Man Mandir Ghat: The Stars Over Kashi

History of Man Mandir Mahal

Originally known as Someshvara Ghat, it was heavily developed around 1600 AD by Maharaja Man Singh, the illustrious Rajput king of Amber (Jaipur) and a leading general in Emperor Akbar's army. The imposing palace he built, the Man Mandir Mahal, features some of the finest examples of Rajasthani architectural styling in all of Uttar Pradesh, with heavily ornate, carved stone window balconies (jharokhas) looking out over the river.

The Jantar Mantar Observatory

In 1710, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur (a descendant of Man Singh) installed the Jantar Mantar on the roof of the palace. He was an avid astronomer and built five such observatories across India (including Jaipur and Delhi).

The Varanasi observatory is equipped with massive masonry instruments that were designed to measure local time, the altitude and declination of stars, planets, and the exact tracking of the sun. The precision of these massive stone structures, measuring angles via shadows without any telescopes, is astonishing to witness even today. It is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

A Stone’s Throw from Dashashwamedh

Man Mandir Ghat is located immediately adjacent to the north of Dashashwamedh Ghat. Many people walk past it without realizing the massive scientific facility resting on the roof above them. Once you visit the observatory, you get a beautiful birds-eye view of the river, bypassing the massive crowds below.

Visit Varanasi’s Observatory with Shubh Travel

Need help fitting the Jantar Mantar into your short itinerary? Book a full-day city tour taxi with us.
We will coordinate your travels so you can visit the Vishwanath Temple, witness the evening Aarti, and explore the Man Mandir observatory all in a seamless, stress-free afternoon.

We provide sedans, SUVs, and even Tempo Travellers for large families. Contact Shubh Travel at +91 7393936793 to plan your custom trip.