar side, such vehicles cannot use the Shastri Chowk bridge approach to reach Samne Ghat and are directed along the road to the left of the bridge.
Vehicles travelling from Samne Ghat Tiraha towards Murari Chowk have parking arrangements at the vacant ground in front of Judge Guest House and Krishna Vatika beside Sunbeam Samne Ghat School. These named destinations matter for people arranging a return pickup as well as those arriving for worship.
Private buses arriving from Bihar will use the vacant ground in front of Swami Harsewanand Public School for boarding and alighting, instead of the Murari Chowk bus stand. Passengers expecting to meet a bus at the usual stand should check its temporary pickup location with the operator.
Other worship sites and official information
Vehicle access near Surya Sarovar at BLW is restricted. On the Shastri Ghat approach, traffic from Ambedkar Chauraha is diverted towards Kachahari and J P Mehta Road, with worship related parking behind Kachahari on J P Mehta Road. Parking near the junction is also restricted.
The official Varanasi police release page is the relevant departmental reference. The detailed routes in this article were cross checked in two dated reports; an accessible copy of the new advisory was not displayed on that official page when checked.
For background on preparations, see the earlier reports on Chhath coordination and water depth checks, changing rooms and ghat inspections, and zonal responsibility for ghat repairs.
