The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Lal Ghat
Detailed description of each heritage Site - Durga Ghat to Phuta Ghat
Location
[edit | edit source]25º 19.198’ North and 83º 01.232’ East (Lal Ghat, centre). 25º 19.049’ North and 83º 01.210’ East (Gopreksheshvara temple). 25º 19.228’ North and 83º 01.261’ East (Hanuman Garhi Ghat, centre).
Exact location on a map
[edit | edit source]Lal Ghat and Hanuman Garhi Ghat
Area
[edit | edit source]0.12 ha
Historical/cultural/natural significance
[edit | edit source]The southern part of Lal Ghat was made pucca in ca 1812 by the king of Tijara (Rajasthan); a large house there is a testimony to his noble task. In 1935, Baldeodas Birla purchased the ghat area and the nearby buildings for his stay in Kashi. He built the Ghat Pucca and a mansion there. He also made a distinct ghat called Gopi Govind Ghat at the top, which is a rest house for pilgrims and many other buildings (K 4/22, 23, 44 and 45). The inscription in the upper part attached to a niche reads, “Lal Ghat Vishnupad rebuilt in 1935 by Raja Baldeodas Birla”. One of the buildings runs Baldeodas Birla Sanskrit School, and the nearby other is used as a dormitory for students. Food and shelter were provided free of cost to students and ascetics from the Birla Trust. The northern and southern portions of the ghat were open earth till 1988 and were used as sites for washing clothes by washermen. After the construction of these portions was completed by the government's irrigation department of Uttar Pradesh, the practice of washing clothes was reduced. The most prominent temple in this area is Gopreksheshvara. In the whole month of Magha (January-February), this ghat and temple attract a good mass of devout Hindus for sacred baths and worship in the above temple.
Present state of conservation
[edit | edit source]Except for the two trusts that take care of its properties, there are no specific action plans, programmes, or strategies for conserving and preserving the ghats. The trusts maintain their properties according to their own perspectives.
Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property
[edit | edit source]It is expected that by supporting active people participation, awareness to save the age-old rich heritage, and development under the Master Plan (and its judiciary control), the ghat heritage will be protected and conserved for the better benefit of the society.
Ownership
[edit | edit source]The trust-related properties along the ghat are owned by the respective trusts, the houses and other properties by the inhabitants, and the Municipal Corporation owns the ghat area.