Manmandir Ghat

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Located at the bank of River Ganga in Varanasi, is the Manmandir Ghat. It is one of the very important ghats in Varanasi and lies close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Dashashwamedh Ghat. Formerly known as Someswara Ghat, along with the palace, were built by Maharaja Man Singh of Amer, in 1600. It was after him, that the ghat takes its name. The porches and the windows of the palace are ornately carved in the medieval Rajput style. At the roof of the palace, is an observatory, popularly called, Jantar Mantar, built in 1710 by Sawai Jai Singh-II. It was, once, used to study the movements of celestial bodies using large stone instruments. Fine stone balconies of the palace face the mighty Ganga and provide splendid views. Now maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, many Hindu devotees visit this Ghat to offer prayers to Someshwar.