Dating from 1735, Balaji Ghat is located on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest continuously occupied cities and an important Hindu pilgrimage destination. The term ghat refers to the steps leading down to the sacred river, providing access to boats and a place for sports, meditation, and social interaction. (...)
Dating from 1735, Balaji Ghat is located on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest continuously occupied cities and an important Hindu pilgrimage destination. The term ghat refers to the steps leading down to the sacred river, providing access to boats and a place for sports, meditation, and social interaction. The buildings at the top of these steps, now also referred to as ghats, were built to serve pilgrims from all levels of society who came to Varanasi for ritual purposes. Ghats continue to serve these traditional functions and to define the urban landscape of Varanasi along the riverbank.
Balaji Ghat is particularly significant as it once housed the Banaras Gharana, or school of music, attracting students from all over India. The complex was originally a seven-story building and followed a traditional ghat plan, with a rectangular enclosure, a temple, garden, well, assembly hall, living areas, courtyards, and stone staircases, together forming a remarkable architecture ensemble.
