India

Fort of Ramnagar

On the east bank of the river Ganga stands a famous fort called "Fort of Ramnagar". This monument is located in the city of Ramnagar in Varanasi, opposite Tulsi Ghat. The fort is still the residence of Maharaja of Varanasi, Anant Narayan Singh. During your trip to India, do not forget to visit the magnificent fort of Ramnagar.

History

The fort of Ramnagar was erected by Kashi Naresh Raja Singh Balwant in 1750. The inscriptions on the ramparts reinforce the hypothesis concerning the period of construction of the monument in the eighteenth century. Today also, the Maharaja of Varanasi resides in the fort.

Visit of fort of Ramnagar

At this time, although it is not in a good condition, one can still distinguish the immense beauty of this building entirely constructed of red sandstone. The front face of the monument has been painted with a cream color and represent a Mughal architectural style.

The Ramnagar fort was erected on high grounds to prevent possible flooding. During the visit, you can see a temple dedicated to Veda Vyasa, the temple of Chhinnamastika, a museum and the residential complex of the king. In the southern part, you will find a temple dedicated to Dakshin Mukhi of Hanuman. The fort has several sculpted balconies, open courtyards and picturesque pavilions. Only one part of the fort is open to the public while the rest of the complex is strictly reserved for the royal family. When the flag of the fort of Ramnagar is raised, it means that the Maharaja is in his palace. The palace has two white towers that visitors can access via a staircase. At the end of the steps, you will discover a vault and the inner courtyards that can lead upto the towers. The Maharaja's private residence is located on the other side of the tower, while the Durbar lobby and reception rooms are on the opposite side.

The Ramnagar Fort Museum

Ramnagar Fort has a museum named Saraswati Bhawan. It was shifted in one of the two white towers housing the Durbar hall which is also open to the general public. The museum is renowned for its collections of rare American cars. There are also royal chairs adorned with jewels, medieval costumes made of kimkhwa silk, gold and silver jewelry, palanquins in the form of a lotus, and so on. The exhibition is complemented by elephant stools carved in silver and decorated with many jewels. You must visit the room dedicated to armory). You will see all kinds of swords, as well as old canons from Africa, Burma and Japan. Discover a series of old armored muskets, daggers, portraits of maharajas, some instruments of black music and finally the famous astronomical clock. The clock not only gives the time, but also indicates the day, week, month and year, as well as astronomical information about the sun, the moon and other planets. For ingrained readers, the museum offers collections of rare books from a Mughal register. Do not leave without seeing 530 illustrations expressing Islamic ethics with their decorative borders, floral patterns or cartridges.

The festivals

We will find a dynamic and colorful atmosphere of Ramnagar Fort during the Ram Lila festival. For about a month, this event offers you the opportunity to discover the scenes of Ramayana. A parade of colors takes place as a part of celebration of Dussehra. Dussehra is celebrated in October under the leadership of Maharaja. The festivities end on the day of the Dashami, the 10th day of full moon in Hindu calendar. During this celebration, the faithful burn the idiol of Ravana incarnating the demon king and his disciples. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The festival is followed by a procession and various exhibitions of the ancient royal conquests. The Maharaja attends the celebrations given in honor of Ram Lila. Then later he goes to meet his subjects on a decorated elephant and leads the parade. Other festivals are held at the fort of Ramnagar during the month of Magh. The festivities take place between January and February in front of the Veda Vyasa temple. The monument attracts many pilgrims during this period. In addition, between the months of February and March, the festival of Phagun is celebrated. The festival also known as Raj Mangal is held in the fort with a procession of boats. During this festival, people dance and sing. The parade begins at the Assi Ghat and continues along the river in front of the fort.

How to get there?

Ramnagar Fort is situated 14 kilometers from Varanasi. You can reach the site from Varanasi by renting a tuk-tuk or by taking a minibus.

Hours

Ramnagar Fort is open from 10am to 5.30pm.