 Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control . Many ghats were constructed under the patronage of the <unk> , <unk> ( <unk> ) , <unk> , <unk> , and <unk> . Most of the ghats are bathing ghats , while others are used as cremation sites . A morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular tourist attraction . The extensive stretches of ghats in Varanasi enhance the <unk> with a multitude of shrines , temples , and palaces built " tier on tier above the water 's edge " . 
