Scindia Ghat, Sacred riverside steps in Varanasi, India
Scindia Ghat is a series of stone steps along the Ganges with three rows of stone turrets and multiple temples built into its structure. The site spans a significant section of the riverbank and features several access points to the water for different purposes.
Built in 1830 by the Scindia dynasty of the Maratha Empire, this ghat represents an important moment in Varanasi's riverfront development. The royal family's construction of this structure reflects the period when various Indian states invested in major religious and architectural projects along the Ganges.
Devotees come here to worship and perform rituals as part of long-standing religious traditions tied to the sacred river. The steps are used throughout the day by locals and pilgrims for prayer, bathing, and ceremonial activities.
The ghat is accessible from Varanasi Junction and offers entry points for riverside ceremonies and rituals. Vendors along the steps sell items for religious purposes, and visitors should be prepared for wet or slippery surfaces, especially when water levels are high.
A partially submerged Shiva temple built over 150 years ago by Baija Bai gradually sinks deeper into the Ganges. This slow collapse is a rare phenomenon in Varanasi and demonstrates the river's power to reshape the landscape over decades.
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