Ramnagar Fort
An 18th-century sandstone fort on the east bank of the Ganges, home of the Maharaja of Benares' family and a museum of royal possessions.
Overview
Ramnagar Fort is the riverside palace-fort across from the main ghats and an easy addition to places to visit in Varanasi. This guide covers its history, museum, Ram Lila and how to get there.
Ramnagar Fort stands on the eastern bank of the Ganges, across from the main ghats, and was built in 1750 by Maharaja Balwant Singh from creamy Chunar sandstone. The head of the former ruling family of Benares still lives there, though the royal title has been abolished since 1971. Part of the fort is open as the Saraswati Bhawan museum in the former Durbar Hall.
Wikipedia describes a varied collection including vintage American cars, bejewelled sedan chairs, ivory work, palanquins, weapons from several continents, an astronomical clock and 535 illustrations of religious manuscripts in Mughal miniature style. The fort is also central to the Ramnagar Ram Lila, a month-long staged retelling of the Ramayana held around October.
Wikipedia lists the fort about 14 km from the city centre; it can be reached by the Ramnagar bridge, about ten minutes from Banaras Hindu University, or by boat from Dashashwamedh Ghat in roughly an hour. Travel sites report the museum is open about 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Sundays and major festivals, but those hours and the ticket prices vary between sources and are not confirmed officially.
Entry fees
Entry
Adult (Indian)
Museum. Travel snippet reported Rs 20 per Indian visitor. Unverified.
Amount needs verification
Adult (foreign national)
Museum. Snippet reported Rs 150 with another source saying Rs 200, so no amount is stored.
Amount needs verification
No official tariff found; the foreigner rate is disputed between sources.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
- Mon – Sat
- 10 AM – 5 PM (unconfirmed)
- Sun
- Closed (unconfirmed)
- Unverified travel-site snippet; confirm locally.
Museum reportedly about 10:00–17:00, closed Sundays and major festivals (unverified travel snippet).
Closed Sundays and major festivals such as Holi and Diwali, per a travel snippet.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to March; October for the Ram Lila
- Best time of day
- Late morning
- How long to spend
- 1.5–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Check museum days before travelling
- Photography rules inside the museum were not confirmed
Location
Photos
Ramnagar Fort, Varanasi. Photo: Paramanu Sarkar / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Main entrance of Ramnagar Fort. Photo: Sujay25 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Inside the fort. Photo: Sujay25 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 The king's balcony. Photo: Sidhiwasi / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 The fort beside the river. Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Frequently asked questions
Who built Ramnagar Fort?
Wikipedia says Maharaja Balwant Singh built it in 1750 from Chunar sandstone.
How do I get to Ramnagar Fort?
Wikipedia says you can cross the Ramnagar bridge by road or take a boat from Dashashwamedh Ghat, which takes roughly an hour.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- coordinates only to the minute
- hours and fees (travel snippet)
Not available yet
- official hours and tariff
- Wikipedia – Ramnagar Fort · Encyclopedia
- Ramnagar Fort fee search results (travel blogs) · Other
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