Draupadi Ghat

Draupadi Ghat is a historic bathing ghat in Hastinapur, Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh, situated on the Budhi Ganga, the old channel of the Ganga River. Revered for its association with Draupadi and the Mahabharata period when Hastinapur was the capital of the Kuru kingdom, the ghat features stone steps, small shrines and a tranquil riverside setting. It is a notable pilgrimage site for ritual bathing, prayer and festivals.

Visitors can expect a riverside ghat with stone steps leading down to the water of the Budhi Ganga, small Hindu shrines and open bathing areas. The setting is quiet and pilgrimage-oriented, with devotees performing ritual baths and prayers, especially in the morning and evening. The surrounding area is flat and semi-rural with temples nearby. There are no large commercial developments, offering a simple, spiritual and sightseeing experience focused on the river and religious structures.

Hastinapur is identified as the ancient capital of the Kuru dynasty described in the Mahabharata. Draupadi Ghat is traditionally associated with Draupadi, queen of the Pandavas, and is believed to be a place where she visited or bathed. The town has archaeological mounds and ancient temple remains linked to the Mahabharata period and later historical settlements.

The ghat is a Hindu pilgrimage site where devotees take holy dips in the Budhi Ganga, offer prayers and perform rituals for purification. It holds religious importance during festivals such as Kartik Purnima, Amavasya and Ganga Dussehra, when pilgrims gather for bathing and worship. Small shrines along the ghat reflect ongoing devotional practices.