Varanasi, one of the oldest inhabited cities of our country, situated along the western bank of the sacred river Ganga, is a living testimony to the age-old religious, spiritual and historical legacy preserved through centuries of continuous civilisation. There are around 90 ghats or banks along the river Ganga, and it is believed these banks originated some 3000 years ago. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit Varanasi in search of salvation or moksha, purifying of souls, seeking blessings from Kashi Vishwanath and taking a dip in the holy waters of the river. Along with the spiritual and religious significance of Varanasi, there are also some places and monuments which are powerful reminders of Varanasi’s grand royal past. One such place is the Ramnagar Fort, which is situated on the Western Bank, just opposite the Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi.
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Often, this place goes unvisited because most of the time, as first-timers, you are not aware of the existence of this beautiful fort in Varanasi, or maybe you want to spend your time just around the heritage ghats of the holy city.
I was not aware of this fort either, while I was planning for my trip, since it was my first time here in the city. But my guide suggested that I should visit the Ramnagar Fort since I was interested in ancient Indian art and architecture.
How to reach the Ramnagar Fort
You don’t need any tour package or tour guide to explore this beautiful fort. If you are staying at Godowlia Chowk area in Varanasi, where most tourists stay due to the proximity of the Kashi Biswanath Temple, then you can simply hire an e-rikshaw to reach the fort. It will cost you around a hundred rupees.
The fort is around 14 km from Varanasi city centre. On the other hand, you can also hire a boat from Dashashwamedha Ghat or Tulsi Ghat if you want a scenic view of the fort overlooking the river Ganga.
I reached the fort at around 9 AM in the morning. The fort was not open yet, so I had to wait for some time outside for the museum and the fort to open. The ticket prices for Indian citizens are ₹50 and ₹150 for foreign nationals. The Fort remains open from 10 AM in the morning to 5 PM in the evening. It generally takes 2 to 3 hours to explore around the fort and the museum.
This blog will help you to know more about the marvellous architecture of the Ramnagar Fort in Varanasi, explore its rich heritage, and also know about the museum, which has an immense collection of artefacts from the days of the royal kingdom.
A Brief History of the Ramnagar Fort in Varanasi
The fort was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh in the 18th century to represent the culture and strength of the royal family of Banaras. The fort served as the royal residence of the Maharaja. The fort was designed more as a residential structure and a place of art, administration and also to conduct various ceremonies, rather than the primary goal of any fort, which is to provide protection.
The fort, constructed from chunar sandstone, has a unique design that involves the Indian and Mughal style of architecture. The beautiful carved pillars and balconies, and the fortified walls overlooking the river Ganga, add to the grandeur and showcase the artistic craftsmanship prevalent in those days. Although the sandstone structure looks weathered, when you look at it, you can see its glorious past echoing centuries of history resting in its walls.
The fort gained much popularity for conducting various cultural functions right from the time of the royal dynasty. The lively Ramleela performances during the occasion of Dusshera are the most important ones to be celebrated in the fort.
Ramleela is the enactment of various episodes in the epic Ramayana by local actors primarily in the northern part of India. The performances generally span a whole month, and the entire village enjoys these theatrical traditions with great enthusiasm. The Ramnagar Ramleela is also a UNESCO-recognised cultural event, giving it worldwide fame and glory.
The Ramnagar Fort Museum
The fort has a museum that is divided into five galleries. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the museum, so I couldn’t capture any pictures. The museum was established by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh in the year 1964. It is a part of the Ramnagar Fort.
The museum has a massive collection of vintage cars, royal flags, silver throws used by the royal members, chariots, palanquins, cradles, ivory artefacts and showpieces, vintage armoury that includes various kinds of rifles, guns, swords made with ivory, bullets, and other weapons that are used in war. Some of the guns are also imported. There is also a rare astronomical clock that shows time, date and planetary details.
The museum also has a huge gallery of old photographs and frames, showcasing certificates of honour. It also has royal costumes made of fine silk, ornaments, textiles of Banaras and also crowns made with gold and silver. There are security guards everywhere, and they help in navigating through the museum.
The Temples inside the Ramnagar Fort
There is a passage which will lead you to the Shiva temple, which is on the back side of the fort. You can also visit the Ved Vyasa temple, the Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman temple and the Chinnamasta temple. All these temples explain the spiritual inclination and devotion of the royal family who stayed in the fort during that period.
But when I visited the temple, I found the doors closed, so I could not visit the sanctum santorum of the temple; instead, I offered my prayers from outside. You can also attend the “Aarti” if you visit the fort in the evening.
My experience at the Ramnagar Fort in Varanasi
When I visited the Fort, it was not open yet, as I have already mentioned above, so I waited for some time. The complex outside is very picturesque and serves as an excellent Instagrammable spot, so I clicked some photos there. Even the Fort’s main gate is also magnificent and artistic. It took me around 2 hours to go through the museum and take some photographs of the building from outside.
Then I went through the passage to visit the temple. It was the back side of the fort, and from there I could see the river Ganga flowing in its rhythmic tone. I could also see the Ganga Ghat, which must have been used by the people who stayed in the fort. The part of the fort overlooking the river Ganga was extraordinarily beautiful. But unfortunately, I couldn’t access the ghat since the gate to reach that part was locked permanently for tourists. How sad!
But I made up my mind that I have to see the part of the fort standing against the backdrop of the river Ganga. I saw there were a lot of boats coming and going, and I immediately realised there had to be a commercial ghat somewhere. So without wasting any more time, I came out of the fort through the main gate as I had already finished exploring it.
Outside, I asked a shopkeeper if there was a ghat nearby, and he told me it’s just a few minutes’ walk from there. So I started walking towards the ghat, and I reached it in 10 minutes on foot. There I saw the commercial boats, and a young guy approached me. I asked him what the fare would be if I hired the whole boat (it was a comparatively smaller boat than the other commercial ones). He told me 1000 INR, and I was shocked. But being an expert in bargaining, I brought the fare down to 500 INR, and I knew he would not agree to any less.
Anyways, I told him to take a few trips just across the ghat that overlooks the massive fort wall and the intricate balconies. I bet you will say this is the most spectacular view the fort offers.
And unfortunately, they have kept this ghat closed for visitors if you are entering from the main entrance. But you can get onto the ghat if you are travelling via a boat. My boatman asked if I wanted to take a halt on the ghat, but I didn’t find it that safe, so I decided to return to the commercial ghat instead.
From the boat, you can get a beautiful horizontal view of the entire fort and realise how grand and enormous it is. It’s like watching history rise right on the banks of the Ganges. That was probably the most adventurous part of the trip. Moreover, since I was travelling solo and was not accompanied by any guide, this boat ride was the most exciting part of the visit to the Ramnagar Fort in Varanasi.
Nothing can compare to the thrill of viewing such a timeless heritage monument standing breathtakingly gorgeous right on the bank of the river Ganga. Hope you liked reading the post, and do share with your loved ones and drop a comment for appreciation if you like.
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