Ganga Mahal Ghat (
Hindi: गंगा महल घाट) is one of the main
ghats on the
Ganges River
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
in
Varanasi. Constructed in 1830 CE by the
Narayan dynasty
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. After its liberation from Awadh, independence ( s''waraj'') was established in Benares by Maharaja Balwant Narayan Singh in the 18th century. Since then, the family has ruled Benares. In 1911, ...
, the ghat is north of
Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat is the southernmost ghat in Varanasi. To most visitors to Varanasi, it is known for being a place where long-term foreign students, researchers, and tourists live. With hosting Subah-e-Banaras in the morning, assi ghat provides a spe ...
and was originally constructed as an extension to Assi Ghat.
History
The
Narayan dynasty
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. After its liberation from Awadh, independence ( s''waraj'') was established in Benares by Maharaja Balwant Narayan Singh in the 18th century. Since then, the family has ruled Benares. In 1911, ...
, in 1830, constructed a palace by the river
Ganga
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
in Varanasi. The palace was called "Ganga Mahal" (Mahal means palace in Hindi). Since the Mahal (palace) was housed on the ghat, the ghat was named "Ganga Mahal Ghat". Stone steps between
Assi Ghat
Assi Ghat is the southernmost ghat in Varanasi. To most visitors to Varanasi, it is known for being a place where long-term foreign students, researchers, and tourists live. With hosting Subah-e-Banaras in the morning, assi ghat provides a spe ...
and Ganga Mahal Ghat separates the two ghats. This palace houses the design studio of Hemang Agrawal
whereas the upper floors are used by the "Indo-Swedish Study Centre" organised by
Karlstad University.
Location
Ganga Mahal Ghat is situated on the bank of the Ganges. It is 6 kilometers south-east of
Varanasi Junction railway station
Varanasi Junction railway station (station code: BSB), also known as Varanasi Cantt railway station, is the main railway station serving the city of Varanasi. The other key railway stations in Varanasi Metro area are (formerly Manduadih), , P ...
and 100 meters north of Assi Ghat.
See also
*
Ghats in Varanasi
References
{{Portal bar, India, Hinduism, Religion
Ghats in Varanasi