Ramnagar Fort

Ramnagar Fort is an 18th-century fort and palace on the eastern bank of the Ganges River at Ramnagar, opposite Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh in cream-coloured sandstone in Mughal style, it remains the residence of the Maharaja of Varanasi. It houses the Saraswati Bhawan museum with vintage cars, royal collections and manuscripts, and is known for its riverside location and historic architecture.

Visitors can expect a large sandstone fort complex with crenellated walls, courtyards, balconies and an open riverside setting facing the Ganges. Inside, the Saraswati Bhawan museum displays royal palanquins, vintage American cars, ivory work, antique clocks, arms, costumes and rare manuscripts. Areas include the Durbar Hall and temple within the complex. The fort is still partly residential, so access is limited to the museum and designated public areas.

Built in 1750 by Raja Balwant Singh, the founder of the Benares State, Ramnagar Fort served as the fortified residence of the Kashi Naresh. Constructed in cream-coloured Chunar sandstone in Mughal style, it has remained the seat of the royal family of Varanasi for over 270 years and reflects the history of the Benares kingdom under the Narayan dynasty.

The fort is the traditional residence of the Maharaja of Varanasi and a centre of local cultural traditions. It is closely associated with the annual Ramnagar Ramlila, a month-long enactment of the Ramayana staged on the fort grounds, and houses the Ved Vyasa Temple and museum collections that preserve the heritage of Varanasi's royal lineage.