Varanasi boasts a rich tradition and culture dating back centuries, drawing philosophers, reformers, ascetics and religious/spiritual groups of all sorts to its shores.
Varanasi boasts numerous temples and ghats that attest to its long and distinguished history, some of the more notable ones being:
1. Ramnagar Fort
Built by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh in 1750, this palace-fort overlooking the Ganges is best known for the intricate Ram Lila festival held during Dussehra and featuring scenes from Ramayana being performed across the city. Additionally, there is also an antique display featuring royal possessions at this fort.
The fort is constructed of creamy-colored Chunar sandstone and boasts intricately carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. Additionally, there is a temple dedicated to Ved Vyas who according to legend resided here briefly before passing away in 584 BCE. The museum houses artefacts related to his reign.
The fort is open to the public but only a portion is accessible; most of it serves as residence for Maharaja and flags are raised when he enters to signify this fact.
2. Bharat Mata Temple
Bharat Mata Temple stands out as one of the most distinctive temples in Varanasi. Unlike most holy sites, however, this revered pilgrimage site does not worship an individual deity but instead celebrates India or Bharat itself.
This temple stands out with a striking marble model of India that also includes Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar as its surrounding countries.
This temple’s first floor is dedicated to Bharat Mata. Renowned sculptor Abanindranath Tagore immortalized her as an ancient Goddess wearing four arms while holding book, rice, mala and white cloth in her four hands. On the second-floor stands Shoor Mandir dedicated to our nations legendary heroes.
3. Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory featuring 19 stone instruments. This monument stands as a testimony to Medieval Indian astronomy and was described by Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, as “renewal edition of Ulugh Beg’s observatory at Samarkand 1339-1449 Uzbekistan.”
Jantra means instrument and mantra means calculation; this iconic location features 14 architectural astronomy instruments built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724 as part of his UNESCO Heritage Site designation.
He constructed Astronomy observatories at New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, and Ujjain that combined mathematical precision with artistic beauty. These structures serve as examples of merging mathematical precision with aesthetic beauty.
4. Ramnagar Fort
Ramnagar Fort, situated on the eastern bank of Ganges River, is an impressive sight. Dating back to 18th century inscriptions, its impressive sight dates back further still. Legend says Ved Vyas – author of ancient epic Mahabharata – lived and meditated here, thus earning this fort its name of Vyas Kashi.
Varanasi Fort stands as an incredible testament to Varanasi’s rich history and architectural grandeur, featuring stunning Mughal and Rajput designs combined with ornate balconies, intricately-carved windows, and beautiful courtyards that make an impressive sight.
Forts typically feature temples and museums. One such museum houses an outstanding collection of antique scripts and scriptures, vintage cars, royal costumes, weapons from Burma Japan and African countries and much more.
5. Sankat Mochan Temple
Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, and legend holds that Saint Tulsidas had his vision of him here. This stunningly designed temple blends modern with traditional styles. A large banyan tree stands in its complex to mark the spot where Tulsidas experienced this vision of Hanuman.
Temple also hosts the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh Festival, a classical music and dance festival started 88 years ago and which brings in some of the greatest musicians and performers from India – Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj and vocalist Jasraj are two prominent names who have performed here.
6. Gyan Vapi Well
Gyan Vapi Well (or “Well of Knowledge”) in Kashi Vishwanath Temple complex is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus, believed to offer spiritual enlightenment through drinking its waters.
Legal controversy surrounding this mosque emerged in 1991 when it was suggested that Aurangzeb built it after demolishing part of Kashi Vishwanath temple during his rule based on an 1831 drawing by James Prinsep.
Sadly, this resurrected an incident from medieval history when Muslim rulers destroyed temples for religious use by using deities and construction materials from those destroyed temples to construct new edifices of their own using materials from those desecrated temples as building materials.
