Ghats of Varanasi close Namo Ghat until 26 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 00:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Ghats of Varanasi have restricted access to Namo Ghat in Varanasi since 16 October 2026 as preparations continue for an Indian Air Force air show on 25 October 2026. The closure affects one section of the Ganga riverfront and is scheduled to remain in place until 26 October 2026.
The riverfront is known locally through a range of Hindi names, which are not reproduced here because the site is ordinarily identified in English as the Ghats of Varanasi.
Namo Ghat closure runs through 26 October for air show
The Indian Air Force has taken control of Namo Ghat for preparations linked to its 94th anniversary air show. All three entrances were closed to the public on 16 October 2026, while technical teams installed command, communications and wireless systems at the venue.
The restrictions cover visitors and local residents. The district administration has also prohibited drone flights before the air show, while boat operations on the Ganga will be stopped during the event, according to the closure report published on 16 October. Security personnel are stationed at the entrances, and barricading is being installed along parts of the wider riverfront.
The main air display is planned for 25 October 2026 at Namo Ghat. The programme is connected to the Indian Air Force anniversary and includes planned participation by aircraft and display teams, while the closure gives the organisers time to establish communications and safety arrangements.
The Ganga riverfront links 84 ghats across Varanasi
The Ghats of Varanasi form a stepped riverfront along the western bank of the Ganga. UNESCO's tentative-list description records an eastern city-edge riverfront measuring 6.5 km (4 miles), with 84 ghats connecting religious, architectural and everyday activities.
Construction of the stone steps began from the fourteenth century, although sacred places beside the water are older. The ghats were built at different times and include around 40 to 60 stone steps, raised platforms and smaller ritual areas close to the river. The UNESCO description of the riverfront and its history is available in its tentative-list documentation.
The temporary closure has a specific effect on this historic geography: Namo Ghat is unavailable while the air-show infrastructure is tested, but the restriction does not amount to a closure of the entire riverfront. Assi, Dashashwamedha, Manikarnika and other named ghats remain distinct places, subject to any further local directions.
Air-show preparations reshape access along the Ganga
Officials are preparing security arrangements at Namo Ghat and other ghats because the display will take place above the Ganga. A report by ANI states that the main air show is planned for 25 October 2026, with related display activity scheduled around 22 and 23 October 2026. The report also identifies Namo Ghat as the venue and records preparations by district, police and military officials.
The event's setting connects a contemporary aviation programme with a riverfront whose stepped architecture was designed for ritual access to the water. That contrast is particularly relevant for travellers: the same waterfront can remain a functioning pilgrimage landscape while one of its newer public sections is temporarily controlled for a large organised display.
Visiting Ghats of Varanasi: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Namo Ghat is closed to the public from 16 October 2026 until 26 October 2026 for preparations around the air show scheduled for 25 October 2026.
- Access to Namo Ghat is restricted at all three entrances, and drone flights and Ganga boat operations are subject to restrictions connected with the air show.
- The riverfront lies along the Ganga in Varanasi, with Assi, Dashashwamedha and Manikarnika among the named ghats in the wider sequence. Other sections should be checked locally before travel.
- The site consists of stone steps leading to the river, with around 40 to 60 steps at the ghats described in UNESCO's documentation. Wet surfaces, changing river levels and uneven access routes require care.
- India's official language is Hindi, among other constitutionally recognised languages, and the national currency is the Indian rupee.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ghats of Varanasi
What has changed at Ghats of Varanasi?
Namo Ghat has been closed to the public from 16 October 2026 until 26 October 2026 for preparations for an Indian Air Force air show.
When does the air show take place at Ghats of Varanasi?
The main air show is planned for 25 October 2026 at Namo Ghat, with related activity planned around 22 and 23 October 2026.
Where are Ghats of Varanasi and how do you get there?
The ghats form the Ganga riverfront in Varanasi, India. Namo Ghat is one section of that riverfront, while Assi, Dashashwamedha and Manikarnika are other named ghats.
