Ramnagar Fort

Ramnagar Fort stands on the east bank of the Ganga opposite Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India, about 14 km by road and 30-40 minutes from central Varanasi. The 18th-century fort is the residence of the Maharaja of Benares and a museum of the royal family's collections. Cabs cost about ₹250-450 and auto-rickshaws from Godowlia about ₹250-400. The route crosses the Malviya bridge, or the seasonal pontoon bridge when it is in place, and traffic can slow the crossing. Another approach is to hire a boat from the ghats, which gives a view of the fort from the river. Built of local sandstone, the fort has courtyards, balconies and a darbar hall. The museum displays vintage cars, royal costumes, palanquins, weapons, clocks and ivory work. The fort is also the setting of the Ramlila of Ramnagar, a month-long enactment of the Ramayana held each autumn across the town, which draws large audiences and is recognised as a cultural tradition of the region. A relaxed one-day arc is to see Varanasi's ghats at sunrise, have breakfast, cross to Ramnagar by late morning, tour the museum in about an hour and a half, then eat at a simple dhaba nearby before returning in the afternoon. The fort is less visited than the ghats, so crowds are thin outside Ramlila season. October to March offers pleasant weather for the short walk and the river crossing. Visitors should check current opening hours and ticket fees on arrival, since these have changed over time. Photography inside galleries is often restricted.